Title: Bathe in Radha Kunda or not

User: Swami Gaurangapada Date: 2007-03-14 06:33:31

 

 

Maharaja, please can you let me know if is it okay to bathe in Radha Kunda or one should just do acamana. I heard that Srila Prabhupada forbade his disciples to bathe in Radha Kunda.

 

         

Answer by Swami Gaurangapada:

 

"Indeed, Lord Krsna gives ecstatic love like that of Srimati Radharani to whoever bathes in Shri Radha Kunda even once in his life." Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya lila 18.10

 

" Srila Rupa Gosvami recommends that even if one cannot live permanently on the banks of Radha-kunda, he should at least take a bath in the lake as many times as possible. This is a most important item in the execution of devotional service." Shrila Prabhupada in NOI Verse 11 purport

The word "bathing" is used by Shrila Prabhupada seven times in the verse 11 of Upadeshamrita quoted below and the commentary. Why would he recommend us to bathe there in his books repeatedly if he does not want us to bathe there? Infact bathing in Radha Kunda repeatedly constitutes the topmost spiritual activity in creation and is recommended by all our acharyas including the foremost Shrila Rupa Goswami. Our Prayojana Acharya Shrila Raghunatha dasa Goswami used to bathe a minimum of 3 times daily in Radha kunda.

 

 

 

Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu Himself bathed in Radha Kunda and applied the transcendental mud all over his body and set the example for all of us to do so.Shrila Prabhupada refused some disciples because they were jumping in and swimming in the waters showing disrespect to Shri Radha Kunda. So he said like that in a lecture in 1976. They did not know the proper way to bathe in Radha Kunda which is to first offer parikrama, then dandavats, then prayers and then to slowly enter the waters wearing a new cloth and then immerse oneself three times in the water by remaining standing in one place,offer prayers or recite the Radha Kripa Kataksha Stotra and come back and again offer dandavats and soo on.

 

 

Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya lila 18th Chapter:

 

 

TEXT 3

 

 

TEXT

 

 

ei-mata mahaprabhu nacite nacite

 

 

慳rit'-grame asi' 慴ahya' haila acambite

 

 

SYNONYMS

 

 

ei-mata -- in this way; mahaprabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nacite nacite -- dancing and dancing; arit-grame -- in the village known as Arit-grama; asi' -- coming; bahya -- sense perception; haila -- there was; acambite -- suddenly.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced in ecstasy, but when He arrived at Arit-grama, His sense perception was awakened.

 

 

PURPORT

 

 

Arit-grama is also called Arista-grama. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu understood that in that village Aristasura had been killed by Sri Krsna. While there, He inquired about Radha-kunda, but no one could tell Him where it was. The brahmana accompanying Him could also not ascertain its whereabouts. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu could then understand that the holy places known as Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda were at that time lost to everyone's vision.

He therefore discovered Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda, which were two reservoirs of water in two paddy fields. Although there was very little water, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was omniscient and could understand that formerly these two ponds were called Sri Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda. In this way Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda were discovered.

 

 

Madhya 18.4

 

 

TEXT 4

 

 

TEXT

 

 

arite radha-kunda-varta puche loka-sthane keha nahi kahe, sangera brahmana na jane

 

 

 

SYNONYMS

 

 

arite -- in the village known as Arit-grama; radha-kunda-varta -- news of Radha-kunda; puche -- inquires; loka-sthane -- from the local people; keha

-- anyone; nahi -- not; kahe -- could say; sangera -- the companion; brahmana -- brahmana; na jane -- does not know.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked the local people, "Where is Radha-kunda?" No one could inform Him, and the brahmana accompanying Him did not know either.

 

 

Madhya 18.5

 

 

TEXT 5

 

 

TEXT

 

 

tirtha 憀upta' jani' prabhu sarvajna bhagavan dui dhanya-ksetre alpa-jale

kaila snana

 

 

 

SYNONYMS

 

 

tirtha -- holy place; lupta -- lost; jani' -- knowing; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sarva-jna -- omniscient; bhagavan -- the Supreme Personality of Godhead; dui -- two; dhanya-ksetre -- in paddy fields; alpa-jale -- in not very deep water; kaila snana -- took a bath.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

 

The Lord then understood that the holy place called Radha-kunda was no longer visible. However, being the omniscient Supreme Personality of Godhead, He discovered Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda in two paddy fields.There was only a little water, but He took His bath there.

 

 

Madhya 18.6

 

 

TEXT 6

 

 

TEXT

 

 

dekhi' saba gramya-lokera vismaya haila mana preme prabhu kare radha-kundera stavana SYNONYMS

 

 

dekhi' -- seeing; saba gramya-lokera -- of all the people of the village; vismaya haila -- became astonished; mana -- the minds; preme -- in ecstatic love; prabhu -- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare -- does; radha-kundera -- of Radha-kunda; stavana -- prayers.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

 

When the people of the village saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taking His bath in those two ponds in the middle of the paddy fields, they were very much astonished. The Lord then offered His prayers to Sri Radha-kunda.

 

 

Madhya 18.7

 

 

TEXT 7

 

 

TEXT

 

 

saba gopi haite radha krsnera preyasi

taiche radha-kunda priya 憄riyara sarasi'

 

 

SYNONYMS

 

 

saba -- all; gopi -- the gopis; haite -- from; radha -- Radharani; krsnera

-- of Lord Krsna; preyasi -- most beloved; taiche -- similarly; radha-kunda -- Radha-kunda; priya -- very dear; priyara sarasi -- the lake of the most beloved Radharani.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

 

"Of all the gopis, Radharani is the dearmost. Similarly, the lake known as Radha-kunda is very dear to the Lord because it is very dear to Srimati Radharani.

 

 

Madhya 18.8

 

 

TEXT 8

 

 

TEXT

 

 

yatha radha priya visnos

tasyah kundam priyam tatha

sarva-gopisu saivaika

visnor atyanta-vallabha

 

 

SYNONYMS

 

 

yatha -- as; radha -- Srimati Radharani; priya -- beloved; visnoh -- of Lord Krsna; tasyah -- Her; kundam -- lake; priyam -- very dear; tatha -- similarly; sarva-gopisu -- among all the gopis; sa -- She; eva -- certainly; eka -- alone; visnoh -- of Lord Krsna; atyanta -- very; vallabha

-- dear.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

 

"慗ust as Srimati Radharani is most dear to Lord Krsna, so Her lake, known as Radha-kunda, is also very dear to Him. Of all the gopis, Srimati Radharani is certainly the most beloved.'

 

 

PURPORT

 

 

This is a verse from the Padma Purana.

 

 

Madhya 18.9

 

 

TEXT 9

 

 

TEXT

 

 

yei kunde nitya krsna radhikara sange

jale jala-keli kare, tire rasa-range

 

 

SYNONYMS

 

 

yei kunde -- in which lake; nitya -- daily; krsna -- Lord Krsna; radhikara sange -- accompanied by Srimati Radharani; jale -- in the water; jala-keli

-- sporting in the water; kare -- performs; tire -- on the bank; rasa-range -- His rasa dance.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

 

"In that lake, Lord Krsna and Srimati Radharani used to sport daily in the water and have a rasa dance on the bank.

 

 

Madhya 18.10

 

 

TEXT 10

 

 

TEXT

 

 

sei kunde yei eka-bara kare snana

tanre radha-sama 憄rema' krsna kare dana

 

 

SYNONYMS

 

 

sei kunde -- in that lake; yei -- anyone who; eka-bara -- once; kare snana

-- takes a bath; tanre -- unto him; radha-sama -- like Srimati Radharani; prema -- ecstatic love; krsna -- Lord Krsna; kare dana -- gives as charity.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

 

"Indeed, Lord Krsna gives ecstatic love like that of Srimati Radharani to whoever bathes in that lake even once in his life.

 

 

Madhya 18.11

 

 

TEXT 11

 

 

TEXT

 

 

kundera 憁adhuri' -- -- yena radhara 憁adhurima'

kundera 憁ahima' -- -- yena radhara 憁ahima'

 

 

SYNONYMS

 

 

kundera -- of the lake; madhuri -- sweetness; yena -- as if; radhara -- of Srimati Radharani; madhurima -- sweetness; kundera -- of the lake; mahima

-- glories; yena -- as if; radhara -- of Srimati Radharani; mahima -- glories.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

 

"The attraction of Radha-kunda is as sweet as that of Srimati Radharani.

Similarly, the glories of the kunda  are as great as Srimati Radharani's.

 

 

Madhya 18.12

 

 

TEXT 12

 

 

TEXT

 

 

sri-radheva hares tadiya-sarasi presthadbhutaih svair gunair yasyam

sri-yuta-madhavendur anisam pritya taya kridati premasmin bata radhikeva labhate yasyam sakrt snana-krt tasya vai mahima tatha madhurima kenastu varnyah ksitau

 

 

 

SYNONYMS

 

 

sri-radha -- Srimati Radharani; iva -- like; hareh -- of Krsna; tadiya -- Her; sarasi -- lake; prestha -- very dear; adbhutaih -- by wonderful; svaih

-- own; gunaih -- transcendental qualities; yasyam -- in which; sri-yuta

-- all-opulent; madhava -- Sri Krsna; induh -- like the moon; anisam -- incessantly; pritya -- with great affection; taya -- in association with Srimati Radharani; kridati -- performs pastimes; prema -- love; asmin -- for Lord Krsna; bata -- certainly; radhika iva -- exactly like Srimati Radharani; labhate -- obtains; yasyam -- in which; sakrt -- once; snana-krt -- one who takes a bath; tasyah -- of the lake; vai -- certainly; mahima -- glories; tatha -- as well as; madhurima -- sweetness; kena -- by whom; astu -- can be; varnyah -- described; ksitau -- on this earth.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

 

"態ecause of its wonderful transcendental qualities, Radha-kunda is as dear to Krsna as Srimati Radharani. It was in that lake that the all-opulent Lord Sri Krsna performed His pastimes with Srimati Radharani with great pleasure and transcendental bliss. Whoever bathes just once in Radha-kunda attains Srimati Radharani's loving attraction for Sri Krsna. Who within this world can describe the glories and sweetness of Sri Radha-kunda?'"

 

 

PURPORT

 

 

This verse is found in the Govinda-lilamrta (7.102).

 

 

Madhya 18.13

 

 

TEXT 13

 

 

TEXT

 

 

ei-mata stuti kare premavista hana

tire nrtya kare kunda-lila sanariya

 

 

SYNONYMS

 

 

ei-mata -- in this way; stuti kare -- offers prayers; prema-avista -- overwhelmed by ecstatic love; hana -- becoming; tire -- on the bank; nrtya kare -- dances; kunda-lila -- pastimes of Radha-kunda; sanariya -- remembering.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu thus offered prayers to Radha-kunda. Overwhelmed by ecstatic love, He danced on the bank, remembering the pastimes Lord Krsna performed on the bank of Radha-kunda.

 

 

Madhya 18.14

 

 

TEXT 14

 

 

TEXT

 

 

kundera mrttika lana tilaka karila

bhattacarya-dvara mrttika sange kari' laila

 

 

 

SYNONYMS

 

 

kundera -- of the lake; mrttika -- earth; lana -- taking; tilaka karila --

formed tilaka; bhattacarya-dvara -- with the help of Balabhadra Bhattacarya; mrttika -- earth; sange -- along; kari' -- making; laila -- took.

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then marked His body with tilaka made from the mud of Radha-kunda, and with the help of Balabhadra Bhattacarya, He collected some of the mud and took it with Him.

 

 

Upadeshamrita Verse 11:

 

 

Translation and Commentary by Shrila Prabhupada:

 

 

"Of the many objects of favored delight and of all the lovable damsels of Vrajabhumi, Srimati Radharani is certainly the most treasured object of Krsna's love. And, in every respect, Her divine kunda is described by great sages as similarly dear to Him. Undoubtedly Radha-kunda is very rarely attained even by the great devotees; therefore it is even more difficult for ordinary devotees to attain.IF ONE SIMPLY BATHES ONCE within those holy waters, one's pure love of Krsna is fully aroused."

 

 

PURPORT

 

 

Why is Radha-kunda so exalted? The lake is so exalted because it belongs to Srimati Radharani, who is the most beloved object of Sri Krsna. Among all the gopis, She is the most beloved. Similarly, Her lake, Sri Radha-kunda, is also described by great sages as the lake that is as dear to Krsna as Radha Herself. Indeed, Krsna's love for Radha-kunda and Srimati Radharani is the same in all respects. Radha-kunda is very rarely attained, even by great personalities fully engaged in devotional service, not to speak of ordinary devotees who are only engaged in the practice of vaidhi bhakti.

 

 

It is stated that a devotee will at once develop pure love of Krsna in the wake of the gopis if he once takes a bath in Radha-kunda. Srila Rupa Gosvami recommends that even if one cannot live permanently on the banks of Radha-kunda, he should at least take a bath in the lake as many times as possible. This is a most important item in the execution of devotional service. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes in this connection that Sri Radha-kunda is the most select place for those interested in advancing their devotional service in the wake of the lady friends (sakhis) and confidential serving maids (manjaris) of Srimati Radharani. Living entities who are eager to return home to the transcendental kingdom of God, Goloka Vrndavana, by means of attaining their spiritual bodies (siddha-deha) should live at Radha-kunda, take shelter of the confidential serving maids of Sri Radha and under their direction engage constantly in Her service.

 

 

This is the most exalted method for those engaged in devotional service under the protection of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In this connection Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes that even great sages and great devotees like Narada and Sanaka do not get an opportunity to come to Radha-kunda TO TAKE THEIR BATHS. What, then, to speak of ordinary devotees? If, by great fortune, one gets an opportunity to come to Radha-kunda AND BATHE EVEN ONCE, he can develop his transcendental love for Krsna, exactly as the gopis did. It is also recommended that one should live on the banks of Radha-kunda and should be absorbed in the loving service of the Lord. ONE SHOULD BATHE THERE REGULARLY and give up all material conceptions, taking shelter of Sri Radha and Her assistant gopis. If one is thus constantly engaged during his lifetime, after giving up the body he will return back to Godhead to serve Sri Radha in the same way as he contemplated during his life on the banks of Radha-kunda. The conclusion is that to live on the banks of the Radha-kunda and TO BATHE THERE daily constitute the highest perfection of devotional service. It is a difficult position to attain, even for great sages and devotees like Narada. Thus there is no limit to the glory of Sri Radha-kunda. By serving Radha-kunda, one can get an opportunity to become an assistant of Srimati Radharani under the eternal guidance of the gopis.