{"id":11701,"date":"2020-08-16T08:17:52","date_gmt":"2020-08-16T12:17:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/?p=11701"},"modified":"2020-08-17T05:08:42","modified_gmt":"2020-08-17T09:08:42","slug":"radha-kunda-two-appearance-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/radha-kunda-two-appearance-days\/","title":{"rendered":"Radha Kunda: Two Appearance Days"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11702\" src=\"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/20f7bfdbe56ce91035becd3893f8c173-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/20f7bfdbe56ce91035becd3893f8c173-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/20f7bfdbe56ce91035becd3893f8c173-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">According to our Gaudiya Vaishnava Acaryas, 5,000 years ago, Bhagavan Shri Krishna originally manifested Radha-Syama Kundas on Caitra Purnima.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">For Gaudiya Vaisnavas, Kartik Bahulastami is the sacred day that Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu unveiled the hidden location of Radha Kunda.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Appearance Day<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">As far as we know, the only Gaudiya Vaisnava praman or evidence to establish the appearance day of Radha Kunda comes from Shri Jiva Gosvami\u2019s commentary on Shrimad Bhagavatam (10.45.3):<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">\u201cOn Caitra Purnima (March-April) Bhagavan Shri Krishna killed Aristasura at midnight and manifested Shyama Kunda.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Both the appearance and discovery days of Radha Kunda are equally sacred and worshipable. Because they are always eager to take advantage of every possible opportunity to serve and worship Shrimati Radharani, Gaudiya Vaishnavas bathe every year in Radha Kunda at midnight on Caitra Purnima to celebrate the appearance, and also in Kartik on the day of Bahulastami.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Besides being beautiful, Caitra Purnima is the first Purnima of the Hindu new year. One can only imagine how incredibly beautiful, romantic and blissful it was on that magical full moon night five millenniums ago when Madhuri-Madhava manifested Radha-Shyama Kundas, and enjoyed a festive rasa dance on the banks! Jai Radhe!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">** Note: In 2019, the Chaitra Purnima Tithi bathing is at midnight 18th April.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Discovery Day<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Bhakti-ratnakara and Chaitanya-caritamrita (Madhya chapter 18) say that Mahaprabhu stayed in Vraja Mandala for about 4 months (September-December). Shri Caitanyadeva first came to Mathura (Caitanya Caritamrita 2.17.155); then Gaurahari toured the 12 forests of Vrindavan (Caitanya Caritamrita 2.17.193); and He arrived in Arita Grama (Radha Kunda) on Kartik Bahulastami when Mahaprabhu discovered Radha Kunda (Caitanya Caritamrita 2.18.1-13).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Since then, the old Vrajavasi sadhus and Gaudiya saints say that Gaudiya Vaishnavas have been especially honoring Mahaprabhu\u2019s discovery of Radha Kunda by bathing in Radha Kunda on Bahulastami in Kartik. The Goswamis also endorse this practice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Sri Rupa Gosvami in Mathura Mahatmyam (verse 439, 441) and Sri Sanatana Gosvami in Hari Bhakti Vilasa (16.207, 210) both quote the Padma Purana, Kartik mahatmyam which says:<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">\u201cAnyone who BATHES ON THE DAY of Bahulastami in Radha-kunda becomes very dear to Bhagavan Shri Hari, karttike-bahulastamyam, tatra-snatva-haripriya.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">There is no real conflict or problem with having two appearance days because in spiritual matters everything is perfectly included within the complete whole, Shri Krishna. All the different spiritual truths, practices and places exist together in perfect harmony vibrating beautifully for the happiness of Shri Shri Radha and Krishna.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Radha Kund VIJAYRAMPATRIKA<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">SUMMARY: Thus for the last five-hundred years, Gaudiya Vaisnavas have been worshiping and bathing in Radha Kunda to celebrate both these wonderful days!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">In other words, there are two appearance days:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">1) To the eyes of Radha Govinda and all the sakhis when they manifested it 5,000 years ago;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">2) To the eyes of Caitanya Mahaprabhu when He found it in the middle of a field 500 years ago.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Kartik Bahulastami ki jai!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Chaitra Purnima Radha-kunda Appearance ki jai!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Jai Jai Shri Radhe!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">More<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">In his \u2018tika\u2019 on Srimad Bhagavatam (10.45.3), and also in Gopala Champu (I.31.8), Sri Jiva Goswamipada says,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">\u201cwhen the full moon of the Chaitra month is in the Chitra Nakshatra (star), that is the exact time of the appearance of Radha Kunda.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">According to Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya tattvacarya Sri Jiva Goswamipada, Sri Sri Radha-Krishna personally manifested Shyamkunda and Radhakunda on the midnight of Chaitra Purnima.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">He revealed this truth in his \u2018tika\u2019 on Srimad Bhagavatam(10.45.3), and in Gopal Champu (I. 31.8), wherein Sri Jiva Goswamipada says,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">\u2018yada-hi\u2013chitra\u2013yuta\u2013purna\u2013candram-purnimam-anu\u2013turnita\u2013cetah.\u201d<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">When the full moon of the Chaitra month is in the Chitra Nakshatra (star), that is the exact time of the appearance of Radha Kund.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">In 2019, Iskcon GBC passed the following resolution:<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">\u201cAccording to research, the observance of \u201cthe appearance of Radha-kunda on Bahulastami in Karttika is incorrect, and it should be observed on Chaitra Purnima.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Unfortunately, due to the present restrictions the proper observance of Radha-kunda appearance with a midnight nectar bath will not be possible even if one lives in Radha-kunda or Vrndavana; what to speak of New Delhi. Thus, we will explain how to mentally observe this most wonderful and amazingly merciful appearance of Radha and Krishna as two lakes of prema ambrosia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Note: Everyone regardless of where you are staying, should honor Radha-kunda Avirbhava by staying awake on this day until 12.30 a.m. or so.If you have a container of Radha-kunda Amrita, you can honorably place it on a table. Then you can both mentally and physically observe the appearance of Radha-kunda by doing parikrama of the container, offer bhoga, arati and dandavats to it, and finally sprinkle some of the Radha-kundaamrit on your head.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Mental Kunda Parikrama:<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Mentally think now it\u2019s 11 p.m. Chaitra Purnima, and I am in Radha-kund doing parikrama beginning with dandavats and prayers to Kundeshvara Mahadeva. Then immediately on my right I see and offer dandavats to Radha-Krishna kunds and the Sangam. Continuing on the parikrama, I will pause before each temple doorway and offer pranams beginning with Purana Radha-Krishna Mandir, Jhulan Sthali, then on to Radha-Kanta, Gopalji, Shyamsundarji, Damodarji, Gopinath Ji, Ma Jahnava Bhaitak, Das Goswami Samadhi, Radha-Ramanji, Govindaji, Ras Mandal, Jagannathji, Vallabhaji, Sita-Ramji, Damodarji, Lalita-kund, Mahadeva, Giridhari, Lalita-Bihariji, Prachin RadhaGovindadeva, Vinodilal, Gopi-kua, Nita-Gaur Sitanath, Asta-Sakhis, Radha-Madhava, Bankhandi Siva, Mahaprabhu Baithak, Laxmi-Narayana, Madan-Mohan, Gaur-Nitai, Prachin Radha-Gopinath, Nitai Baithak, Hanumanji, then complete parikrama with dandvats to Kundeshvara.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\"><strong>Prayers<\/strong>: <br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">sit in your favorite place or before Giriraj Baba on the Sangam between the kunds, and offer prayers such as Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami\u2019s \u201cRadha-kundashtakam\u201d:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">That very dear, beautiful and fragrant Radha Kund, which appeared after a joking quarrel between Radha and Krishna about piety after the killing of the Arishta bull demon, and which was joyfully revealed and filled up by Sri Radha\u2019s own hand, with the assistance of Her sakhis, is my only shelter!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">That very fragrant, dear and beautiful Radhakund, which instantly makes a desire-tree of prema, love of Krishna, sprout in the land of the heart of anyone who bathes there, although this is very difficult to attain even by the Vraja-gopis, is my only shelter!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">That very dear, beautiful and fragrant Radhakund, where even Krishna, the enemy of Aghasura, eagerly and carefully bathes and renders submissive and expert devotional service, desiring to obtain the merciful glance of goddess Radhika, is my only shelter!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">That very dear, beautiful and fragrant Radhakund, which is the abode of love for Vrajachandra, which is as dear to Krishna as the crown jewel of sweet adolescent damsels of Vraja, Sri Radhika Herself, and which was called after Her by Krishna, is my only shelter!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">That very beautiful and fragrant Radhakund, by whose mercy the desire vine of love for Krishna, which bears the flowers of service to my Ishvari Sri Radha, instantly sprouts in the heart of anyone who performs devotional service there, is my only shelter!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">That very beautiful and fragrant Radhakund, whose shores are divided among Sri Radhika\u2019s girlfriends who all have their own sweet nikunj as named after them, and where the bees are buzzing sweetly, is my only shelter!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">That very beautiful and fragrant Radhakund, where my Ishvari Sri Radhika makes ever-so-sweet and pleasant jokes about Vrndavanachandra, with Her dearest sakhis on a nice platform on the shore, is my only shelter!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">That very beautiful and fragrant Radhakund, whose water is filled with nicely smelling lotus flowers, where Radha and Krishna daily sport in loving intoxication, along with Their sakhis, who are in a similar loving frenzy, is my only shelter!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">The benediction offered by Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami:<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Anyone who recites this beautiful Radha-kundastakam for Devi Radha with a peaceful mind and a fixed intelligence and who submits one\u2019s self to Radha\u2019s blissful service, will soon see Madhuripu Krishna in Radha\u2019s delightful embrace, even in this material body!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Offer Puja:<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Mentally stand on the Sangam and offer to both Shyamkund and Radhakund a panchamrita abhishek, some sweet bhog, and arati with dhoop, deep and flowers.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Do Harinam Kirtan for few minutes to sanctify your being.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Mental Snana:<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Then at 12 midnight mentally or physically offer dandavats to Sri Guru, Six Goswamis, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and RadhaGovinda Yugala; then sprinkle few sacred sweet drops of kundamrita on your head and in mouth; then most humbly, respectfully and prayerfully bathe first in Shyamkundat Manasa Pavan Ghat followed by snana in Radha-kunda.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Dana:<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Give some money and sweet mahaprasad to any Brahmin you see at Radha-kunda.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Hopefully next year, by Srimati Radharani\u2019s loving grace, all the Krishna bhaktas will be able to physically come to Radha-kunda on Chaitra Purnima to experience the full ecstasy of honoring the holy appearance of Shyamkund and Radha-kunda.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;\">Radha-kunda divine appearance day ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"hrule clearfix\" style=\"background:#81d742; height:2px\"><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10px;\">#Radha Kunda appearance. \u00a0#Radhakunda appearance. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>According to our Gaudiya Vaishnava Acaryas, 5,000 years ago, Bhagavan Shri Krishna originally manifested Radha-Syama Kundas on Caitra Purnima. For Gaudiya Vaisnavas, Kartik Bahulastami is the sacred day that Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu unveiled the hidden location &hellip; <a class=\"kt-excerpt-readmore\" href=\"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/radha-kunda-two-appearance-days\/\" aria-label=\"Radha Kunda: Two Appearance Days\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":11702,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-english"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-17 18:32:40","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11701","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11701"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11701\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11702"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11701"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11701"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.isvara.org\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11701"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}