This Site to Close on January 1, 2006 Appeal for Help
Regrettably if I do not receive any financial support to help maintain this site in the coming year from sincere souls such as you, I will have to cancel this site on January 1, 2006 or at least stop updating it. READ MORE

Natural Nirvana Company Policies and Reason for Being.

Aniyora (Anaur)

After leaving the town of Govardhana, you come to the village of Aniyora. This town is about 3km (2 miles) from the town of Govardhana on the parikrama path. It is said that the cowherd boys and girls had wonderful pastimes here with Krishna.

In Bengali, aniyora means “bring more.” In this village the Annakuta festival took place. After the residences of Braja offered a huge feast to Govardhana, Krishna assumed a huge form and declared that He was actually Govardhana Hill. He then ate all the offered food. Govardhana Hill then asked the cowherd men to “bring more.” This is why this place is named Aniyora.

“Here all the gopis and the gopas enjoyed wonderful pastimes with Sri Krishna. Therefore this place is also called Aniyra. The Annakuta ceremony was celebrated here. O Srinivasa, whoever sees this place has all his desires fulfilled.” (Bhakti-ratnakara, Fifth Wave)

“When Nanda Maharaja offered a large quantity of food to Govardhana Hill, Krishna assumed a gigantic form and eagerly invited everyone to ask boons from Him. Then, deceiving even Srimati Radharani, He ate all the offered food. Let me take shelter of the place known as Annakuta, where Lord Krishna enjoyed these pastimes.” (Stavavali, Vraja-vilasa-stava 75 by Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami)

According to Vishwanath Cakravarti the Annakuta feast took place between Sankarsana Kunda and Dan Nivartan Kunda.

Sankarsana Kunda and Balarama Temple
Sankarsana is another name for Lord Balarama. Sankarsana is an expansion of Lord Balarama. It is said in the Adi Varaha Purana that by taking bath in this kunda the sin of killing a cow is removed. Not far from this kunda, at Sringar Stali, is where Madhavendra Puri found the Gopala Deity.
Near this kunda is a Balarama temple called the Sankarsana Temple. The Balarama Deity in this temple is said to have been installed by Vajranabha about 4,900 years ago. This Deity was put in Sankarsana Kunda during a Muslim attack. The present temple is about 200 years old. The Deity of Balarama is black and is about 1.6m (5 feet) tall. Next to Balarama is a small Deity of Krishna.

The Annakuta festival was celebrated between Dan Nivartana Kunda and Sankarsana Kunda.

How To Get Here This kunda is next to the village of Aniyora. From the road that goes around the village, it is on the right. If you are walking through the village or close to the hill, it is on your left. It is about 400m from Govinda Kunda.
The Balarama temple is a fairly small temple that looks like a house, next to the road that goes through the village.

Temple Timings Darshan times for the Sankarsana Temple are 8 to 11 am and 4 to 8 pm

Copyright ©2001 John Howley and Spiritual Guides