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Kusuma Sarovar

Kusuma Sarovara, a beautiful sandstone monument, is a 25-minute walk from Radha Kunda. Kusuma means “flower,” and here the gopis would pick flowers for Krishna. Kusuma Sarovara is the best swimming spot in Braja. After you go to Radha Kunda you could spend a relaxing hour here. It is a peaceful place, which not many people visit.

During Lord Caitanya’s time this place was known as Sumanah Sarovara. It is stated in the Caitanya Caritamrita that Lord Caitanya took bath here.
The ghatas at this kunda and the buildings above the kunda were built by Jawahir Singh, the king of Bharatpur around 1764, in honor of his father Raja Suraj Mall. Suraj Mall attacked the Mughal King of Delhi and was killed in the battle. His son Jawahir Singh then attacked Delhi and killed the Mughal king. On the upper level are three tombs. The main tomb of Raja Suraj Mall has beautiful paintings on its ceiling depicting the pastimes of Krishna and the lotus feet of Krishna engraved on the floor. There are also some paintings of Raja Suraj Mall in his court. The other tombs are those of his two queens, Kishori and Hansiya. There are beautiful paintings on the ceiling of these two tombs. There is also a Giriraja Temple here.

Kusuma Sarovara is 140m (460 ft) long and the platforms go out 20m (65 ft) into the water. It is said that this kunda is as deep as three (some say 14) celestial elephants standing on top of each other. It is also said that it is bottomless.
It is said that Asta Vakra Muni did austerities in Satya Yuga to get the darshan of Radha and Krishna, and that he left his body on the bank of Kusuma Sarovara. The small Siva linga temple on the western bank of the kunda marks the spot where he gave up his body. There is also a small murti of him next to the stairs that go up to the upper lever where the tombs are located.

How To Get Here This kunda is about 2km from Radha Kunda. It is between Radha Kunda and the town of Govardhana. It is a large kunda with some impressive architecture, so it is very difficult to miss. Everyone knows where it is located.

Ashoka-lata Temple
Ashoka-lata, a kunja (forest grove), is also on the bank of Kusuma Sarovara. This is where Krishna braided Srimati Radharani’s hair. The Deities in this temple are Radha Banabihariji. The pastime of Krishna braiding Radha’s hair is described by Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami in his Govinda Lilamrita. There is a picture of this pastime at Kusuma Sarovara. There is a small yellow temple, on the left of Kusuma Sarovara, next to the road, that marks the place where Krishna decorated Radharani’s hair. The pujari in this temple and his wife are very nice devotees and are friendly.

Uddhava Temple
Near Kusuma Sarovara is a temple dedicated to Uddhava that was established by Krishna’s great-grandson about 4,900 years ago. There are deities of Surya-narayana and Uddhava in this temple. Uddhava remains here in the form of grass. It is said that he remains at this particular place, because this is on the path that the gopis would take at 11 am to go from Varsana to Radha Kund, for their daily bath.

Krishna sent Uddhava to Vrindavana, with a message to the residents to pacify their deep feeling of separation. After delivering Krishna’s message to the gopis Uddhava realized their exalted position and he prayed, “The gopis of Vrindavana have given up the association of their husbands, sons and other family members, who are very difficult to give up, and they have forsaken the path of chastity to take shelter of the lotus feet of Mukunda, Krishna, which one should search for by Vedic knowledge. Oh, let me be fortunate enough to be one of the bushes, creepers, or herbs in Vrindavana, because the gopis trample them and bless them with the dust of their lotus feet.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.47.61)

Uddhava is the cousin of Lord Krishna. He is the son of Vasudeva’s brother and was almost the same age as Krishna. His bodily features resembled Krishna’s almost exactly. It is said that Uddhava stays at three places, Badrinatha, Dwarka, and here at Kusuma Sarovara.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati visited the Uddhava temple, and he stated in his book Braja Mandal Parikrama that Uddhava narrated the Braja Mandal Mahima (“Glories of Braja”) at this place.

How To Get Here This temple is next to Kusuma Sarovara. It has a good-sized wall around it. If you are standing on the road, it is in the left back corner of Kusuma Sarovara. The temple is in a courtyard surrounded by a high wall. What looks to be the main entrance is almost always locked. The entrance door is a normal sized door on your left as you approach the building.

Copyright ©2001 John Howley and Spiritual Guides