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Punchari Kund & Apsara Kunda

Punchari Kunda (Navala Kunda)
Govardhana Hill is said to resemble a peacock. This kunda is also called Punchari Kunda because this area is the tail (punch) of Govardhana. Punchari is part of the area where Krishna performed the spring rasa dance with the gopis.
Navala means “fresh or new.” The pastime of this place is that one time Radha and Krishna were so absorbed in ecstasy that they melted into the two kunds located at the end of Govardhana Hill. Krishna melted into Navala Kunda. Radha and the gopis melted into Apsara Kunda.

On the bank of this kunda is the Navala-bihari temple.

How To Get Here This kunda is right next to Apsara Kunda. This kunda is at the opposite end of Govardhana Hill from Radha Kunda.

Apsara Kunda
This kundas is at the tail end of Govardhana. Apsara Kunda is said to have been created when the seven main Apsaras came and bathed Lord Krishna. The beautiful ladies of the heavenly planets are known as Apsaras. This pastime is said to have happened when Indra bathed Krishna. In the Varaha Purana it is said that if you bathe in this kunda you get the benefit of performing hundreds of rajasuya and aswamedha sacrifices. The beautiful forest near Apsara Kunda is called Apsara Vana.

On the bank of Apsara Kunda is the Apsara-bihari Temple. To the left of this temple is the Dauji (Balarama) temple. There is also a small Siva temple next to this kunda, with a Siva-linga in it called Apsara Iswara.

Next to this is the forest called Apsara Vana

How To Get Here This kunda is right next to Navala Kunda. This kunda is left of Navala Kunda.

Narasimha Temple
Next to Navala Kunda, on a small hill, is a Narasimha Temple. It is said that the beautiful black Deity of Narasimhadeva in this temple is over one thousand years old. It is possible to ask the pujari here to lift up the outfit of Narasimha to show Hiranyakasipu being ripped apart on his lap, and an image of Prahlada.

You can get a great view of Govardhana Hill from the hill this temple is on. You can get an even better view from the top of the temple, if you can get up there.

Rasa Stali
This place is close to Punchari. Krishna is said to have performed His rasa-lila pastimes here. In this area there are tamala and kadamba trees that are in pairs. These trees are said to date back 5,000 years ago and are said to have witnessed the rasa-lila dance.

Raghava Pandit’s Bhajana Kutir and Sutala Vana Forest
Just after passing Apsara Kunda, you enter the forest of Sutala Vana, and close by is Sutala Kunda. Next to this kunda is the Sri Nathaji temple. This temple is less than a hundred years old. The Sutala Vana forest used to have many kadamba and tamala trees. Tamala trees are said to represent Krishna and kadamba trees Radharani and the gopis.

If you go around the Nathaji temple you come to Mani Kandali Cave. It is said that Radha and Krishna used to have pastimes in this cave. The mouth of this cave is now sealed. Raghava Pandita, a close associate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, used to do bhajana in this cave. He was a dear friend of Raghunatha Dasa Goswami.

He knew most of Krishna’s pastime places in Braja. He is described in Gaura Ganoddesa Dipika as being Sri Campakalata Sakhi, one of the eight main gopis. He is one of the main personalities in Bhakti-ratnakara, by Narahari Cakravarti. He enjoyed guiding the followers from Bengal of Lord Caitanya around Braja Mandal. He guided Narottama Dasa Thakura and Srinivasa Acarya on a tour of Braja, which included Govardhana Hill.

How To Get Here The Mani Kandali cave is close to Apsara Kunda. To get here you walk along the side of Apsara Kunda towards Govardhana Hill. The dirt path bents to the left and you walk about 170m (170 steps)

You will then see a dirt path that goes left towards the main parikrama road, and right toward Govardhana Hill. You take the right path for about 50m towards Govardhana Hill. To your left will be the Nathaji Temple. In front of you and a little to the right, in the woods, is Sutala Kunda. If you walk straight and then go to the left, around the Nathaji Temple, you come to Mani Kandali cave.

Punchari Ka Lautha Baba Temple
This temple is dedicated to Lautha, a friend of Krishna, who sat and waited for Krishna to return to Vrindavana from Mathura. The deity in this temple is in a sitting position. Because this temple is close to Punchari he has become known as Punchari Ka Lautha. The deity of Lautha is red, has a moustache, and he is sitting. It is covered by layers of vermilion, which is regularly put on it. This deity is one of the most famous in Braja.

When Akrura was taking Krishna away to Mathura, Lautha asked Krishna when He would return. Krishna told him he would return the day after tomorrow. Lautha said he would not eat or drink anything until He returned. He is offered just water, but not any solid food. He then came to this place and sat down. This deity of Lautha is still waiting for Krishna to return.

How To Get Here This temple is about 70m from Apsara Kunda, on the main parikrama path. It is a bigger than average roadside temple. Everyone knows where it is located, but they may have trouble understanding what you are asking for.
Temple Timings This temple is open all day.

Copyright ©2001 John Howley and Spiritual Guides