Welcome to the 3rd day of the Parikrama.

Today we will visit the most celebrated hill of Govardhana, which Krishna lifted atop his finger for 7 days. Shaped like a peacock, the Govardhana provided Lord Krishna and the cows with fresh grass and sweet water from its streams.

We will also visit Radha Kunda, the most sacred lake in the universe, and many other holy sites on the periphery of #Govardhana Hill.

GOVARDHANA
Krishna lifted the Govardhana Hill when He was only seven years old and protected His pure devotees at Vrindavana from the wrath of Indra, who was overflooding the place with rain. He instructed the residents of Vrindavana to perform Govardhana worship and circumambulation of the hill.

#Govardhana parikrama stretches for 23 Km. The most sacred of pilgrimage places in the universe are found along the Govardhana parikrama.

#RADHAKUNDA / SHYAMA-KUNDA
Kunda means a small lake or pond. Radha-Kunda and Shyama-Kunda are sacred ponds near Govardhana Hill personally created by Radharani and Krishna following the slaying of the bull-demon Aristasura. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bathed in these waters. Following His directions, Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami renovated Radha-Kunda.

SAMADHIS (NEAR RADHA-KUNDA)
Radha-Kunda is supreme amongst all the sacred places in Vraja and many exalted Vaishnavas performed their bhajan here. After a lifetime of service, many left their bodies here. The Teen Gosvami Samadhi pitha houses the samadhis of Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami, Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami, and Raghunatha Dasa Goswami. All three of them entered samadhi on the same day but in different years.

KUSUMA-SAROVARA
Srimati Radharani and the gopis picked flowers from Kusuma-Sarovar before going to Radha-kunda to meet Krishna. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu bathed in this lake during His Braja Mandal parikrama in 1515. Narada Muni became qualified to witness the confidential pastimes of Radha and Krishna by bathing here.

MANASI-GANGA
Krishna killed Vatsasura, a demon who appeared in the form of a calf. He then manifested the Ganga from His mind to bathe in it. Thus, this lake received the name Manasi-Ganga. The magnificent Harideva mandir stands at its shore. Maharaja Vajranabha installed the Deity of Harideva nearly 5,000 years ago. Nearby is the bhajana kutir of Sanatana Gosvami.

DANA-GHATI
Srila Prabhupada explains: Being a cowherd girl, Srimati Radharani regularly carries milk in a container and often goes to sell the milk on the other side of the Yamuna. To cross the river, She has to pay the boatman, and the spot where the boatman collects his fares is called the dana-ghati. Lord Sri Krsna stops Her from going, telling Her, “”First You have to pay the fee; then You will be allowed to go.”” This pastime is called dana-keli-lila. (Cc Madhya 14.173 p)

GOVINDA-KUNDA
Govinda-Kunda was formed when Indra, defeated by Lord Govinda, offered prayers to Him and bathed Him. Maharaja Vajranabha installed the Gopala Deity nearby. This Deity was lost over time. Later Sri Madhavendra Puri discovered this Deity and personally performed the abhiseka with water from Govinda-Kunda.

UDDHAVA-KUNDA
Uddhava-Kunda is situated near Kusuma-Sarovar. Uddhava, the learned disciple of Brihaspati and Krishna’s beloved cousin, resides here in the form of grass. Maharaja Vajranabha established Uddhava-Kunda.