Category: Barsana, Yavat, Nandgaon

Mor kutir (Morkuti) or Mayura kutir is a beautiful temple situated atop a small hill in Barsana. The word ‘Mayura’ means peacock and this temple commemorates the enchanting pastime in which Krishna and Radharani danced as peacocks here at Barsana. Mor kutir is situated within the celebrated forest of Gahvar van that wraps the southeastern side of Brahmagiri Parvata. A beautiful painting depicting Krishna and Radharani dancing as ‘Mayura’ (peacock) is enshrined in this temple. This picture has been painted by an elderly blind Vaishnava who had envisioned this enchanting pastime and had been inspired to paint the same by Srimati Radharani. The elderly Vaishnava was performing his bhajana at this place when he received this transcendental vision, which again reinforces the exalted stature and importance of holy dhams.

Gahvar Van (Gahvarvana) is situated in Chiksauli grama, near Barsana. Chiksauli is famous for being the birthplace of Chitra Sakhi, one of the eight principal companions of Radharani. The word ‘Gahvar’ means caves that are found at the foot of the mountains. It is said that during Krishna’s time, the place was replete with caves. Gahvar van, marked with thick dense forests, is the place where Radharani would come with her companions when she wished to be alone. In the middle of Gahvar Van, we find a beautiful enclosed Pond well-known as ‘Krishna Kunda’. The pond is sometimes also referred to as ‘Gahvar Kunda’. Adjacent to this pond is a temple of Radha and Krishna. Krishna is lovingly worshiped here as ‘Gahvar van Bihari jiu’.

Chiksauli grama – purve ei Chitrasali
etha rai vichitra beshete daksha ali
Parvata gahvar-e dekho nivira kanana
ebe loke kahe ei Gahvar van
(Bhakti Ratnakara)
–
This village which was previously known as Chitrasali, is now called Chiksauli. Radharani used to expertly decorate herself in a beautiful way here. See the dense forests, by the mountain caves. It is rightly referred to as ‘Gahvar van’.

The word ‘Pili’ means yellow. Pili Pokhar, also known as ‘Priya Kunda’ is a yellowish pond situated in the village of Barsana, where Srimati Radharani had cleaned her hands. Once, Radharani visited Nandgaon, the residence of Nanda Maharaja, along with her friends. Mother Yashoda was so impressed with her captivating beauty and refined behavior, that she desired Krishna to marry her. It was a custom in the old days, for mothers-in-law to apply turmeric paste on the hands of their daughters-in-law. Harboring the desire to have Radharani as her daughter-in-law, mother Yashoda applied turmeric paste to her hands. On her way back home Radharani realized that her hands were yellow with Turmeric. She was embarrassed to think what her family members and the people of Barsana would think of her. Hence she rushed to the nearby lake and washed off her hands. The pond turned yellow and since then it came to be known as Pili Pokhar.

The place is also known for the Pilu trees (toothbrush trees) that encircle the lake. Bhakti Ratnakara states that Piyala Sarovar or Pili Pokhar is where Radha and Krishna enjoyed various sporting activities along with their friends on the pretext of picking up the Pilu fruits.

Ei Pilukhor etha pilu-fol chhole
Sakhi-saha Rai-Kanu krira kutuhole
(Bhakti Ratnakara)
–
On the pretext of picking up Pilu fruits, Radha and Krishna would enjoy various sporting activities along with their friends, here at Pilu Khora (Pili Pokhar).

Padma Purana states that Lord Brahma had previously performed severe austerities with the desire to witness the pastimes of Radha and Krishna and obtain the dust of their lotus feet upon his head. Being pleased with Brahma, Krishna granted him the boon to manifest himself as mountains here at Barsana. As a result, Brahma manifested himself as the Brahmagiri mountains here at Barsana. Brahmagiri has four different peaks representing the four heads of Lord Brahma. There is a second hill situated right next to Brahmagiri known as Vilasa Parvata or Vishnu Parvata which is considered to be a manifestation of Lord Vishnu. The four peaks of these hills are – Bhangarh, Managarh, Danagarh, and Vilasgarh. Bhangarh (the highest of the four peaks) is where Vrishabhanu Maharaja had established his palace and where Radharani manifested her childhood pastimes. Sankari Khor is the narrow passage between Brahmagiri Parvata and the Vilasa Parvata. ‘Sankari’ means narrow and the word ‘Khor’ translates to lane. Hence ‘Sankari Khor’ refers to the narrow passage between the two mountains through which one can only pass in a single file. One might be lean or bulky but no matter how much one tries, only a single person can walk through Sankari Khor. It is impossible for two to walk side by side. It is here at Sankari Khor that Krishna manifested His  Dana Keli pastimes.