‘Yavat’ or ‘Javat’ is a small village located to the north of the Nandisvara hills. It is about a 10 minutes drive from Nandgaon. Radha and Krishna have performed their innumerable confidential pastimes here at Yavat. This is where Radharani used to stay with her in-laws after her marriage. She used to live here with her husband Abhimanyu, mother-in-law Jatila, and sister-in-law Kutila.
Ohe Srinivas ara ei ramya-sthan
Ei dekho yao-gram ‘yavat’ akhyan
Yavat gramete vilaser sthan yata
Se ati ascharya taha ke kahibe kata
(Bhakti Ratnakara)
–
O Srinivasa, behold this enchanting Yao village also known as ‘Yavat’. The innumerable pastime places of Yavat are wonderful and beyond one’s descriptive ability.
Radha was married to Abhimanyu on the advice of Paurnamasi devi (Yogmaya). It must be noted that Radha and Krishna are intrinsically one and cannot be separated. They are one who have manifested themselves into two, solely to enjoy their sweet pastimes. Hence, it was only to introduce Parakiya bhava (relationship outside marriage), that Radha got married to Abhimanyu. Relationship with Krishna in Parakiya bhava (love outside marriage) is far more spiritually advanced and intense than Svakiya bhava (love within the institution of marriage), as it requires overcoming countless obstacles to defend and nourish one’s love. However, it must be remembered that this ‘Parakiya rasa’ belongs to the spiritual world and should not be imitated in this material world. In other words, ‘Parakiya bhava’ can only be relished when Krishna is the center of the relationship.