Twelve Forests of Vrindavan

We are currently in Vrindavan, India, doing the twelve day Parikrama of the forests of Vrindavan. We have visited many Holy sites, and have had Darshana with so beautiful deities, and gotten water sprinkled on us, from many sacred Kunds (ponds, bathing sites). It has been a wonderful trip thus far, although the traffic, and dust, has been rather exhausting. Hare Krishna! -V

The 12 principal forests of Vraja

The 12 principal forests of Vraja, where Krishna and Radha are said to have performed their divine pastimes, are Madhuvana, Talavana, Kumudavana, Bhulavana, Kamyavana, Khadiravana, Vrindavana, Bhadravana, Bhandiravana, Baelvana, Lohavana, and Madhavana.

Seven forests on the west side of the Yamuna River:

Madhuvana, Talavana, Kumudavana, Bahulavana, Kamyavana, Khadiravana, and Vrindavana.

Five forests on the east side of the Yamuna River:

Bhadravana, Bhandiravana, Baelvana, Lohavana, and Mahavana.

Significance:

These forests are considered sacred and are revered places of pilgrimage for devotees.

Of these twelve forests, seven lie on the western side of the Yamuna – Madhuvana, Talavana, Kumudavana, Bahulavana, Kamyavana, Khadiravana and Vrindavana. The 7 forests on the Western side come under Krishna’s patronage. The remaining five – Bhadravana, Bhandirvana, Baelvana, Lohavana and Mahavana – are situated on the Yamuna’s eastern side and are under the jurisdiction of Balaramji.

These forests provide for fresh and juicy grasses for Krishna’s cows and calves. They also provide trees loaded with variety of sweet juicy fruits for rejuvenating Krishna and His cowherd boyfriends after their play and for resting under their shade. These forests provide for the Kunjas or the groves where Krishna performs rasa dance and other pastimes with the Gopis (cowherd damsels of Vraja). Further, the beautiful flowers, leaves, minerals, berries, clay, feathers etc. easily available in these forests are used as natural decorations by the Gopas and the Gopis for themselves and for their dear Shri Krishna. So, these forests of Vraja are the playground for Shri Krishna’s pastimes. Vrinda devi, an expansion of Shrimati Radharani is the presiding deity of the land of Vraja. Under Her direction all the wonderful arrangements are orchestrated in these forests, just suitable for the pleasure pastimes of Shri Shri Radha and Krishna.

Shrimad Bhagavatam describes the glories of Vraja Bhoomi as follows, “In Vraja Bhoomi, the sweet splendour of spring, the king of all seasons, is ever present, and a green velvety carpet covers the surface of the earth. Lotuses of many colours bloom in the ponds and rivers, and the branches of the trees are well adorned with fully-bloomed campa, cameli, beli, juhi and other delightfully fragrant flowers, whose nectar is relished by intoxicated bees. The entire atmosphere is pervaded with both transcendental bliss and the intoxication of youth. These combine to create a kingdom of ever-increasing joy that captivates the body and mind.” Such is the captivating beauty and sweetness of these forests of Vraja.

Krishna’s Playground

24 fruit groves

Braj Bhumi had 24 fruit groves apart from these forests. It also covered numerous villages.

It is in these fruit yielding groves that Krishna played with the cows, His friends and the Gopi of that region. It is in these forests and groves that Krishna vanquished many an Asura, like,

Dhenukasura, associated with the form of an ass, who was preventing the people of Braj from entering the groves
Bakasura, associated with the form of a Baka meaning “crane”, who was a friend to Krishna’s maternal uncle, Kamsa and was sent by Kamsa to kill Krishna. This is different from the Bakasura that Bhima had to encounter in the forest
Aghasura, associated with the form of a huge snake, who was a friend of Bakasura and Putana and was despatched by Kamsa to poison and kill Krishna when He was a baby
Aristasura, associated with the form of a bull, who dug up the riverside and came charging into Braj with a deafening sound
Kaliya, the fierce, venomous snake, which was poisoning the waters of the Yamuna.

Same then and Now

Many areas still bear the same names as narrated in the tales of Krishna such as:

Phisalini Shila – natural slides on which Krishna and his friends used to play
Bhojan Thali – natural stone formation in the shape of a plate on which Krishna and His friends used to have lunch together while grazing their herds
Jadkhor Caves – where Krishna and His cowherd friends used to take shelter
Saugandhini Shila – a stone that Krishna touched and vowed never to leave Braj Bhumi.

It is not that we have suddenly identified these places today and are placing before all. These places that were witness to Krishna’s pranks and antics as a child, still bear the same names as in the legends. Local traditions in these places too, over the last thousands of years, have connected these places continuously with these acts of Krishna.