Barsana

Barsana as the name itself suggests it is the place where Lord Krishna’s love is always raining. Barsana is a village in the Indian State Uttar Pradesh. I am sure you must have heard about the internationally credited Lathamar Holi. Yes, this is celebrated in Barsana, the transcendental land beyond the realm of this material world.

Srimati Radharani is the queen of Vrindavana and Vrindavana is the topmost dham. To be admitted within the sacred borders of this holy realm, one must gain permission from Radharani. And Radharani lives in Barsana. Hence Vaishnavas or devotees of Krishna they revere Barsana dham much more than any other holy place.

This is only due to the hope that one day She might recommend us to Lord Sri Krishna, our very life itself. This divine land with its crystal clear kundas, gardens, forests and other lila sthalis reminds one of pastimes of Radha and Krishna.

Barsana is the residence of Radharani

Barsana was originally known as Vrishabhanupura due to Maharaja Vrishabhanu who lived here. In the village of Barsana Radharani spent the early part of Her youth, prior to Her marriage with Abhimanyu.

Although Radharani was originally born at Raval near Gokula, her father Vrishabhanu Maharaja, moved away from Raval at the same time when Krishna’s father Nanda Maharaja also moved away from Gokula due to the fear of so many demons.

Nanda Maharaja and Vrishabhanu were both kings and rulers of the cowherd men, and both were extremely wealthy because they possessed thousands of cows and maintained large stocks of milk products like butter, yogurt, and ghee, as well as large stock of grains. They both built opulent and spacious palaces on the summit of adjacent hills in Nandagoan and Barsana.

When Radharani arrived at Barsana She was around 6 years old and on the verge of entering Her ‘kaishori-lila’. Her arrival at Barsana also marks the start of the celebrated gopi-lila pastimes and with the help of Her girlfriends, the sakhis, She tries to capture Krishna’s heart through spontaneous act of pure unadulterated love and devotion.

In Bhakti-ratnakara it says, “Here is Vrishabhanupura, also known as Varsana (Barsana). Close to this mountain is the residence of Maharaja Vrishabhanu. On this wonderful mountain the Prince of Vraja, Vrajendra Kumar, performs the dana-lila unseen by others.”

The Origin of Barsana

Besides being the ancestral home of Radharani, the Vishnu Purana says that Varsana is also mentioned as being one of the important adivanas or sub-forests of Vraja. The whole village of Barsana is settled on and around the Brahmagiri Parvata which has got four peaks – Danagarh, Mayur Kuti, Vilasgarh and Maangarh.

The Varaha Purana states

puraakrta yugasyaante brahmanaa praarthito harih
mamopari sadaa tvam hi raasa-kridaam karishyasi
sarvaabhi vraja gopibhih praavrtkaale krtaartha krt

Jointly Padma Purana mentions

tathaa brahman vrajam gatvaa vrshabhaanu-puram gatah
parvato bhavasi tvam hi mam kriidaam ca pashyasi
yasmaat brahma parvato abhud vrishabhaanu pure sthitah

Sometime in Satya-yuga Lord Brahma performed tapasya to please Lord Sri Hari. Being pleased with his tapasya, Lord Narayana gave him darshan and asked him to ask for a boon. Lord Brahma requested that he be allowed to witness the confidential lilas of Lord Sri Krishna for which Lord Vishnu told him that it was not possible to witness them in the body he currently had. He asked him to come to Vraja and become a hill and promised him that the end of Dwapara-yuga Lord Krishna would perform the rasa-lilas on the very same hill especially the jhulan lila in the rainy season and Holi in the spring.

Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami in Sri Vraja-vilasa-stava 102 says that all the grasss, shrubs, insects and other creatures found in Vraja are very dear to Him who is the very embodiment of all transcendental bliss, Sri Mukunda, and they assist in His pastimes. All the scriptures have repeatedly established the fact, and devotees ranging from Brahma to Uddhava have expressed a desire to take birth in Vraja amongst these specices. For these reasons, I worship al the creatures who reside in Vraja.

yat kinchit trina-gulma-kiikata-mukham goshthe samasta hi tat
sarvaananandamaya mukunda-dayitam lilaanulam param
shaastrair eva muhur muhuh sphutam idam nishtankitam yaancayaa
brahmaader ap isa-sprhena tad idam mayaa vandyate

Holy places to visit in Barsana

If you are planning to immediately pack yourself to Barsana, then don’t miss these holy places to visit. It needs at least 2 days to see the holy places around the sacred hill.

Sreeji Mandir atop Barsana Hill

Daan Garh

Mayur Kuti

Sakari Kor

Gahavarvana

Dohani Kunda

Vrishabhanu Kunda

Kirtida Kunda

Pili Pokhara

How to reach Barsana?

Best way to reach Barsana is to book yourself on the Vrajabhumi Yatra by Tirtha Yatra once or twice in a year. During this yatra, a Vrajavasi who is multi-lingual takes you to all the holy places drowning you into the ocean of nectarean lilas of Radha and Krishna.

On your own, you can take many ways.

By Air: Ofcourse the nearest Airport is New Delhi International Airport. From there you may hire a taxi or take a train to Barsana.

By Rail: The nearest railway station to Barsana is Govardhana which is connected from Mathura.

By Roadways: It is well connected by the Roadways – the highway. You may drive till Barsana and relish the lilas of Lord Sri Krishna.