Although originating in the eternal Veda, the philosophies and practices of the various Indian spiritual lineages and their Gurus are often quite different from each other. The different Sampradayas sometimes augment their ideas and actions with knowledge collected from village folklore, local Brahmins, saints, and famous contemporary books.
Shri Rupa Goswamipada shows that occasionally this is also done in the Gaudiya Vaishnav Sampradaya. He says that the teachings in his book “Radha-Krishna Ganoddesa Dipika” come from the Vedas and other sources including:
Oral tradition (sastra-lokayoh);
Local Vrajavasis (mathura-mandale-loke);
Books written by devotees (granthesu-vividhesu)
Great devotees and saints (tad-bhaktesu-ca–sadhusu) (Radha Krishna Ganodesh Dipika verses 3-5)
As it was 500 years ago with Shri Rupa Goswamipada, it is the same today in Vrindavan where many of the spiritual ideas, beliefs and practices arise from oral tradition, local Brajwasis, new books, and famous Vaishnavas.
And for all these reasons, there is confusion about different spiritual truths and the location of Krishna’s pastime places. Some say Radharani appears in Raval, others say Barsana. Who’s right? They are both right, because transcendence, being unlimited in nature, can manifest in different times and ways to different devotees and transcendentalists.
Here are some more examples of confusion: In Braj today, there are two holy places called prachina (old, original) Gokula. One is ancient, and the other one was established 500 years ago by Shri Vallabhacaryaji.
There are two sacred places in Navadvipa Mandala, West Bengal claiming to be Sri Chaitanya’s “birthplace”. The ancient one, established 450 years ago in Navadvipa town, is called “Prachin Janmasthana”, or “Prachin Mayapur”. And the modern one established seventy-years ago called “Mayapur”.
Thus it’s easy to see why there is confusion over the appearance day of Radha Kund. The popular belief and tradition is that Kartik Krishnastami i.e. “Bahulastami” is the appearance day of Radha Kund.
As Gaudiya Vaishnavs, however, we will understand the truth on all matters and attain spiritual perfection, Radha-Krishna Prema, by thinking, living and acting according to authentic Veda sastra and the teachings of our Gaudiya Vaishnav mahajanas.
Shri Krishna confirms this point in Shri Gita (18.63):
Bhagavan Shri Krishna says, “If one acts independently without following the rules and teachings of the sastra, one will not attain happiness, spiritual perfection or liberation to Goloka Vrindavan.”
Although we see that individual Gaudiya Gurus, groups and missions have variant views and practices, still, most of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas accept and follow the final authority and teachings of the Six Goswamis.
The teachings of one’s personal Guru are like the district court, and the teachings of the Six Goswamis are the Supreme Court — the ultimate and final authority on all spiritual matters.
In this regard, Shri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja says:
ei-chaya-guru, siksa–guru–ye–amara,
“The six Goswamis — Shri Rupa Goswami, Shri Sanatana Goswami, Shri Bhatta Raghunatha, Shri Jiva Goswami, Shri Gopala Bhatta Goswami, and Shri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami are my siksa gurus.” Caitanya Caritamrita. 1.2.36-37)
Therefore, all sincere Gaudiya Vaishnavas must accept and follow the teachings of the Six Goswamis in order to attain Krishna Prema, and the eternal service of Radha and Krishna in Vrindavan.
Exact Day of Radha Kund Appearance
Shri Rupa Goswamipada mentions that one should bathe in Radha-kund on Kartik Bahulastami. In “Mathura Mahatmya” (420), He cites the Padma Purana: “One who bathes in Radha Kund on Bahulastami in Kartik becomes Haripriya, very dear to Shri Krishna.”
However, it is only Shri Jiva Goswami who clearly mentions the EXACT DAY AND TIME of the most glorious appearance of Shri Radha Kund. In Shrimad Bhagavatam (10.45.3) tika, Shri Jiva Goswami says, “Shri Krishna KILLED ARISTASURA ON CAITRA PURNIMA (full moon: March-April) when Krishna was 11 years old.”
Determining the exact time of the full moon of Caitra month, however, can be a little tricky. For example, this year (2019), the Hindi Vraja Bhumi Calendar and others say April 19th is Caitra Purnima. However, the moon was actually full on the night of April 18th beginning at 9.26 P.M.
By 4.41 P.M. on the 19th, it was no longer Purnima because the moon had already entered a new tithi (day) and month i.e. Vaisakha ekam. The Radharaman 2019 Temple calendar says the Purnima vrata began on April 18th.
Therefor, in 2019, the Caitra Purnima appearance of Radha Kund was blissfully celebrated at midnight under the full moonshine on April 18th.
Exact Time of Radha Kund Appearance
The Visnu Purana (part V, section 14, verse 1) says:
prodosardhe-aristah-samupagatah,
“The Arista demon arrived in the middle of Pradosh Kala (late evening) when Sri Krishna was relishing Rasa Lila with His gopi sweethearts.”
Pradosh Kala runs from PM 836-1048, which means Arista came to finish Shri Krishna, and ruin the rasa dance at approximately 9.45pm on Caitra Purnima evening.
After a brief tussle, Bihariji blasted the black beast and formed His beautiful Shyama Kund. After some playful joking with Her Priyatama, Priyaji and Her sakhis created the magnificent lake of love divine, Shri Radha Kund.
For one hour (10-11 PM), Shri Krishna fought Arista. Then in one hour (11PM-12 AM), Madhuri Radha manifested Her divine kunda according to Shri Visvanatha Cakravartipada’s tika to Shrimad Bhagavatam (10.36.16): divyam-sarah-prakatitam–ghatika–dvayena
Now everyone clearly understands that according to our Gaudiya Vaishnav acaryas, Radha Kund and Shyama Kunda manifested at midnight 12 AM on Caitra Purnima.
But then another question arises: Since there was confusion this year about Purnima, in the future how will you determine which day is right? For 32 years, our Pandita Baba Shri Krishna Dasji Maharaja repeatedly told us, “YOU MUST FOLLOW THE SIX GOSWAMIS?”
Shri Jiva Goswami answers the question in Gopala Campu (I. 31.8), which says:
“When the full moon of the Caitra month is in the CITRA NAKSATRA (star), that is the EXACT TIME OF THE APPEARANCE OF Radha Kund.”
And this year, 2019, on April 18th night the full moon was in CITRA naksatra. Whereas on the calendar day of Purnima, April 19th, the full moon was in Swati naksatra which is NOT THE APPEARANCE DAY of Radha Kund.
By the mercy of Radhe-Shyama and Shri Jiva Goswami, we hope that now all the Gaudiya Vaishnavs are completely convinced about the exact day and time of the grand appearance of Shri Radha Kund.
So, you might ask, what is the significance of Bahulashtami?
Discovery Day
Bhakti-ratnakara and Chaitanya-caritamrita (Madhya chapter 18) say that Mahaprabhu stayed in Braj Mandal for about 4 months (September-December). Shri Chaitanya Dev first came to Mathura (Cc 2.17.155); then Gaurahari toured the 12 forests of Vrindavan (Cc 2.17.193); and He arrived in Arita Grama (Radha Kunda) on Kartik Bahulastami when MAHAPRABHU DISCOVERED RADHA KUNDA (Cc 2.18.1-13).
Since then, the old Vrajavasi sadhus and Gaudiya saints say that Gaudiya Vaishnavas have been especially honouring Mahaprabhu’s discovery of Radha Kunda by bathing in Radha Kunda on Bahulastami in Kartik. The Goswamis also endorse this practice.
Shri Rupa Goswamipada in Mathura Mahatmyam (verse 439, 441) and Shri Sanatana Goswamipada in Hari Bhakti Vilasa (16.207, 210) both quote the Padma Purana, Kartik mahatmyam which says: “Anyone who bathes on the day of Bahulastami in Radha-kunda becomes very dear to Bhagavan Shri Hari, karttike-bahulastamyam, tatra-snatva-haripriya.”
Since the Goswamis don’t give exact bathing times, Gaudiya Gurus in Radha Kunda direct disciples to take a daytime dip in the beautiful kunds of love divine.
There is no real conflict or problem with having two appearance days because in spiritual matters everything is perfectly included within the complete whole, Shri Krishna. All the different spiritual truths, practices and places exist together in perfect harmony vibrating beautifully for the happiness of Shri Shri Radha Krishna.
Conclusion
Caitra Purnima is Radha Kund appearance day, whereas Bahulashtami is Radha Kund’s discovery day by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
We pray that Shri Giriraja Baba and Srimati Radharani will inspire all of you to come next year on Caitra Purnima to honour the divinely auspicious appearance of Shri Shri Radha and Krishna in Their most merciful, liquid Prema forms as
Shyama Kund and Radha Kund.
Besides being beautiful, Caitra Purnima is the first Purnima of the Hindu new year. One can only imagine how incredibly beautiful, romantic and blissful it was on that magical full moon night five millenniums ago when Madhuri-Madhava manifested Radha-Shyama Kundas, and enjoyed a festive rasa dance on the banks!
Beautiful Truths of Bhagavata 009 “Beauty & Compassion”
Real Day & Time of Radha Kund Appearance
Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das
Although originating in the eternal Veda, the philosophies and practices of the various Indian spiritual lineages and their Gurus are often quite different from each other. The different Sampradayas sometimes augment their ideas and actions with knowledge collected from village folklore, local Brahmins, saints, and famous contemporary books.
Shri Rupa Goswamipada shows that occasionally this is also done in the Gaudiya Vaishnav Sampradaya. He says that the teachings in his book “Radha-Krishna Ganoddesa Dipika” come from the Vedas and other sources including:
Oral tradition (sastra-lokayoh);
Local Vrajavasis (mathura-mandale-loke);
Books written by devotees (granthesu-vividhesu)
Great devotees and saints (tad-bhaktesu-ca–sadhusu) (Radha Krishna Ganodesh Dipika verses 3-5)
As it was 500 years ago with Shri Rupa Goswamipada, it is the same today in Vrindavan where many of the spiritual ideas, beliefs and practices arise from oral tradition, local Brajwasis, new books, and famous Vaishnavas.
And for all these reasons, there is confusion about different spiritual truths and the location of Krishna’s pastime places. Some say Radharani appears in Raval, others say Barsana. Who’s right? They are both right, because transcendence, being unlimited in nature, can manifest in different times and ways to different devotees and transcendentalists.
Here are some more examples of confusion: In Braj today, there are two holy places called prachina (old, original) Gokula. One is ancient, and the other one was established 500 years ago by Shri Vallabhacaryaji.
There are two sacred places in Navadvipa Mandala, West Bengal claiming to be Sri Chaitanya’s “birthplace”. The ancient one, established 450 years ago in Navadvipa town, is called “Prachin Janmasthana”, or “Prachin Mayapur”. And the modern one established seventy-years ago called “Mayapur”.
Thus it’s easy to see why there is confusion over the appearance day of Radha Kund. The popular belief and tradition is that Kartik Krishnastami i.e. “Bahulastami” is the appearance day of Radha Kund.
As Gaudiya Vaishnavs, however, we will understand the truth on all matters and attain spiritual perfection, Radha-Krishna Prema, by thinking, living and acting according to authentic Veda sastra and the teachings of our Gaudiya Vaishnav mahajanas.
Shri Krishna confirms this point in Shri Gita (18.63):
yah–sastra–vidhim–utsrjya, vartate–kama–karatah,
na-sa-siddhim–avapnoti, na-sukham-na-param–gatim
Bhagavan Shri Krishna says, “If one acts independently without following the rules and teachings of the sastra, one will not attain happiness, spiritual perfection or liberation to Goloka Vrindavan.”
Although we see that individual Gaudiya Gurus, groups and missions have variant views and practices, still, most of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas accept and follow the final authority and teachings of the Six Goswamis.
The teachings of one’s personal Guru are like the district court, and the teachings of the Six Goswamis are the Supreme Court — the ultimate and final authority on all spiritual matters.
In this regard, Shri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja says:
ei-chaya-guru, siksa–guru–ye–amara,
“The six Goswamis — Shri Rupa Goswami, Shri Sanatana Goswami, Shri Bhatta Raghunatha, Shri Jiva Goswami, Shri Gopala Bhatta Goswami, and Shri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami are my siksa gurus.” Caitanya Caritamrita. 1.2.36-37)
Therefore, all sincere Gaudiya Vaishnavas must accept and follow the teachings of the Six Goswamis in order to attain Krishna Prema, and the eternal service of Radha and Krishna in Vrindavan.
Exact Day of Radha Kund Appearance
Shri Rupa Goswamipada mentions that one should bathe in Radha-kund on Kartik Bahulastami. In “Mathura Mahatmya” (420), He cites the Padma Purana: “One who bathes in Radha Kund on Bahulastami in Kartik becomes Haripriya, very dear to Shri Krishna.”
However, it is only Shri Jiva Goswami who clearly mentions the EXACT DAY AND TIME of the most glorious appearance of Shri Radha Kund. In Shrimad Bhagavatam (10.45.3) tika, Shri Jiva Goswami says, “Shri Krishna KILLED ARISTASURA ON CAITRA PURNIMA (full moon: March-April) when Krishna was 11 years old.”
Determining the exact time of the full moon of Caitra month, however, can be a little tricky. For example, this year (2019), the Hindi Vraja Bhumi Calendar and others say April 19th is Caitra Purnima. However, the moon was actually full on the night of April 18th beginning at 9.26 P.M.
By 4.41 P.M. on the 19th, it was no longer Purnima because the moon had already entered a new tithi (day) and month i.e. Vaisakha ekam. The Radharaman 2019 Temple calendar says the Purnima vrata began on April 18th.
Therefor, in 2019, the Caitra Purnima appearance of Radha Kund was blissfully celebrated at midnight under the full moonshine on April 18th.
Exact Time of Radha Kund Appearance
The Visnu Purana (part V, section 14, verse 1) says:
prodosardhe-aristah-samupagatah,
“The Arista demon arrived in the middle of Pradosh Kala (late evening) when Sri Krishna was relishing Rasa Lila with His gopi sweethearts.”
Pradosh Kala runs from PM 836-1048, which means Arista came to finish Shri Krishna, and ruin the rasa dance at approximately 9.45pm on Caitra Purnima evening.
After a brief tussle, Bihariji blasted the black beast and formed His beautiful Shyama Kund. After some playful joking with Her Priyatama, Priyaji and Her sakhis created the magnificent lake of love divine, Shri Radha Kund.
For one hour (10-11 PM), Shri Krishna fought Arista. Then in one hour (11PM-12 AM), Madhuri Radha manifested Her divine kunda according to Shri Visvanatha Cakravartipada’s tika to Shrimad Bhagavatam (10.36.16): divyam-sarah-prakatitam–ghatika–dvayena
Now everyone clearly understands that according to our Gaudiya Vaishnav acaryas, Radha Kund and Shyama Kunda manifested at midnight 12 AM on Caitra Purnima.
But then another question arises: Since there was confusion this year about Purnima, in the future how will you determine which day is right? For 32 years, our Pandita Baba Shri Krishna Dasji Maharaja repeatedly told us, “YOU MUST FOLLOW THE SIX GOSWAMIS?”
Shri Jiva Goswami answers the question in Gopala Campu (I. 31.8), which says:
“When the full moon of the Caitra month is in the CITRA NAKSATRA (star), that is the EXACT TIME OF THE APPEARANCE OF Radha Kund.”
yada-hi–CITRA–yuta–purna–candram-purnimam-anu–turnita–cetah
And this year, 2019, on April 18th night the full moon was in CITRA naksatra. Whereas on the calendar day of Purnima, April 19th, the full moon was in Swati naksatra which is NOT THE APPEARANCE DAY of Radha Kund.
By the mercy of Radhe-Shyama and Shri Jiva Goswami, we hope that now all the Gaudiya Vaishnavs are completely convinced about the exact day and time of the grand appearance of Shri Radha Kund.
So, you might ask, what is the significance of Bahulashtami?
Discovery Day
Bhakti-ratnakara and Chaitanya-caritamrita (Madhya chapter 18) say that Mahaprabhu stayed in Braj Mandal for about 4 months (September-December). Shri Chaitanya Dev first came to Mathura (Cc 2.17.155); then Gaurahari toured the 12 forests of Vrindavan (Cc 2.17.193); and He arrived in Arita Grama (Radha Kunda) on Kartik Bahulastami when MAHAPRABHU DISCOVERED RADHA KUNDA (Cc 2.18.1-13).
Since then, the old Vrajavasi sadhus and Gaudiya saints say that Gaudiya Vaishnavas have been especially honouring Mahaprabhu’s discovery of Radha Kunda by bathing in Radha Kunda on Bahulastami in Kartik. The Goswamis also endorse this practice.
Shri Rupa Goswamipada in Mathura Mahatmyam (verse 439, 441) and Shri Sanatana Goswamipada in Hari Bhakti Vilasa (16.207, 210) both quote the Padma Purana, Kartik mahatmyam which says: “Anyone who bathes on the day of Bahulastami in Radha-kunda becomes very dear to Bhagavan Shri Hari, karttike-bahulastamyam, tatra-snatva-haripriya.”
Since the Goswamis don’t give exact bathing times, Gaudiya Gurus in Radha Kunda direct disciples to take a daytime dip in the beautiful kunds of love divine.
There is no real conflict or problem with having two appearance days because in spiritual matters everything is perfectly included within the complete whole, Shri Krishna. All the different spiritual truths, practices and places exist together in perfect harmony vibrating beautifully for the happiness of Shri Shri Radha Krishna.
Conclusion
Caitra Purnima is Radha Kund appearance day, whereas Bahulashtami is Radha Kund’s discovery day by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
We pray that Shri Giriraja Baba and Srimati Radharani will inspire all of you to come next year on Caitra Purnima to honour the divinely auspicious appearance of Shri Shri Radha and Krishna in Their most merciful, liquid Prema forms as
Shyama Kund and Radha Kund.
Besides being beautiful, Caitra Purnima is the first Purnima of the Hindu new year. One can only imagine how incredibly beautiful, romantic and blissful it was on that magical full moon night five millenniums ago when Madhuri-Madhava manifested Radha-Shyama Kundas, and enjoyed a festive rasa dance on the banks!
Shri Radha Kund Dhama ki jai!
Shri Guru ki jai!
Jai Jai Shri Radhe!
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