Bahulastami

On the eighth day of the waning phase of the Damodara month, the appearance day of Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda is celebrated by the residents and pilgrims of Vraja. Bathing in Radha-kunda is especially beneficial on this day. By this bath, one gains the favor of Radharani, by which one easily gains the favor of Krishna.

It is an auspicious start for the rest of the year, and we encourage devotees reading this to kindly consider donating on this day.

"The holy place known as Mathura is spiritually superior to Vaikuntha, the transcendental world, because the Lord appeared there. Superior to Mathura-puri is the transcendental forest of Vrindavana because of Krishna's rasa-lila pastimes. And superior to the forest of Vrindavana is Govardhana Hill... And, above all, the superexcellent Sri Radha-kunda stands supreme, for it is overflooded with the ambrosial nectarean prema of the Lord of Gokula, Sri Krishna." — Srila Rupa Goswami, Nectar of Instruction (Upadeshamrita)

The Origin of Radha-kund

The pastime begins after Lord Krishna killed the bull-demon Aristasura. When Krishna approached Srimati Radharani to engage in loving pastimes, She rebuked Him, stating that He was impure because He had committed the sin of killing a bull — the symbol of religion. She suggested that to counteract this sin, He must bathe in all the sacred rivers of the universe.

Krishna, eager to please Srimati Radharani, shoved His lotus foot into the ground, creating a large cavity, and called all the sacred rivers in person to enter into it. They appeared before Him, offering prayers, and entered the cavity to form Syama-kunda (the bathing place of Syama).

After bathing, Krishna teased Radharani, stating that He had become pure, but the gopis had become impure by siding with a demon (even though he appeared as a bull). Radharani and Her gopi friends then broke their bangles and dug a hole in the ground with the broken pieces. Since there was no water in it, Krishna laughed. The gopis then formed a line to the Manasi Ganga, passing water from one to another to fill the hole. At that time, all the personified sacred rivers emerged from Syama-kunda, paid obeisances to Radharani, and requested Her permission to enter Her kunda. Upon receiving Radharani's blessing, they entered, forming Radha-kunda.

Midnight Bathing Ritual

Radha-kunda appeared at midnight, and thus the grand bathing ritual takes place at midnight on Bahulastami. Thousands of devotees gather at the banks, offering garlands, prasadam, and pumpkins (gourds) into the water before taking a holy dip in Radha-kunda, followed by Syama-kunda.

Many devotees prefer to bathe at the ghat where Lord Nityananda's consort, Jahnava Mata, used to bathe. The atmosphere is deeply spiritual, filled with ecstatic kirtan and chants glorifying Srimati Radharani.