City-information
for Govardhana
Manasi Ganga Kund is traditionally the starting and ending point of the circumambulation of Govardhana Hill. It is a large lake located in the middle of the town of Govardhana, and it is in the center of Govardhana Hill. One starts by bathing and ends by bathing here. This kund is a million times more potent than the Ganges River, because by bathing in the Ganges River one gets liberation and by bathing here one gets "Krishna prema," love of Krishna.
Mana means "mind" and ganga refers to the Ganga River. Once Nanda and Yasoda, hearing of the glories of the Ganges River, had a desire to bathe in it. All the cowherd boys did not want to leave Vrindavana, though Krishna was willing to take them there despite the great distance. They wishfully said, "I wish mother Ganga would come here." To fulfil the desires of His devotees, Krishna entered into meditation and from His mind sprung the kund known as Manasi Ganga.
The bhajana kutir of Santana Goswami is at Manasi Ganga. He would perform Govardhana parikrama as a daily vow. Next to the bhajana kutir is the Chakaleswara Siva-lings worshiped in Vrindavana. It protects this part of the holy dhama. Chakra Tirths, which was created by the Sudarsana Chakra, is embedded in the northern bank of Manasi Ganga.
On the bank of Manasi Ganga is the Mukharavinda Temple. There are two shilas in this temple. One shila is marked with the outline of Krishna's crown (Mukut-shila). According to Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaja the other shila is the mouth of Govardhana (Mukharavindashila).
The Harideva Temple,near Manasi Ganga, was establised by Krishna's great-grandson 4800 years ago. Harideva is one of the fourt presiding Deities of Vrindavana, so one should ask His blessings before doing parikrama. The temple is a three-minute walk from the souther bank of Manasi Ganga. Lord Harideva is the presiding Deity for the western petal of the lotus of Braja Dhama. He is the lifter of Govardhana Hill. The temple was built by King Bhagandas of Jaipur, whose son, Raja Man Singh, built the Govindaji Temple in the sixteenth century during the region of Emperor Akbar. The original Deity of Harideva was moved to the town of Rajdhani near Kanpur, when Aurangzeb tried to destroy the Deities and temples of Vrindavana. Lord Caitanya danced before this Deity.
Brahma Kund is the water that collected after Lord Brahma bathed Lord Krishna. This is where Lord Brahma offered his prayers after he took the cowhered boys away and hid them to test the power of Krishna. It is located on the southern bank of Manasi Ganga. Both Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda visited here. Manasi Devi Temple is located on the bank of Brahma Kund. Manasi Ganga and one of the four main goddesses of Braja Dhama. The others are Vrinda Devi, in Kamyavana; Yogamaya Devi in Vrindavan; and Pataleswari in Mathura.
After taking bath in Manasi Ganga and darshan of Harideva, one returns to the parikrama path and continues on through the market. One will then come to a busy crossing where you should turn right on the road that goes over Govardhana Hill about three hundred meters ahead. Just before reaching the top of the hill, you will come to the Laksmi Narayana Temple on your left. This is one of the 108 Divya Desam Temples mentioned by the Alwars as being one of the most important temples in India. These Deities are considered to be the utsava (festival) Deities of Govardhana Hill. Just after the Lakshmi Narayana Temple, before the top of the hill is a left turn to continue the parikrama of Govardhana.
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