In 2018, His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami took us to Vimala-kunda in Kamyavana, which was formed by the loving tears of the daughters of King Vimala. Krsna and His cowherd boys came here to play and water Their cows. Close to Vimala-kunda, is Dharma-kunda, where four out of the five Pandavas had died after drinking its water. It was not until Yudhisthira took part in a deep conversation with Yamaraja (Dharmaraja), that Yamaraja agreed to revive the remaining Pandavas. Check out Maharaja’s full kirtan and lecture below, along with a few photos, at Vimala-kunda during Parikrama 2018.
Kamyavana is the biggest forest of all the forests in Vrndavana. One can easily spend a month in Kamyavana and visit different places every day. To cover it all today is a challenge. If we travel with the speed of our feet, we will not go very far. If we go with the speed of a bus, then I do not think we will get much further. If we would have helicopters for each one of us, then there would be a lot of noise. That would also not be a good idea. We have to resort to the speed of the mind and travel in our minds to these different places, absorbing the transcendental atmosphere.
We see that the Pandavas were here in Kamyavana. Chaurasi Kumbha is a palace which was constructed by Visvakarma, the
architect of the demigods. There is also Panca Tirtha and many places where the Pandavas performed their pastimes. We can all recall the famous story of Durvasa Muni who came to the Pandavas with sixty thousand disciples, looking for some hospitality. Draupadi had a plate that could provide unlimited quantities of prasadam for the day, but only before she herself ate. Yudhisthira received the guests of Durvasa Muni and said, “No problem.” Draupadi did not dare to say that she had already eaten. She did not know what to do. She was in great despair. She just went to her quarters and cried and prayed to Krsna. Krsna finally came and she explained her problems. Krsna just said, “I am hungry.” It was the last straw for Draupadi but there was a little prasadam left on the spoon. When Krsna ate that little bit of prasadam, He was fully satisfied. And as soon as Krsna was fully satisfied, Durvasa Muni and all his associates felt completely full. They took their bath in Vimala-kunda and left. This famous pastime occurred here in Kamyavana.The Mahabharata describes another famous pastime in Kamyavana. One of the Pandavas, travelling alone, stopped at this pond to drink water. A huge crane told him that he could not drink from the pond. Not caring about the crane, he drank anyway and died. Each time, Yudhisthira sent another Pandava in search of the first but they all drank the water and died. Finally, Yudhisthira went himself. He was thirsty and also wanted to drink the water but the crane said, “No, you cannot drink from here before you have answered these questions.” When the crane had given Bhima the same instruction, Bhīma responded, “Who are you to tell me not to drink?” Yudhisthira however, thought that it was wise to try and answer. The crane asked many questions, the most important
being, “What is the greatest wonder in this world?” Yudhisthira answered, “The most amazing thing is that although we see that everyone dies eventually, we think that it will not happen to us.” Even if we think that it will happen, it still seems like it is far away. Yudhisthira answered the questions and the crane turned out to be Yamaraja himself, also known as Dharmaraja. Yudhisthira satisfied Yamaraja who was actually his father because Kunti received sons from various devatas. The other Pandavas were revived.For many of you this may be a first visit, but it surely is not meant to be the last. Again and again, little by little, we will get to know the dhama to its fullest extent and not only externally. As we visit all these places we develop new relationships and our attachment
to the dhama increases. This dust of Vraja is holy dust. Very powerful influences come from Vimala-kunda. And if you take a bath here you become even more purified than before. Not only do we become more and more purified, but the dhama also lends us its bhava, and we experience chaya bhava – the shadow reflection of bhava. Immediately, we get a taste of love for Krsna.
