Today Is Bahulastami The Appearance Of Radha Kund

In Sri Navadvipa Dham, Sri Radha Kunda has manifested Herself in two places: in the island of Rtudvipa and Antardvipa.

In the Navadvipa Bhava Taranga, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes the mood and activities of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as He came to Rtudvipa.

ritudvipam tato gatva

drishtva sobham vanasya ca

radha-kundadikam smritva

ruroda saci-nandanah

“Arriving at Ritudvipa and seeing the beauty of the forest, Saci-nandana started crying while remembering Radha-kunda and other sacred places.”

In the island of Antardvipa, at the house of Candrasekar Acarya the maternal uncle of Mahaprabhu, is the Sri Caitanya Math, which is the headquarters of Gaudiya Math established by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Under guidance and instruction of Sarasvati Thakura, his disciples brought the sacred waters, Giriraja silas from the sacred Govardhana Hill, and the Tamala and Keli Kadamba trees from Vrindavan. Being constantly absorbed in meditation, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura saw these holy places to be manifested and present in the Math.

The appearance of Radha Kunda is commonly referred to as Bahulastami. Bahulastami is a beautiful pastime wherein the cow Bahula takes shelter of Krishna. On the bank of Krishna Kunda, in Vrndavan, are deities of a cow and her calf, a brahmana, a tiger and Krishna, all of which remind pilgrims of the beautiful pastime of Bahula.

Once, the cow Bahula was peacefully grazing when a tiger attacked her. Bahula requested the tiger to allow her to return to her calf, feed it, and bid it farewell before it made a meal of her. Agreeing to her proposal, the tiger waited for her return. In the meantime, the cow went to her master, a brahmana, and to her calf and told them what had happened.

When they heard her pitiful story, they volunteered themselves to go in her place as the tiger’s meal. Bahula declined their selfless offer, but in the end all three – cow, calf and brahmana – returned to offer themselves to the tiger, who was delighted by this exceedingly favourable turn of events.

While the tiger contemplated which victim to eat first, who should appear but Lord Krishna, the presiding Deity of Dharma and the guardian of all the residence Vraja. Holding His chakra in one hand, Krishna assured the tiger of everlasting fame if he were to show leniency to the cow and its kin for their truthful and honorable conduct. The tiger released Bahula from her promise, and the calf and brahmana rejoiced on their mother being spared and felt blessed by Krishna’s merciful intervention.

Being so pleased with Bahula’s truthfulness and integrity, Krishna named the forest after her – Bahulavan – and blessed her to become His consort, thus in her next birth, Bahula became one of Krishna’s wives. This day was also named after her – Bahulastami.

In Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir, on the day of Bahulastami, devotees go on Parikrama to Radha Kund, Shyamkund at Caitanya mutt and offer their worship.