Vraja Darshan - Raval
In the fifth wave of Sri Bhakti Ratnakara, Narahari Chakravarti Thakur glorifies the birthplace of Srimati Radharani. In this first excerpt, he quotes Raghava Pandit’s discussion with Srinivas Acharya when he took Narottama das Thakura and Srinivasa Acarya on Vraja mandal parikrama
ahe srinivasa dekha e ‘ravala’-grama
etha vrishabhanura vasati anupama
sri-radhika prakata ha-ila eikhane
yahara prakate sukha vyapila bhuvane
“O Srinivasa see Ravala, the village where Vrishabhanu used to live happily. Sri Radhika appeared here, and by Her auspicious appearance the whole world was filled with joy.”
In the Chaitanya lila, after coming from Gokula, Gaurachandra and His associates stayed here for sometime. He became overwhelmed with ecstatic love when He saw Ravala.
Raval is the most auspicious birthplace of Srimati Radharani who is the embodiment of mahabhava, the essence of Sri Krishna’s pleasure potency. Raval is 9km (6 miles) south of Mathura, on the other side of the Yamuna River. It is about halfway between Mathura and Gokula. It is not so frequently visited place, which inspires unique mood of separation in the hearts of Her devotees. Only by great fortune will someone desire to visit this holy place, and reverentially touch and remember it.
Srimati Radhika is most loved by Her father Vrishabhanu Maharaja. For this reason, devotees usually refer to Her as “Vrishabhanu-nandini” (the daughter of Vrishabhanu Maharaja).
The word ravala means “an influential landlord”. This place is named after Sri Vrishabhanu Maharaja, who was a most influential landlord.
Once King Vrishabhanu went to the Yamuna river to take bath. He saw a golden lotus flower that shone like a million suns in the middle of the river. In the middle of the lotus flower was baby Srimati Radharani. Lord Brahma appeared before King Vrishabhanu and told him that in his previous life he and his wife, Kirtida, had performed great austerities to get the consort of Lord Vishnu as their daughter.
Sri Radha's effulgent form illuminated the ten directions. Whoever sees Radha once is freed from the threefold miseries. Her body is extremely soft and Her complexion is like molten gold.
King Vrishabhanu took the child home, but found her to be blind. Narada Muni appeared before the king and told him that despite the child's blindness he should go ahead and perform all the auspicious birth ceremonies Nanda Maharaja brought baby Krishna along for the ceremonies held by king Vrishabhanu for his daughter.
When baby Krishna crawled before Srimati Radharani, She could smell the wonderful aroma of His body, and at that moment She opened Her eyes. The first person She saw was Her eternal consort, Sri Krishna.
Sri Radha would wander around with many other girls, and Her mother felt joyful watching Her. Vrishabhanu with his associates would sit at one place and, like this, there is no limit to the fun in Ravala.
There is a small temple here called Larly-Lal. Small, but very sweet Deities of Radha and Krishna are said to be installed by Vajranabha, Krishna's great grandson.
After circumambulating the altar and offering prayers to Radharani one can climb to the roof and see dried Yamuna bed. On the opposite side of the temple is Radharani's garden. Radha-Krishna tree in Radharani's garden resemble white Radha standing next to blackish Krishna. There are ruins of old temple in Radharani's garden.
The desire to become a maidservant of Srimati Radhika awakens in the heart of one who comes to this place, hears pure Vaishnavas speak hari-katha here and touches its sacred dust.
Srila Raghunath Das Goswami, in the Vraja-vilasa-stava prays as follows: “May I be filled with love for Ravala - the place of Maharaja Vrishabhanu, which is surrounded in all directions by surabhi cows, cowherd boys and gopis. The precious gem, Sri Radha, appeared there in the mine of Kirtida's womb, which is praised by the demigods, rsis, and human beings.”
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