Just 5 km north of Govardhan and 26 km west of Mathura, Radhakund is a large lake, where Shri Krishna is said to have killed Arishta- the bull demon. To commemorate this event, every year on the 8th day of the dark half of the month of Kartik (October / November), a large fair is held at this spot.

Radha Kund was itself created at 12 midnight on Bahulastami, the eighth day (astami) of the waning moon, in the month of Kartika (Oct-Nov). Thousands of people came to bathe that night in the Kunda. It was an ecstatic event for the devotees! The town where the Radha Kund is situated is also known as Aristavan because the demon, Aristasura, was killed here by Krishna. The Kunda situated is 26 km (16 miles) west of Mathura.

For years Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda were lost and no one knew their exact location. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to Vrindavana in 1515, he rediscovered these two important kundas. When Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami first stayed at Radha Kunda, Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda were very small (4mx4m). Later, Sampanna, a wealthy davotee offered a large amount as donation to Lord Narayana. That day, he saw Lord Krishna in his dreams, who told him to give the money to Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami for renovating Radha Kunda into a bigger tank.

Syama Kunda is also known as Arista Kunda or Krishna Kunda- At the center of Radha Kunda is a small walled-in area called Kancana Kunda. This is the kunda that Srimati Radharani and the Gopis dug with their bangles. It is said that Vajranabha built a bathing tank at Syama Kunda to commemorate the place where Krishna killed Aristasura. This kunda is also called Vajranatha Kunda. When there is water in Syama Kunda this kunda cannot be seen. In the eight directions surrounding Radha Kunda are the kunjas (garden groves) of Sri Radha’s asta-sakhis (eight main Gopis).

• Radha Kunda Pratibhu Deities
  In 1670, many of the original Deities of Vrindavana were moved to Jaipur. Their first halt on the journey to Jaipur was Radha Kunda. Small replicas of the original temples at Vrindavana were built here. Pratibhu-murtis (identical to the original Deities) were established at Radha Kunda to honour the Lord’s visit here and are being worshipped since then. The residents of Radha Kunda can visit the seven major temples of Vrindavana without leaving the Kunda.
  
  The Jhulan Sthali is the site of Radha and Krishna’s swing pastimes, in their aprakata-lila. There is a magnificent swing here, which is in the shape of a sixteen-petal lotus flower. On this swing Radha and Krishna sit in the centre facing each other and the sakhis and manjaris sit facing Radha and Krishna. The swing is being swung by an assembly of sakhis. The Ghat on this side of Radha Kund is known as Jhulan Ghat, named after the swings here.
  
  
• Pandava Trees
  Near the Jhulan Ghat is the place where the Pandavas resided as 'trees'. One day, on Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami's excavation to Syama Kunda, Maharaja Yudhishthira appeared in a dream. He told him not to cut the trees besides Syama Kunda, because he was living there with his brothers as 'trees'. They were meditating on the banks of Syama Kunda and, therefore, dug around the five trees, giving Syama Kunda its irregular shape.
  
  Some say the Pandavas have left and only a dead tree (in front of the bhajana kutir of Raghunatha Dasa Goswami) marks the place of their previous residence. It is also believed by some that the Pandava Arjuna tree is still alive and is located to the left of Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami’s bhajana kutir (if you are facing Syama Kunda), next to Syama Kunda.
  
  
• Manasa Pavan Ghata
  At Manasa Pavan Ghata, Radharani and her friends bathe every day at noon. This Ghata is close to Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami’s bhajana kutir. There is a pilu bush above the Ghata on which the Gopis would hang their clothing when they took bath in the Syama Kund.

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