VARSANA!

VARSANA. Varsana is the pastime place of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s beloved Śrīmatī Rādhikā. Lying at the heart of this village is a multitude of the Divine Couple’s sweet and secret amorous pastimes, together with Their transcendental moods and desires. The Vaiṣṇava community reveres Varsānā. This venerable land with its lakes, ponds, gardens and forests – such as Gahvaravana, Sāṅkarī-khor and other pastime places – reminds one of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa’s different pastimes. In Vraja, the grass, small shrubs, creepers, trees, animals, birds, insects, snakes and so forth are all composed of sac-cid-ānanda; or eternality, spiritual consciousness and full transcendental bliss. They assist Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in Their pastimes, and are very dear to Them. It is said in the scriptures that even eminent realised souls, like Brahmā and Śaṅkara, repeatedly pray to attain a birth like theirs so that they too may be able to serve Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. For instance, Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī says in Śrī Vrajavilāsa-stava (verse 102): yat kiṣcit tṛṇa-gulma-kīkaṭa-mukhaṁ goṣṭhe samasta hi tat sarvānandamaya mukunda-dayitaṁ līlānukūlam param śāstrair eva muhur muhuḥ sphuṭam idaṁ niṣṭaṅkitaṁ yāṣcayā brahmāder api sa-spṛhena tad idaṁ mayā vandyate “All the grass, shrubs, insects and other creatures found in Vraja are very dear to He who is the very embodiment of all transcendental bliss, Śrī Mukunda, and they assist in His pastimes. All the scriptures have repeatedly established this fact, and devotees ranging from Brahmā to Uddhava have expressed a desire to take birth in Vraja amongst these species. For these reasons, I worship all the creatures who reside in Vraja.” Varsānā ’s original name is Vṛṣabhānupura. Vṛṣabhānu Mahārāja, the father of Śrīmatī Rādhikā, lived here with his family. Varsānā is situated fourteen miles west of Govardhana and six miles east of Kāmyavana. According to the Varāha and Padma Purāṇas, Brahmā pleased Śrī Hari at the end of Satya-yuga by performing arduous worship. Brahmā then asked for the following boon: “Please perform Your sweet pastimes with the vraja-gopīs on my very form and allow me to behold these līlās. Please make my life blessed, by especially performing swing pastimes in the rainy season and by performing Holī in spring.” Pleased with Brahmā, Śrī Hari instructed him, “Go to Vṛṣabhānupura and take the form of a hill there. In that form you will be able to behold all Our sweet pastimes.” And so it happened that Brahmā assumed the form of a hill at this place in Vraja and fulfilled his cherished desire. Vraja-mandala Parikrama. Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaj.