Rama Ghat, situated about 5 Kilometers east of Shergarh, is the sacred place of Lord Balarama’s Rasa Lila. The residents of Vraja Bhumi had been living in the pain of separation from Krishna and Balarama after the two brothers left for Dwarka. Their distress was so critical that Balarama had to come over to Vrajabhumi to comfort them. It is said that Vasudeva and Devaki did not send Krishna to Vrindavan as they feared that He would never return. Instead, they sent Balarama. Balarama spent the months of Chaitra and Baisakha at Vrajabhumi reassuring His parents, friends, relatives, and the gopis.
Rama-ghta prasanga shunite yar mana
Anayase ghuche tara e bhava-bandhan
(Bhakti ratnakara)
–
Anyone who desires to hear about the transcendental pastimes of Rama Ghat is easily relieved from the bondages of this material world.
Balarama’s rasa Lila
Here at Rama Ghat, Balarama performed Rasa Lila with His Gopis. The place was inundated with bright moonlight and was instilled with the fragrance of lotuses. Varuna deva (Lord of the seas) then induced Varuni, a sweet intoxicating nectar, to begin flowing from the trees. The whole atmosphere was filled with the aroma of sweet wine.
Consuming Varuni, Balarama and His gopis became intoxicated and enjoyed the rasa. Some gopis played mridanga, pinaka, vina, and other musical instruments while others sang beautiful melodious songs glorifying Balarama. Rama Ghat was filled with divine bliss. Balarama then wanted to enjoy in the waters of Yamuna. Hence He called Yamuna, who was flowing some distance away. But Yamuna refused. Becoming angry, Balarama then dragged Yamuna over to this place with His plow. One visiting Rama Ghat can still find Yamuna leaving her natural course and flowing by Rama Ghat. After enjoying the night with the gopis, Balarama consoled them and sent them to their homes the next morning.
Bhakti Ratnakara describes Rama Ghat as follows –
Ohe Srinivasa ! ei Rama-Ghat haya
Etha rasa-sthali kare Rohini tanaya
Yatha Krishna priyasaha kaila rasa-keli
Tatha haite duur – e Ramera rasa-sthali
(Bhakti Ratnakara)
–
O Srinivasa, this is Rama Ghat where Balarama, the son of mother Rohini, performed His rasa-lila. The place of Balarama’s rasa pastimes is far away from where Krishna performed His rasa lila along with His beloveds.
There is a beautiful temple of Lord Balarama, here at Rama Ghat, that commemorates this ancient fascinating pastime. The temple is called Aicha Dauji, as Lord Balarama had pulled Yamuna here with His plow. The serene waters of Yamuna, flowing adjacent to the temple, bestow love for Lord Balarama. People of this place came across as exceedingly simple. The place is quite remote and insulated from the chaotic influences of modern civilization.
Lord Nityananda visits Rama Ghat
Lord Nityananda visited this place during His Vraja mandala Parikrama and became soaked in transcendental bliss. He stayed here for a few days during which He used to play with the local cowherd boys and eat curd, milk, roots, fruits, etc. There is an asvattha tree near the temple where Lord Balarama had performed His rasa lila. Nityananda Prabhu tried in vain to conceal His divine identity, as people correctly guessed that He was none other than Rohini-Nandana, in the garb of an avadhuta.
Attaining the association of Lord Nityananda, Yamuna prayed to Him here at Rama ghat. There was a brahmana, who was a staunch devotee and could not live even a moment without thinking about Balarama. Out of His causeless mercy, Lord Nityananda revealed Himself as Balarama and gave this brahmana darshan of His divine form.
Etha Nityananda ranga dekhi deva-gana
Haila bihavala asru nahe nibarana
(Bhakti Ratnakara)
–
Witnessing the pastimes of Lord Nityananda at this place (Rama Ghat), even the demigods could not restrain their tears.
How to Reach
Rama Ghat, lies on the bank of Yamuna, in a village known as ‘Oba’. It is commonly referred to as Oba Bangar (Bangar – river bank). Some people refer to this place as Aicha Dauji temple. Rama Ghat lies about 5 Kilometers to the east of Shergarh. It falls within the jurisdiction of Mathura District, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.