Tapovan, situated about one Kilometer to the east of Akshay Vat, lies on the bank of the river Yamuna. This is the sacred place where the unmarried Gopis of Gokul had performed austerities for an entire month of Agrahayana, desiring to attain Krishna as their husband. Every day the gopis would wake up at dawn, bathe in Yamuna, and worship Katyayani devi with the desire of attaining Krishna. During this month, these girls only subsisted on unspiced Khichdi (salty porridge). This kind of food (havisyanna) purifies one’s body before one enacts a ritualistic ceremony. The Gopis constructed an earthen deity of goddess Durga on the river bank and worshiped her with sandalwood pulp, fruits, leaves, garlands, and other aromatic substances. They prayed to the goddess as follows –
katyayani maha maye
maha yoginy adhīsvari
nanda gopa sutam devi
patim me kuru te namah
(Srimad Bhagavatam – 10.22.4)
–
O goddess Katyayani, O devi Mahamaya, O possessor of great mystic prowess, O mighty controller, please make the son (Krishna) of Nanda Maharaja my husband. I offer my prayers unto you.
How to Reach Tapovan
Tapovan came across as remote and resplendent with natural beauty. Beautiful deities of Radha-Gunjabihari are worshiped here today. Tapovan is situated about 40 Kilometers from Mathura railway station and 6 Kilometers from the Shergarh police station. The place lies near the village of Kajroth Bangar, adjacent to the Siyaraha-Shergarh Highway, and falls within the Chhata block of the Mathura district.