There is an old kadamba (burflower) tree on the bank of the Yamuna river at Shergarh where Krishna took the clothes of young, unmarried girls from Vraja who were bathing after a month-long Katyayani-vrata. The place has come to be known as Chir Ghat. These girls would wake up every day at dawn, bathe in the river, and worship Katyayani devi with a mantra asking for Krishna to be their husband. During the vrata, they only ate unspiced Khichdi, which is a type of food that purifies the body before a ritual ceremony. To worship goddess Durga, the gopis made an earthen deity on the river bank and offered sandalwood pulp, fruits, leaves, garlands, and other fragrant substances.They prayed to the goddess as follows –
katyayani maha maye
maha yoginy adhisvari
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.
On the day the gopis finished their month-long vow, Krishna came to the Yamuna river bank where the Gopis had left their clothes and had entered the water at dawn. While the gopis were playing in the river, Krishna stole their clothes and climbed up the kadamba tree. He laughed and called out to the gopis to come out of the water one by one and retrieve their clothes. According to Srila Viswanath Chakravarti Thakura, although the gopis were initially embarrassed and protested, they ultimately surrendered to Krishna with loving ecstasy, as He fulfilled their heart’s desire. Hence the gopis satisfied Krishna’s request and surrendered themselves completely. According to Srila Jiva Goswami’s Gopal Champu, Krishna not only took the clothes of the gopis at Chir Ghat but also stole their hearts. Although He returned their clothes, he kept their hearts with Him. The below passage from Srimad Bhagavatam describes the message of Lord Krishna to the Gopis here at Chir Ghat.
Sankalpo viditah sadhyo
Bhavatinam mad-archanam
Mayanumoditah so ‘sau
Satyo bhavitum arhati
Na mayy aveshita-dhiyam
Kamah kamaya kalpate
Bharjita kvathita dhanah
Prayo bijaya neshate
Yatabala vrajam siddha
Mayema ramsyatha kshapah
Yad uddishya vratam idam
Cerur aryarchanam satih
(Srimad Bhagavatam 10.22.25-27)
–
Lord Krishna said, “Oh, saintly girls, I comprehend that your actual intention behind this austerity was to adore Me. I accept your goal and it shall be accomplished. Those who concentrate their minds on Me do not hanker after material desires for self-gratification. This is akin to barley grains that are burnt by the sun and are then cooked; they cannot germinate again. Therefore, depart now, O gopis, and go back to Vraja. Your wish is granted, and you shall enjoy the forthcoming nights in My association. Ultimately, this was the objective of your vow to honor goddess Katyayani, O pure-hearted ones.”
The book Vraja-bhakti-vilasa by Srila Narayana Bhatta Goswami contains a pranama mantra for Chira ghat in Chapter 10.
“O Gopi-vallabha, O Chira ghat, please accept my most humble obeisances. You are adorned with clothes of different colors.”
According to Narayana Bhatta Goswami’s commentary, reciting this mantra six times while performing acamana, namaskara, or paying obeisances at this location and offering cloth of specific colors to the tree there will result in wearing beautiful clothes for the rest of one’s life.
What to See at Chir Ghat
- Deity of goddess Katyayani
- Kadamba tree on the bank of Yamuna
- Radha Krishna deities at the base of kadamba tree
It is worth noting that there is another location called Chir Ghat in Vrindavan, where the same pastime of Krishna stealing the clothes of the gopis had occurred. Both of these places are celebrated as Chir ghat and the same pastime had taken place at these two different places in different eras (Kalpa).
How to Reach
Chir Ghat is located on the bank of the River Yamuna, near Shergarh, around 4 kilometers south of Tapovan. It is situated near the village of Siyaraha, which is around 5 kilometers north of Gangroli village. The place is well-connected via roadways and is approximately 40 kilometers from Mathura railway station.