Belvan, which is the tenth forest of Vraja Mandala, got its name due to the plentiful bael (bilva) trees present during Krishna’s pastimes. As Krishna and His friends grazed their cows in Belvan, they engaged in various sports and enjoyed the ripe bael fruits available in the forest. This is described in Bhakti Ratnakara –
Ramakrishna sakha saha e bilvavanete
pakka bilvaphala bhunje mahakautukete
–
At this location, Balarama, Krishna, and their companions celebrated and enjoyed consuming ripe bael fruits.
Lakshmi devi’s austerities
Upon hearing Narada’s description of Sri Krishna’s enchanting rasa-leela, Sri Lakshmi developed a strong desire to witness it firsthand. However, she was aware that only the gopis possessed the necessary qualifications due to their pure and undivided love for Krishna. To gain entry into the rasa-leela, one must receive the mercy of Srimati Radhika and her representatives, the gopis. The Gopis’ love for Krishna is unconditional and selfless, to the point that they are willing to do anything to please Him. They are even willing to offer the dust from their feet to relieve Krishna’s headache, even if it means enduring eternal punishment in hell for such an offense.
Nevertheless, Lakshmi Devi, being the queen of Vaikuntha, was too proud to surrender to Radharani and believed that she could enter the rasa-leela through her own penance. Despite her intense austerities at Belvan, she has not yet succeeded in gaining entry into the rasa-leela. Nevertheless, she continues her penance with the hope of being granted access in the future. Mahalakshmi Mandir in Belvan is dedicated to Lakshmi devi who continues to perform her austerities here with the hope of gaining entrance in Krishna’s rasa leela.
In the Srimad Bhagavatam, the wives of the serpent Kaliya recall this pastime and offer prayers to Sri Krishna. They express their amazement at Kaliya’s good fortune, wondering what sort of spiritual practice he must have performed to become the possessor of the dust from Krishna’s lotus feet. This dust is so highly coveted that not even Lakshmi, Krishna’s own wife, could obtain it despite relinquishing all material pleasures and engaging in rigorous austerities at Belvan for an extended period in accordance with prescribed rules and regulations.
During His stay at the home of Venkata Bhatta in South India, Sri Chaitanya humorously discussed this pastime with his staunch Sri Vaishnava host. He posed the question as to why Sri Lakshmi Devi, despite possessing all the wealth and opulence of Vaikuntha, desired to participate in Krishna’s Rasa Leela. Furthermore, even after performing severe austerities, she was still unable to cross the Yamuna and enter Vrindavan. Through this discussion, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu emphasized the supremacy of Krishna’s sweetness over His opulence and the superiority of Vrindavan over Vaikuntha.
A magnificent temple of Maha Lakshmi Devi is situated at Belvan, featuring captivating deities of Lakshmi Devi and Gopal worshiped therein. The temple compound is vast, well-maintained, and airy. Additionally, the temple premises house the worshipable lotus footprints of Lakshmi Devi and ancient deities of Radha-Krishna. Besides these, the temple also houses deities of various demigods, such as Kuvera and Ganesh, which are also worshiped with devotion.
How to Reach
Belvan is situated on the opposite bank of the Yamuna river from Vrindavan, and it is easily accessible via well-connected roads. The Maha-Lakshmi Mandir in Belvan is well-known and is located only an hour’s ride from Mathura railway station.