The town of Kaman, Rajasthan is home to a revered temple, the Vrinda devi and Radha Govinda temple, which occupies a central position within the town. The temple is famous for the presence of the deities enshrined within its walls. Of particular note is the deity of Vrinda Devi, who was originally installed by the Vajranabha, great grandson of Krishna, approximately 5,000 years ago.
Years later, Rupa Goswami rediscovered the deity on the banks of Brahma Kunda in Vrindavan and installed her in a small temple adjacent to the Radha Govinda temple in Vrindavan. However, due to the tumultuous political climate of the time, the king of Jaipur ordered the transfer of Vrinda Devi, along with Radha Gopinatha, Radha Madana-Mohan, and Radha Govinda, to Jaipur to protect them from Mughal attack. The deities were loaded onto bullock carts and began the journey to Jaipur, but they made a stop for three nights in Kamyavan.
On the morning of the fourth day of their journey, the carts carrying the other deities moved on as planned, but Vrinda Devi’s cart remained immobile despite all efforts to move it. It was then that Vrinda Devi revealed to the temple priests that she wished to remain in Vrindavan, the land of her origin. She declared that while Krishna, the Lord of the Universe, may move freely, she, as the goddess of Vrindavan, could not bear to leave her beloved homeland.
Since that day, Vrinda Devi has resided in the Radha Govinda temple in Kamyavan, which has become one of the most prominent temples in the area. Kamyavan is one of the twelve forests and falls within the purview of Vraja Mandala. The temple is revered by devotees who come from far and wide to seek the blessings of Vrinda Devi and the other deities enshrined within.
Who is Vrinda devi ?
The name of the Vrindavan forest derives from Srimati Vrinda devi, who is also known as the embodiment of Tulasi. Along with Govardhan and Yamuna, Tulasi is believed to exist eternally in the spiritual realm and to manifest in the material world to purify living beings and bestow upon them the pure love of God. In a previous era, Vrinda devi, born as the daughter of King Kedera, performed severe austerities in the Vrindavan forest for sixty thousand years, ultimately sanctifying the area before attaining the spiritual abode. As a result of Lord Vishnu’s pleasure with her, he granted the boon that any austerities performed in Vrindavan would quickly bear excellent fruit.
Tulasi, an extension of Vrinda devi, later appeared as the daughter of King Kusadhvaja and also executed severe penances in Vrindavan, perfecting herself. Being a devoted servant of Lord Krishna’s lotus feet, she is beloved to him, and no offering to Krishna is considered complete without a Tulasi leaf. Vrinda devi is a close friend of Radharani and perpetually resides in Vrindavan. She possesses a beautiful molten gold complexion, wears bluish garments, and adorns herself with pearls and flowers. Her father is Chandrabhanu, and her mother is Phullara devi, while she is married to Mahipala Gopa and has a sister named Manjari. Following the instructions of Paurnamasi (Yogmaya devi), Vrinda devi longs to arrange meetings between Radha and Krishna.
To create a festive atmosphere for Radha and Krishna to manifest their sweet amorous pastimes, Vrinda devi ornaments the groves and bowers. She wakes up Radha and Krishna in their groves before sunrise, ensuring that they could reach Yavat and Nandgaon without arousing suspicion, and provides them with all the necessary paraphernalia such as swings, musical instruments, colors, ornaments, food, drinks, and other accompaniments for Krishna and the gopis to enjoy each other’s association. She also keeps a yellow parrot named Daksha, who supervises thousands of other parrots acting as spies, warning Vrinda devi of any unforeseen events, particularly the presence of Jatila (Radha’s mother-in-law) or Chandravali (Radha’s fiercest rival). Although Vrinda devi is the proprietor of Vrindavan, she offers her entire kingdom at the lotus feet of Radha, who is known as Vrindavaneshwari (queen of Vrindavan). Without the grace of Vrinda devi, one cannot gain entrance into the transcendental abode of Vrindavan or the confidential pastimes of Radha and Krishna.
About Kamyavan
Kamyavan, the fourth among the twelve forests of Vraja mandala, is renowned for its unparalleled beauty and is named after the word kamya, which means “extremely beautiful,” “well-adorned,” or “highly attractive.” The enchanting landscape of this forest, with its numerous lakes, wells, ponds, trees, creepers, flowers, fruits, and a wide variety of bird species, is a favorite pastime place of Sri Krishna. It is here that He performed many of His childhood pastimes. According to the Vishnu Purana, Kamyavan is adorned with eighty-four sacred ponds, eighty-four temples, and eighty-four pillars, which were established by the famous king Shri Kamasena. The forest is home to countless small and large kundas and features a Parikrama (circumambulation) of fourteen miles, making it an ideal destination for spiritual seekers and nature lovers alike. Kamyavan served as a temporary dwelling for the Pandavas during their forest exile. One of the notable events that occurred in this sacred forest was the incident where Lord Krishna saved the Pandavas from the anger of Durvasa Muni.
What to See :
- Deity Vrinda Devi
- Deity of Radha Govinda
- Nitai Gaura Jagannath deities made of Neem
How to Reach
Vrinda devi temple is located at the center of the town of Kaman, which falls within the Bharatpur district of Rajasthan. Located roughly 70 kilometers away from Mathura, this temple is positioned about 3 kilometers from Kaman Police Station. The closest railway station is Deeg, which is approximately 19 kilometers away.