Category: bhandirvan

Banshi vat, also known as Vamshi vata, is a revered location in Bhandirvan that lies just a few hundred meters from Bhandirvata, where Radha and Krishna’s wedding occurred. Krishna used to ascend this tree and play His flute to summon the cows grazing nearby, thus gathering them and bringing them back home. Occasionally, on a lovely and serene evening, He would also summon His beloved gopis from this spot. When they arrived, the rasa-lila would unfold under the shade of the Banshi vat. We consider ourselves greatly fortunate to have visited Banshi vat and to have smeared our sinful bodies with the dust of this holy place.

Bhandirvan, located in Vraja Mandala, is a sacred forest where the divine Gandharva marriage of Radha and Krishna took place long before Radha’s marriage to Abhimanyu. Lalita sakhi organized the necessary arrangements for the wedding while Lord Brahma presided as the head priest. In India, it’s typical for parents to choose a spouse for their children, but a gandharva marriage involves the personal selection of the bride and groom, without a lengthy ceremony. The couple exchange garlands and simple vows. The vat (banyan tree) at Bhandirvan holds significant importance in the pastimes of Radha and Krishna, where they shared many happy memories together. Krishna and his friends would often enjoy lunch together under the shade of this tree, sent by their mothers, and engage in playful activities.