Appearance of Radha-Kunda
In Nectar of Instruction, the glorification of Śrī Rādhā-Kuṇḍa is as follows:
vaikuṇṭhāj janito varā madhu-purī tatrāpi rāsotsavād
vṛndāraṇyam udāra-pāṇi-ramaṇāt tatrāpi govardhanaḥ
Radha kundam ihāpi gokula-pateḥ premāmṛtāplāvanāt
kuryād asya virājato giri-taṭe sevāṁ vivekī na kaḥ
TRANSLATION: The holy place known as Mathura is spiritually superior to Vaikuntha, the transcendental world, because the Lord appeared there. Superior to Mathura-Puri is the transcendental forest of Vrindavana because of Krishna’s rasa-lila pastimes, and superior to the forest of Vrindavana is Govardhana Hill, for it was raised by the divine hand of Sri Krishna and was the site of His various loving pastimes, and above all, the superexcellent Sri Radha-Kunda stands supreme, for it is overflooded with the ambrosial nectarean prema of the Lord of Gokula, Sri Krishna. Where, then, is that intelligent person who is unwilling to serve this divine Radha-Kunda, which is situated at the foot of Govardhana Hill?
karmibhyaḥ parito hareḥ priyatayā vyaktiṁ yayur jñāninas
tebhyo jñāna-vimukta-bhakti-paramāḥ premaika-niṣṭhās tataḥ
tebhyas tāḥ paśu-pāla-paṅkaja-dṛśas tābhyo ’pi sā rādhikā
preṣṭhā tadvad iyaṁ tadīya-sarasī tāṁ nāśrayet kaḥ kṛtī
TRANSLATION: In the shastra it is said that of all types of fruitive workers, he who is advanced in knowledge of the higher values of life is favored by the Supreme Lord Hari. Out of many such people who are advanced in knowledge (jnanis), one who is practically liberated by virtue of his knowledge may take to devotional service. He is superior to the others. However, one who has actually attained prema, pure love of Krishna, is superior to him. The gopis are exalted above all the advanced devotees because they are always totally dependent upon Sri Krishna, the transcendental cowherd boy. Among the gopis, Srimati Radharani is the most dear to Krishna. Her kunda (lake) is as profoundly dear to Lord Krishna as this most beloved of the gopis. Who, then, will not reside at Radha-Kunda and, in a spiritual body surcharged with ecstatic devotional feelings (aprākṛta-bhāva), render loving service to the Divine Couple Sri Sri Radha-Govinda, who perform Their aṣṭa-kālīya-līlā, Their eternal eightfold daily pastimes. Indeed, those who execute devotional service on the banks of Radha-Kunda are the most fortunate people in the universe.
Krishnasyoccaiḥ praṇaya-vasatiḥ preyasībhyo ’pi rādhā
kuṇḍaṁ cāsyā munibhir abhitas tādṛg eva vyadhāyi
yat preṣṭhair apy alam asulabhaṁ kiṁ punar bhakti-bhājāṁ
tat premedaṁ sakṛd api saraḥ snātur āviṣkaroti
TRANSLATION: Of the many objects of favored delight and of all the lovable damsels of Vraja-bhumi, Srimati Radharani is certainly the most treasured object of Krishna’s love. And in every respect, Her divine kunda is described by great sages as similarly dear to Him. Undoubtedly Radha-Kunda is very rarely attained even by the great devotees; therefore it is even more difficult for ordinary devotees to attain. If one simply bathes once within those holy waters, one’s pure love of Krishna is fully aroused.
Why is Śrī Rādhā-Kuṇḍa considered so exalted? Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Rādhā-Kuṇḍa belongs to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, who is the most beloved object of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. The great sages describe that Śrī Rādhā-Kuṇḍa is as dear to Kṛṣṇa as Rādhā Herself. There is a quotation from Laghu-bhāgavatāmṛta (Uttara-khaṇḍa 45), as quoted in Chaitanya-charitamrita:
yathā rādhā priyā viṣṇos
tasyāḥ kuṇḍaṁ priyaṁ tathā
sarva-gopīṣu saivaikā
viṣṇor atyanta-vallabhā
“Just as Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is dear to the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa [Viṣṇu], so Her bathing place [Rādhā-Kuṇḍa] is equally dear to Kṛṣṇa. Among all the gopīs, She alone stands supreme as the Lord’s most beloved.”
Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī recommends that even if one cannot live permanently on the banks of Rādhā-Kuṇḍa, he should at least take a bath in the lake as many times as possible. This is a most important item in the execution of devotional service.
Sacred waters of Śrī Rādhā-Kuṇḍa, the holiest lake in Vraja
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura writes that even great sages and great devotees like Nārada and Sanaka do not get an opportunity to come to Rādhā-Kuṇḍa to take their baths...
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura writes that Śrī Rādhā-Kuṇḍa is the most select place for those interested in advancing their devotional service in the wake of the lady friends (sakhīs) and confidential serving maids (mañjarīs) of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī...
Today, Rādhā-Kuṇḍa is worshiped with deep reverence by Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas and stands as the holiest place of divine love in all of creation.
