Celebrating the appearance of Radhakund

ISKCON will be observing the appearance day of Radhakund on October 16.

The ceremony will start at 6.30pm at the Hare Krishna Temple, 20 Toucan Place.

The origin of Radhakund is believed to have occurred after Krishna killed the bull-demon Aristasura.

After slaying Aristasura, Krishna approached Radharani to engage in a love affair.

However, Krishna was turned down after Radharani claimed he was impure as he had committed the sin of killing a bull, a religious symbol in the Hindu belief.

In order for him to cleanse himself of the sin, Radharani suggested that Krishna bathe in all the sacred rivers.

Eager to start a relationship with her, Krishna immediately put his foot into the ground and made a large hole. He called all the sacred rivers to enter into the hole, which they did, thereby forming Syama-kunda (the bathing place of Syama that is the colour of a dark rain cloud).

After bathing, Krishna stated that he had become pure, but the gopis (cow-herd girls) had now become impure, having sided with a demon, even though he appeared in the form of a bull.

Radharani, along with some of her gopi friends, broke their bangles and dug a hole with the broken pieces, but no water was found and Krishna laughed at their efforts.

The gopis then formed a line to the Manasi Ganga and started to fill the hole with water that was passed from one gopi to another.

At that time, all the sacred rivers again arrived and requested permission to enter into Radharani’s kunda (small reservoir), which they did after receiving Radharani’s blessing.

Since then, devotees have celebrated the day.

For further information, Nityananda Pran Das can be contacted on 084 524 6754.