Barsana

Situated high on a hilltop that overlooks Varsana is the majestically beautiful temple known as the Shriji Mandira. This is one of the most famous temples in Vraja and was built on the spot where Radharani once lived in Her father’s palace. The temple is also called the Ladliji as well as Larilylal Mandira. The village of Varsana is the place where Radharani spent the early part of Her youth, prior to Her marriage with Abhimanyu. Although She was originally born at Raval near Gokula, when Krishna’s father moved his kingdom from Gokula to Nandagrama due to the fear of demons, his close friend Vrishabhanu Maharaja, Radha’s father, also moved his kingdom from Ravala to Varsana. Nanda Maharaja and Vrishabhanu were both kings and rulers of the cowherd men, and both were extremely wealthy because they possessed thousands of cows and maintained large stocks of milk, butter, yogurt, ghee, as well as substantial stocks of grains. They both built opulent and spacious palaces on the summit of hills and each palace was fully equipped with all the necessities and included many luxurious and palatial rooms where their respective families lived.
When Radharani arrived at Varsana she was around five years old and on the verge of entering Her ‘kaishori-lila’. This is the period of her attaining youth-hood where she suddenly finds Herself being deeply attracted by the stunning beauty and lotus like eyes of Shri Krishna, who becomes not only the cynosure of Her eyes, but also the only purpose for which She seems exists. Her arrival at Varsana also marks the start of the celebrated ‘gopi-lila’, and with the help of Her girlfriends the ashta-sakhis, She tries to capture Krishna’s heart through spontaneous acts of pure unadulterated love and devotion. Every day Radharani wanders through the beautiful verdant forests of Vraja accompanied by Her girlfriends and together they enjoy innumerable transcendental pastimes in the company of Shri Krishna.
In the Bhakti-ratnakara it says. “Here is Vrishabhanupura, also known as Varsana. Close to this mountain is the residence of Vrishabhanu. On this wonderful mountain the Prince of Vraja, Vrajendra-kumar, performs the dana-lila unseen by others. Here Radha’s proud pique was broken and where Krishna became intoxicated by performing so many wonderful pastimes. Between the two mountains is a narrow path known as Sankara-khora or ‘Danagati’, and the fun that They had there is completely indescribable. The dana-lila, mana-lila and vilasa-lila, all took place on the ridges of these two mountains. Radharani played with Her girlfriends here in Her childhood. In her adolescence she sported here with Her ‘sahhis’ and within the nipa groves the ‘sahhis’ glimpsed the incredible beauty of her full
youthhood”.
Besides being the ancestral home of Radharani, the Puranas say that Varsana is also mentioned as being one of the important upavanas or sub-forests of Vrindavana Dhama, where the transcendental pastimes between Radha and Krishna take place. In recent times, Varsana has become internationally famous for the annual ‘Spring Festival’ known as the Holi-mela that is celebrated with great fervor by the local people, who throw large quantities of both colored powder and colored water on each other as part of the festivities. Also known as the ‘Festival of Colors’, it is celebrated all over India and is one of the country’s major religious festivals. Radha and Krishna also played holi with Their many sakhis and sakhas at various places around Vraja including Seva Kunja, Shyama Kuti, and Ganthuli Grama. It is believed that this festival has its origins in ancient Indian history, when the boy-saint Prahlada, a great devotee of Lord Vishnu, was saved from death when his demonic father King Hiranyakasipu, ordered Holika his sister, to burn Prahlada alive because of his unswerving faith in Vishnu, however Holika herself was burned to death and Prahlada was saved, and the citizens celebrated the event which was at that time called Holika-mela.

Varsänä is the pastime place of Çré Kåñëa’s beloved Çrématé Rädhikä. Lying at the heart of this village is a multitude of the Divine Couple’s sweet and secret amorous pastimes, together with Their transcendental moods and desires. The Vaiñëava community reveres Varsänä. This venerable land with its lakes, ponds, gardens and forests – such as Gahvaravana, Säìkaré-khor and other pastime places – reminds one of Rädhä and Kåñëa’s different pastimes. In Vraja, the grass, small shrubs, creepers, trees, animals, birds, insects, snakes and so forth are all composed of sac-cid-änanda; or eternality, spiritual consciousness and full transcendental bliss. They assist Rädhä and Kåñëa in Their pastimes, and are very dear to Them. It is said in the scriptures that even eminent realised souls, like Brahmä and Çaìkara, repeatedly pray to attain a birth like theirs so that they too may be able to serve Rädhä and Kåñëa. For instance, Çréla Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé says in Çré Vrajaviläsa-stava (verse 102):
yat kiïcit tåëa-gulma-kékaöa-mukhaà goñöhe samasta hi tat sarvänandamaya mukunda-dayitaà lélänukülam param çästrair eva muhur muhuù sphuöam idaà niñöaìkitaà yäïcayä brahmäder api sa-spåhena tad idaà mayä vandyate
“All the grass, shrubs, insects and other creatures found in Vraja are very dear to He who is the very embodiment of all transcendental bliss, Çré Mukunda, and they assist in His pastimes. All the scriptures have repeatedly established this fact, and devotees ranging from Brahmä to Uddhava have expressed a desire to take birth in Vraja amongst these species. For these reasons, I worship all the creatures who reside in Vraja.”
Varsänä’s original name is Våñabhänupura. Våñabhänu Mahäräja, the father of Çrématé Rädhikä, lived here with his family. Varsänä is situated fourteen miles west of Govardhana and six miles east of Kämyavana. According to the Varäha and Padma Puräëas, Brahmä pleased Çré Hari at the end of Satya-yuga by performing arduous worship. Brahmä then asked for the following boon: “Please perform Your sweet pastimes with the vraja-gopés on my very form and allow me to behold these léläs. Please make my life blessed, by especially performing swing pastimes in the rainy season and by performing Holé in spring.” 1 Pleased with Brahmä, Çré Hari instructed him, “Go to Våñabhänupura and take the form of a hill there. In that form you will be able to behold all Our sweet pastimes.” 2 And so it happened that Brahmä assumed the form of a hill at this place in Vraja and fulfilled his cherished desire.