Ter Kadamba

There used to be a large kadamba-khandi or forests of kadamba trees here during Krishna’s
pastimes at Nandagrama, but now only a few kadamba trees remain. The word ‘ter’ or ‘tera’ means
that Krishna was sitting on the end of a tree branch in one of the kadamba trees. After enjoying
go-charana-lila or cow herding adventures during the day, Krishna would return in the evening
with His cows, He would climb one of the kadamba trees and while sitting on a tree branch, He
would call all the cows to assemble there by playing on His flute. When all the cows had
assembled, Krishna would count them on His counting beads (go-mala) and then take them to
Pavana-sarovara to drink water, and from there the cows would then return to the goshala. On
another occasion, while sitting in the same kadamba tree, Krishna played His flute and called all
the gopis to assemble at Ter Kadamba to enjoy rasa-lila pastimes. There is a kunda here known
asTer Kadamba-kunda which is where the rasa-lila was performed by Krishna and the gopis There is also a rasa-mandala platform established here that commemorate the rasa-lila pastimes
at Ter Kadamba.

This place is situated exactly half-way between Nandagaon and
Jävaöa. Being a place of Rädhä and Kåñëa’s räsa-lélä, a platform has
been constructed here in memory of this pastime.
While grazing the cows in the afternoon, Kåñëa used to climb
this kadamba tree and call Çyämalé, Dhaulé, Pétämbaré, Kälindé and
His other dear cows with His flute. Hearing Kåñëa’s call, all the cows
would assemble here immediately, and Kåñëa would count them on
His jewelled necklace. If some cows were missing, He would again
call out their names by sounding His flute, and only when they
were all assembled would He return home with the herd.
Sometimes, in the gentle light of the full-moon night, Kåñëa
would climb this kadamba tree and call the sakhés by playing their
names on the sweet notes of His flute. These gopés would forget
their bodies, minds and worldly cares, arriving to meet Kåñëa in a
spell-bound condition. They would then perform räsa with Kåñëa,
which was full of singing and dancing.
Since Kåñëa climbed a kadamba tree and with His call (öer)
gathered the cows and gopés here, this place is known as Öerkadamba.
There used to be many kadamba trees here, but they
have all disappeared on account of stagnant rainwater. Great
souls who perform bhajana here periodically plant kadamba trees
at this place.
On the day of Gopäñöamé, the Vrajaväsés bring small Vrajaväsé
boys dressed like Kåñëa and Balaräma from Nandagaon to this
place and stage a programme of congregational singing called
samäja. They also worship the cows beautifully and feed them
grass and jaggery.