Pavan Sarovar

This is the most celebrated lake in Nandagrama and it is customary to first bathe here
before going to have darshana of Krishna and Balarama at Nanda Bhavana. Lord Chaitanya also
bathed here before He climbed the Nandishwara Parvata to search for the deities of Nanda,
Yashoda, and Krishna, that lay hidden inside a cave on the hill-top. In the Bhakti-ratnakara it
says. “0 Shrinivasa, anyone who bathes in Pavana-sarovara and sees the deities of Krishna Balarama, Nanda and Yasoda, on Nandishwara Hill attains all his desires at that very moment.”
It appears from this statement that the deities found by Lord Chaitanya were installed in a temple
on top of Nandishwara Parvata.
When Krishna returns in the evening with all the cows from the pasturing grounds, He
first brings them to Pavana-sarovara so they can drink the cool and refreshing water of this lake.
In the Vraja-vilasa-stava it says. “On the pretext of fetching clear water, the lotus eyed gopis
repeatedly go there to meet with King Nanda’s son on the shores of Pavana-sarovara, which
is surrounded by many kadamba trees accompanied by the pleasant humming sound of
intoxicated bees. May that lake known as Pavana-sarovara protect us.”
This lake is one of Krishna’s favorite places and He enjoys many wonderful water sports
here known as ‘jala-krida’ as well as other pastimes with the sakhas and sakhis. It is also said that
after playing in the Kadamba-kanana or kadamba grove at Pavana-sarovara, Krishna once massaged
Balarama’s lotus feet as He lay under the shade of a kadamba tree. It is also said that Yashoda Mayi
would often bathe Krishna here in the morning and Radharani would also come and cook
Krishna’s breakfast on the banks of the kunda. Mother Yashoda always asked Radharani to cook
because of the benediction She received from Durvasa Muni, that anyone who ate her cooking
would never get sick and would also achieve a long life. Therefore, Yasoda Mayi engaged Radharani
in cooking for Krishna every morning along with Balarama’s mother Rohini. Radharani also
cooked for Krishna at Her own home in Yavata and would send this home-cooked food with Her
maidservants to Nanda Bhavana.
The word ‘pavana’ means ‘purifying’ as well as ‘merciful’, and Pavana-sarovara, due to
its supreme sanctity, does all of these things. One day, Nanda Maharaja was planning a pilgrimage
to Prayag for bathing in the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati, known as the
Triveni Sangama. Not wanting His father to leave Vrindavana, Krishna requested him to go the
next day as it would be akshaya-tritiya, and an auspicious day for pilgrimage. Waking early the
next morning, Nanda came to Pavana-sarovara to take his bath after which he was planning to
leave for Prayag. When he reached the lake he saw a very black complexioned stranger of large
build taking a ritual bath in Pavana-sarovara. Not having seen the black complexioned stranger
at Nandagrama before, Nanda Baba enquired from him his name, to which the stranger replied
that his name was Prayag Raja. Still confused about the stranger and not knowing anyone from
Nandagrama by that name, Nanda asked him from which place he had come. Prayag Raja
explained that he was the king of ‘tirthas’ and was from Prayag, which was situated at the
confluences of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. He further explained that because all the
pilgrims went to Prayag to wash off their sins, he himself was forced to come to Pavana-sarovara
to bathe and cleanse himself of all those sins that had been left behind by the pilgrims.
Astonished at what he had just heard, Nanda Baba was completely taken-aback. Prayag
Raja then informed Nanda, that because this day was akshaya-tritiya, all the holy places of
Barata-varsha would assemble at Pavana-sarovara to wash of the sins left behind by pilgrims at
their respective tirtha’s. Looking around the banks of Pavana-sarovara, Nanda suddenly noticed
so many beautiful looking ladies with blackish complexions coming down to the banks of the
lake to take a ritual bath. He then realized that they were the holy rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna,
Saraswati, Gandaki, Gomti, Godavari, Tapti, and Kaveri, who were also accompanied by so many
other tirthas. Nanda Maharaja was struck with wonder at what he had just seen and heard, and
decided there was no value in going to Prayag to take a holy bath, as Prayag Tirtharaja himself
was coming to Pavana-sarovara to take his own purifying bath. Nanda Maharaja very humbly
returned to his palace full of praise for Pavana-sarovara. Although Pavana-sarovara eternally
exists in Goloka Vrindavana, some say that after this incident the sarovara received the name ‘Pavana’ or purifying, while others say that because Vishakha-sakhi’s father Pavana Gopa enlarged
the sarovara so that large herds of cows could drink water there, it was named after him.

This sarovara, or lake, lies north of Nandagaon when coming
down from Nandéçvara Hill, and is situated on the side of the
highway that leads towards Kämyavana. The custom is to bathe in
this lake before taking darçana of Nanda, Yaçodä and the others
on the crest of the hill. It is said that Pävana Gopa, the father of
Viçäkhä Sakhé, constructed this sarovara, thereby giving it its
name. When Kåñëa and His friends would return from cow grazing,
they would bring the cows here to drink. At that time, Kåñëa would
call out “Néré-néré” and signal to the cows to enter the sarovara. He
would then call out “Cüì-cüì” to induce the cows to drink water,
and “Téré-téré” to call them back to the bank. The boys would satisfy
the cows by having them drink water in this way before returning
them to their resting place in the cowshed. The boys would then
go back to their respective homes.
The Vrajaväsés would also bathe in the fragrant and pure water
of Pävana-sarovara. Kåñëa used to bathe here and frolic in the water
with His friends. On the far bank, Çrématé Rädhikä used to bathe
and play in the water with Her sakhés. Sometimes Kåñëa would dive
in from His bank like a crocodile, make His way unseen to the bank
of the sakhés, and catch their feet. In this way, He played with them.
Mahäräja Våñabhänu had a beautiful palace built for his daughter
Çrématé Rädhikä on the northern bank of Pävana-sarovara. She
played many games with Her sakhés in this palace, from which She
could very easily have darçana of Her beloved Çré Kåñëa.