Bhandirvat

This is the sacred spot beneath the shade of this ancient banyana tree ( vata-vriksa) , which is known as the Bhandira Vata and is the place where Lord Brahma performed the vivahalila, or the wedding ceremony between Radha and Krishna which is mentioned in the Garga Samhita.
The Marriage Ceremony of Radha and Krishna
The forest of Bhandiravana is most famous because it was at this place under the celebrated banyana tree known as Bhandira Vata, that Radha and Krishna were married. The wonderful story of this pastime was spoken by Shrila Narada Muni and has been recorded in the Garga Samita as follows. One day, Nanda Maharaja came to Bhandiravana from Gokula to graze his cows near the banks of the Yamuna, and was carrying his little boy Krishna in his arms. By the will of yogamaya, a strong wind suddenly began to blow causing all the leaves on the trees to fall and ripples to appear over the surface of the Yamuna. The sky immediately became dark and overcast as blackish rain-clouds assembled threateningly overhead. When the clouds loudly thundered, Krishna became frightened and started to cry, forcing Nanda Baba to cuddle Him closer to his chest. The day seemed to tum into night as darkness spread in all directions.
Just then, a shining light as brilliant as ten million suns appeared from nowhere. From
within that shining light, Nanda Baba could see standing before him, the youthful, charming, and exquisitely beautiful form of Shrimati Radharani, the daughter of his friend Vrishabhanu. She bore the luster of a thousand moons and was wearing a deep blue sari and Her pinkish lotus feet were decorated with golden anklets that jingled sweetly. She was adorned with a golden waistband, a necklace, armlets, and bangles, and She wore a pearl in Her nose that appeared like a small moon orbiting Her full moon-like face. She had a golden Shri-kanta around Her neck, glittering golden earrings, and a glittering jewel-studded diadem situated on Her head.
Nanda Maharaja was struck with wonder at Her effulgence which appeared to light up
the entire world. He immediately bowed his head and offered his heartfelt respects to Radharani saying, “See this child in my arms, He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and I know that You are His eternal consort. Oh Radhe! I have heard this great secret from Gargamuni, therefore take this child, Your Lord, from my arms, He has become frightened due to the thundering of the clouds.” Radha then took Krishna in Her arms and as Nanda Baba offered his humble obeisances, She entered the Bhandiravana forest holding Krishna tightly in Her embrace.
At that very moment, the holy land of Vrindavana assumed a divine form, the dark rainclouds scattered and the wind subsided into a gentle breeze. Bhumi Devi, the mother earth and consort of Lord Vishnu, appeared there in her eternal form causing the earth to flourish as if it was spring-time. The gopis headed by Vrinda Devi also appeared there along with the cowherd boys to witness the special occasion. The crystal clear waters of the Yamuna glistened and became beautified by jeweled staircases and golden terraces. In the distance, the rocks on Govardhana Hill appeared like great jewels and its peaks shone like gold. With its cascading waterfalls and deep caverns, its huge body appeared like the king of elephants. The sweet smelling lotus flowers in the lakes around Vrindavana began to bloom simultaneously, causing the bumblebees to become madly intoxicated by the delicate aroma that emanated from them.
The peacocks, cuckoos, pigeons, and other song-birds began to resound, creating a celestial chorus that permeated the entire forest of Bhandiravana. In each of the nikunjavans, multicoloured banners flapped joyously in the breeze announcing a very special event. Then the Lord of creation, who was being carried in the arms of Radha, suddenly assumed His eternal youthful form of Govinda, that defeated millions upon millions of Cupids, and clasping the hand of His beloved Radha, They both gracefully entered the nuptial arena that was decorated with all the paraphernalia for a wedding ceremony.
Then as the ‘divine couple’ Radha and Krishna sat down beneath the Bhandira Vata on
a golden throne. Lord Brahma, who was to officiate as the head priest, arrived there with the host of demigods through the celestial airways. After offering His humble obeisance’s by bowing down, He began to speak brilliant words in glorification saying, “Anyone who speaks about Your divine transcendental attributes and sings Your praises automatically achieves complete beauty, wealth and perfection, even in this life. Even though you are equal to each other, nevertheless, for the sake of fulfilling local customs, I am going to perform Your marriage ceremony.” Lord Brahma then kindled the sacrificial fire and after offering oblations into it, asked Radha and Krishna to accept each other’s hands. After chanting the sacred Vedic mantras, and seeing that the corners of Their clothing was tied together, Brahma requested the ‘divine lovers’ to circumambulate the sacrificial fire seven times according to the Vedic system. After this, Lord Brahma had Radha place Her hand on Krishna’s chest and Krishna’s hand on Radha’s back, after which They recited their wedding vows and offered garlands to each other. At that moment, the demigods showered flowers from the sky, and while playing on various musical instruments and
beating on hundreds of celestial drums; they began dancing along with their beautiful wives in great transcendental ecstasy.

Philosophical Considerations Regarding the Marriage of Radha and Krishna
This incident of the marriage ceremony between Radha and Krishna was enacted for the
specific pleasure of Lord Brahma and the demigods, in a pastime which fulfilled their desire to see Radha and Krishna married to get her in a wedding ceremony in accordance with the standard social customs of Vedic culture. This was because Lord Brahrna knew in the future that the divine pastimes of parakiya-rasa revealed by Radha and Krishna on the earthly plain, would be severely criticized and misunderstood by mundane moralists and so-called religionists, and therefore to preempt all false criticism, Lord Brahma personally performed Their marriage ceremony while Radha and Krishna were still in Their infancy. .
According to Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy as propounded by Lord Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu, Shri Shri Radha and Krishna, in Their original manifested forms are not married, but remain as eternal lovers in the mood of parahiya-bhava, which means a conjugal relationship as paramours. This is because the super-excellent parahiya-bhava manifests the greatest transcendental pleasure for Radha and Krishna as well as Their eternal servitors the gopis, and is therefore regarded as the most superior form of bhava or loving mood within the category of madhurya-rasa, which is itself considered the most superior amongst the five essential rasas.
Another point is that at the time of this ceremony at Bhandiravana, both Radha and Krishna were still only about two or three years old and enjoying Their haumara-lilas, or pastimes as little children at Gokula and Ravala respectively. This manifestation of the wedding ceremony at Bhandiravana was certainly a unique spiritual event similar to the secret manifestation of the Yoga-pitha, or the pastimes of aprahata-lila.

häëòéravana, where Çré Kåñëa performed a variety
of sweet pastimes, is prominent among the twelve
forests. In this forest there are many pastime
places to visit, such as Bhänòéravaöa, Veëu-küpa,
Räsa-sthalé Vaàçévaöa, the place of wrestling, the
temple of Çrédäma, Çyäma-talaiyä, Chäheré-gaon
and Ägiyärä-gaon. That place where all kinds of
tattva-jïäna fully manifest and where pastimes
that are filled with opulence (aiçvarya) and sweetness (madhurya)
manifest is called Bhäëòéravana. Some of these pastime places are
described here.
Bhäëò éravaöa
This vaöa (banyan) tree is famous in Bhäëòéravana as the site
of many different pastimes of Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa Yugala. At the
time of Çré Kåñëa’s manifest pastimes ( prakaöa-lélä), a huge banyan
tree stood here full of long branches that spread in all directions.
Nearby, Çré Yamunä made a sweet sound as she followed her
meandering course. Çré Kåñëa, Baladeva and the sakhäs would cross
the river by walking on the branches of this tree. Male and female
parrots, peacocks, peahens, cuckoos and papéhäs were always sitting
singing on the tree’s profuse branches. They remained satisfied by
eating its fruit. Deer, does and other forest animals drank the sweet
water of the Yamunä and took rest in the cool, pleasant shade of
the banyan tree.

It was mostly to this Bhäëòéravaöa that Mother Yaçodä and the
mothers of the other cowherd boys used to send lunch with some
gopas for their respective sons. While grazing the cows, Çré Kåñëa,
Baladeva and the sakhäs used to have the cows drink the water in
the Yamunä and then freely graze on the lush, green grass of the
forest. The boys themselves bathed and engaged in water sports in
the Yamunä’s cool water. They would then sit in the shade under
this banyan tree and eat the various tasty preparations sent by their
mothers. Çré Kåñëa sat in the midst of them all, and the sakhäs
would sit around Him in thousands of rows that extended here and
there. Each and every sakhä, even if sitting at the back or far away,
experienced that Çré Kåñëa was sitting right in front of him. Their
eating was accompanied by laughing and joking, and they would
play various games together. Brahmä and other demigods in the
sky became astonished to see their festive and joyful picnics.
Brahmä performed the gändharva 1 marriage of Çré Rädhä-
Kåñëa Yugala beneath this banyan tree. According to the Gargasaàhitä
and Géta-govinda, Nanda Bäbä once took Çré Kåñëa to
Bhäëòéravana to graze the cows. This forest was very attractively
covered with the dense foliage of the tamäla and kadamba trees
and the lush creepers, and therefore it was only lit by scant sunrays.
Suddenly, black clouds gathered from all directions and a raging
rainstorm developed. Darkness pervaded. Nanda Bäbä became
frightened of the bad omen and carefully hid Kanhaiyä on his
lap.
At that moment, the extraordinarily beautiful daughter of
Våñabhänu Mahäräja, Çré Rädhikä, appeared there in the form of
a young girl. She held Her hands out to Nanda Bäbä, indicating
that She wanted to take Kåñëa with Her. The astonished Nanda
Bäbä gave Çré Kåñëa to Her. Rädhikä then took Kåñëa to the
inner part of Bhäëòéravana under the shelter of Bhäëòéravaöa.
Here Çré Kåñëa manifested Himself as manmatha-manmatha
kiçora, a beautiful youth who bewilders even the mind of Cupid.
Meawhile, Lalitä, Viçäkhä and the other sakhés also appeared here
with Caturmukha Brahmä. Knowing the desire of Kiçora-Kiçoré,
Brahmä performed Their gändharva wedding by reciting Vedic
mantras. Çrématé Rädhikä and Çré Kåñëa exchanged beautiful
flower garlands. The delighted sakhés sang wedding songs as the
demigods showered flowers from the sky. While everyone looked
on, Brahmä left that place. The sakhés also disappeared, and Kåñëa
again assumed the form of a small boy. Çrématé Rädhikä took Kåñëa
by hand and returned to Nanda Bäbä, who was standing waiting
for Him. Meanwhile, the clouds dispersed and the storm abated.
Nanda Bäbä now returned with Kåñëa to his Nanda-Vraja.
The following incident also took place here in Bhäëòéravana.
One summer’s day, Çré Kåñëa and the sakhäs brought the cows to
drink water at the Yamunä and then let them graze freely. The
boys became so absorbed in their delightful picnic that they were
unaware that their cows had wandered off. The cows made their
way to the completely parched Muïjavana, through which even
elephants could not force their way. It was the month of Jeöha
(May–June), and the blazing sun scorched the sand. The cows
could not find shade anywhere, and had forgotten the pathway out
of this wild muïja forest. Dying of thirst, they began to cry out in
distress. The sakhäs went to look for the cows without telling Kåñëa
and Baladeva where they were going. Finally, they too arrived at
the muïja forest in the same dire condition as that of the cows.
Meanwhile, the servants of the wicked Kaàsa set Muïjavana on
fire, and within a moment the wind had spread it everywhere. The
fire’s blazing flames surrounded the cows and cowherd boys, who
saw no other means of rescue than to call out to Kåñëa. They did
so, and Çré Kåñëa arrived immediately. Telling the sakhäs to close
their eyes, He swallowed the forest-fire within a second. Upon
opening their eyes, the sakhäs saw that they were again under the
cooling shade of Bhäëòéravaöa, immersed in festive eating pastimes
with Kåñëa and Baladeva, the cows grazing peacefully nearby. The
distress of the forest-fire seemed like a dream.
The place where Çré Kåñëa swallowed the forest fire is called
Muïjäöavé or Éñikäöavé, and in its middle is Agiyärä. We have already
described this earlier. The place where Kåñëa and the sakhäs had
festive picnics, and where, after Kåñëa swallowed the forest-fire, the
sakhäs again began to joke and laugh while eating and the cows
happily chewed grass is called Bhäëòéravaöa. These pastimes are
described in Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.19.12):
tatheti mélitäkñeñu bhagavän agnim ulbaëam
pétvä mukhena täna kåcchräd yogädhéço vyamocayat
“ ‘Okay,’ the boys said, and closed their eyes. Then Bhagavän,
the controller of all mystic power, swallowed the terrible fire,
thus saving the sakhäs from the danger.”

sa kadäcidvane tasmiìgobhiù saha paribhraman |
dadarsha vipulodagraà çäkhinaà çäkhinäà varam ||2-11-18

One day, while wandering in the forest with the cows, kåñëa saw, among the trees, a giant tree which was extremely tall and huge.

sthitaà dharaëyäà meghäbhaà nibiòaà dalasaïchayaiù |
gaganärdhocchritäkäraà parvatäbhogadhäriëam ||2-11-19

Standing on earth with the beauty of clouds, dense with leaves, with its trunk covering half the sky, the tree appeared like a huge mountain.

nélaciträìgavarëaiçcha sevitaà bahubhiù khagaiù |
phalaiù pravälaiçcha ghanaiù sendracäpaghanopamam ||2-11-20

There were many birds with blue bodies and colourful feathers in that tree. Dense with red fruits, the tree looked like a rainbow with clouds.

bhavanäkäraviöapaà latäpuñpasumaëòitam |
viçälamülävanataà pavanämbhodadhäriëam ||2-11-21

The huge branches looked like houses. The tree was adorned with creepers and flowers. Its large roots spread far and wide. The tree was covered with wind and rain clouds.

ädhipatyamivänyeñäà tasya deshasya çäkhinäm |
kurväëaà çubhakarmäëaà nirävarñamanätapam ||2-11-22

It appeared as though this tree was ruling over all other trees in that area. It was beneficial to all giving protection from rain and sunshine.

nyagrodhaà parvatägräbhaà bhäëòéraà näma nämataù |
dåñövä tatra matià cakre niväsäya tataù prabhuù ||2-11-23

The huge banyan tree, named bhäëòéra, appeared like a mountain. Seeing this beautiful tree, kåñëa decided to stay there.

sa tatra vayasä tulyairvatsapälaiù sahänagha |
reme vai väsaraà kåñëaù purä svargagato yathä ||2-11-24

O sinless janamejaya! kåñëa, enjoyed with other cow-tending boys of the same age under the tree, like he was enjoying in heaven before.

taà kréòamänaà gopäläù kåñëaà bhäëòéraväsinam |
ramayanti sma bahavo vanyaiù kréòanakaistadä ||2-11-25

When kåñëa played under the bhäëòéra tree, his cow-tending boys made him happy with many toys of the forest.

anye sma parigäyanti gopä muditamänasäù |
gopäläù kåñëamevänye gäyanti sma ratipriyäù ||2-11-26

Some others with joyful minds sang. Some others who liked kåñëa’s plays sang about them.

teñäà sa gäyatämeva vädayämäsa véryavän |
parëavädyäntare veëuà tumbévéëäà ca tatra ha ||2-11-27

When the boys sang, kåñëa played a whistle made of palm leaves. Sometimes he played flute, tumburu or véëä.