Sri Laxmi temple

This forest of Bilvavana is also known as Lakshmivana as well as Shrivana, because the
goddess of fortune, Lakshmi Devi, who is also known as Shri Devi, came here to perform
austerities in order to achieve the position of a gopi in Krishna’s pastimes. One day, while serving
Her husband Lord Vishnu in Vaikuntha, she heard from Shrila Narada Muni about Her husband’s
extraordinary pastimes when He appears on earth in His original form as Lord Shri Krishna in the transcendental land of Vrajabhumi in order to enjoy the most intimate loving pastimes with
the gopis. Goddess Lakshmi Devi became so attracted by hearing the descriptions of the rasa-lila
that she decided to go to Vrindavana and take part in those wonderful pastimes.
On arrival at the rasa-mandala, Lakshmi Devi was stopped from entering by some of the
gopis, who told Her that She was not qualified or in the proper serving mood (bhava) to take part
in the rasa-dance. Greatly disappointed to find that she was refused entry to the rasa-mandala,
She became very sad and dejected. At that moment Krishna came there and after greeting the
Goddess of Fortune with pleasing words, explained that she was stopped by the gopis because,
as the wife of Lord Narayana, she was situated in the mood of aishvarya-bhava, being always
surrounded with the great opulence of Vaikuntha. Krishna also informed Lakshmiji that even
Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva, Sukadeva Goswami, or the four Kumaras, besides many other great
liberated souls, are not able to take part in the rasa-lila pastimes.
Feeling heartbroken at being rejected, Lakshmi Devi immediately returned to Vaikuntha
to find out from Narada Muni why She could not take part in the rasa-lila. Shrila Narada Muni
informed Lakshmiji, that in order to enter the rasa-mandala, one has to be free from any attachment
to opulence, prestige, or personal satisfaction, and should desire only the absolute satisfaction
of Krishna. Narada further said that the rasa-lila was the highest expression of unalloyed devotional
service, and only the gopis, who had absolutely no interest in personal benefit, or even a pinch
of selfish desire, who lived only to satisfy Krishna’s desires, were properly qualified. Narada also
explained that the gopis of Vrindavana abandoned everything for Krishna’s pleasure, even their
own husbands, their families, along with their chastity and honor, which so dear to ladies, and
were even ready to sacrifice their very own lives, just to make Krishna happy. They never asked
Krishna for anything, except to remain as eternal servants at His lotus feet.
Shrimati Lakshmi Devi had some attachment to the great opulence ofVaikuntha, as well
as to Her position as the Goddess of Fortune and being the consort of Lord Narayana. She therefore asked Narada what She had to do to achieve the position of a gopi. Narada ;;tdvised Her
to perform austerities in the forests of Vrindavana in order to free Herself of all traces of attachment.
Lakshmi Devi decided to stay in the forest of Bilvavana, because it lies on the northern bank of
the Yamuna exactly opposite from Seva Kunja in Vrindavana, where the rasa-lila took place.
Some say that Lakshmi Devi is still engaged in penance at Bilvavana even today, and a very
famous festival is held here at the Lakshmiji Mandira every year during the month of Pusa (NovDec),
where thousands of people from all over Vraja flock there to get the mercy and blessings
of goddess Laksmi Devi. The deity ofLakshmiji situated in the temple here is sitting in meditation
with Her hands folded, so in this regard, She is still present here in Bilvavana in the form of Her
deity anq meditating on the rasa-lila.
It is also said that when Radharani came to know that Lakshmi Devi was undergoing
penance at Bilvavana to become a gopi, She requested Krishna and His friends to secretly go there
to build a simple shelter and also dig a well so that Lakshmiji would not have to suffer the
elements and could easily get water without having to disturb Her penance. That well, which is
opposite to the temple, became known as Krishna-kupa. The cowherd boys built a simple shelter
for Lakshmiji out of thatched l~aves. Standing next to the deity of Laksmiji in the temple one
can see a deity of Krishna, offering flowers to Lakshmiji, who is deep in meditation and unaware
of His presence.
In the Sri Vraja-riti-cintamani of Shrila Vishvanatha Chakravarti, are the following
verses. “When the personified Vedas saw the splendid good fortune of the vraja-gopis, they
decided to follow in their footsteps and become vraja-gopis also. When Lakshmi Devi saw the
charming sweetness of the vraja-gopis, she became bewildered and fainted with envy. Who
can describe the transcendental opulence of this land ofVraja? There Lakshmi Devi performed
severe austerities to become a gopi. Although she remained as Lakshmi and did not attain her
goal, she nevertheless had the opportunity to speak to her beloved Krishna.”

This forest is called Baelvana because, during
Kåñëa’s manifest pastimes, there was an
abundance of bael (bilva) trees here. While
grazing the cows in this most captivating and
pleasant forest, Çré Kåñëa and His sakhäs would
play different kinds of sports and relish the
ripe bael fruits. This is described in Bhaktiratnäkara:
rämakåñëa sakhä saha e bilvavanete
pakka bilvaphala bhuïje mahäkautukete
“It was here that Räma and Kåñëa along with their sakhäs ate
ripe bilva fruits with great festivity.”
Once, Çré Lakñmé heard a description from the mouth of
Närada about Vrajendra-nandana Çré Kåñëa’s sweet räsa-lélä and
the good fortune of the gopés. An eagerness to behold this räsalélä
arose in her heart. No one but the gopés has the qualification
to enter räsa-lélä, since they are the true emblem of undivided
and pure prema. It is only possible to gain entrance into räsa-lélä
by receiving the mercy of Çrématé Rädhikä, the embodiment of
mahäbhäva and the crest jewel of all Kåñëa’s beloveds, and by the
mercy of Her true representatives, the gopés. At that time, one
can gain entrance very easily. Thus, to enter the räsa-lélä Lakñmé
began performing severe austerities at this place, but to no avail.
To this day, she is performing austerities here with this desire. In
Çrémad-Bhägavatam 1 the wives of the serpent Käléya refer to this
pastime in their prayers to Çré Kåñëa: “Bhagavän, we are unable to
understand what sädhana Käléyanäga performed that He became
a proprietor of the dust of Your lotus feet. It is so rare to procure
this dust that even Your wife Çré Lakñmé was unable to obtain it,
even after giving up all sense-pleasures and performing austerities
for a very long time in conformity with the prescribed rules and
regulations.”
Just nearby are Kåñëa-kuëòa and a sitting-place (baiöhaka) of
Çré Vallabhäcärya. There is also a temple of Çré Lakñmé here.

LAKSHMI TEMPLE- FOREST FIRE
Belban (Sriban), which is ten miles from Mathura and has a parikrama of three miles. There’s a Lakshmi temple here commemorating the spot where the goddess of fortune, Lakshmi, wanted to become a gopi. For this reason, she performed austerities in this forest.

FOREST FIRE
During Krishna’s time, many bael trees grew here, and Krishna used to picnic in their shade with His friends.
One night, when Krishna and the cowherd boys were asleep, a great fire broke out and threatened to consume all the Brijbasis. As the flames approached, the Brijbasis took shelter of the Supreme Lord, praying, “O dear Krishna! Save us from this devastating fire! You are our only shelter.”
Always compassionate to His devotees, Krishna sucked up great draughts of air and easily swallowed the flames.