Our appeal is that if you find merit in our work then please do come forward with your generous support so that we can make every ghat of Yamuna, associated with Krishna Leela, in Braj as beautiful as Koile Ghat, Mathura has become.
Yamuna Pujan Sthali
If you want to perform Yamuna pujan in Braj, you may not find a better place than this. Unlike other ghats in Mathura where you have to negotiate your way through congested lanes, heavy traffic chaos and no car parking space is available, here you approach this transcendental site very comfortably from Delhi-Agra National Highway, opp. Mathura Refinery Township. A proper road takes you to Koile Ghat where there is enough space for parking, followed by lush green garden and natural beauty.
This point is very picturesque because Yamuna takes a U-turn here, probably that is the reason Mughal King Aurangjev built his ‘Khwabgah’ (retreat), which is now in ruins.
The Historic ‘Koile Ghat’ of Yamuna, from where Vasudev Ji (father of Lord Krishna) crossed Yamuna river, on the night of His birth (Janmashtami).
To carry Krishna safely from the prison of King Kansa in Mathura, Vasudev ji had to cross the river Yamuna to Gokul. Yamuna was anxious to touch Krishna’s feet and kept rising to achieve this. Balancing Krishna precariously on his head, Vasudev was overcome with a sense of panic when the rising water and rapid current of the excited river goddess swirled around his feet. “Koi- le ! Koi- le !” …he cried beseeching someone to take the baby as he felt he was being swept away. Since then the ghat has been known as Koile Ghat. The Divine baby lowered his feet for Yamuna to touch and as Yamuna subsided. Vasudev was able to cross over safely to Gokul.
Satellite maps reveal that this particular spot is indeed where Yamuna is shortest in it's width during her course in this region.
The village community led by their headman approached us with a written request to restore such a significant spot related to Lord Krishna’s pastimes in Braj. Their complaint was that neither the government nor the religious organizations have bothered to look at this.
Our team made the development plans and started cleaning bushes at the bank. Digging was done to lay the foundation in the supervision of experts. Plenty of steel and mortar was used in the Ghat’s foundation of the new Ghat. Subsequently, bricked steps (a 36 ft. wide, 16 ft. high ghat with 26 steps with a platform of 36 ft x 20 ft) were constructed. These were then nicely covered with red stone.
We engaged a team of sculpturists from Rajasthan to carve out an eight feet tall deity of Vasudev Ji carrying infant Krishna in a basket on his head. This deity was so heavy that two dozen laborers could not offload it from the truck. So the crane was summoned which lifted the deity and placed it where it stands today.
A stone plaque describing the history of this site is also installed at the ghat. A village level maintenance committee named ‘Koile Ghat Sanrakshan Samiti’ has been constituted to look after the ghat. The enthusiastic members take the lead in organizing various festivals here like offering 125 thousand oil lamps every year on Yam Dutia (a day after Diwali).
Later in 2016, on the persistent insistence of members of ‘Koile Ghat Sanrakshan Samiti’, we built in concrete, an impressive ‘sheshnag’ (serpent), providing a hood over Vasudev Ji. A small Yamuna Devi temple in red stone was also added on their request.
Interestingly this is the most attractive view point of Yamuna. From this ghat one can see Gokul across the river, Vrindavan on your left and Mathura on the right. No other point at Yamuna in Braj gives you such a magnificent view.
There are several dozen historic ghats like this on the banks of Yamuna where numerous leelas ofShri Radha Krishna were performed. All of them are in shambles and need immediate attention. In order to restore these ancient heritage ghats of river Yamuna a detailed study has been done by the research wing of Braj Foundation.
In the years 2010 and 2014 major floods came in Yamuna which engulfed the Koiley Ghat and Ruchil Van. The deity of Vasudev Ji was under the water till his waist. This was exciting news for the entire Braj. It was after 5500 years that the same leela (pastime) was seen at Yamuna. Naturally the print and TV media did not want to miss this opportunity so they rushed to Koiley Ghat and risking their life they managed to reach the ghat and took pictures. The news was flashed on local TV channels and print media. This made Koiley Ghat as famous as it should have been.
Another miracle was that while many other structures at the bank got damaged due to strong current of Yamuna water, Koiley Ghat remained intact as a testimony to the quality and workmanship of The Braj Foundation. You can watch the TV episode ‘Aao Sajayen Kanha Ka Braj’ on youtube by searching for the same under The Braj Foundation’s channel.
We are a non-profit organization, established in December 2005 to restore and revitalize the environmental and cultural heritage of Braj Bhoomi (land of Braj)
