Project - Brahma Kund (Vrindavan)

Brahma Kund (Vrindavan)

The ancient Brahm Kund at Vrindavan has been fully restored and beautified. The same has become a much frequented tourist site. After 250 years, the presiding deity of Jaipur Sri Radha Govind Dev came to Vrindavan to inaugurate the kund . Every evening an impressive sound and light show is presented here to the audience.

UP Tourism Dept has released a beautiful colored poster of this site. This is a vivid presentation of history of this kund.

Brahma Kund, it’s historical importance and restoration :
It has become the most attractive kund of Braj

Vrindavan has 8 ancient kunds (water bodies) connected with Krishna leela. All of them are in a pathetic condition. Situated in the heart of Vrindavan, Brahma Kund is the most revered site in Vrindavan. According to various scriptures (puranas) it’s glory is as follows:

 

Glories of Brahma Kund

1. Located on the Northern Periphery of Rangnath Temple, this kund is considered to be the Brahma Sthan [Sanctum Sanctorum of Vrindavan].
2. The Varaha Purana  states that the Ashoka Trees located on the Northern side of the Kund blossom on Vaishakha Shukla Dwadashi. The darshan of these flowers leads devotees to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
3. Pauranmasi Ji directed Lord Siva  to attain Gopi bhava by making him bathe in this holy kund.
4. Yogmaya ji got the Gopi  bhaav attained to Narad Ji by making him bathe in this holy kund.
5. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Himself glorified the importance of this historic kund andhis disciple Srila Rupa Goswami found the deity of Vrinda Devi from this kund, which is now installed in Kamyavan.
6. Great saint of medieval period Bilva Mangal Thakur did Bhajan for a long time at this kund.
7. As per Brajwasis, Meera Bai spent her first night in Vrindavan on the Eastern Ghat of this kund.
8. Karmaiti Bai Ji,  an exalted devotee, from Rajasthan also did Bhajan for a long time at this historic site.
9. Two serious attempt were made to restore the kund during the past 500 years:

In the 1600’s, Orchha’s (Jhansi) ruler Raja Bir Singh Deo, was the first to undertake it’s renovation.

But by 1882 the kund was reported to be in ruins by the then British District Collector of Mathura Mr.F.S.Growse, who wrote in his book Mathura: A District Memoir “The Brahma Kund is now in a very ruinous condition, and the stone kiosks at its four corners have in part fallen, it's parts been occupied by vagrants, who have closed up the arches with mud walls and converted them into dwelling-places.”

Growse had begun to effect a clearance and make arrangements for it’s repair when his transfer took place and put an immediate stop to this and all similar improvements he was undertaking in Mathura

Pathetic Plight

Despite such a glorious history this kund was in an abject state of neglect. It had become very filthy, with strong foul smell, as it was being used as dump site for the local municipal garbage carts for several decades. Despite the existence of many Sampradayas, famous Acharyas and Bhagwat Katha Vachaks in Vrindavan, with huge followings of wealthy disciples, it is surprising that none came forward to restore this precious heritage.

Braj Foundation Starts Restoration

In July 2006 Braj Foundation decided to restore it. We did not have resources to take up this mission. There were major encroachments over it's land on all the four sides and one of the ghat had been converted into a home. Vested interests wanted to fill this completely to construct houses. The approach lanes were too narrow to take our heavy earth movers into it. Yet we started the work with our complete faith in Radha Rani and Shri Baba Maharaj, who started the work by symbolic kar sewa. We faced several hurdles during the 30 months of it’s restoration. The co-operation from the local people was minimal. There was no place to keep the construction material. So the work progressed with a slow pace. Gradually Mr. Ajay Piramal, the Chairman of the Piramal Group (Mumbai) was convinced by our sincerity and assured us the required financial assistance of Rs. 68 lakhs, which he released in three installments.For everyone's delight the natural aquifers opened up after de-silting the kund, which is perennially filled with natural sweet water.

Brahma Kund after restoration

Dioramas of Great Goswamis

Braj Foundationm has rebuilt the four ghats and installed life sized stone sculptures of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Rupa Goswami, Sanatan Goswami, Raghunathdas Goswami, Raghunathbhatt Goswami, Gopalbhatt Goswami, Jiva Goswami, Krishnadas Kaviraj, Bilva Mangal Thakur, Bhugarbha Goswami and Loknath Goswami besides Meera Bai and Karmaiti Bai. Followers of the Brahma Gaudiya Sampradaya will be very happy to learn that this is the first time in the history of Braj that life size vigrahas of these exalted saints have been installed anywhere in Braj. Devotees everyday come here to chant, dance and offer their obeisances.

 

Octagonal ghats with steps were built and sculptures of fish and turtles were kept on the steps to give it a natural look. An 8 ft high Brahma sitting over the 13 ft wide lotus flower has been installed in the center of the kund. Each petal of the lotus throws the pond water back into the kund. This is to ensure regular oxygenation of water. It makes a beautiful fountain for the viewer’s delight.

39 stone plaques of 5ft.X 3ft. have been installed on the walls of the kund to describe it’s history and also to give an opportunity to the visitors to read the Sanskrit Shlokas of Brahma Samhita.

Sound & Light Show

Ornamental lights focusing each feature has been installed to illuminate the kund. Running commentary of 18 minutes duration is played for your pleasure when you do the parikrama of the kund. A properly manicured attractive garden is maintained around the kund .

Foundation’s camp office has been established at the site to assist the visitors and to look after the maintenance of this most attractive site in Vrindavan.

Transcendental Bhajan Evenings and other such colorful functions are often held at this site. Those willing to organize such programs need to make advance booking with Braj Foundation’s field office in Vrindavan.

Historic Opening by Lord Radha Govind Dev from Jaipur

On 10th Feb 2009, The Braj Foundation dedicated to public the restored Brahm Kund. Lord Govind Dev, presiding deity of Jaipur City Palace was invited to inaugurate Brahma Kund. Accompanied by 500 devotees from Jaipur, Govind Dev Ji arrived with much gaiety and fanfare. Even Nature welcomed Their arrival by a rain shower for a few minutes. Hundreds of saints and thousands of Brajwasis descended on the route to welcome Shri Radha Govinddev by throwing rose petals and offering artis. At the steps of the kund, Odissi dancers, greeted the deities with transcendental dance. With illumination and jubilation the Brahma Kund looked like heaven descended on earth.

Star TV News and others gave live coverage of the same and people said, “We have never seen such a grand Lokarpan (dedication) Ceremony in Vrindavan in the past forty years.” HH Ramesh Baba and HG Anjan Kumar Goswami Ji and HG Manas Goswami Ji (Jaipur) unfurled the plaque of dedication on behalf of Shri Govind Dev ji.

Best Maintained Kund of Braj

To ensure proper maintenance of this magnificent site we have taken several measures. The financial support for this is being given by Ajay Piramal Foundation, Mumbai. In his recent visit to Brahma Kund on 15 Feb 2012, Mr. Piramal was very satisfied with the upkeep of the kund.

The gates of the kund are open only from morning till evening. Our security guards and gardener take care of its garden and upkeep. Every evening melodious aarti is performed here by international devotees.

Souvenirs of Brahma Kund can be obtained from our Camp office at the site.

Besides thousands of visitors everyday, several important personalities and celebrities of the country have visited this Kund and recorded their appreciation:

With all humility we want to draw your kind attention towards the fact that no other kund in Braj is being maintained with such minute care and perfection. This is something for you to examine before you believe us.

Photo Gallery

Video Gallery

News

Testimonials

“All glories to you! It was a great pleasure to see Brahm Kund. You are victorious. You will remain victorious. May God give you the strength to rejuvenate entire Braj.”
Padma Vibhushan Pandit Jasraj Ji

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“The restoration of Brahma Kund is the result of the dedication and commitment of The Braj Foundation”
Susheel Kumar
Tourism Government of Uttar Pradesh

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“It’s a tribute to what can be done with people’s participation. An excellent initiative”
Atul Gupta, Chief Secretary
Uttar Pradesh

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“May Radharani give you the strength to decorate all the kunds of Braj like this.”
HH Ramesh Baba Ji
Barsana

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“This work will be praised for several centuries”
HH Radhanath Maharaj
Chaupati ISKCON, Mumbai

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“I had the opportunity to see the restoration of a heritage site (Brahm Kund) done by the Foundation. It is a commendable work done with great sensitivity”.
Dr. Subas Pani, Secretary
Planning Commission of India

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“Acharya Jaimini , a renowned musician from Vrindavan, has commended the effort for the facelift of the pond and called for the experiment to be replicated in other parts of Braj Mandal.”
Hindustan Times
2 Feb, 2009

Appeal

Appeal If you find merit in our work then please do come forward with your generous support so that we can make every kund of Krishna Leela in Braj as beautiful as Brahma Kund (Vrindavan) has become. Just for your information Mr. Piramal (donor) is so happy with our work and financial transparency that he has committed further financial support to us for our several other projects in Braj.In clicking Donate button of the Home Page you will find the list of all the ongoing projects with their estimated costs. On clicking each of these you will visual and other details of each project. You can make your donation on line aswell. Donate