SEVA KUNJ (VRINDAVAN)

History of the site

Rasik Shiromani Swami Hit Harivansh Ji, revered to be the incarnation of Lord Krishna’s flute, in 1590 discovered this site. According to his realization it is here that Shri Radha Krishna every night perform Rass (holy dance) along with Sakhis. Since then followers of his sampradaya maintain this sacred site and offer daily pooja seva to the presiding deity, which is in a form of small painting, in which Krishna is massaging the legs of Radha Rani. That is why it is called ‘Seva Kunj’. The peace and serenity of this place can only be experienced.

Tired after the Raas Lila, The Divine Couple take rest in Nij Mahal. None can watch this divine spectacle, hence the multiple gates of Seva Kunj are locked after the shayan aarti in the evening. Even monkeys and other animals, who are seen in large numbers throughout the day, leave this place. It is believed that if anyone stays back to watch the Raas, either dies or becomes blind, deaf or dumb.

With stunted evergreen creepers, considered to be the sakhis of the ‘Sri ji’ as mentioned in legends and scriptures, their uniqueness lies in maintaining the time distance for visitors, as it is believed that till date ‘Sri ji’ resides here with ‘Sakhis’ (friends) and performs “Raas” (holy dance) every night.

Evidences such as dispersed ornaments are often found in the morning to prove the belief to be true.

Well known Muslim saint Raskhan also saw the transcendental Raas Lila here at Seva Kunj.

Plight of the site

Due to the centuries of apathy of its devotees, Seva Kunj was not in good shape from the materialistic point of view. The pathways in between the creepers and the boundary wall was in a dilapidated condition. The creepers were dry, except monsoons, due to gross neglect and lack of perennial water.

Beautification Plan and Restoration Process

The Braj Foundation started its restoration and beautification in June 2011. Our Architectural team and landscape designers planned its aesthetic restoration, which included reconstructing the crumbling boundary wall, cladding it with Dholpur stones, construction of Parikrama Path, covered with green color steel jali, to protect visitors from repeated attacks of hundreds of violent monkeys.
On the walls we repaired and fixed several new stone plaques, inscribed with Sanskrit shlokas from ‘Radha Sudha Nidhi' and ‘Yamunaashtak’. We ornamentally reconstructed several samadhis of saints within Seva Kunj.

We got tons of garbage removed from Seva Kunj, which had been brought in by monkeys and others from all around. We dug the soil and brought hundreds of tractor trolleys filled with fertile soil to improve the fertility of this sacred forest.
We then laid a web of irrigation pipelines and installed several hydrants to water the creepers. We brought a pipeline of sweet water from the bank of Yamuna to ensure perennial water supply for irrigation. After all this preparation heavy plantation was done. Today Seva Kunj blossoms with thick greenery and thousands of flowers.

Restoration of Temple

Finally, we restored and beautified the ‘Nij Mahal’ temple. For this we used high quality white marble to match with the existing work. We engaged artists and paid them a heavy fee to paint the three ceilings of the three portions of ‘Nij Mahal’, with oil paintings depicting various moods of Radha & Krishna in their ‘Nikunj Leela’.

We fixed large stone plaques describing the importance of the Seva Kunj in English and Hindi .

Restoration of Lalita Kund

We also restored and reconstructed small ancient Lalita Kund within Seva Kunj. We installed a stone carved waterfall and reconstructed a beautiful huge canopy on it by removing the old unimpressive concrete structure, which was a stone shed on four pillars constructed in 1950s.

Nav Kalevar Mahotsav

On 25th April 2015 a grand colorful shobha yatra (procession) led by prominent saints, Sevayat Goswamis of Seva Kunj, leaders of all political parties from all over the Braj and large number of Brajwasis started from Shri Radha Ballabh temple and passed through the main markets of Vrindavan where the people sprinkled rose water and floral petals on the procession and offered drinks and sweets throughout the way, till we reached Seva Kunj. Devotees dance throughout the route in devotional ecstasy. After arriving at Seva Kunj several speakers glorified the role of TBF and showered generous praises for our team.