6. Kusum Sarovar
Objectives:
Objective 1: To know about the beauty of Kusum Sarovar and the pastimes of Srimati Radharani.
Objective 3: To know about the legend of flowers and Sri Krishna’s pastimes in Kusum Sarovar.
Objective 4: To understand the significance behind Kusum Sarovar Lake.
Objective 1: To know about the beauty of Kusum Sarovar Lake and the pastimes of Srimati Radharani in the lake.
Kusum Sarovar is a sacred water reservoir with historic sandstone monuments in its backdrop. It is about 20 km from Vrindavan. It is situated between Mānasi Ganga and Radha Kunda and is located at the foothills of Govardhan, Mathura, India.
Kusum Sarovar is considered one of the sacred spots that witnessed the pastimes of Srimati Radharani and Sri Krishna. Narada Kunda is said to be situated within Kusum Sarovar, where Bhakti Sutra verses were written by Sage Narada, and the Sri Radha Bana Bihari Temple is located in the vicinity.
According to local legends, this tank was first excavated by King Kuru, the ancestor of the Kauravas and Pandavas.
Kusum Sarovar dates back to the era of Srimati Radharani and Sri Krishna. As the name suggests, Kusum Sarovar is a place surrounded by a variety of flowers and Kadamba trees. It is said that Radharani would come here under the pretext of collecting flowers along with her friends, often with the intention of secretly meeting Krishna and having playful conversations. Thus the name comes – Kusum, which means flowers, and Sarovar, which means sacred lake.
Objective 2: To learn about the story of Srimati Radharani and Sri Krishna in Kusum Sarovar along with the gopikas.
One day at Kusum Sarovar, Radharani was picking flowers from a tree. Krishna hid in the branches of the tree and pressed one of the branches down, so it would be easy for her to reach. Not knowing His trick, Radharani climbed onto the branch and started gathering flowers. Suddenly, Krishna lifted the branch high and Radharani went up along with the branch. Everyone laughed and clapped at this playful game. Radharani, on seeing Krishna, cried out and scolded Him.
Objective 3: To know about the legend of flowers and Sri Krishna’s pastimes in Kusum Sarovar Lake.
Krishna and His friends would often play games like hide-and-seek amidst the Kadamba trees surrounding the Sarovar.
One day Radharani was plucking flowers in Kusum Garden with her companions. Shyamsundar, disguised as a gardener, shouted from a distance, “Who are you people to pick flowers from the trees?” All the associates, overwhelmed with fear, scattered in different directions and then stood still at various places.
Radharani’s divine blue garment caught up in the garden’s bushes, preventing her from running further. In her haste, one or two flowers slipped from her lotus hands and fell in the ground.
Meanwhile, Shyamsundar, still in the form of a gardener, came before her. He freed her bluish cloth from the bush and picked up the flowers that had fallen in the ground. At that time, Radharani noticed the flute tucked in His waistcloth and recognized Him as Krishna. She became angry with Krishna for frightening all of them.
Meanwhile, Shyamsundar, still in the form of a gardener, came before her. He freed her bluish cloth from the bush and picked up the flowers that had fallen in the ground. At that time, Radharani noticed the flute tucked in His waistcloth and recognized Him as Krishna. She became angry with Krishna for frightening all of them.
Mural Description: At Kusum Sarovar, the murals show a delicate and intimate scene of Krishna and Radharani. Krishna is carefully arranging Radharani’s hair while she holds a mirror. Her friends, the sakhis, stand nearby, watching and helping. All are dressed in beautiful traditional clothes, giving the scene a divine and royal feeling.
Objective 4: To understand the significance behind Kusum Sarovar Lake.
During his pilgrimage to Vrindavan, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also visited this sacred lake, which in local tradition is sometimes called Suman Sarovar. It is said that anyone who bathes in Kusum Sarovar receives the special blessing of pure love for Krishna.
The peaceful surroundings and the lush greenery around the lake make it an ideal spot for visitors and pilgrims who want to experience a sense of calmness and spirituality. Kusum Sarovar is considered a sacred place in the Braj region. Pilgrims come from all over India to visit this holy site, explore the ancient structures around the reservoir, and view the beautiful paintings that tell the stories of Krishna and Radharani’s pastimes. The area around the lake is filled with the energy of these divine stories. Krishna performed several playful acts here with His friends and Radharani here.
