"Undoubtedly Radha-kunda is very rarely attained even by the great devotees; therefore it is even more difficult for ordinary devotees to attain. If one simply bathes once within those holy waters, one's pure love of Krsna is fully aroused."
(SriUpadesamrta, Text Eleven)
Govardhana Hill, where Lord Krsna tended the cows with His cowherd friends. Every year, devotees from around the world come here to offer their obeisances and remember the holy pastimes of the Lord. Unless Srila Prabhupada had left India to spread Krsna consciousness far and wide, many devotees would never have had such a rare opportunity.
By Srila Prabhupada's grace, so many devotees have been able to visit Sri Radha-kunda, described as "the lake that is as dear to Krsna as Radha Herself." (SriUpadesamrta, Text Eleven, Bhaktivedanta Purport)
Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, "lifted Govardhana Hill like an umbrella, raising it with His lotuslike beautiful hand to protect His associates, the denizens of Vraja, from the torrential rains sent by the angry Indra, King of the demigods." (Sri Upadesamrta, Text Nine, Bhaktivedanta Purport)
"Caitanya Mahaprabhu was born in Mayapur in the town of Nadia just after sunset on the evening of the 23rd Phalguna 1407 Sakabda, answering to the 18th of February, 1486, of the Christian Era. The moon was eclipsed at the time of His birth, and the people of Nadia were then engaged, as was usual on such occasions, in bathing in the Bhagirathi with loud cheers of Haribol." - Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: His Life and Precepts. (Photo: Mayapur sunset, Gaur Purnima, 1986)
The banks of the Bhagirathi River (a branch of the Ganges) in Sridhama Mayapur, with Srila Prabhupada's puspa-samadhi visiblein the distance.
Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir was established by Srila Prabhupada as the headquarters for his worldwide preaching mission, and as a planned city of Krsna consciousness and Vedic culture. (Photo: March, 1986)
