Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami
From the book “Sri Vraja-maṇḍala-parikramā”:
Some distance north of Caraṇa-pahāḍī is the kuñja of Vṛndā- devī. She resided here at the time of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s manifest pastimes (prakaṭa-līlā). From here, she would arrange the meetings of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in the kuñjas of Saṅket and other places. Sometimes, she would consult Yogamāyā Pūrṇimā-devī and on her instruction arrange the meeting of the Divine Couple Śri Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa by employing ingenious trickery. Here lies the pond of Vṛndā-devī, in which she used to bathe and so forth. Vṛndā-devī wears beautiful clothes, and is decorated with many kinds of ornaments. She is the presiding forest-goddess of Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes in the kuñjas. It is impossible for anyone to enter Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes without Vṛndā-devī’s mercy. Tulasījī is the worshipable form (arcāvatāra) of the original Vṛndā-devī. Kṛṣṇa does not accept any offering without tulasī leaves or mañjarīs.
Near Vṛnda-kuṇḍa, in the east, is Cauḍokhara, which is also called Caraṇa-kuṇḍa. Near this pond are Rohiṇī-kuṇḍa, Mohinī- kuṇḍa, the posts for binding the cows, Nanda Bābā’s cowshed and Dohinī-kuṇḍa.
Rajashekhara Dasa
From the book “Chaurasi-kosa Vraja Mandala Parikrama”:
This famous kunda on the outskirts of Nandagrama is the residence of the gopi Vrinda Devi, who is very expert in arranging meetings between the ‘divine lovers’ Radha and Krishna. Every morning Purnamasi meets Vrinda Devi here at Vrinda-kunda and together they make plans for the day’s loving encounters between Radha and Krishna. After deciding the day’s events, Purnamasi returns home and Vrinda Devi, within her mind, begins to meditate on decorating the various forest groves and bowers where Radha and Krishna are going to meet that day. Vrinda Devi by means of her mystic potency arranges for varieties of aromatic creepers and vines along with beautiful flowering bushes and blossoming trees of various hues to manifest around the chosen meeting place. The forest goddess Vrinda Devi is the predominating Deity of Vrindavana and is non-different from the forest itself including its flora and fauna. Simply by her desire she is able to manifest a perfect transcendental environment for Radha and Krishna to enjoy Their amorous pastimes. Consequently, the forests of Vrindavana always appear as if spring-time is manifesting there every day. Vrinda is assisted by her many companions of whom Vira Devi (Sanket Devi) is the most prominent. Vrinda also has a yellow colored pet parrot named Daksha, who acts as a messenger as well as bringer of news.
In the Vraja-vilasa-stava it is stated, “Filled with a great flood of love, Vrindadevi creates a festive atmosphere for Shri Shri Radha and Krishna to enjoy transcendental pastimes with Their dear friends by decorating the ever-blossoming groves of Vrindavana with many fragrant flowers. Let me surrender unto Vrindadevi.” Vrinda Devi’s position is unique because as the predominating Deity of Vrindavana forest and an expansion of Yogamaya Devi, by her mercy one can enter into Krishna’s transcendental pastimes. For this reason she has also manifested herself as Tulasi Devi and appears in the form of a tulasi plant to accept the worship of aspiring devotees and thereby help nurture their creeper of devotion. Therefore, she is also called Bhakti Devi, the goddess who can bestow upon a devotee pure devotional service to Krishna. Vrinda Devi is so dear to Krishna that unless an offering of food has a tulasi leaf placed upon it, Krishna does not like to accept it. At the present time Vrinda-kunda is being managed by ISKCON devotees who have constructed a new temple on the banks of the sacred kunda where the Deity of Vrinda Devi presides.
