Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami
From the book “Sri Vraja-maṇḍala-parikramā”:
A little further east of Ānyora-grāma is Gaurī-kuṇḍa. This attractive place is full of kadamba trees amidst luxuriant, green bowers. It is where the secret pastimes of Candrāvalī and Kṛṣṇa took place. The play, Vidagdha-mādhava, gives a very sweet and beautiful description of this.
Candrāvalī is the daughter of Candrabhānu Gopa, the elder brother of Vṛṣabhānu Mahārāja. In regard to her beauty, qualities, charm, cleverness and so forth, she is the topmost gopī of the party that is opposed to Śrīmatī Rādhikā. Padmā and Śaibyā are her principal sakhīs. On the pretext of worshipping goddess Gaurī with her sakhīs, Candrāvalī used to meet Kṛṣṇa at this appointed place, and Śrī Kṛṣṇa would perform some pastimes with her for a while. Sometimes, Rūpa and Rati Mañjarīs of Śrīmatī Rādhikā’s party would use clever tricks to take Śrī Kṛṣṇa from here to meet with Śrīmatī Rādhikā at Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa.
Once, while performing pastimes with Candrāvalī, Kṛṣṇa became confused and inadvertently asked her, “Rādhā, are you all right?” Hearing Rādhā’s name, Candrāvalī became irritated and replied, “Mahārāja Kaṁsa, are You all right?”
Puzzled, Kṛṣṇa asked, “Sakhī, where is Kaṁsa here?” “Where is Your Rādhā here?” was Candrāvalī’s reply.
Kṛṣṇa understood His mistake and, feeling very ashamed, begged Candrāvalī’s forgiveness.
Rajashekhara Dasa
From the book “Chaurasi-kosa Vraja Mandala Parikrama”:
The holy place near Govardhana Hill known as Gauri-tirtha was the playground of Chandravali. The area around Chandra-sarovara which also included Gauri-tirtha was very dear to Chandravali and was one of her favorite places. Chandravali is Radharani’s cousin and also Her rival in achieving Krishna’s love and affection. There was a continual battle going on between these two cousins as to who could please Krishna the most. At Gauri-tirtha, Chandravali regularly performed puja at the Gauri Mandira and Krishna would go there on some occasions to meet with Chandravali and enjoy her company.
One day, after hearing rumors that Radha was having a secret love-affair with Krishna, Abhimanyu, who is Radha’s supposed husband, approached Paurnamasi for her blessings to send Radha away to Mathura. Paurnamasi informed Abhimanyu that simply on the strength of rumors, he should not resort to such a drastic action, saying that if he himself caught Radha and Krishna together, then only could he contemplate sending Radha away. In order to further pacify Abhimanyu, Paurnamasi informed him that from that very day, she would initiate Radha into the worship of the Goddess Gauri, so that Abhimanyu could gain more wealth and increase the number of his cows which was the primary source of wealth in ancient Vedic society. Abhimanyu became very happy at the thought of such an increase in his wealth, as he had heard that after Chandravalli began worshiping Gauri Devi, the wealth of her husband Govardhana Malla had suddenly increased.
After being instructed by Purnamasi, Radharani went to Gauri-tirtha to perform Gauri-puja. Krishna, wanting to enjoy some fun, also went there and just to tease Radharani, He deliberately addressed Her as Chandravali, Radha’s cousin and rival. In an angry huff, Radharani refused to talk to Krishna and immediately ran off to pick flowers for the Gauri-puja. Krishna began thinking what He could do to pacify Radha’s angry pique and regain Her association. At that moment, Krishna’s friend Madhumangala arrived there bringing all the dresses, ornaments, sandal paste, and various cosmetics for the worship of goddess Gauri. Krishna then decided to dress up in the Deities clothing and disguise Himself as a girl by applying the various cosmetics like the sandal paste to His face, He could then secretly approach Radharani and pacify Her anger. Krishna requested Vrinda Devi to support Him and say that He was her fair complexioned sister whose name was Nikunjavidya. Vrinda Devi agreed and Krishna entered the Gauri Mandira to decorate His face and dress-up as a girl.
Very soon Radharani arrived at the Gauri Mandira accompanied by Lalita and Vishakha, and on seeing Vrinda Devi, asked her where Krishna had gone. Vrinda replied that He was last seen in the temple talking to her sister Nikunjavidya, but had now gone elsewhere. Radha and Her friends immediately went to the temple to see for themselves and to meet Vrinda’s ‘sister’ Nikunjavidya. Immediately upon seeing Vrinda’s beautiful fair complexioned sister, Radha informed Vrinda that just by seeing her sister Nikunjavidya smiling at Her, She was automatically feeling intense love towards her. Being completely overcome with affection, Radha placed Her arms around Nikunjavidya and embraced her. Nikunjavidya in-turn embraced Radharani and began passionately kissing Radha’s beautiful lotus-like face. At that moment Radha realized the true identity of Vrinda’s so-called ‘sister’. However, Lalita and Vishakha were surprised and somewhat embarrassed to see Vrinda’s sister so unabashedly embracing Radharani and kissing Her face, but within a few moments they also realized Nikunjavidya’s true identity.
Having heard a rumor that Radha and Krishna were meeting secretly at Gauri-kunda, without any warning, Jatila suddenly arrived there with Abhimanyu hoping to catch Radha and Krishna red-handed. Shocked at hearing Abhimanyu’s voice as he entered the temple with his mother, Radharani immediately fainted on the floor in front of ‘Nikunjavidya’. On entering the temple, Jatila saw Radharani lying prostrate before Nikunjavidya and asked Abhimanyu, who was the attractive and fair complexioned girl who illuminated the whole temple with here dazzling and effulgent beauty. Abhimanyu replied that it must surely be the goddess Gauri. Lalita and Vishakha quickly spoke up saying that while Radharani was engaged in worshiping the goddess, out of her mercy, the goddess has stepped out of the Deity and was now standing before them. Jatila then asked Lalita what Radharani was praying for. All of a sudden the goddess began to speak in a very grave voice, saying, ‘the pure and faultless Radha was praying to save Abhimanyu from a great calamity hanging over his head’. Vrinda then immediately intervened saying that after two days, King Kamsa was planning to make a human sacrifice to Lord Shiva and had decided that Abhimanyu was to be the sacrificial man-animal, but due to Radha’s great love and devotion towards the goddess Gauri, the danger has now been averted. Abhimanyu immediately bowed down and profusely thanked the goddess for saving him, promising that he would never ever think of taking Radharani to Mathura, but instead would insist that She came every single day to Gauri-tirtha to worship and serve goddess Gauri. Abhimanyu and his mother then left the temple thinking what great fortune had been bestowed upon them by Radha’s great devotion to Gauri Devi.
