Rajashekhara Dasa
From the book “Chaurasi-kosa Vraja Mandala Parikrama”:
This is the famous sitting place (baithaka) of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu located on the bank of Shyama-kunda. While sitting here under the shade of a tamal tree, as He looked across at the two paddy fields, He could understand that this was the actual location of Radha-kunda and Shyama-kunda. This spot on the banks of the kunda became celebrated as Tamala-tala because of the the tamala tree under which Lord Chaitanya sat. The word ‘tala’ means ‘tree’ and the famous ghata is known as Tamala-tala Ghata. During Lord Chaitanya’s parikrama of Vraja Mandala in 1515, when He arrived at Govardhana Hill, He began enquiring from the local Vrajavasis about the location of Radha-kunda, but no one knew its whereabouts. It appeared that all knowledge of the sacred lakes was completely lost. The local Vrajavasis said that the only source of water in the nearby vicinity was the natural underground spring that fed two small ponds known as Kali and Gauri, which was now being used as a paddy field for growing rice. The words ‘kali’ means ‘black’, and ‘gauri’ means ‘white’, which may well have alluded to Radha and Krishna in the distant past. Feeling somewhat disappointed at not finding Radha-kunda, Lord Chaitanya came to this spot and sat beneath this now-famous tamal tree that overlooked the two paddy fields.
While sitting at tamal-tala, deeply absorbed in contemplation and chanting the holy names on His beads, Lord Chaitainya understood through His divine vision, that the small reservoir of water feeding the two paddy fields was in fact Radha-kunda. The Lord immediately went there in great ecstasy and in the small amount of water that was available the Lord joyously took his bath, much to the surprise of the local people. While chanting the holy names, the Lord anointed His transcendental body with Vaishnava tilaka using the grey colored mud of Radha-kunda. Lord Chaitanya also collected a portion of the sacred mud to take with Him on His journey. The Bhakti-ratnakara says, “The villagers were greatly startled by His behavior. One of them inquired, ‘From where has this sannyasi suddenly come?’ Someone said, ‘O brother, by seeing Him I cannot understand what is happening in my body.’ Another person said, ‘He cannot be a mortal sannyasi. Seeing Him I cannot explain what is happening in my mind.’ Someone else said, ‘Who says He is a sannyasi? He is Krishna Himself appearing in this dress and form. Just see the proof. Different birds are all coming for His darshana. The cuckoos and parrots are happily addressing Him as Krishna, and the peacocks are dancing in jubilation. The different sounds of the birds are very pleasing to the ears. And see the wonderful blooming of the trees! O brother, just see the creepers showering flowers on this person, who is disguised as a sannyasi. The deer are coming near Him and staring un-diverted towards His face. All the cows are coming running from all sides with raised tails, and they also look at His face. By the tears of ecstasy falling from the eyes of these creatures we can understand that they are meeting Him after a long period of time.” Having taken His bath in Radha-kunda, Lord Chaitanya continued on with His parikrama around Vraja Mandala and proceeded towards Kusuma-sarovara, Manasi-ganga, and Govardhana Hill.
