Rajashekhara Dasa
From the book “Chaurasi-kosa Vraja Mandala Parikrama”:
This is the seventh of the sacred forests of Vrindavana visited by the Vraja Mandala parikrama and one of the places where Krishna and Balarama used to bring Their cows for grazing. The word ‘bhadra’ means ‘attractive’ and the forest has a parikrama of around three miles (4.5km), unfortunately little remains of the sacred forest today. It says in the Adi-Varaha Purana, “Whoever visits the sacred forest of Bhadravana will become a single-minded devotee of Lord Krishna.” The Bhakti-ratnakara also says that one who performs pilgrimage to Bhadravana will achieve the heavenly planets at death. Lord Balarama is the presiding Deity over all the forests on the eastern bank of the Yamuna River and Bhadravana is considered to be one of His favorite playgrounds where He enjoys pastimes with His cowherd boyfriends. The places of importance are the ancient shiva-linga located on the main Mat-Tentogaon road known as Bhadrishwara Mahadeva, which local panditas claim was established by Vajranabha Maharaja. There is also a famous lake nearby known as Bhadra-sarovara, but at the present time this lake has completely dried up and on the verge of disappearing. Some people say that the demon Vatsasura was killed at Bhadravana, but this claim and not supported by any evidence. On the contrary, there is overwhelming evidence to show that Vatsasura was killed on the western bank of the Yamuna near Vatsavana, during Krishna’s pauganda-lila when He was living at Shakatikara.
