Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami
From the book “Sri Vraja-maṇḍala-parikramā”:
This place in Kāmyavana was the residence of Śrī Yaśodā’s father. During His childhood, Śrī Kṛṣṇa would sometimes come to stay at this very attractive place with His mother. Sometimes, Nanda Bābā and his family and associates used to camp here with their cows. Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the sakhās also grazed the cows here.
Bhakti-ratnākara mentions this holy place:
ethā gocāraṇe kṛṣṇa haīyā vihvala
Rajashekhara Dasa
From the book “Chaurasi-kosa Vraja Mandala Parikrama”:
When Nanda Maharaja was moving from Gokula to Nandagrama, he stayed at a few places including Shakatikara, Dig and also Kamyavana, where his residence was said to have been located near Yashoda-kunda. In the Bhakta-ratnakara it says, “Here is the supremely pure Yashoda-kunda where Krishna in jubilation, herded His cows.” It is said by some authorities that Samuka Maharaja, mother Yashoda’s father, was at one time staying at this place and therefore Yashoda spent some of her childhood pastimes at this place. There is also a spot next to the kunda where it is said mother Yashoda used to churn butter and also wash her pots. There is an ancient temple here dedicated to Chamunda Devi, a form of goddess Durga. Chamunda is famous for killing the two powerful demons named Chanda and Munda.
There is a nice story about the potency of this sacred kunda mentioned in the Adi-Varaha Purana. Once there was a vaishya (trader) who very expertly worshiped the brahmanas and consequently in his next life, he was born as a king. His name was Subhajit and his kingdom was known as Mahismati, but even though he had conquered all his enemies and accumulated great wealth, he was not happy. The reason for his unhappiness was due to not having a son and heir. On behalf of the king, the royal priest went to the forest to consult the great ascetic Loma Rishi, who informed the priest that although the king was a very pious vaishya in his previous life, he had once committed an offence against a cow. Loma Rishi further explained that in his previous life, the vaishya, while on a business trip during the hot season, had become very thirsty and began searching for a well. After finding a well, the vaishya lowered a vessel into the well to draw water. At that moment, a cow also came there searching for water. Not caring for the cow, the vaishya quenched his thirst and continued on his journey thus neglecting the cow. Loma Rishi further explained that because in his previous life the vaishya had diligently worshiped the brahmanas, he was reborn as a king, but because he had neglected to serve the thirsty cow, he was thus condemned to be childless.
Loma Rishi further advised the royal priest that he should take the king to the sacred forest of Kamyavana and take bath in the celebrated Yashoda-kunda, and thus the desires of the king would be fulfilled. The royal priest then arranged for the king to travel to Kamyavana and take bath in Yashoda-kunda. Within a short time, the wife of the king gave birth to a very beautiful baby boy, whose effulgence filled the four directions and brought unbounded happiness to King Subhajit, including the people of his kingdom. It has also been said in the Puranas that Yashoda-kunda is so supremely pure, that even if one does not take bath in the kunda, but simply hears about its glories, one will achieve the same result as if one had actually taken a bath there.
