Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami
From the book “Sri Vraja-mandala-parikrama”:
Kṛṣṇa performed various pastimes at this place, which lies near Śakaṭīkarā. One day while grazing the cows, Śrī Kṛṣṇa was absorbed in playing here with the sakhās. In their play, Kṛṣṇa made Śrīdāma Sakhā assume the role of Garuḍa and then He climbed on his back, acting as if the husband of Lakṣmī, Nārāyaṇa Himself, had mounted Garuḍa’s back. Even today, one can take darśana of Govindajī with Śrīdāma in the role of Garuḍa.
This location is also connected with Lord Rāma’s pastimes. When the serpents released by Meghanātha bound Śrī Rāmacandra in their coils, He became helpless. Hearing of this from Devaṛṣi Nārada, Garuḍa came to the rescue. As soon as the serpents saw Garuḍa, they released Śrī Rāmacandra and fled. This incident left Garuḍa doubtful as to whether Śrī Rāma was in fact Bhagavān, the Supreme Lord, but by associating with Mahātmā Kakabhuṣuṇḍī and by receiving darśana of Śrī Kṛṣṇa at the time of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, this delusion was removed. At that time, Śrī Kṛṣṇa climbed upon his back and assured him that He was indeed the Supreme Lord. Garuḍa-Govinda is the place where Garuḍa had darśana of Śrī Govinda, the maintainer of the cows and cowherd boys.
Rajashekhara Dasa
From the book “Chaurasi-kosa Vraja Mandala Parikrama”:
The village of Shakatikara (Chhatikara) is famous for the temple of Garuda-govinda and the place where Krishna enjoyed many of His boyhood pastimes along with His cowherd boyfriends. When Nanda Maharaja and all the inhabitants of Gokula were forced to leave their homes due to the disturbances created by various demons, they decided to move to the forest of Vrindavana located on the western bank of the Yamuna River. After loading all their possessions onto bullock carts, they crossed the Yamuna near Bhandiravana and set up their camp at Shakatikara. It is mentioned in the Garga Samhita that the forest of Vrindavana covered a vast area which also included Shakatikara. Some researchers believe that the name Shakatikara is derived from the word ‘shakat’ which means ‘cart’ and the word ‘kara’ means a ‘half-circle’ or ‘circular’. In other words, Nanda Maharaja and the residents of Gokula placed their bullock carts in a circular shape to provide maximum protection to their families and livestock from wild animals and other predators while setting up their camp. When the residents of Gokula moved to Shakatikara, Vrishabhanu Maharaja, the father of Radharani, also decided to join his friend Nanda Maharaja in the great exodus from the area of Mahavana forest, and after crossing the Yamuna along with the residents of Gokula, set up his camp at a place called Vasati, just a short distance from Shakatikara.
Krishna’s arrival at Shakatikara marked the final period of His kaumara-lila, or pastimes as an infant that lasted from one to three years. Krishna would have entered His pauganda-lila at the age of three when He moved to Shakatikara and started to take the calves out for grazing, but due to Brahma having stolen the calves and cowherd boys, Krishna had to wait one full year for the period of His pauganda-lila to begin. During the last stages of His kumara-lila while staying at Shakatikara, Krishna killed the demons Vatsasura, Bakasura and Aghasura. After the one year period of the Brahma-vimohana-lila, Krishna’s pauganda-lila period finally began from the age of four and lasted up to His sixth year. The beginning of the pauganda-lila was marked by Balarama killing the demon Dhenukasura and Krishna subduing the poisonous serpent Kaliya Naga and swallowing the forest fire at Davanala-kunda. In this period of Krishna’s pauganda age, at the time of the Kaliya-lila pastime, Radharani and Her gopi girlfriends suddenly noticed the gradually developing features of Krishna’s kaishore age and could perceive the incredible beauty of Krishna’s lotus face; thus during the pastime at Davanala-kunda, they began to cast their secretive sidelong glances in His direction. From the age of six Krishna entered His kaishore-lila and this coincided with His departure from the village of Shakatikara to Nandagrama. After moving from Shakatikara, Nanda Maharaja and the cowherd men stayed at various places in the course of their one year journey that included Dig and Kamyavana, before finally settling at Nandagrama where Krishna began His seventh year. The various periods in Krishna’s life such as His kaumara, pauganda, and kaishore ages, appear early in order to accommodate the manifestation of the Lord’s transcendental pastimes and this is also the case for Radharani and all the gopis of Vraja.
It appears that Shakatikara is the same place that is mentioned in the Bhakti-ratnakara as being the holy place known as Shakat Rohana which is situated near to Garuda-Govinda tirtha. The Adi-Varaha Purana says, “One and a half yojanas from Mathura is my supreme abode named Shakata Rohana. Many thousands of bumblebees live there. Whoever fasts for one night and then takes bath there is certain to attain happiness in Vidyadharaloka.” In the Bhakti-ratnakara Raghava Pandita says, “We have entered the place called Shasthikara, although previously it was known as Shasthikaratavi, and presently people call this place Shasthigara. It is a beautiful pleasant place and very dear to Krishna. Bumblebees are always humming in the forest of flowers. By bathing in the kunda here one will get supreme bliss.” According to these two verses from the Bhakti-ratnakara, the name of the village appears to have been derived from both the ancient names of Shakat Rohana and Shasthikaratavi. The only sacred kunda in this area is Garuda-Govinda-kunda next to the Garuda-Govinda Mandira.
