Rajashekhara Dasa
From the book “Chaurasi-kosa Vraja Mandala Parikrama”:
Situated on top of the hill known as Nanda-tila, is the famous Chaurasi Khamba, which is said to have been built by the celestial engineer Vishvakarma for the benefit of Krishna’s father Nanda Maharaja, who was the king of the cowherd men. The name ‘Chaurasi Khamba’ means ‘eighty four pillars’ and this kind of building, besides being an opulent status symbol with its intricately carved stone pillars, was generally used as a durbar or assembly hall, where the king would meet his ministers and subjects. This is the most important archeological remains of Krishna’s childhood pastimes at Gokula which is also known as the Nanda Bhavan and was an important part of Nanda’s palace complex. The word bhavan generally means a large palatial building with well-appointed apartments for guests and a big hall where important gatherings would take place. Nanda Bhavana is the place where a great festival to celebrate Krishna’s birth was held after which Nanda Maharaja freely distributed immense wealth and thousands of cows to the brahmanas.
Buildings or pillars made from solid rock are almost indestructible and can survive the ravages of time just the same as natural rocks, which could last even billions of years. The Chaurasi Khambha is now used as a temple containing the Deity of baby Krishna lying in a swinging cradle, with the Deities of Nanda and Yashoda standing behind and Balarama inbetween them. In the courtyard there is an ancient pipal tree or asvata-vriksa, which is believed to be a wish-fulfilling kalpa-vriksha tree. This unusual tree is said to produces five different colored flowers or blossoms during the year and is said to have been here since Krishna’s time. There are a number of other shrines in the courtyard including one dedicated to Lord Balarama.
The Bhakti-ratnakara says, “See the house of Nanda and Yashoda! Who can describe the glories of this place? See the birthplace of Lord Krishna! Seeing the face of his son, Nanda and others became overwhelmed with joy. The cowherd men and women also came to see Him and Nanda celebrated the birth of his son by distributing many things to the people. At that time the whole world was filled with the most wonderful happiness.” In the Vraja-vilasa-stava the following description is found, “I offer my obeisances to Mahavana, where Vrajaraja Nanda celebrated the birth of Krishna by distributing eighteen lakha cows, each wearing a large pearl necklace and golden ornaments. He also gave the brahmanas a tremendous quantity of jewelry and grains.”
