Vrindavan is said to
be the land of Lord Krishna, and his presence is still felt by the devotees
there. Many people visit this place with great devotion and love for Shri
Krishna, and many say that if one truly believes in his presence, he/she feels
it too.
Vrindavan is a city
full of temples and other devotional places that mark the presence of Shri
Krishna. One of the main attractions, except for temples is a place called Nidhivan, a forest of Tulsi.
Nidhivan is a sacred forest of hollow trees, appearing to be in pairs, along
with paired plants of Tulsi. For the
devotees of Shri Krishna, this place is the most sacred of them all. It is
believed that Nidhivan continues to
be the actual abode of Shri Krishna in today’s age.
Pairs Of Trees
At Nidhivan, one can’t help but notice the
twisted basil trees, all in pairs around the forest. Along with that, the Tulsi plants in the forest also appear
to be in pairs. According to the beliefs, the basil ‘trees’ are gopis (worshipped as consorts and
devotees of Shri Krishna), who come to life at night during the time of Rasleela (divine dance of love).
It is popularly
believed that at night, Shri Krishna and Shri Radha perform rasleela along with gopis in the Nidhivan. The
basil trees appear to be in pairs as it signifies the presence of Shri Krishna
with every gopi during rasleela.
The trees truly feel
nothing like the regular trees we see around us, and the energy surrounding
that place is truly unreal and unfamiliar for anyone visiting the first time.
These factors contribute to the belief that Nidhivan
continues to be the abode of Shri Radha and Shri Krishna.
An Unusual ‘Forest’
While Nidhivan carries a literal meaning of a
‘forest’, the actual place is not like an exact forest. A forest is a vast land
full of tall trees and all forms of flora. On the other hand, Nidhivan is a patch of greenery in the
local area, not a deep lush garden.
Also, the trees
appear to be short-heightened as compared to the regular trees we see. On the
same thought, a common forest is a natural habitat for birds and animals. Nidhivan is visited by animals and
birds, but post 7 pm, not a single bird or animal stays inside the premises.
Post the evening aarti in Nidhivan, the gates are closed and no one is allowed and advised to
enter the premises. It is believed that anyone who witnesses the divinity of Nidhivan post 7 pm either loses his/her
sight or faces severed mental imbalance, making it impossible for him/her to
describe the event.
The Night At Nidhivan
Many beliefs surround
Nidhivan, starting from the shape and
form of trees and ending with proofs of the divine presence of Shri Krishna. As
mentioned earlier, the pairs of basil trees signify the presence of Shri
Krishna with each gopi during the rasleela.
Another interesting
belief that surrounds the Forest of Tulsi
is regarding the special devoted corner called the Rang Mahal in Nidhivan. A
sandalwood bed, a jar of water, and some food are laid out every
evening, as devotees believe this is where Shri Krishna rests. Interestingly,
every morning, these things appear to be used and people claim Shri Krishna is
responsible for it.
The people living by
also close their windows and doors post 7 pm. Some locals claim to have heard
the sound of ghungroos (musical
anklets for Indian classical dancers) at night.
The trees turn into gopis at night to dance around while
Shri Krishna performs his rasleela. Some
say the trees illuminate at night to welcome Shri Krishna, which sounds magical and charming simultaneously.
There also exists a
well on the premises, that is believed to be built by Shri Krishna with his
flute to quench the thirst of his beloved Shri Radha.
Myth VS Belief
Regarding
places like Nidhivan, it is not a
debate between ‘myth and reality’. It is a debate between ‘myth and belief’.
While some ask for proof, some focus on beliefs. Proof and belief don’t
co-exist.
Some people who have
looked into the premises of Nidhivan
have been said to be severely harmed, lost their sight, or suffer from severe
mental imbalance, unable to describe what they witnessed.
While some think that
a true devotee with complete devotion and surrender towards Shri Krishna can
witness and live to tell the story. Others argue that a true devotee will never
look for any proof and he will not look for the presence of divinity as he will
realize Shri Krishna is omnipresent.
A lot of mysteries,
beliefs, and stories surround Nidhivan.
What one wants to believe, believes. And that is the beauty of this place.
Written by – Simran
Mahon
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