Nidhivan: Vrindavan’s Mystical Grove

I had first heard of Nidhivan a few decades ago and have since then been fascinated by its many mystical stories – a protected grove where Radha and Krishna continue to visit every night for their rasleela (dance of divine love) … the tulsi trees that turn into maidens of Braj … the many visible signs of their presence found even today … a place forbidden for people after sunset, it is believed that even animals and birds leave the sacred forest.

After a long wait of many years, I felt fortunate to recently visit this divine playground of Radha and Krishna, in the heart of Vrindavan. Nidhivan is located amidst the narrow bylanes of the temple town. The grove is cordoned off from the surrounding area and has a walkway through it so that pilgrims can experience the place and visit its temples without disturbing the natural habitat.

There are five temples located within Nidhivan. The first being Banke Bihari Prakat Sthal, a little temple where Swami Haridas, through his deep devotion, found the buried idol, which was later shifted and installed at the magnificent Banke Bihari temple in 1864. The beautiful idol of child Krishna is unique as it is in the Tribhanga pose (bent at three places).

When Radha and Krishna get tired after their divine dance every night, they rest in Rang Mahal in Nidhivan. A beautiful glittering temple where the bed is prepared every day for the divine couple, betel leaves and sweets are kept for them. In the morning, mysteriously, the bed is found in disarray with rumpled sheets as if someone had slept on it, and some of the food is found eaten.

A highlight in Nidhivan is the Ras Mandal – depicting where the rasleela takes place. This is where one can find the statues of the asht-sakhis (the eight closest friends) of Radharani, those who are with the divine couple every night during their sacred play. Along with them, it is the ubiquitous, unusually shaped tulsi trees found throughout the grove that actually depict the Gopikas, who are believed to turn into their original forms as maidens of Braj during the night and revert back as trees once the dance is over.

Another temple is of Bansichor Radha Rani, where the divine consort of Krishna is holding his flute after stealing it. She was upset that he spent too much time with the flute without giving attention to her, so she took it away. This little temple is believed to be the only one in the world where Radha Rani is found holding a flute.

The Samadhi Sthal of Swami Haridas is also located within Nidhivan. The 15th- century mystic poet, musician, and saint, who is renowned for his devotional renditions of Sri Krishna, is the founder of the Haridas school of mysticism. There is also a belief that Swami Haridas was actually a reincarnation of one of the asht-sakhis, Lalita Sakhi. During his lifetime, the saint had spent most of his time in Nidhivan, immersing himself in the deep divine love of Radha-Krishna.

Even today, many pilgrims who visit the sacred forest of Nidhivan, come with the hope of being touched by this mystical play and experience in some way the all-encompassing love that can transform the inner core of their being, making them aware of their own divinity.

Important info:

How to reach: Vrindavan station is well connected by the Indian Railways. The nearest airports are Kheria Airport, Agra (55 km), and Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi (147 km).

Accommodation: There are many ashrams, dharmashalas, and hotels of various budget categories in Vrindavan. I had a pleasant stay at Brij Eternity, Vrindavan by Leisure Hotels.

(Sudipta is an energy healer and mystical storyteller. Her collection of short stories, ‘Invoking Our Inner Goddess’,’ Mystical Tales Of Sacred Earth’, ‘The Blue God’s Love’, and ‘Enchanted Waters: The Magical Flow Of Life’ are available worldwide on Amazon Kindle.)

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