Sunday 20 June 2021

Remuna


One day in the forest of Citrakuta during monsoon time, Lord Ramacandra noticed some cows munching on lush green grass. Relishing a sweet memory, Lord Ramacandra smiled slightly. Curious, Srimati Sita-devi asked what was making the Lord so joyful.


“I am remembering the pastimes I will perform in Dvapara-yuga as Krishna in Vrindavana,” answered Lord Ramacandra.

Srimati Sita-devi begged, “Please, tell me those pastimes so I can enjoy them too?”

Lord Ramacandra said, “I will appear in Vrajabhumi as Yasodanandana Sri Krishna, the beloved cowherd son of Nanda Baba and Yasoda-devi, and you will appear as Radhika, the tender child of Vrsabhanu and Kirtida. Instead of sporting on Citrakuta Hill, I will run behind the cows and play at Govardhana Hill with You and My friends like Subala, Sridama and Madhumangala. As we have this kadamba tree beside our cottage, similarly, in Vraja as Gopinatha I will relish many intimate conjugal delights with you and the asta-sakhis like Lalita and Visakha underneath the Keli Kadamba trees.”

Srimati Sita-devi, Her inquisitiveness fully aroused, softly asked Lord Ramacandra to show Her that gorgeous form. Lord Ramacandra replied, "Just wait a week. With an arrow I'll carve some pictures of those pastimes in a black rock, and you will be able to see them."

But after four days Sita said, "I can't wait any longer. Please show me what You've done."

By this time, Lord Ramacandra collected a large black stone, and using an arrow,

He first inscribed Gopala Krishna standing in a graceful three-fold bending form clutching a flute.

Then on Gopala’s left, Lord Ramacandra formed

  1.  Lalita-sakhi offering tambula with her right hand, and 
  2. Visakha holding a tray of fruits and a water pitcher. 
  3. Citra-sakhi (Sucitra) is holding a flower mala and 
  4. Indulekha waits at Gopala’s feet for carana-seva. 
On Gopinatha’s right, Lord Ramacandra carved

  1. Campakalata with a camara fan; 
  2. Ranga-devi with a tray of sandalwood paste; 
  3. Tungavidya-sakhi clutching new cloth; and 
  4. Sudevi preparing a flower bed. 
Thus Rama produced the asta-sakhis with their sevas.

http://gopiradhakrishna.blogspot.com/2011/06/village-of-asta-sakhis.html

On either side of Gopala, Sri Rama engraved Krishna’s four dear friends:

  1. Subala, 
  2. Madhumangala, 
  3. Sanandana and 
  4. Vidagdha 
http://8gth.blogspot.com/2015/01/four-kinds-of-sakhas.html

along with
  1. three cows each. 
  2. Three jammu (rose-apple) trees are visible above Gopala’s head 
along with an engraving showing the destruction of the Mathura wrestlers
  1. Canura and 
  2. Mustika, Kamsa’s demoniac followers. 



Ananta Sesa is fanned out in the middle above the head of Gopala.


Pleased to see all this, Srimati Sita devi worshiped this Gopala Deity carved by Her husband Ramacandra until the time she was kidnapped by Ravana. Lord Brahma then continued the seva-puja for the seven hundred year balance of Treta-yuga.

When Lord Ramacandra and Sita devi were returning from Lanka after killing the demon Ravana, They stopped here for four days in a beautiful green forest called Ramaniya (today called Remuna).

Sita devi wanted to bathe there in the Ganges, so Lord Ramacandra shot seven arrows into the ground and brought forth the Ganges. Today that place is called Saptashara, "seven arrows." A deity of Lord Siva named Gargasvara was later installed there. Because Lord Ramacandra felt pleasure (ramana) at that place, it came to be known as Remuna. 

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