Kokilavan

Out of the 137 forests of Braj, the Kokila Van is one of the main 12 forests. Prayer Mantra of Shri Kokila Van : Devarshikinnarakirn Kokilanirmitay Cha. Banayalhadpurnay Namaste Susvaraprada. - Narad Pancharatra Salutations to this Shri Kokilavan, created by the Nightingales, full of great ecstasy, consisting of great sages and demigods who have melodious voices like the nightingale. According to Garga Samhita At the time of Vasanti Raas pastime, the damsels of Braj pleased their very life Shri Krishn, the dear son of King Nand, by singing Gopigeet in this Kokilavan, which was full of various nightingales, and it was here that they met Shri Kokila Bihari (Shri Krishn, who wanders in Kokila Van). When Shri Krishn disappeared in the middle of this Raas pastime which started on the fifth day of the month of Vaishakh (April-May), the Gopis started searching for Shri Krishn wandering in the forest. Like deer, the Gopis look around from far and wide. Sometimes they ask the where-about of Shri Krishn from the trees, vines, earth, and Shri Yamuna. It is this state of infinite, indescribable, unimaginable pangs of separation that Shri Krishn appeared very soon before the Gopis. The hymn of Gopigeet was sung in this holy place "Kokilavan", which is mentioned in Shrimad Bhagwatam's 10th canto, chapter 31. According to Brajbhakti Vilas Here in this vast forest, there is Ratnakar Sarovar and Ras Mandal. Prayer Mantra for Bathing and Achaman in Ratnakar Sarovar : Sakhyah Ksheersamudbhut Ratnakarsarovare. Nana prakararatnanamudbhabe Varde Namah. O Ratnakar Sarovar, created out of milk by the damsels of Braj, the bestower of many types of gems! I bow before you. Prayer Mantra of Ras Mandal : Rasakridapradiptay Gopiramanasundar. Namah Sukhmanoramyasthalay Siddhirupine. O Ras Mandal, manifested from the Maharas Pastime, who captivates the mind, splendid with the nectarous pastimes of the Gopis, I bow before you. The Baithak Place of Shri Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya Ji is also situated here. According to 252 Vaishnavan Ki Varta : A Vaishnav used to wander in Braj, and he used to ask for flour from the residents of Braj, then he used to cook it and eat it. One day he came to Kokilavan, cooked his food here, and offered it to the Lord, and afterward, he ate himself. It was the day of the Dol festival, which he couldn't remember. When he remembered after cooking, he felt very sad that he didn't offer good food on this day of the festival. Soon he made a Kunj of creepers and started swinging the Lord. He offered Dal-Bati (the food of lentils and flour) to the Lord in the afternoon and in night. The Lord was very satisfied after eating it and said to Shri Gusain Ji (Shri Vitthalnath Ji) - "Jai Jai! Today I ate very delicious food." Gusain Ji "Jay Jai! What kind of food?' Shrinathji - "Dal Bati." Gusain Ji - "Jay Jai! Where did it come from?" Shrinathji - "A Vaishnav offered it to me in this forest of Kokilavan in the festival of Dol." Shrinathji was very happy with this service. One day the Vaishnav came to pay obeisance to Gusain Ji. Gusain Ji said with great pleasure “Come! Come! My Lala (Shri Krishn in the form of a child) was very happy by your service." The Vaishnav humbly said "Jai Jai! This has happened only by your grace, that Shri Krishn showered his grace upon me and accepted my service." This pastime has happened in this holy land. The great devotee of Shri Krishn, Shri Shanidev Ji, is seated near Kokilavan Vihari Temple. Every Saturday, lakhs of devotees come here for His darshan. Location : Kokilavan is situated 4.5 km north of Nandgaon and 1.5 km west of Javat.