Submitted by Hasti Gopala dasa, compiled by Agrani Krsna dasa
The Twelve Forests of Vraja
- By Agrani Krishna Dasa
- on Nov 26, 2015
- in Vraja
The Padma Purana describes twelve principal forests in Vraja situated east and west of Yamuna. On the east side are Madhuvana, Talavana, Kumudavana, Kamyavana, Bahulavana, Vrindavana, and Khadiravana. On the western side are Mahavana, Bhandiravana, Lohavana, Bhadravana and Baelvana. Krishna performed various pastimes in these twelve forests.
Madhuvana
ramyam madhuvanam nama vishnu-sthanam anuttamam
yad-drshtva manujo devi sarvan kaman avapnuyat
yad-drshtva manujo devi sarvan kaman avapnuyat
There is a most enchanting place of Lord Vishnu called Madhuvana. By taking darshana of this holy place all one’s desires are fulfilled. (Text 347, Mathura-mahatmya)
The forest of Madhuvana is currently known as Maholi. This is the only forest where the Supreme Personality of Godhead performed His pastimes in all the four yugas. In the Satya-yuga, He killed Madhu demon. In the same yuga, He gave darshan as Lord Prshnigarbha to Dhruva Maharaja. In the Treta-yuga, Lord Shatrughna killed the demon Lavanasura, the son of demon Madhu. In the Dwapara-yuga, Krishna performed pastimes with the gopis and the cowherd boys and in the Kali-yuga Lord Chaitanya took a sacred bath in the Krishna-kunda situated here. This forest is called Madhuvana after the Supreme Lord Madhusudana. The word ‘madhu’ also means nectar. Krishna performed nectarean pastimes with gopis here. It is also said that profound amount of honey (madhu) was available in this forest. Krishna and Balarama would come here to drink this honey. And hence this is another reason why this forest is called as Madhuvana. Places of darshana include Dhruva tila, the cave of Madhu demon, Krishna-kunda and temple of Shatrughna.