Nidhivan of Vrindavan

 I noticed this tree on my morning walk today and it somehow reminded me of Nidhivan of Vrindavan.The trees at Nidhivan are also similar to this tree trunk and they are said to be 5000 yrs old.I visited Nidhivan few years ago but, the memories are still fresh in my mind.Nidhivan also called as Madhuvan is one of the most significant and popular places of Vrindavan.This is a mystical and sacred placed, where it is said that every night after evening arti at the Rang Mahal temple, the place  becomes completely empty. Not even monkeys dwell and the whole area, which is surrounded a wall is vacated. The temple, is then locked.It is said that if some one stays back,they will become mentally derailed, deaf, dumb or die.

The belief is that in the nighttime, this the place where Srimati Radha and Krishna spend their time. The priests before locking the temple, leave some items like toothbrushes, some holy water in a jug with four sweets. In the morning once, they open the temple, it becomes obvious and noticeable that someone  was actually there the night before.The items kept there including the toothbrush, water, sweets appear as used.

I remember couple of years ago, a  crew from Zee TV  visited the place, stayed overnight outside the Nidhivan complex to find out about this mysterious and sacred place. Its also, interesting that there are number of houses adjacent to the Nidhivan and apparently, none of them open their windows during night time.

This is also the place where the famous Bankey Bihariji, who is currently worshipped at the Bankey Bihari temple appeared.The history goes that there used to be  great saint called Swami Haridasa who by his incessant devotion and worship of Lord Krishna made him

to manifest in a deity form (Lord Bankey Bihari).

There also the famous pastime of Shyamananda Pandit who previously called as Dukhi Krishna Das used to reside at this placed and clean the surrounds.One day he found a anklet, which was most unique.The moment he touched the anklet, he was filled with spiritual ecsatcy and he immediatly understood that, it is a special anklet and hid it, tightly wound in a cloth and waitied for the owner of the anklet to come.Very soon, a beautiful lady came enquiring about the lost anklet.Shyamananda Prabhu replied her that, he has the anklet but, would give it only to the rightful owner. The sakhi, maid servant took him to Srimati Radha Rani and he was blessed by her and was given the name of Shyamananda.Before he was taken to Srimati Radha Rani, he was asked to take a dip in a pond and he transformed into a beautiful cowherd girl. Srimati Radharani gave her blessings to the new Sakhi or friend by naming him as Shyamananda and applying a special Tilak on the forehead. There is more to the story but, I will write it some other time.

In Nidhivan there are number of places of significance, which contain the spiritual mystery of the Lordships Radha and Krishna. There is a Samadhi of Swami Haridasa, The Rang Mahal, The Sacred Well of Radha Rani, The Appearance Place of Bankey Bihariji etc.