Dying Chandrasarovar gets a new Lease of Life
The Braj Foundation efforts to revive the historic kund of Chaumuha near Vrindavan

Barely ten kilometers from Vrindavan is located In Chaumuha Village which houses a historic pilgrimage site called Chandrasarovar. This site has a very famous mythological story associated with Krishna. It is said that once during his numerous mischievous leelas, Krishna drank buttermilk from a friend’s cup. Lord Brahma, the creator, was amazed at the act especially since Krishna was known to be an incarnation of Vishnu and drinking from a mortal’s used cup was unacceptable behaviour from a god. Lord Brahma then grew very suspicious of Krishna’s real nature and to test it he made all cows and cowherd friends of krishna disappear. Krishna at once understood this divine game and extended himself so that he himself took the form of all his missing cows and cowherd friends to replace them so that their absence would go unnoticed. Brahma realizing his mistake immediately asked for forgiveness through penance which he did at the site where Chandrasarovar is located today.

In India, there are only two temples of Lord Brahma, believed to be the creator of the universe. One is at the famous Pushkar near Ajmer, the other is at Chaumuha in District Mathura. As is obvious, the village gets its name ‘Chaumuha’ meaning the Four Heads of Brahma. It is here that Brahma begged for Krishna’s forgiveness realizing his own folly. According to legend Lord Brahma brought the moon god (Chandra) with him who built this famous Chandrasarovar and in its clean and pure waters Brahma took a bath before he began his penance.

In spite of its significant historical and mythological importance Chandrasarovar had been lying in a neglected and deteriorated state. Two years back, The Braj Foundation began the restoration of this kund at the behest of Chaumuha’s saint Shri Narayan Baba and residents of Chaumuha Village. For months Braj Foundations earthmovers kept desilting and digging at the kund premises. Meanwhile, Shalini Dasgupta, and senior architect from Delhi and Braj Foundation in house architect Parmanand created the designs and developmental plans of the site. A large pucca kund was created. Presently, work is beginning on the development and construction of the Ghats and surrounding embankments. An intricately carved gate is also in the process of being installed at the site. Before monsoons, The Foundation is planning to install barbed wire fencing around the kund and an extensive aforestation drive will be undertaken to reap maximum benefits from the rains.

Future developmental plans include the construction of a peripheral path for visitors. The reconstruction of this kund is being carried out with the financial help from CMD of Gannon Dunkerley Group Shri Kamal Morarkaji, who is also the chairman of The Braj Foundation.  Delhi based industrialists Vijay Mehta, Lalit Gulati and Ashok Lugani are extending generous financial assistance towards the beautification of the kund compound. The Braj Foundation is hoping to complete the entire work by the end of the year.