Vrindavan’s Garud Govind Kund brought back to life
The Braj Foundation’s restoration of ancient kund in Mathura

Everyday thousands of tourists, pilgrims and devotees throng to Vrindavan to pay the obedience to the holy land of Braj. But almost nobody cares to notice that just before the prominent turn to Vrindavan town from the highway, crammed with hoardings, there is a small rather unnoticed turn into the village Chhatikara, leading to pilgrimage site of Garud Govind. This is an ancient temple site with a rare and exquisite idol of Krishna seated on a Garud (Eagle). As is seen in most of the temple premises across India, here too a water reservoir is attached to the temple premises. Un fortunately, in our country, the glory and care that is showered over places of worship, never get translated into care and upkeep of adjoining structures, which generally end up getting encroached upon . here too, while the temple still had a few visitors a day, the water tank ‘Kund’, had been lying neglected since decades.

Sometime in early 2004, with The Braj Foundation’s motivation, a London-based NRI began the restoration process by renovating the ghats but the water retention and percolation capacities could not be improved at that time. When The Braj Foundation took up the task of reviving this kund, the temple priest challenged, “where water hasn’t been seen since 25 years, what will you accomplish?”. In October 2007, The Foundation embarked on this daunting task  with the careful mapping and survey of the temple and kund premises and soon earth movers started desilting of the ‘water body’ which was lying dry and barren since decades. Heavy machinery was used to dig at the base of the kund in order to augment the water retention capacity. The fertile soil and manure which was excavated was spread in the adjoining Shadang forest. To ensure that the kund remains perennially filled with water, a larger water body was also constructed adjoining the temple which was then connected with the canal Vrindavan Minor. Water from the Vrindavan minor now flows first into the kuchcha kund and then overflows into the pucca kund. Total expenses of about 3 laks were incurred for this whole operation, which was borne by Shri kamal Morarka, Chairman of the Braj Foundation. Today the kund is upto the brim with clean water and remains so during most of the year. Pilgrims visiting the temple has started taking daily baths in it.

The Braj Foundation is planning to revive the one thousand ancient kunds in the Braj region which have been lying forgotten and neglected since decades. It also plans to restore the 137 transcendental forests of the region of which the 27 acre Shadang van, where the above mentioned Garud Govind is located, is also one.
The Foundation also feels that if the community does not take the ownership and responsibility for maintaining the kund, it will return to its pitiful and neglected state in no time. It is important for them to understand that future generations will benefit from our present actions and water harvesting is the need of the day.