GOVIND-KUNDA Restoration Brings water to Vrindavan neighborhood
Theme:
In Sanskrit ‘Govinda’ means— one who gives joy to the senses (‘Go’ means physical senses and ‘Vinda’ means one who gives joy). But Govinda Kunda, at Vrindavan proved the contrary to be true when it turned into source of sufferings to local public. Large scale overgrowth of grass and weeds due to damp conditions in this ancient and fairly large pond gave rise to breeds of infectious insects, endangering the nearby residential surroundings. Braj Foundation has taken a lead role in the restoration of this water reservoir which will consequently impact the state of health and sanitation of locals for the better. Govind-Kunda restoration project has been a challenging task for the whole team of the foundation since it meant interventions in areas of health awareness of local residents in addition to the restoration of an ancient and historic water body.
Legend and Mythology:
The present structure of the kund presents a window to its eminent and glorious past. It is described in Braj-rasa-darshan that the cowherd friends of Krishna once requested to Him that the majority of ponds in Vrindavan are occupied by the damsels and there should be a pond where only the boys are allowed to take bath. Heeding to the demands of his friends, Krishna created this Kunda. Legend says that after tending to the cows he used to rest here with his elder brother Balram and his cowherd friends. When Shri Rupa Gowami established the gorgeous Govinda Dev temple 500 years before, then water was carried out from this Kunda daily for deity worship. Srimad Bhagvatam also states about this Kunda.
tad dakshine durat eva kinchit Shri swami Govind pade sarah asti
samantato yasya nikunja punjah yeshullasanti bhramarali punjah.
“ Krishna’s beautiful pond known as Govinda Kunda is surrounded by thick forest and green groves where bumble-bees are continuously singing glories of the Lord.”
Location and Description:
Govind Kund is a historic site located amidst heavy inhabitation in the Gaura Nagar Colony at Vrindavan near the banks of river Yamuna. There were pucca ghats and side walls all around the kund but it was devoid of water as the water table had gone down and the kund was silted up considerably. There are four bathing platforms at this pond, out of which 3 are used for bathing while one is for the cows and their bathing and drinking water.
Depleted Condition:
A fast cultural and spiritual decline in the region covered this pond with all types of contaminating agents. Previously it’s source was the Yamuna river, but when wide span of Yamuna shrunk due to industrial pollution, this kunda got dried and became a storehouse of dirty polyethene bags and other rotten objects, inviting infectious insects to grow, giving rise to disease and filth. Many opulent temples and religious institutions are flourishing locally, but none of them is concerned with environmental or social reformation.
Process of Restoration and Revival by the Braj Foundation:
The Braj Foundation took over the task of de-silting the kund in August 2006. Shri Vineet Narain, CEO of Braj Foundation and eminent crusading journalist took interest in this project, and Shri Kamal Morarka, Chairman of Gannon Dunkerly Group of Mumbai and also the Chairman of the Braj Foundation promised to provide total financial support.
At first a large well was created in the center after prolonged digging. A thousand meter long and twenty centimeters wide pipe line was extended upto Yamuna river, and water was pumped into the kunda upto the top layer. A purifying process was also set up to make this water free from bacterial influence. As soon as the water filled up in this kund, a surprising reflection occurred and many of the neighbourhood wells which had been lying dry since years suddenly filled with water; apparently they internally got water from Govinda-kunda. The locals are now ecstatic. They started devotional dipping and bathing has restarted at this kunda. A daily evening arati at the kunda has been scheduled so that people can pay devotional and spiritual respect and a feeling of love and harmony is being enhanced through encouraged community practices. Govinda-kunda has become a landmark of sorts in environmental successes and is a working model to demonstrate direct community benefits of environmental restoration. The first phase of restoration was completed in the month of march this year.
Raghav Mittal, project coordinator of the foundation, says that they are gathering administrative support to remove illegal encroachments from the kund site, so that a beautiful circumvallating path can be projected around the kund. The foundation is also planning to put up fencing on all sides to stop further littering. Braj culture is famous for festivities, so an annual festival is also being planned at this kund, to actively involve community and tourists, pilgrims and devotees to propagate the cultural importance of this place. He added that the maintenance and beautification of these ponds depend upon the various supports of potential people.
A critical issue that now confronts the Foundation is that people are unscrupulously exhausting these water supplies, and the kund water is getting depleted again. In this context Mr. Upendra Sharma, civil engineer of Braj Foundation is consulting with the technocrats of IIT Roorkie, to set a permanent water supply system dedicated to the kund.
The Movement:
Initiated by Vineet Narain, a crusading journalist, Braj Foundation has undertaken the challenge to renovate and revive the entire land of Braj. Many top industrialists from all over the country have also joined hands and are extending generous support. Many young IITans jumped into this movement with their utter dedication. Rejecting all physical comforts they are personally reaching to hundreds of villages of Braj area for holistic upliftment. It costs around 20 to 50 lakhs rupees to renovate a single kunda, and presently more than 30 water bodies are in various stages of restoration and beautification, with a remarkable progress towards completion. The newest and most unique GIS satellite technique is applied to recognize thousand of water bodies around Braj, though this process is exclusively expansive. Mr. Raghav Mittal, project co-coordinator for The Foundation, says that they are preparing for marathon to save the ponds and hills from massive destruction. Since this mammoth task of conservation and restoration will benefit the entire human race for generations to come, all the limbs of society should commit for collective involvement—he added.
Interesting facts about:
- Perhaps the only temple of Lord Bhairon ji in Vrindavan is situated at this Kunda.
- There are four bathing platforms at this pond, out of which 3 are used for bathing while one is reserved for the cows to drink water.
- Braj Foundation is planning to install a scenic idol in the middle of Kunda, displaying Lord Krishna resting on the flower petals.
For more details contact:
Presently more than 30 kunds are in various stages of revival and restoration. To know more details about Brahma Kund or the Foundations ongoing efforts in the Braj region, please contact us at any of the address of Braj Foundation given below—
Delhi Head Office
Contact Persons:
Mr. Vineet Narain, CEO
Ph: 9811046800
Mr. Raghav Mittal, Project Coordinator
Ph: 0565-2540084, 9927337111
Mr. Rajneesh Kapur, Communications Officer
Ph: 011-26566800
Delhi Office
C-6/28, SDA, Hauz Khas New Delhi-16
Tel : 91-11-2656-6800, 91-11-2651-9080
Cell : 9873966800
E-mail : brajfoundation@gmail.com
Vrindavan Field Office
Flat No. 303 & 304, Keshav Kunj
Raman Reti, Opp. ISKCON Temple
Vrindavan, Dist. Mathura
Tel: 0565-2540084, 9927337111
|
