Ashokavana / Pushpavana

The Puranas say that both Ashokavana and Pushpavana, which border each other at this place on the banks of Kusuma-sarovara, are upavanas or sub-forests of Vrindavana Dhama. In this small forest of ashoka trees, the delightful pastime of shringara-vihara took place where Krishna combed Radha’s hair and decorated Her body with cosmetics, ornaments, and jewels. Near the main road one can see a small temple commemorating the pastimes of shringara-vihara that took place here near the banks of Kusuma-sarovara. The word ‘shringara’ means ‘decoration’ and ‘vihara’ means ‘pastime’. In the nearby forest of Pushpavana that once surrounded the northern bank of Kusuma-sarovara, Radharani and the gopis would come to pick flowers; Krishna would also come there to pick a quarrel with the Radha, accusing Her of stealing flowers from Cupid’s private garden. Pushpavana is also a name of Kamadeva, the transcendental Cupid, while the ashoka tree is also associated with Kamadeva because its flowers are used to decorate Kamadeva’s ‘pushpavana’ or flower arrow of love.

The transcendental loving exchanges and joking word between Radha and Krishna that took place in the forest of Pushpavana are as follows;

Krishna: “Who is picking flowers?”
Radha: “No one but Me.”
Krishna: “Who are You?”
Radha: “Don’t you know Me?”
Krishna: “If I knew You I wouldn’t ask.”
Radha: “I don’t care if You don’t know Me, why don’t You leave this place?”
Krishna: “I am the gardener here, where will I go?”
Radha: “If You are a male bee, then go to the female bee.”
Krishna: “You are the female bee.”
Radha: “You appear to be an honest man and also an ascetic, but You know the art of stealing
a young girl’s heart. Aren’t You ashamed of Yourself?”
Krishna: “My dear lady, Maharaja Kandarpa (Cupid) is the king of this forest; because he is pleased with Me, he has delegated to Me all his power. If You are so proud I will confiscate all Your flowers. O pretty lady, I am a brahmachari and an ascetic. It appears to Me that You have come here simply to try and entice Me with Your beauty. But do not think I am alone here in the jungle. My friends are always close by. Please don’t play any tricks with Me, and just behave like an honest person. Anyway, Your bodily actions speak louder than any words.

You are simply trying to capture the Maharaja Kandarpa’s property and every limb of Your body is just like a thief. Don’t think that just because You are a lady You will be pardoned. I would be committing a great wrong if I pardoned You. When I take You before the Maharaja, You will be sentenced with various punishments. At that time Your  vanity will vanish. Without permission You have picked flowers, and I have no authority to pardon You. You are thinking that this is just an ordinary forest and the king is not very powerful because his kingdom is so small, but You will see, because you have robbed this kingdom You will be punished.”

“With the different parts of Your body You have stolen different things; the palms of Your hands and the soles of Your feet have stolen the beauty of the petals of the lotus flowers; Your gait – the baby elephants and swans; Your nails – the mirrors; Your knees – golden balls; Your hips – the golden banana trees; the upper part of Your waist – the golden altar; Your navel – the lake of nectar; Your chest – the bed of Cupid; Your fingers – the flowers of Cupid, which is the source of his power; Your teeth – have stolen the pearl necklace, and Your eyes – the deer and the Chakora bird; the lines on Your neck – the couch; and the lines on Your stomach – the gentle waves of the Yamuna; You have stolen so many things, how can the Maharaja pardon You? The beauty of our kingdom is unique in all the
world. Today You have robbed everything, including our prestige.”

Radha : “O Krishna, You are very clever. You are the greatest thief; now You are acting like a saint and calling others thieves. What can be said of You? When You stole the clothes of the gopis, Your character was apparent. Those poor naked gopis were standing before You with folded hands and You were simply enjoying the fun. There is no better example of Your honesty. O Krishna, there are many girls of marriageable age and You are a young prince, but nobody is willing to give his daughter to You. There must be a good reason. It is highly probable that You are not a normal man, and no girl will like to marry an abnormal man. My dear Krishna, I fully understand that it is not out of choice, but out of force that You have become a brahmachari. O Krishna, You are in the habit of playing Your flute, which has the power of attracting all the young girls. Shameful! How dare You call Yourself a brahmachari. In fact, it is very wicked and sinful that You call Yourself a brahmachari and then tempt young girls. Now don’t come one step closer to Me, please! It is most surprising that considering You have not planted even a single tree in this whole forest, that You are now claiming ownership. The entire forest has been destroyed by Your cows trampling here and there. Our dear friend Vrinda Devi has taken great pains to keep this forest clean and tidy. Therefore we call it  Vrindavana, and Vrinda has given it to me and it is now My playground. There is a sign on the path, which says ‘Ladies only.’ We are simply picking flowers to worship the Sun god. Who are You to stop us? This place belongs to us. O brahmachari, males are strictly prohibited. How dare You set foot here! Now off with You, go and take care of
Your cows.”

Radha then threatened Krishna that She would call Lalita, whom She said was very powerful. At that moment Radha’s friend Visakha intervened in the quarrel and, catching hold of the corner of Radha’s cloth, immediately tied it to Krishna’s dhoti. She then informed the ‘Divine Couple’ that it was now time for Them to leave Pushpavana and move on to Radha-kunda to take part in Their midday pastimes with the gopis on the banks of the sacred
kunda.

-Adapted from Vraja Mandala Parikrama by Sri Rajasekhara Dasa Brahmachari.