LUKLUKANA-MICALI

The Bhakti-ratnakara says there used to be a forest here named Luklukana-micali, where Radha and Krishna  enjoyed many wonderful pastimes along with the gopis. There was also a very beautiful lake known as Luklukana-micali-kunda. The word ‘michali’ means ‘closed eyes’, and ‘luk-luka’ means ‘hide and seek’, and refers to the pastimes of ‘hide and seek’ that was played here by Krishna and the gopis. When the gopis would close their eyes Krishna would hide in the forest, or sometimes in a cave known as Luk-luki Kandara, or sometimes under the water of the kunda. Although the forest has now disappeared the kunda is still visible.

One day the gopis challenged Krishna to a game in the kunda, the winner would be the one who could hold their breath and stay under water the longest. When Krishna and the gopis dipped their heads under the water, the gopis cheated and again popped their heads above the water waiting for Krishna to surface. When the gopis saw Krishna’s head coming up from the water, they would immediately dip under the water and Krishna would think that He was the first to surface. The gopis would then pop their heads above the water and claim victory. This went on game after game and each time the gopis were victorious. In the next game the gopis placed a wager on their winning in the next round. Again everyone dipped below the water and once again the gopis cheated and popped their heads up waiting to see Krishna’s head surface. Then, as the gopis waited for Krishna’s head to surface, nothing happened. The gopis waited and waited, but Krishna’s head did not come to the surface.

Suddenly realizing that Krishna may have drowned while trying to defeat the gopis in the game, they became distraught and franticly began searching in the water. Not finding Krishna in the kunda, they began searching on the land and in the nearby forest. Not finding Krishna either in the water or in the forest, or anywhere else, they began to lament and while shedding torrents of tears, began blaming themselves for Krishna’s death. They condemned themselves over and over again for having played ‘hide and seek’ in the water and for having cheated in order to win the game, and thus they had now lost their beloved Krishna forever. Understanding that the gopis were deeply regretting their cheating in the game and were feeling devastated due to His loss, Krishna suddenly appeared before them and the gopis immediately forgot their lamentation and became ecstatic due to having got back the love of
their lives.

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