The Kunjas of Rangadevi & Tungavidya

tamAlaiH zyAma-vallIbhiH zliSTa-zAkhair vRtAntaraH |

indranIla-citAbhyantar bhUmi-kuTTima-catvaraH ||

rAdhayA yugalI-bhAvaM gato’pi mukharAdibhiH |

nekSyete harir ekaiva rAdhikA yatra dRzyate ||

rAjate dizi nairRtyAM raGgadevI-sukha-pradaH |

sarva-zreSThaH zyAma-kuJjo rAdhikA-rati-vardhanaH ||

“On the southwestern side of Sri Radha-Kunda lies a most wonderful dark-blue bower named Shyama Kunja, which gives much happiness to Sri Rangadevi and increases Sri Radhika’s enjoyment. It is covered with tamala trees whose branches bear dark-blue creepers, and its ground, terraces and courtyards are inlaid with sapphires. When Mukhara or other elders happen to come there, they can only see Sri Radhika, though Krishna is by her side.” (Govinda-LIlAmRtam 7.93-95)

rakta-vallI-vRto rakta-puSpa-patrair drumair vRtaH |

zoNa-ratna-citAbhyantaH kuTTimAGgana-maNDapaH ||

rakta-hindolikA-yuktaH kRSNeSTaH sarva-lohitaH |

tuGgavidyAnandado’sti pascime’ruNa-kuJjakaH ||

“On the western side of Sri Radha-Kunda lies Aruna Kunja, which is much cherished by Sri Krishna and gives great joy to Sri Tungavidya. Everything there is of the color red, including red trees covered with red flowers, leaves and creepers; red swings; and terraces, courtyards and pavilions inlaid with red gemstones.” (Govinda-LIlAmRtam 7.96-97)

Campakalata's Kunja

hema-vallI-vRtair hema-puSpakaiz chAdito’bhitaH |

hema-padmAvalI-citro hema-prAGgaNa-kuTTimaH ||

hema-maNDapikAyukto hema-hindolikAnvitaH |

hemAbhAli-khagair yukto hema-lIlA-paricchadaH ||

lIlayA pIta-vasanA pItAlepa-vibhUSaNA |

yatra praviSTA zrI-rAdhA kRSNenApi na lakSyate ||

gaurAGgI-veza-dhRk kRSNaH svapreyasyA sahAlIbhiH |

zRNoti prema-saMlApaM yatraitAbhir alakSitaH ||

kadAcit padmayA yatra preritA jaTilAgatA |

dadarza kRSNaM no rAdhAM tenaikAsana-gAm api ||

svavarNa-kRt-svasthitAnAM bhAti kAJcana-bhUr iva |

dakSiNe campakalatAnandado hema-kuJjakaH ||

“On the southern side of Sri Radha-Kunda lies a golden bower known as Hema Kunja, which gives great joy to Sri Campakalata. It is covered with golden creepers, flowers and lotuses, and has golden courtyards, terraces, pavilions and swings, as well as golden bees and birds. Indeed, all the paraphernalia for Radha-Krishna’s lila there is golden, as though everything has assumed the color of the golden earth. When, to suit the lila, Sri Radha enters the kunja dressed in golden clothing and anointed with golden ointment, even Krishna cannot see her. And when Krishna, similarly dressed in gold, secretly listens to Radha talk with her sakhis about her love sports, they also cannot see him! Once, when Jatila arrived there, sent by Padma, she was unable to see Radha and Krishna, though they were sitting together before her on a seat.” (Govinda-LIlAmRtam 7.85-90)

yatra campakavallyAH sA nikuJja-pAka-zAlikA |

Aste tad-Izayoz citra-jagdhi-vedikayAnvitA ||

yasyAM pAka-kriyAcAryA savRndA sA nijezayoH |

sampAdayati saMmodAt kadAcit kuJja-bhojanam ||

“Campakalata’s cooking house there is accompanied by a colorful covered platform where Radha and Krishna sometimes take their meals, expertly prepared with great pleasure by Campakalata and Vrinda.” (Govinda-LIlAmRtam 7.91-92)

Indulekha’s Kunja

sphaTikair indu-kAntaiz ca cita-kuTTima-catvaraH |

citritaH puNDarIkaiz ca kairavair mallikAdibhiH ||

zubhra-puSpa-dalair vRkSair vallIbhiz ca samanvitaH |

zubhrAli-pika-kIrAdyaiH zabda-jJeyair ninAditaH ||

zubhra-vezau tu rAkAyAM rAdhA-kRSNau sahAlIbhiH |

krIDantAv api nekSyete kaizcid yatrAgatair api ||

pUrNendu-nAmA kuJjo’yam indulekhA-sukha-pradaH |

suzubhra-keli-talpAdir AgneyAM dizi rAjate ||

“On the southeastern side lies a bower known as Purnendu Kunja, which gives great joy to Sri Indulekha. The terraces and courtyards there are inlaid with crystals and moonstones, and growing everywhere are two kinds of white lotuses, jasmines and white-leaved trees and creepers. The kunja resonates with the sounds of white bees, white cuckoos and white parrots who can only be differentiated by the songs that they sing, and a beautiful white bed stands ready for Radha-Krishna’s romantic pastimes. When, on the full-moon night, the divine couple sports here with their sakhis, they are dressed completely in white so if some outsider should happen to come by, they will not be seen.” (Govinda-LIlAmRtam 7.81-84)

Citra’s Kunja

vicitra-vRkSa-vallIbhiz citra-ratnaiz citAntaraH |

citra-varNaiH khagair bhRGgaiH kuTTimaiH prAGgaNair vRtaH ||

citra-maNDapa-saMyuktaz citra-hindolikAnvitaH |

prAcyAM citrAnandadAkhyaz citra-kuJjo virAjate ||

“On the eastern side of Sri Radha-Kunda lies an amazing bower known as Citranandada Kunja. It is filled with colorful trees and creepers and covered with colorful jewels. There are colorful birds, bees, terraces and courtyards, as well as colorful pavilions and swings.” (Govinda-LIlAmRtam 7.79-80)

Visakha’s Kunja

pratividizam udaJcac-campakAnAM caturNAm

aruNa-harita-pIta-zyAma-puSpoccayAnAm |

vara-parimala-dhArA-kSipta-gandhAntarANAM

pratidizam adhirohan-mAdhavI-veSTitAnAm ||

vyati-sumilita-tiryaG-nirgataiH kaizcid anyair

upari-ghaTita-saGgaiH snigdha-zAkhA-samUhaiH |

zuka-pika-madhupAnAM nIla-pItAruNAnAM

madhura-ninada-ramyaiz chAditaH saudha-tulyaH ||

sthala-jala-jani-puSpaiH pallavaiH kLpta-nAnA-

bharaNa-vasana-zayyA-sad-vitAnAdi-pUrNaH |

aruNa-vizada-pIta-zyAma-padmotpalAdyair

dizi vidizi sanAlaiH kalpitAneka-citraH ||

jaThara-zara-zalAkaiH pallavaiz citra-puSpair

ghaTita-mRduka-vATI-prAvRta-dvAz-catuSkaH |

mada-kala-cala-bhRGgAnIkinI-dvAra-pAlo

maNi-caya-cita-bhUmi-dvyaSTa-patrAbja-madhyaH ||

bahir api tata-zAkhAc chAditAbhiH samantAc

catasRbhir atibhAbhir veSTito dehalIbhiH |

anizam iha vizAkhA-ziSyayA maJjumukhyA

racana-nipuNamatyA saMskRto’dhyakSayAsya ||

ziva-hariti taTastho’py eSa rAdhA-bakArer

viharaNa-rasa-vanyA-plAvitAtmA samantAt |

madana-sukhada-nAmA locanAnanda-dhAmA

vilasati sa vizAkhAnandadaH kuJja-rAjaH || (SaDbhiH kulakam)

“In the northeast corner of Sri Radha-Kunda lies a wonderful kunja known as Madana-Sukhada, which gives much happiness to Sri Visakha, is a joy to behold and is soaked in the rasa of Sri Radha-Krishna’s pastimes. Four types of blossoming campaka trees, adorned with madhavi creepers and flowers of red, green, yellow and blue, perfume the entire area with their delightful fragrances. The smooth branches of each tree arch and touch the others, covering the area like a great palace filled with the sweet songs of blue, yellow and red parrots, cuckoos and bees. The kunja is replete with beautiful ornaments, clothes, beds and canopies made with land-flowers, water-flowers and leaves, and decorated all about with stemmed red, white, yellow and blue lotuses and water lilies. In the center of the bower stands a small hut, covered with thatch, leaves and multicolored flowers. Its four doors are guarded by an army of restless, drunken bees, and its floor is inlaid with jewels in the shape of a sixteen-petalled lotus. The hut is surrounded by four lustrous terraces shaded by a canopy of branches and the entire bower is always kept in good order by Sri Visakha’s expert follower Manjumukhi.” (Govinda-LIlAmRtam 7.73-78)