History, Timing, Baal Leela of Lord Krishna, Festival Celebration, Architecture, Interesting Facts and Travel Guide of Raman Reti, Raman Bihariji Temple, Gokul, Mahaban, One of Most Famous Pilgrimage Site of Gokul, Uttar Pradesh, India
Raman Reti also known as Raman Van or Reti Raman, one of the most popular religious site of Gokul where thousands of devotee visits everyday across the year and believed as the place where Lord Krishna, Balaramji played along with their friends during childhood. The meaning of Raman is divine plays and Reti means sand, so Raman Reti is known worldwide as holy sand of divine pastimes of Bal Krishna with his cowherd friends. It is also believed that Lord Krishna had killed lots of demon here. As Lord Shri Krishna had laid his divine feet on sand of Raman Reti along with Goddess Radha and Shri Balramji, even after 5000 years devotee feel blessed with roll out in holy sand of Raman Reti and put in their forehead with pure devotion towards Baal Krishna. Not only child but everyone who visits here, plays in sand. Raman Reti is the perfect place for spiritual inclined people who wanted peace and loneliness.
Huge premise of Raman Reti houses the Raman Bihariji Temple, Karshni Ashram, several huts constructed for sages, lake, Shivalaya, Peepal and Kadamb tree etc.
As per the local belief and folklore, Yashoda Maiya would send Krishna along with his friends to the forest for various household chores. But Bal Krishna and his friends spend the entire day rolling in extremely soft sand of Raman Reti. Then they enjoy the bathe in Raman Sarovar here. Thus devotee cannot control theirself to roll out in holy sand and feel attached with divine moments with beloved Lord Krishna.
Interersting history is associated with Raman Reti and great sage Swami Gyandasji, around 200 years old only. Once sage Gyandasji, the scholar from a Saraswat Brahmin family was looking for place in Brajbhoomi to perform Tapasya and found the place which is now famous as Raman Reti, located in Gokul and just 15 km away from Mathura. He stayed here at Raman Reti for Sadhana, and one local person brings food for sage daily. Once lord appeared in dream of sage and asked to not to eat the food which was brought by that local person. Since then Sage Gyandasji had stop eating that food with full faith in lord that his need would be fulfilled by Krishan only and continue with his penance.
After sometime, interesting event happened with one pious man who was performing his meditation 25 km away from Raman Reti. He was ordered by God that go to Raman Reti where he would find a saint and offer yourself in the service of that saint. Then that devout man went to Raman Reti and found Swami Gyandasji. He told to sage that the Lord had sent him here to offer service, and requested Swamiji to direct him.
Swami Gyandasji had accepted his service and instructed to bring seven handfuls of chana every week. Swami Gyandasji did rigors penance and consumed hardly one handful of chana per day for 12 years. Lord Krishna pleased with his penance and appeared in front of Swami Gyandasji. Raman Bihariji Temple at Karshni Ashram is the place swami Gyandasji had this divine vision, located on Raman Reti - Old Gokul.
The best time to visit Raman Reti is between October and March when weather is pleasant and during festival like Holi and Janmashtami which are celebrated with great zeal.
Thousands of devotee across the world visits Gokul across the year, thus to facilitate them there are several Ashram, Dharmshala, Hotels, Guest House, Yatri Bhavan, Restaurants are built. Also you can easily find the public and private transport, auto rickshaw for the local sightseen and visit nearby Yatradham like Mathura, Barsana, Vrindavan, Jatipura, Govardhan Hill, Nandgaon etc.
It is said that every street of Gokul had been witness the mischief and divine activities of Bal Krishan and his friend which makes city live today even after 5000 years. You can find Krishna temple in every street of Gokul, few most famous one is Nanda Bhavan also called Chaurasi Khamba Temple. It is believed the Lord Krishna spent his childhood in this house thus believed as very holy in follower of Vaishnava Sect.
Brahmand Ghat is another holy place located on bank of River Yamuna and near Reti Raman. Interesting legend is associated with this place, while playing, the child Krishna ate mud. Then Yashoda Mata asked to open his mouth to let the soil come out. But while child Krishna opened up his mouth, all with surprised, Yashoda Maiya had seen the picture of the whole universe, the Brahmand in Hindi, thus this place named Brahmand Ghat. Sri ThakurRani Ghat, Gokulnathiji Temple, Rang Bihari Temple etc. are located here in Gokul.
Another important place near Raman Reti is Mahavan where entomb of famous Muslim Poet Raskhan is located. Raskhan was born Muslim but his devotion to Lord Krishna and written several poem on Lord Krishna. Then you can also see Deer Park which is opposite to gate of Raman Reti.
This is how Braj Bhoomi which mainly includes the Mathura, Vrindavan, Govardhan, Barsana, Gokul, Jatipura and Nandgaon are the places where Lord Shri Krishna, the eight incarnation of Lord Vishnu and most beloved God in India did lots and lots of Lila here. Even after more than 5250 years, here Lord Krishna lives in every person and animal and every life of Braj Bhoomi. Thus in entire region you can see Krishna everywhere which showcase the highly spiritual significant of Lord Krishna here in Braj Bhoomi.
How to Reach Raman Reti, Raman Bihariji Temple, Gokul Mahaban, The Childhood Place of Lord Krishna, Uttar Pradesh, India
Raman Reti is located on road from new Gokul to old Gokul where thousands of devotee visits around the year. Gokul being one of the major pilgrimage center and tourist destination, of Uttar Pradesh located just 10 km from Mathura where people across the world visits around the year. It is very well connected with all major cities of India via road, rail and air network. Mathura has major railway junction just at 10 km from Gokul from where you can get train to almost all region of India. Agra Airport and Delhi Airport are the nearest airport at distance of 65 and 170 respectively from Gokul. From where you can get flight to all major cities of India and across the globe. You can find private taxi and public transport as well from both airport to reach to Gokul. It is located at just 24 km from Vrindava, 10 km from Mathura, 58 km from Barsana, 35 km from Jatipura, 36 km from Govardhan hill, 53 km from Agra, 187 km from Delhi. You can get direct buses from Agra, Delhi etc. to reach Gokul.
