Gahvar Van, Barsana

Gahvar Van, located in Barsana, is a beautiful and dense forest. The name itself—Gahvar meaning “dense” and Van meaning “forest”—suits it perfectly. True to its name, the forest is thick with trees, creepers, and green groves. Right in the heart of Gahvar Van is Krishna Kund, also known as Gahvar Kund. Nearby, you’ll find other sacred spots like the Baithak of Vallabhacharya, where he recited the Shrimad Bhagwat, Radha-Sarovar, and a Rasa-mandala, which is a circle where the divine dance of raas-leela took place.

One famous devotee, Nagari Dasa, beautifully described Gahvar Van’s pastimes in his songs. Here’s one story he tells, showing the playful side of Shri Krishna:

One day, while grazing cows with His friends, Krishna saw green chickpea plants in a nearby field. Excited, He and His friends picked some. The woman guarding the field noticed and rushed over to catch them, but Krishna, being quick, dashed off. Holding the chickpea plants under His arm, He ran through the forest’s crooked paths and finally stopped deep inside Gahvar Van. There, He and His friends roasted the chickpeas over a small fire and ate them together, laughing and enjoying themselves.

Just then, the cowherd woman found them, but upon seeing the charming beauty of Krishna, she completely forgot her anger. Instead, her heart softened with motherly love. She sat down with the boys, shelled the chickpeas, and fed Krishna herself, watching them enjoy with a peaceful smile.