By Radhamadhav Dasa
2023.02.13 (Vrindavan Today News): What if I told you that, at Shyamakund there is a four-hundred years old sadhu, and that he is constantly doing dandavat-pranams to Shyamakund? Would you believe me?
Well, what if that sadhu is a tree? Now, it sounds more credible. You can actually have darshan of that sadhu tree if you go to the Manasa Pavana Ghat at Shyamakund. There, you can find a very old Pilu tree that is growing horizontally instead of vertically and even downwards towards the blackish waters of Shyamakund. It really looks like this Pilu tree is doing dandavat pranams to Shyamakund! When I first saw this tree, I didn’t know its history. By seeing how it is doing dandavat pranams, I was curious and asked the local Babajis there about it. They then told me that this Pilu tree is over four-hundred years old and very special.
Manasa Pavana Ghat is managed by Radharani, and, according to Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Goswami, Radharani and her Sakhis bathe at this Ghat every day at noon. And when they do so, they hang their clothes upon this Pilu tree, even today – you just need the transcendental vision to see it! Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura had his Bhajan Kutir here at Manasa Pavana Ghat, and the Pilu tree revealed to him that he was a brahmana from Varanasi who desired to take birth in Vrindavan. This Pilu tree witnessed many wonderful pastimes of Radha and Krishna and shared these with Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura, who wrote them down in his books. Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura also engaged in many discussions with this tree.
We can understand that this tree is a very special soul. Many devotees come here to spend time in the company of this amazing tree and they always feel blessed and inspired. It has deep significance that the Goswamis used to spend all their time in Vrindavan under trees. Not only would they give them shelter, but also reveal to them many things about the pastimes of Radha and Krishna. In fact, all the trees of Vrindavan are very special souls, who can fulfill all our desires, and this is why they are called “Kalpa-vrikshas,” desire-fulfilling trees.
Just as it is very beneficial for spiritual progress to be in the presence of the trees of Braj, it is also very beneficial to plant and protect the trees of Braj, who sadly have most been cut down over the years. Those who wish to do this service can join efforts with local NGOs like Friends of Vrindavan, Vanamali, etc.
