Caught in a tug-of-war between the two states of UP and Rajasthan, more precisely the administrations of Mathura and Nathdwara, the site is languishing in the absence of care.
Govardhan, 2022-05-23 (Vrindavan Today News): Parasauli, the quaint village named after the great sage Parashara who is believed to have undertaken severe penance here is situated a couple of miles southeast of Govardhan. Nestled in the heart of Parasauli is the sacred Chandra Sarovar where Shri Krishna played the ‘Maharaas’ with Radha and the Gopis on the night of Sharad Purnima. The lake, shaped like an eight-petalled lotus, is revered as Girirajji’s nose.
The great devotee and poet Mahakavi Surdas chose the beautiful Chadra Sarovar and its scenic surroundings, also called ‘Chandravali Nikunj’, as his ‘sadhana sthali’. Living here for 73 years, he composed nearly 1.25 lakh padas (verses). His humble dwelling known as ‘Sur Kuti’ is unfortunately not in a good state today. Caught in a tug-of-war between the two states of UP and Rajasthan, more precisely the administrations of Mathura and Nathdwara, the site is languishing in the absence of care.
Along with the four major ‘baithaks/gaadi’ (seats) of Pushtimarg in Parasauli, namely that of Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya, Shri Gusainji, Shri Hariraiji, and Shri Gokulnathji, ‘Sur Kuti’ also falls under the jurisdiction of Nathdwara Temple Board. The district administration of Mathura, therefore, cannot carry out any repair and restoration work at the site without approval from Nathdwara, which has been difficult to obtain so far. As a result , despite its religious and historical significance, the development of ‘Sur Kuti’ premises has not happened as expected.
However, the MVDA was still able to carry out quite a few development initiatives at Chandra Sarovar as part of a 3.68 cr project under the central tourism ministry’s PRASAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive) Scheme. These included the construction of an open amphitheater, raas chabootra, a boundary wall and amenities such as toilets, parking and pathway. Despite all this the site hasn’t reached its full potential yet.
Veteran journalists and littérateur, Padma Shri Mohan Swaroop Bhatia has often mooted the idea of constructing a giant 100ft statue of Mahakavi Surdas near Sur Kuti in Chandra Sarovar, and making his 8X10 sq ft. hut a museum to promote his and Braj’s legacy, as well as to give a boost to tourism in the region.
