Bakulatalā
Near Garbhavāsa is a place called Bakulatalā, where Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu and His boyfriends used to take part in sporting activities known as jhāla-jhapeṭā. There is a bakula tree there that is wonderful because all its branches and subbranches look like the hoods of serpents. It has been suggested that by the desire of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, Anantadeva manifested Himself in that way. The tree is very old. It is said that formerly it had two trunks, but later on, when the playmates of Nityānanda Prabhu felt inconvenience in jumping from the branches of one trunk to those of the other, Nityānanda Prabhu, by His mercy, merged the two trunks into one.
Information –
Bakulatalā is located a little east of the Garbhavāsa Mandira and can be reached on foot. Previously, a large bakula tree stood at this site, with branches resembling the hood of serpents. Due to this unique appearance, Vaiṣṇavas considered it an incarnation of Anantadeva. However, the tree disappeared around 35 to 40 years ago, and devotees planted another bakula tree in its place, which remains there today.
Underneath this bakula tree, the navel-nerve (nāḍi) of Nityānanda Prabhu was buried, giving the place the name Nāḍipoṅtā. To the north of this tree, a small temple once stood, where Śrī Śrī Rādhākānta Jīu were worshiped. The temple was surrounded by lush trees, leading devotees to call it Hidden Vṛndāvana.
Approximately 15 to 20 years ago, the worship of Śrī Śrī Rādhākānta Jīu was transferred to the worshipers of Garbhavāsa, and the old temple was demolished. The Deities are now kept in a room adjacent to the temple of Śrī Śrī Gaura-Nitāi for worship.
Bakulatalā holds great significance as Nityānanda Prabhu resided here for twelve years, enacting various pastimes with childhood companions, including dramatic performances of Kṛṣṇa-līlā and Rāma-līlā.
Today, Bakulatalā remains an unprotected site, with the worshipable Deities relocated to Garbhavāsa and the main temple no longer standing.
Nityānanda remained hidden as He enjoyed childhood pastimes with the other children. The pastimes that the Lord enjoyed with His childhood friends were all related to the activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
He and His friends formed an assembly of demigods, and one of them acting as mother earth offered prayers to them. They then led mother earth to the riverbank, and the children all began to offer prayers. Then one of the boys hidden from view loudly declared, “I will soon take birth in Mathurā, Gokula.”
One evening the Lord and His friends enacted the marriage of Vasudeva and Devakī.
Then, late one night, while everyone slept, they made a prison and enacted the birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa. They created a Gokula, and Kṛṣṇa was taken there and exchanged with Mahāmāyā, thereby tricking King Kaṁsa.
Another time they dressed someone as Pūtanā, and someone climbed on her chest to suck her breast.
One day Nityānanda and His boyfriends made a śakaṭa, or handcart, out of reeds and then broke it.
Another day the Lord and His friends stole from the houses of the neighboring cowherd men. The boys never left Nityānanda’s association to go home, but continued sporting with Him day and night. The children’s parents did not complain, rather they would affectionately embrace Nityānanda. They said, “We have never seen such transcendental sports. How does this child know so many of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes?”
One day the Lord made snakes out of leaves and then took His friends to the water. One of them jumped into the water and remained there inert. Later, the Lord brought him back to consciousness.
Another day the Lord and His friends went to Tālavana, where they killed Dhenukāsura and then ate tāla fruits. Nityānanda and His childhood friends went into the fields and enjoyed various pastimes such as the killing of Bakāsura, Aghāsura, and Vatsāsura. In the afternoon the Lord and His associates returned home blowing buffalo horns.
One day they enjoyed the pastimes of lifting Govardhana Hill, and another day they created a Vṛndāvana, wherein they enjoyed various sports.
One day they enacted Kṛṣṇa’s pastime of stealing the gopīs’ clothes, and another day they enacted His meeting the wives of the brāhmaṇas.
On one occasion a boy dressed as Nārada with a beard and gave Kaṁsa some confidential information.
Another day one boy dressed as Akrūra and took Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to Kaṁsa’s capital.
As Nityānanda cried in the mood of the gopīs, it appeared to His friends that a river was flowing from His eyes. Due to the influence of Viṣṇu’s illusory energy, no one could recognize Nityānanda as He enjoyed pastimes with His friends.
The children arranged a city of Mathurā and then wandered through its streets. Someone played the role of a gardener, and someone accepted a flower garland from him. Someone dressed as Kubjā and sandalwood pulp was accepted from her. A large bow was made and they all shouted in joy when it was broken.
They enacted the pastimes of killing the Kuvalaya elephant and the wrestlers, Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika. Thereafter Kaṁsa was grabbed by the hair and thrown to the ground. After killing Kaṁsa, the Lord danced with His friends in such a way that everyone watching began to laugh. In this way Nityānanda and His friends imitated the pastimes of the various incarnations.
One day Nityānanda dressed like Vāmana and went to cheat Bali Mahārāja out of his kingdom, which covered the three worlds. Someone played the role of the aged Śukrācārya, who forbid Bali from giving the three steps. After accepting the gift, the Lord placed His last step on the head of Bali.
One day Nityānanda enacted the pastime of building a bridge across the ocean, with the boys playing the role of monkeys. They cut castor oil plants and made a bridge across the water. Then all the boys exclaimed, “Jaya Raghunātha!” Nityānanda accepted the role of Lakṣmaṇa, who angrily went with a bow in His hand to chastise Sugrīva. “O king of the monkeys, My Lord is in distress. Come quickly, or I’ll kill you! How can you sit here enjoying with women while He is lamenting on Mālyavān Mountain?”
Another day Lord Nityānanda spoke in anger to Paraśurāma, “O brāhmaṇa, I am not at fault. Leave here at once.” Lord Nityānanda was absorbed in the mood of Lakṣmaṇa. The boys, however, could not understand this and thought it was just a game. On another occasion, five boys took the role of monkeys and the Lord took the role of Lakṣmaṇa. “Who are you monkeys, wandering in the forest? I am the servant of Rāmacandra. Tell Me who you are.” They replied, “We are wandering out of fear of Vāli. Please take us to Rāmacandra. We wish to take the dust of His lotus feet.” The Lord embraced them and led them to Rāmacandra, whereupon they all fell at His feet.
One day the Lord enacted the pastime of killing Indrajit, the son of Rāvaṇa, and one day, in the mood of Lakṣmaṇa, He accepted defeat. Someone in the role of Vibhīṣaṇa was brought before Rāmacandra, and Rāma performed his abhiṣeka, or coronation, installing him as the King of Laṅkā.
One boy said, “I am the mighty Rāvaṇa. Now I’m releasing the śaktiśela weapon. Stop it if You can, Lakṣmaṇa!” Saying this, the boy threw a lotus flower at Nityānanda, and in the mood of Lakṣmaṇa, He fell to the ground. After the Lord, in the mood of Lakṣmaṇa, fell unconscious, all the boys tried in vain to revive Him. When they found no symptom of life remained in the body of Nityānanda, they all held their heads and began to cry. The Lord’s father and mother came running there and also observed that there was no sign of life in their son. They then also fell to the ground unconscious. Everyone who saw this tragedy was struck with wonder. As the boys described the entire incident, someone said, “I understand why He’s unconscious. “Previously one great actor played the role of Daśaratha, and when He heard that Rāma had left for the forest, he left his body.” Someone else said, “There is a boy dressed as Hanumān. If he gives Him medicine, He’ll be cured.” Before the incident, the Lord had instructed His friends, “When I fall unconscious, you should all gather around Me and cry. “After a while, send Hanumān for some medicine. I will recover when he puts the medicine to My nose.” When the Lord fell unconscious in His own mood, the boys were all bewildered. Because they were so confused they could not remember the Lord’s instructions. They simply cried loudly, “O brother, please get up!” But when the boys heard the people’s comments, they remembered Nityānanda’s instruction and the boy dressed as Hanumān immediately went for the medicine. Another boy dressed as a renunciate welcomed Hanumān with fruits and roots. He said to Hanumān, “My dear sir, please stay and grace my āśrama. It is a great fortune to meet such a person as you.” Hanumān replied, “I must go and complete my important mission. I would like to come, but I cannot delay. “You must have heard that Lakṣmaṇa, the younger brother of Rāmacandra, has been rendered unconscious by the śakti-śela weapon of Rāvaṇa. “Therefore I’m going to Gandhamādana Hill to bring medicine. Only then will He survive.” The renunciate then said, “If you must go, first take a bath and eat something. Then you may go.” The two boys repeated whatever Nityānanda had instructed them. Therefore everyone gazed at them in astonishment as they listened to their conversation. Then, on the request of the renunciate, Hanumān went to take bath in the lake, whereupon another boy in the lake grabbed hold of his feet. The boy playing the role of a crocodile tried to pull Hanumān into the water, but Hanumān pulled the boy to the shore. After a short fight, Hanumān defeated the crocodile. When Hanumān returned to the renunciate’s āśrama, he saw a mighty warrior. A boy dressed as a Rākṣasa then attempted to swallow Hanumān. He challenged, “You have defeated the crocodile, but how will you defeat me? I will eat you, then who will revive Lakṣmaṇa?” Hanumān replied, “Your Rāvaṇa is a dog. I consider him most insignificant. Get out of my way.” In this way the two first exchanged some harsh words, then they began pulling each other’s hair, and finally they began striking each other with their fists. After promptly defeating the demon, Hanumān approached the Gandhamādana Hill. There Hanumān fought with some boys who were dressed as Gandharvas. After defeating the Gandharvas, Hanumān took the Gandhamādana Hill on his head to Laṅkā. Another boy playing the role of a doctor remembered Lord Rāma as he held the medicine to Lakṣmaṇa’s nose. At that very moment Lord Nityānanda regained His consciousness, upon which His parents and others there all smiled in relief. Hāḍāi Paṇḍita embraced his son, and all the boys became overjoyed. Everyone asked, “Dear son, where have You learned all this?” The Lord smiled and said, “These are all My pastimes.” In His early childhood the Lord was most attractive. No one wanted to let Him go from their laps. Everyone had more affection for Nityānanda than they had for their own sons. But no one could recognize Him due the influence of Lord Viṣṇu’s illusory energy. In this way, from the beginning of His childhood, Nityānanda had no happiness other than enjoying the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. All of His friends left their parents to constantly sport in the company of Nityānanda. I offer repeated obeisances at the feet of those boys who enjoyed the association of Lord Nityānanda. Thus, from His childhood, Nityānanda had no interest other than enacting the various pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Who can describe the pastimes of Lord Ananta? They are only manifest to one who has received His mercy.
Lord Nityānanda remained at home like this for twelve years. Thereafter He left for visiting the holy places. He traveled to the holy places for the next twenty years and then finally joined the association of Lord Caitanya. Please listen to this narration in the Ādi-khaṇḍa of the holy places visited by Lord Nityānanda, who only the most degraded sinful atheists would dare criticize. That Lord who delivered the entire universe is nothing but an ocean of mercy. Only by His mercy can we know the truth about Lord Caitanya. In fact, the glories of Lord Caitanya are manifested through Him.
(CB Ādi-khaṇḍa 9.13 – 9.104)
