Manasi Ganga — Attraction in Uttar Pradesh

"Driven by the gopīs’ insistence that He atone for the sin of killing a bull (Vṛṣabhāsura), Śrī Kṛṣṇa created Mānasī-gaṅgā from His mind and became pure by bathing in its waters. According to a second story, once Śrī Nanda Mahārāja, Śrī Yaśodā and the other gopas and gopīs took Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma with them on a journey to the Gaṅgā to take bath. That night, they rested near Govardhana. Kṛṣṇa questioned the need for them to travel so far when all holy places reside in Vraja. He remembered Gaṅgā-devī, and at once Bhagavatī Bhāgīrathī-Gaṅgā’s strong current brought her to this spot, making a sweet sound. At the head of this current was Śrī Gaṅgā-devī, mounted on an alligator. This darśaṇa astonished Nanda, Yaśodā, and the gopas, gopīs and other Vrajavāsīs. Kṛṣṇa said, “All holy places exist in Vraja. You wanted to bathe in the Gaṅgā, so Gaṅgā-devī has personally appeared before you today. Please bathe in her waters without delay.” Gaṅgā-devī appeared here on the dark night (Amāvasyā) of Kārtika on the day of Dīpāvalī. Large numbers of faithful people bathe here on Dīpāvalī and take darśana of Śrī Harideva. On all of Mānasī-gaṅgā’s banks and near Śrī Girirāja-Govardhana people offer ghee lamps. According to a third story, Kṛṣṇa used to sport in the Yamunā, sometimes with His sakhās and sometimes with His beloved gopīs. When Bhagavatī Gaṅgā beheld the great fortune of Yamunā, her younger sister, she also became overwhelmed by a strong desire to serve the Divine Couple Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. She expressed this yearning to Yamunā and requested her help. Kṛṣṇa’s dear Śrī Yamunā entreated her beloved Kṛṣṇa to bestow His mercy upon her elder sister, so when the time was right, Śrī Kṛṣṇa summoned Gaṅgājī to Vraja and blessed her by frolicking in her waters with the gopīs. The stone ghāṭas at Mānasī-gaṅgā were built by King Bhagavān dāsa, the father of Māna Singh, a king of Jaipura."

Excerpt from the book 'Sri Vraja-mandal Parikrama' by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana...

Mansi Ganga: A benign symbol of affection towards the almighty

The most sacred and the largest lake in Goverdhan town of Mathura is the Mansi Ganga. It is situated right in the heart of Goverdhan. The pure water of Mansi Ganga is considered to be more pious than that of Ganges River. It is said that one who bathes in the river Ganges is purified of all sins, but one who bathes in Mansi-Ganga Goverdhan is not only purified of sins but will also achieve prem-bhakti, the highest platform of pure loving devotion to Krishna.

Divine pond for humanity:

Mann means “mind” and Ganga is another name for the Ganges River. It is said that Mansi Ganga was brought to Goverdhan with the mental power and meditation of Lord Krishna. There are a few instances in Hindu legends stating how and why Mansi Ganga was brought to Goverdhan.

According to the Hindu legends, Shri Krishna brought the river of Ganges to Goverdhan for his parents and other Brijwasis as he believed that all the holy places reside in braj. It is said that Ganga appeared in Braj on her crocodile carrier on the night of Amavasya (new moon) of kartik maas i.e. on Dipawali.

Another story states that Ganga yearned and requested her younger sister Yamuna to witness the pastimes of Shri Krishna. On her request, Krishna with his mental power brought Ganga to Goverdhan and bestowed Ganga with his charm and mischievous pranks. There are instances that Shri Krishna along with his beloved Radha Rani used to take boat ride in this lake better known as the Nauka Vihar. Shri Krishna once disguised himself as a boat man and amused Radha Rani with his mischievous pranks in the middle of the lake. Radha being wise caught Shri Krishna. Very Divine and peaceful place 💖 you'll are highly...

This lake is said to have been created from Krishna’s mind after He had killed the demon Vatsasura. Because the demon was in the form of a calf, and it is considered very sinful to kill a calf, the cowherd boys suggested Krishna could purify Himself by bathing in the River Ganges. Not wishing to leave Vrindavana, while at the same time satisfying His cowherd boyfriends, Krishna created the River Ganges from His own mind and manifested it here at Govardana Hill. He then took His bath much to the pleasure of His cowherd boyfriends. The word ‘manasi’ means ‘from the mind’ and ‘ganga’ means the ‘River Ganges’. Sometime later, when Nanda Maharaja and the cowherd men heard descriptions about the glories of bathing in the Ganges, they wanted to go and take bath in that holy river. After much persuasion however, Krishna convinced the Vrajavasis that the River Ganges was manifested in Vrindavana and brought them here to Manasi-ganga. When Nanda Maharaja and the cowherd men arrived there with Krishna, Ganga Mayi, the river goddess, suddenly appeared from the lake and standing before them, offered prayers to Krishna. Having seen mother Ganga with their own eyes, they were convinced that Manasi-ganga was nondifferent from the River Ganges, and they joyfully took their bath in the sacred lake.

Excerpt from Vrindavan Mandal Parikrama by HG Rajasekhara dasa Brahmachari Senior disciple of HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada (Founder...