The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c5.s2.212

c5.s2.212

Braja-maṇḍala—It comprises an area of 84 kos containing many villages and towns and sacred spots associated with the adventures of Kṛṣṇa and Rādhikā. The 12 Vanas and 24 Upa-Vanas are specially visited by pilgrims in their perambulation commencing from Mathurā in the month of Bhādra. At the village of Maholi is Madhuvana, the stronghold of the Daitya named Madhu; at Tarsi is Tālavana where Balarāma defeated the demon Dhenuka; at Rādhākuṇḍa are two sacred pools called Śyāmakuṇḍa and Rādhākuṇḍa, where Kṛṣṇa expiated his sin after he had slain the bull Ariṣṭa; at the town of Gobardhan, which contains the celebrated hill of that name on the bank of the tank called Mānas Gaṅgā, is the ancient temple of Hari Deva; at Paitho, the people of Braja came to take shelter from the storms of Indra under the hill uplifted by Kṛṣṇa (see Govardhana); at Gaṇṭholi, the marriage knot was tied which confirmed the union of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa; at Kambana, the demon Aghāsura was killed by Kṛṣṇa; at Barshāna, Rādhikā was brought up by her parents Vṛṣabhānu and Kirat; at Rithora was the home of Candrāvalī, Rādhikā's faithful attendant; at Nandagāon was the abode of Nanda and Yaśodā; at Pānsarovara, Kṛṣṇa drove his cattle morning and evening to water; at Charan Pāhāḍ, Indra did homage to Kṛṣṇa; at Chirghāṭ on the Jamuna, Kṛṣṇa stole the bathers' clothes; at Vaka-vana, Vakāsura was slain by Kṛṣṇa; at Bhāṭrond, some Brāhmaṇas' wives supplied Kṛṣṇa and his companions with food (rice) notwithstanding that their husbands had refused to do so; at Bhaṇḍira-vana, Balarāma vanquished the demon Pralamba; at Raval, Rādhikā was born and passed the first years of infancy before her parents went to live at Barshāna; at Brahmāṇḍa Ghāṭ beyond the village of Hathora, Kṛṣṇa showed Yaśodā the universe within his mouth; at Mahāvana, Kṛṣṇa passed his infancy and killed Putanā; at Mathurā, he killed Kaṃsa and rested at Bisrānta Ghāṭ (Bhāgavata P., and Growse's "Country of Braj" in JASB., 1871). See Braja.