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Outside the Village of Kaman

There are two places to visit outside of the village of Kaman: Charan Pahari and the Vyomasura Cave area.

Located in the same area are Vyomasura’s cave, Pichel Pahari (Pichalini-shila), the foot and handprints of Krishna (these three places are on the same hill), Balarama’s footprints, and Bhojan Sthali. Around the area of Vyomasura’s cave and Bhojan Sthali there may be young boys who will guide you to the places in the area. They want a rupee or two to bring you to each place. As these places are a bit hard to find without them, it could be a good idea to take their help.

Charan Pahari is about 5km from Vyomasura’s cave and Bhojan Sthali. Both places are west of the town of Kaman. It takes about half a hour to drive between the two places, because the roads are bad.

Charan Pahari
Charan Pahari is where Lord Krishna’s footprints are enshrined. There is the impression of Krishna’s left and right footprints at this place. It is said that Krishna was playing His flute at this place and that the hill started to melt. The impressions of Krishna’s footprints could then be seen on the stone here. Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityananda, Advaita Acarya, Madhavendra Puri, Madhvacarya, Vallabhacarya and the Gosvamis have come to this place to have darsana of Krishna’s footprints.

Krishna used to have His childhood pastimes here. Krishna performed a sacrifice here, because He had killed Vyomasura, who was the son of a brahmana. It is said that Lord Siva appeared here in the form of a hill at this place.

How To Get Here Charan Pahari is located on top of a hill, about 2km southwest of the town of Kaman. Everyone knows where it located. There is nothing around this place, but the hill.

Vyomasura’s Cave (Guha) Area
Vyomasura cave is a few km out of town, in the side of a hill. Vyomasura put the cowherd boys in this cave, after he stole them. Krishna apprehended and fought with Vyomasura here. Guha means “cave”.

During the fight, Krishna fell from the sky and landed on His feet and hands. Imbedded in the rock, on top of the hill, are perfectly legible footprints and handprints. About 3m (10 ft) from the feet and handprints are the imprints of two marigold flower garlands. This place is on top of the hill, just above Vyomasura’s cave.

The battle was so heavy that the earth began to shake. To steady the wobbling earth, Balarama (often known as Dauji) pressed His foot into the rock. His footprint is enshrined across the road from where Vyomasura’s cave is located. There is a small (2m or 6 ft high) concrete structure over the footprints.

About 15m (50 ft) to the right of Vyomasura’s cave, in the middle of the hill, is what is said to be the imprints of Krishna’s Kaustubha necklace. There is a small shrine over this spot.

Getting To the Cave If you are in the middle of the hill, standing on the main road, Vyomasura’s cave is to your right. Near the cave, the hill is at its highest point. There is a well-constructed bridge that goes over the drainage ditch, near the cave. Once you go over the bridge the cave is about 25m (75 ft) to your right, about 15m (45 ft) up into the hill. You can see the cave from the ground. The cave is about 3m (9 ft) high and 3m (9 ft) wide, at its entrance. It is a fairly easy climb except the last metre. You may have to ask some people exactly where the cave is located.

How To Get Here This place is about two km northwest of the town of Kaman, in the side of a rocky hill. When I asked for directions to come to this place, no one could understand where I wanted to go. So it is best to ask to go to Bhojan Sthali, which is just across the road, as people immediately knew what I was talking about when I asked to go to Bhojan Sthali.

Killing of Vyomasura
“Later that morning Krishna went to play with His cowherd boy friends on the top of Govardhana Hill. They were imitating the play of thieves and police. Some of the boys became police constables, and some became thieves, and some took the role of lambs. While they were thus enjoying their childhood pastimes, a demon known by the name of Vyomasura, ‘the demon who flies in the sky,’ appeared on the scene. He was the son of another great demon named Maya. These demons can perform wonderful magic. Vyomasura took the part of a cowherd boy playing as a thief and stole many boys who were playing the parts of lambs. One after another he took away almost all the boys and put them in the caves of the mountain and sealed the mouths of the caves with stones. Krishna could understand the trick the demon was playing; therefore He caught hold of him exactly as a lion catches hold of a lamb. The demon tried to expand himself like a hill to escape arrest, but Krishna did not allow him to get out of His clutches. He was immediately thrown on the ground with great force and killed, just as an animal is killed in the slaughterhouse. After killing the Vyoma demon, Lord Krishna released all His friends from the caves of the mountain. He was then praised by His friends and by the demigods for these wonderful acts. He again returned to Vrindavana with His cows and friends.” (Krishna Book, 36).

Pichel Pahari (Pichalini-shila)
There is a rock slide near Vyomasura’s cave that Krishna and the cowherd boys would slide down. This is a long smooth rock on the side of the hill. Pichel means “to move from upper to lower.” This place is also known as Khisalni-shila, or “slippery rock.”

How To Get Here If you are facing the hill, near Vyomasura’s cave or you just came from Bhojan Sthali, you go to your left and then follow the path through the small village here. About 50m after the village, there is a bridge that goes over the large drainage ditch. You go over the bridge and to your right is this rock slide embedded in the hill. Everyone knows where it is located, but you may have to use some body language (like acting like you are sliding) to communicate where you want to go.

Bhojan Sthali
Across the road from the rock slide and Vyomasura’s cave is Bhojan Sthali. This is where Krishna would take lunch with the cowherd boys. There are imprints of the bowls and plates that are said to have been used by Krishna, embedded into the rock at this place. It is said that Vyomasura was killed here. Krishna and the cowherd boys ate here after Krishna killed Vyomasura. It is customary for one to bring a food offering when one comes here. Often people bring very elaborate offerings

There is a nice kunda next to this place called Ksira Sagara. Next to the kunda there is the place where Balarama is said to have spilled his milk (ksira). There is a white streak that goes from the place where He is said to have spilled His milk down to the kunda. There is a Siva temple here.

How To Get Here This place is about 2km northwest of the village of Kaman, in the middle of nowhere. Most people in the area know where Bhojan Sthali is located. It is possible to drive right next to this place by taking the back roads.
From Vyomasura’s cave, you take a path, across the road from the hill, into the fields. This path bears to the left for about 300m. There is a bridge that goes over the large drainage ditch. You make a right after going over the bridge and walk about 200m (a few minutes). On your left you can see an old building in the fields, about 100m away. This is where Bhojan Sthali is located.

Copyright ©2001 John Howley and Spiritual Guides