Goswami Shri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhuji, in 1590 discovered this spot. According to his realization, it is here that Shri Radha Krishna every night performs Raas along with Sakhis (friends). Since then followers of his sampradaye maintain this sacred site and offer daily pooja seva to the presiding deity.
It is a depiction of peace and serenity. The walls of the kunj have marbled tiles, engraved with the verses from ‘Radhasudhanidhi’. With stunted evergreen bushes which are regarded to be the sakhis of ‘Shriji’ in the legends and scriptures, its uniqueness lies in maintaining the time distance for visitors as it is believed that till today ‘Sriji’ resides there with ‘Sakhis’ and perform ‘Raas’ (holy dance) at night hours. Evidence (dispersed ornaments) has proved this belief to be true enough to accept.
Nikunja Vana or Sewa Kunj: The place which is presently called Seva Kunja was formerly called Nikunjavana, and was one of twelve small forest groves of Vrindavan also called upavanas. Sometimes when the Puranas refer to Seva Kunja, it refers to all twelve of the sub-forests that form the inner-most core of the vast and expansive forest of Vrindavan.
According to the Puranas, the whole area bordered by the River Yamuna, from Mohana Ter Ghata to Adi-Badri Ghata was referred to as being Seva kunja or Nikunja Vana. Therefore, such places as Kaliya-Ghata, Madana-mohana, Imli Tala, Radha Damodara, Shringara Vata, Govinda Ghata, Chehana Ghata, Keshi Ghata, Nidhuvana, Jhulanavana, Gopinatha, Dira Samira, Vamsi Vata, Gopishwara, Brahma-kunda, Govinda-kunda and Govindaji Yoga-pitha, are also considered to be different lila-sthanas within Nikunja Vana.
In this particular forest grove, Yugal Sarkar performs Rasa pastimes. After that Krishna massaged Radharani’s lotus feet and decorated them with red yavaka (vermillion) and he combs Her long black hair into braids, and applied cosmetics to Her moon-like face, and dressed Her with silken garments and gem-encrusted ornaments. After the rasa-dance was over the Gopis would prepare a soft bed made of flower petals and invite Radha and Krishna to lie down together and rest. The whole area where these divine pastimes happens day and night is called Nikunja Vana or Sewa Kunj.
