Brij (ब्रज) or Brijbhoomi denotes the land where the Supreme personality of Godhead Shri Krishna performs his pastimes. Brij Bhoomi is made up of 12 beautiful forests and several other sub-forests with river Yamuna meandering through the entire land in its course. One of these forests is called Vrindavan. The Vrindavan town which contains many of the important temples and pastime places of Shri Krishna is also in this forest.
This story begins when, just before the time of Lord Krishna’s incarnation in Brij dham, some demigods and rishi-munis ran towards Lord Brahma and implored him to send them there in some form before Krishna manifests in Brij. But Lord Brahma denies it by saying that he had already sent many demigods and celestial bodies there on the request and now there’s no space left in Vrindavan anymore.
Demigods got saddened and humbly requested Brahma ji to make them ‘gwalas’ (cowherders) and send them there. He said he made enough gwalas for Vrindavan so not possible.
Then they asked him to make them ‘Barsana ki gopis’ to which Brahma ji replied there were enough of them so again not at all possible.
Then they asked him to make them cows at least if gwalas and gopis are exceeded in numbers. Brahma ji said not at all possible as there was no space there for more cows too. Only Nand baba as an individual has nine lakh cows in there apart from the whole region.
Demigods started crying and asked him to make them ‘mor’ (peacock) so that they could entertain young Krishna by dancing in the rain. But Brahma ji again denies it and said there are so many peacocks there that he had to make a mor kutir for them additionally.
Then they requested him to make them monkeys or birds such as parrots, sparrow, or pigeon and send them there. Brahma Ji replied there were enough of them already. All trees and plants are filled with them.
Then demigods fell on Brahma ji’s feet and requested him to at least make them trees, plants, or branches. They’ll be happy even if he makes them a leaf of any tree from Brij dham. Lord Brahma replied it was not at all possible as he had, so overly filled the whole land with greenery that even Surya dev was quite angry with him as his sun rays reached the holy ground of Brij with difficulty.
Crying demigods and rishi-munis requested him to think about the other possible things he could make of them, and send them in Brij dham. Lord Brahma heavy-heartedly told them that everything had already been created for the Supreme lord so there’s nothing left to be done. So, they all must go back. Listening to this, Demigods asked him if they could find the genuine space in there for themselves, would he send them there? Brahma Ji politely agreed to their final request.
The next day they came again to Lord Brahma and asked him to make them sand and dust particles of Brij bhoomi so that young Krishna’s divine little feet touch them while playing. Moreover, being in that form they’ll not take much space so it’ll not be a problem for Brahma ji also. Lord Brahma agreed to the request of those demigods and rishi munis, and sent them there as they wished.
Whenever you get a chance to visit Brij Dham, first ask for forgiveness and then blessings from the dust or sand particles of the path that you are walking on as it’s not just dirt. It’s the same demigods or divine souls who wanted to be in the same place where their supreme lord Shree Krishna was about to come for incarnation at that time. They wanted to become anything just to be near the lord of the universe. This way you will feel that divine connection, the feeling of devotion too and maybe if you are worthy, Lord Krishna reveals himself to you through that place.
Lord Brahma sings the glories of Vrindavan Dham in Brahma Samhita (5.56) as follows :
“I worship that supreme abode of Vrindavan Dham, where the Supreme Lord Shri Krishna is the only lover; where the Vraja Gopis are the beloveds; where every tree and creeper is a transcendental desire-tree; where the earth is made of spiritual touchstones and the water is nectar; where speech is like melodious song and movements are like dance; where great divine oceans of milk continually flow from the udders of uncountable surabhi cows; and where transcendental time is eternal, without past and future, so that even half a moment never slips away. In this material world, only rare, saintly personalities can understand the nature of this abode.”
