In the Puranas a number of dimensions have been attributed to the area of Vraja Mandala including those of 21, 20 16, 12, 6 and 5 yojanas. This is possible because the Puranas describe many different regions within Vraja Mandala. Another reason is the variation in a kosa which was not a fixed measurement and in the different Puranas a kosa can vary between 1.75 and 2.75 miles. However, in today’s Gaudiya Vaishnava literature, the standard measurement of a kosa has been established as being two miles and a yojana as eight miles, based on the dimensions of Vraja Mandala found in the Adi-Varaha Purana. An example of variation in the yojana can be seen in the following two verses.
The Garga Samhita says that the area of Vraja Mandala from Yayavara to Saukari is twenty-one yojanas (eighty-four kosas), “The wise say that the most splendid transcendental land of Vraja mandala is 21 yojanas in extent.” The Bhakti-ratnakara says, “Just as the boundary of Mathura Mandala extends from Yayavara to Saukari, in this way all the directions are extended up to twenty yojanas.” Thus while describing the same area of Vraja Mandala there is a difference of one yojana (four kosas) between the Bhakti-ratnakara and the Garga Samhita, However, the dimensions found in the Garga Samhita of 21 yojanas (84 Kosas) are accepted as being correct by all Gaudiya Vaishnava scholars, whereas those of Bhakti-ratnakara are simply an approximation of the same area.
In another example of yojana variation, the Brihad-gautamiya-tantra says, “The glories of Vrindavana are beyond anyone’s calculation. People say Vrindavana covers sixteen kosa, and in the shastra it is said Vrindavana extends five yojanas.” According to the shastras, Vrindavana forest covers an area of five yojanas (twenty kosa), which is accepted as correct by Vaishnava scholars, whereas the local people say it covers four yojanas (sixteen kosa), a difference of just one yojana. 1. An example of various regions being described within the area of Vraja Mandala is found in the following verse. The Adi-Varaha Purana says, “Mathura Mandala extends throughout twenty four kosas and is decorated with twelve forests, dvadasa-vanas, where Mathuradevi, the bestower of all accomplishments resides.” Twenty-four kosas equals six yojanas or forty eight miles.
This is the approximate dimension of the inner border region of Vraja Mandala from Kambhi in the north to Baldeo (Baldev) in the south, encompassing the twelve sacred forests (dwadasa-vanas) where the pastimes of Krishna and Balarama took place. The border of this six yojana region was demarcated by Vajranabha Maharaja based on the above verse from Adi Varaha Purana. A number of stone pillars (kambha) were erected by Vajranabha at various places to mark the inner boundary of Vraja Mandala and one of these stone pillars still exists near the village of Kambhi. In the Skanda Purana it is said, “The tract of land called Mathura Mandala is spread over twelve yojanas.”
Regarding this particular reference from the Skanda Purana, the Bhakti-ratnakara says, “The Puranas have classified these holy places within Mathura Mandala where Krishna and Balarama used to play, stating that these holy places covered twelve yojanas.” However, twelve yojanas is equal to forty-eight kosas or ninety-six miles which is a very large area compared to the six yojanas mentioned in the Adi-Varaha Purana for the very same area where Krishna and Balarama used to play. Twelve yojanas or ninety-six miles is very close to the actual radius of Vraja Mandala which according to the Garga Samhita is forty-two kosas (10.5 yojanas) or eighty-four miles.
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