18
Teachings of Lord Chaitanya
are sleeping somewhere with their husbands, some are taking milk, some are caring for their children—they were all busy young girls. But as soon as they heard Krishna's flute, they at once left their places.
All these Gopis were childhood friends. In India the girls are married by the age of twelve years, and the boys are married at not less than eighteen years. Krishna was not married at that time as He was a Boy fifteen or sixteen years old. So, He called these girlfriends from their homes, although they were married, and they used to come and dance together. That is called the  Rasa Dance . Hearing the transcendental sound of the flute, as soon as He would sound the vibration, all the Gopis would come and join Him at a particular place, which was called  Bonsibat . If you go to Vrindaban you will find that  Bonsibat  still exists. It is a very sanctified place, and pilgrims go there and offer their respects. Believe it or not, it is said that there are the same trees that were there at the time of Krishna. That is not so astonishing, however, because I saw some redwood trees in Muir Forest in San Francisco which were said to be 7000 years old. So it is not impossible.
Krishna advented 5000 years ago, and if some of the trees are still standing, it is not unprecedented, because here also there are very old trees. The particular tree under which Krishna used to call the Gopis to come and dance the  Rasa Dance  at night with Him—that tree is still there. That is described in  Chaitanya Charitamrita .
“May that Gopinath, the Master of the Gopis, Krishna, bless you. May you become blessed by Gopinath.” Gopinath is called for blessing because He used to attract the Gopis. As He attracted the Gopis by the sweet sound of His flute, so the author desires that He may also attract your mind by that transcendental vibration.