Imli Tala is a sacred tamarind tree located in
Vrindavan,
Uttar Pradesh. It is believed to date back to
Lord Krishna's time.
Imli means tamarind and tala represents tree. According to some people, the original tree is now dead. The alternate tree is also very old.
Legend has it that the tree was cursed by Radharani. One day when she was walking to meet Krishna, she stepped on the thick bark of a ripe tamarind fruit and it cut her foot. This made her delay in meeting Krishna; therefore she cursed the tree that its fruits would not ripen. Even now the fruits of this tree fall down before getting totally ripened.
It is also said that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu used to visit the tree daily, when he stayed in Vrindavan. A festival is held here on the full moon day of Kartika, which is believed to be the day that Chaitanya arrived in Vrindavan. The tree is worshipped on this auspicious day.
A small temple with Gaura Nitai and Radha Krishna deities situated near the tree.
