March 2009 ~ Issue 1    : :      email:  janananda@yahoo.com
If you are having trouble viewing this email, please click here
Pictures and links in this message may be blocked by your email provider. To view blocked pictures, click 'Show Content' or 'Show Images' link


.. Vrndavana
December 2008

     The beautiful place known as Vrndavana is a transcendental abode in the spiritual world and is made entirely of divine touchtstones. There are many beautiful temples entirely made of jewels, and the swans known as raja-hamsas play in the waters of the River Yamuna, which flows through that transcendental land. In the water of that divine river there is a beautiful lotus of a hundred petals.
In the midst of that lotus is a golden platform surrounded by eight petals. Situated upon those eight petals are the eight principle sakhis, headed by Lalita and Visakha. On that golden platform the divine couple sit upon a jeweled throne. In the company of Lord Shyama sits the beautiful Radhika.
From Vasanti-rasa by Narottama dasa.



Hainama in Vrndavana is so blissful


Govardhana Parikrama

“Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O my friends, this hill supplies Krsna and Balarama, along with Their calves, cows and cowherd friends, with all kinds of necessities -- water for drinking, very soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the hill offers respects to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of Krsna and Balarama, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant.” SB 10.21.18



Govardhan Lal


“Anyone who performs the parikrama of Govardhan Hill will never take birth again in this mortal world” - Varaha Purana.

“Each footstep taken in Vraja is equal to visiting all other holy place of pilgrimage and performing all the Vedic sacrifices.” - Rupa Gosvami.

In the crisp early hours of a December morning, 5 of us set off from the Krishna Balaram temple in Vrndavan for Govardhana Hill - the holiest of hills. With my weak health I was not confident we could complete a full parikrama of the hill- walking barefoot.
We begin at Manasarovara the large lake of Ganga water created from Krishna’s mind. When Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu performed parikrama he first bathed in this lake and then went to the Harideva Temple nearby to take darshan. It is thus a custom amongst Vaisnavas to commence their parikrama here. Today the altar doors are open. Off we go with kirtana, stopping in Govardhan town at the ashram of Gopiparanadhan Prabhu. Here he and others teach Sanskrit to around 20 young ISKCON devotees. They are just beginning breakfast and request us to join them.



Parikrama around Govardhan




After delicious prasadam we quickly move on our path. Each step is like crossing a planetary system. Govardhan Parikrama is beyond a doubt one of the most amazing experiences and coupled with the constant kirtana, the dhama manifests so much more. Dozens of devotees are doing dandavat parikrama for the whole 22 Kilometres. (This takes many days as they stand in one spot and pay obeisances and where their head touches the ground they move forward to that spot and repeat the same process again and again until they complete their round of the hill. Some stay on the same spot for as much as 108 obeisances – stretching flat out on the ground.)

We stop for darshan at the ISKCON Palace and more prasadam. Look that is Aniyor where Giriraja asked for more and more and more offerings of foodstuffs when the residents of Vraja were performing Govardhan Puja. The hill is about its highest here - 80ft. On top is the temple where the Deity of Gopal was worshipped before being taken to Nathdwar in Rajasthan during the Muslim invasions. Gopal is the Deity uncovered and worshipped by Madhavendra Puri.

Govinda kunda - this is where Madhavandra found the Deity. This Kund (lake) came into being when Indra, being thwarted in his attempt to punish Krishna and the inhabitants of Vrndavana, came to Krishna to surrender. Krishna was then bathed by Indra and his elephant Airavata, with Ganga water. The transcendental Surabhi cow also came to bathe the Lord with her milk. The lake was formed with all the various liquids used to bathe the Lord. And there is the place where the Demigods performed the puja (worship) of the Lord. On the side of the lake is the bhajan kutir of Madhavendra Puri.

Back on the path. -this is my favourite section - off the road – quiet, lots of trees around and soft sands. We are right up against the hill in many places. Monkeys, peacocks, parrots, cows everywhere.

Countless birds at the foot of Giriraj




Cows grazing in the forest at Govardhan


What is that on the hill - a rare sight here - its a Nilagai - a blue cow (a kind of mix between a cow, horse and deer). We see him again when we go round the other side of the hill.


Nilagai - literally blue cow - a rare sight at Govardhan


Surya and Indra are kind to us today. It’s warm but not hot and the sun is behind a thin cover of clouds.
We reach Punchari - the tail of Govardhan hill - which is considered the shape of a peacock.

Puncari - the tail of Govardhan Hill




Apsara Kunda and Naval Kunda

So many places of Krishna’s pastimes. Now we turn and walk on the other side of the hill though quite thick thorn bushes. Monkeys galore here and sometimes a bit aggressive. Nothing to fear as the kirtana goes on.
What’s that on the path? Hare Krishna Hare Krishna chant - It’s a big fat, colourful snake - what type I do not know but it looks real mean. Don’t get too close. Smile for the picture. Oh what a shame we didn’t get you on. Let’s move quickly away from here. Fortunately his belly was full by the looks of it. There is a big bulge in it’s stomach as it sits there looking at us rather threateningly.

Surabhi kund. Indratala - many places of Indra’s deeds

Half way and we are back in Govardhan Town -happy kirtana. A fair walk before we reach the next main spot - Uddhava Kund and here the same happy pujari as last year greets us. To make him even happier we give him a picture from the last time we were here of him standing with us. Take a break for a while to meditate on Uddhava and his intense desire to reside here by becoming a blade of grass in Vrndavana so that the devotees may kindly trample on him. Dainya – humility a quality which is only too lacking in this world. Humility is seen differently by many. In Krishna consciousness humility refers to always seeing in relationship with Krishna and not oneself. Not taking the credit, not seeing faults in others or being envious of others – understanding their qualities all come from Krishna as do ours. Always living one’s life for the pleasure of guru and Krishna. Not harbouring of feeling any malice towards any jiva but thanking the Lord for the gifts and opportunities He is giving us.
A beautiful kund but we must go on.

Uddhava Kund


Radha Kunda and Shyama kunda

What can be said – the heart of hearts. Keep chanting – I have no qualification to enter here. Only the grace of Srila Prabhupada we are at least on the surface. Bathe or not – I just take 3 drops and try to bathe my consciousness here. Everything is here. All our Acaryas, the Lord in so many features, al the confidential associates of Radha and Krishna, tress form the other world, dust and the unparalleled Kunda of Srimati Radharani as well as Shyam. Temples, sitting places and special sites surround the lakes. Countless devotees move here and there or just stay there. We breathe the air of transcendence mixed with Vraja Renu – the dust of Vrndavana.

Hundreds of places on the way we have not mentioned here.

Last stop – not to forget one of the favourites of the devotees – Kusum sarovara. Srimati Radharani would collect flowers from the forests around– Puspa vana. On the banks of this kunda Uddhava remains as grass.

Kusum Sarovara and palace




A view of the Palace at Kusum Sarovara from behind


We reach Manasa Sarovara as the sun is setting and make our way back to Vrndavana.

“O Govardhana, O King of mountains, O hill whose nectarean name – the best of Hari’s servants- flows from the moonlike mouth of Sri Radha, O hill that the Vedas declare to be the tilaka marking of Vraja please grant me a residence near to you.” From the Stavali of Raghunatha das Gosvami.

A beautiful calf on the path




A colourfull bull receiving bakshis




Bulls on parade on Govardhan Puja day




Bead Sadhu in Govardhan




Gorgeous pictures inlaid in the cow dung walls of the brahmacari ashram




Govardhan Hill in Krishna Balarama Temple




Aindra leading Kirtan on Govardhan Puja day




News – Senior Vaisnava departs

March 4th 2009
We have just received news of the passing away of His divine Grace Srimad Bhakti Vaibhava Puri Maharaja in Visakhapatnam AP. He was the last remaining initiated disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja. He was approaching 100 years of age.

Prabhupada: Visakhapatnam, there is one of my Godbrothers, Puri Maharaja. Did you go there? Room Conversation -- August 22, 1976, Hyderabad

Tridandi Svami B.V. Puri Maharaja wrote te following letter tom Srila Prabhupada. He is one of Srila Prabhupada's Godbrothers. Puri Maharaja, as Prabhupada called him, had a small asrama in Visakhapatnam, on the Bay of Bengal between Madras and Calcutta. Hearing that Prabhupada was going next to Calcutta, Puri Maharaja invited him to visit.
“With innumerable Satsanga Dandabats at Thy lotus feet, I beg to acknowledge the kind letter... The citizens of Visakhapatnam are very anxious to have the darshan of your holiness... We are exceedingly glad and eager to hear Sankirtana and the divine message from your holy lips. I hope the Sankirtana movement at Madras is attracting thousands of citizens. Again, with dandabats to all the Vaishnavas, I remain dasanu B.V. Puri.”

Visakhapatnam
February 17, 1972

A broad beach of white sparkling sands and the Bay of Bengal's warm, clear waters were special features of Srila Prabhupada's visit to Visakhapatnam. Puri Maharaja's small asrama, where Srila Prabhupada stayed, was only five minutes from the ocean, and every morning Prabhupada and his entourage of about fifteen devotees would take long walks along the seashore.
Puri Maharaja's asrama was a simple single-story building of about eight rooms. When he offered Prabhupada a room next to his own, Prabhupada was pleased, accepting it as an expression of friendship. Prabhupada relaxed with his Godbrothers, Puri Maharaja and Ananda Brahmacari, speaking with them in Bengali. Puri Maharaja said he appreciated Prabhupada's work and his Western disciples.
Prabhupada's disciples had already seen formal exchanges of obeisances between Prabhupada and his Godbrothers, as when in Bombay they had seen Prabhupada get off his vyasasana and offer dandavats to his Godbrothers. But in Visakhapatnam they saw more intimate dealings. They saw for the first time Srila Prabhupada living comfortably, at ease, in the same quarters as his Godbrothers. And they didn't feel themselves being treated condescendingly or superficially, or being regarded as oddities. Through Prabhupada's guidance they began to learn more of the essential friendly and humble exchanges between Vaisnavas.

At the ashram Prabhupada's Godbrother Ananda was eager to cook and serve not only Srila Prabhupada but all his disciples. Ananda was elderly, and yet he took the position of always offering menial service. Although he spoke very little English, Prabhupada's disciples could perceive the affection of Ananda and Srila Prabhupada for each other. Ananda's communication with Prabhupada's disciples was particularly through his cooking and serving of prasadam.
Each morning everyone would gather on the veranda outside Prabhupada's quarters, the men sitting on one side, the ladies on the other. Down the center aisle Ananda would walk briskly, distributing prasadam, while Prabhupada sat at one end in a wooden chair, fingering his japa beads and observing the devotees take prasadam. Prabhupada had supplied money to the asrama, and Ananda was regularly cooking sumptuous feasts: deep-fried chunks of potatoes in powdered spices, rice, yogurt, dal, three different types of sabjis, french fries, chutney, malpura, rajkeli, sandesa, ksira-and everything cooked to a nectarean standard of excellence. Prabhupada would sit at the head of the two rows of devotees and encourage them to take prasadam: "Give him more!" Prabhupada would praise Ananda's cooking, smiling with pleasure to see his disciples accept prasadam. The devotees would finish, having been induced to eat as much as they possibly could, and Srila Prabhupada would say aloud the prema-dhvani. Then all the devotees would shout in response, "Jaya!"

After one such feast, Prabhupada called the devotees into his room and remarked, "See how he is cooking. He cooks everything, he serves it, and then he doesn't eat until everyone is fully satisfied. This is Vaisnava, how he should act. He is more satisfied to serve than to enjoy himself." The feasts continued twice a day, and in the evening many guests arrived to take prasadam, chant in the kirtanas, and hear Srila Prabhupada lecture.

Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta “No One Listens to a Poor Man”

Repeatedly Prabhupada invited Puri Maharaja to come and preach in the West. He requested him to at least come to Mayapur for ISKCON's international gathering of devotees. Prabhupada felt that Puri Maharaja, on seeing all the Western disciples, might feel moved to join him and preach. Puri Maharaja agreed to accompany Prabhupada to Calcutta and Mayapur, and the pleasant week in Visakhapatnam came to an end with Prabhupada, his disciples, and Puri Maharaja looking forward to traveling together to Calcutta.

The altar of Radha Gopinatha in Chowpathy Mumbai




Nitai Gauranga in Their new outfits



November 2008 - Issue 2 New Zealand, World Holy Name Week, Our Life and Soul
November 2008 - Issue 1 Australia - Winter in the South Seas, Harinama in Melbourne, Feed Everyone, Hobart, Deja Vouz, The Installation – May 10th 1971, The Initiation, New Govardhan Farm, Brisbane
October 2008 Taking Responsibility for One’s Situation, Change of Heart, Self Reform, Don’t Identify
September 2008 Travelling Rathayatra - Oslo, Gothenburg, Malmo, Copenhagen, Germany, UK



..
..
March 2009 ~ Issue 1    : :      email:  janananda@yahoo.com