Bolo Sri Vrindaban Dhama ki Jaya!!!
We reached at 8pm, but we felt as we knew the place. Shraddhanjali who has been to Vrindaban before could not wait to explore more when the day breaks. For the first 4 nights we comfortably stayed at my spiritual master, HH Vedavyasapriya Swami's house. Then we moved to the Krishna Balarama Temple guest house. We were in Sri Vrindaban dhama from December 25 to January 8.
We woke up with the sound of Maha Mantra chanting around 4am the next morning. That was coming from nearby local temple. I thought it was coming from Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir, which is about a 7 minute walk from where we were staying. Then Shraddhanjali told me you will only hear Harinama in Vrindaban. An electric current like moment passed through my body. A place which is full of Radha Krishna devotees, temples everywhere, where almost everyone wears tilaka and everyone chants "Radhe". I have read and heard about such things but being there to experience the Goloka Vrindaban mood was simply ecstatic. Actually it is the real Goloka Vrindaban, unfortunately we do not have the eyes to see it. Shraddhanjali told me this. To me she seemed like a resident of Vrindaban. She had prepped me very well for our Vrindaban trip during our flight to India. Off course I couldn't understand much because I wanted to wait to experience it.
Around 8am, Maharaja took us to the Iskcon Vrindaban temple which is on Raman Reti where Krishna and Balarama performed Their pastimes. The atmosphere is so absorbing, vibration so intense, very very lively. I was told by many devotees about the beauty of Sri Sri Krishna Balarama deities so I was trying meditate on Them throughout. In most temples Krishna Balarama's altar is on the far right. When we entered the temple, we offered our obeisances to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. They are very expertly decorated, particularly the winter dress is so attractive. Then we moved forward. It was like Krishna and Balarama just appeared right before us. We just didn't want to move any further. Their magical smile is certainly unforgettable. Then I realized that Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara is on the far right altar in this temple. Overall, taking darshan of These deities is a great feast to the eyes and much satisfaction to the soul. At the back of the temple, devotees continuously chant Maha Mantra. This is the Vrindaban 24 hour kirtan party. When Shraddhanjali's sister, Krsna Kumari went to Vrindaban, she told me how much I would have loved to stay around the 24 hour kirtan party devotees. And that was very true. The musicians are expert and they chant very melodiously. Taking darshan while hearing the sweet Maha Mantra chant is total elevation for the soul.
We took breakfast prasadam before we left for parikrama of the 7 main temples in Vrindaban. We left little late so we only were able to visit 4 temples as they all close at 12pm.
The next day we took a parikrama of Nandagoan, Barsana, Goverdhana, Radha Kund and Shyama Kund. We were accompanied by my god brother, Medhavi Prabhu and his family from Papua New Guinea. We did car parikrama of Mount Goverdhana. It was not easy for Shraddhanjali to walk around everywhere esp the steep steps at Barsana. You will find most historic temples on hills.
We concluded the second day parikrama by visiting HH Mahanidhi Swami Maharaja's house at Radha Kund. He was in Mayapur that time but I have some pictures of his residence.
This report is only for 2 days activities.
We also stopped at Iskcon Delhi's Sri Sri Radha Partha Sarthi temple before leaving for Vrindaban. Unfortunately darshan was closed so I couldn't take pictures inside the temple but here are some pictures of this gorgeous temple. If you stand at certain parts of the temple you wouldn't be able to see the "outside world". It is so huge.
Iskcon Delhi Pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/
Here is the Vrindaban picture link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/
We are back at our Florida home now. Our trip was simply ecstatic and unforgettable. Please wait to read more of our Vrindaban yatra.
Hare Krishna,
Your servants,
dvaipayana, shraddhanjali and gopeesha
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