SRIMAD BHAGAVATHAM IN VRINDAVAN

The Bhagavatha purana also known as Srimad Bhagavatham, or Bhagavatha is one of the "Maha" Puranic texts of Hindu literature, with its primary focus on bhakti (devotion) to the incarnations of lord Vishnu, particularly Krishna. This text which totally sings the praise of the lord was given directly to Rishi Narada by the lord himself. Then sage Narada imparted this to Lord Brahma, who in turn gave this to Rishi Vedavyasa. Finally his son Rishi Sukhar who learned this from his father narrated this whole Bhagavatham to king Parikshit, who was to die in seven days by a curse. The king heard this Bhagavatham for seven days and attained moksha. This philosophy contains 335 chapters with 18,000 verses.

Vrindavan—this charming place situated about 100km from New Delhi is noted for its numerous temples old and new, big and small. This dusty little town is synonymous with the innocent laughter and playfulness of Shri Krishna. In this land where Krishna was born and spent his youth, there are numerous places with the enchantment of Krishna and his mischief. This place on the banks of the river Yamuna is also called Brajbhoomi. Lord Krishna is easily the most popular person here. He is the evergreen hero of Hinduism—the lover of Radha—the cowherd prince—the reincarnation of lord Vishnu.

Shri Radha is the supreme reservoir of prema for lord Krishna. The prema between Radha and Krishna is so pure that no material desire can contaminate this. We should not think that the love between radha and Krishna is on the same platform of so called love that exists in this material world. This is the love of superlative degree. Their prema is transcendental and beyond contamination. This whole Brajbhoomi is fragrant with this supreme love. There are numerous Samadhi in this area of Mathura-Vrindavan which clearly indicates that many saints were residing here and glorified this holy place.

Radha madan mohan temple: Built in 1523, this famous temple was built by Shri Sanathana Goswami and is the first temple to be built in Vrindavan which was then a forest. The original deity of Madan Mohan was taken to Rajasthan during the attack of Vrindavan by the soldiers of Aurangazeb. It is on the bank of river Yamuna.

The Bankebihari temple:  About 5000 years ago Shri Haridoss swami came to Vrindavan and performed his bhajan. He heard a divine voice “I am buried under the ground. Dig me and start serving me”. He found the deity of Bankebihari with extraordinary jewels and built a temple. The curtain of the sanctum sanctorum is closed every now and then to prevent people from falling in love with the beauty of Krishna.

Radha Damodhara temple: Shrila Prabuphada swami is the foremost preacher of Krishnaism to the western world. He came to live in this temple in 1959 after taking sanyas. This temple of ISKCON offers a wide range of services to residents and visitors. The marble building built with the overseas fund glows in its beauty with the carvings of Krishna leela along with Balrama and Radha. The deity is Krishna himself who has taken a form made of a material substance like marble just to make it convenient for us to worship him.

Kaliya Nardanam: This was a forest situated north of Gokarna vana on the banks of River Yamuna.  There is an old kadamba tree. Shri Krishna jumped on the kalingan’s neck to defeat him. The old tree is since known as “kali kadamba”. There is the dried trunk of the tree and the pond.

Radha Ramana Mandira: Shri Radha Ramana who manifested himself from saligrama sila can be seen in this temple. The sign of the saligramam shila exists at the back of the radha ramanaji. Love and devotion will be generated in the hearts of those who see him.

Mathura: This city of Mathura in UP is the nucleus of Brajbhoomi, is located 140 km from Delhi on the way to Agra. This can be divided into two parts—the eastern part in transjamuna tracts with places like Gokulam, Mahavan, Baldeo, Mat and Bajna and the western part covering the Mathura region that encompasses Vrindavan, Govardhan, Kusum Sarovar, Barsana and Nandgaon. The land of Braj starts from Kotban about 95 km from Delhi and ends at Runakuta, which is known for its association with the poet Surdas, an ardent devotee of Krishna. Researchers say that Shri Krishna was born on Friday the 27th July 3112 BC in the prison as the 8^th child of Vasudeva and Devaki on krishnapaksha Ashtami, Rohini star at 11.40 pm.

25 thirtas (ghats): There are 25 holy ghats (bathing places) in Mathura. Vishram ghat is in the middle with 12 each on the north and south of it.

Govardhan: It is said to have been raised by lord Krishna on his finger and was put in condition to save the people from the incessant rain which fell constantly for 7 days to destroy the people of Braj. The Mansi Ganga which is an artificial lake, was constructed my Mansingh of Jaipur. The dense shady trees, the hill ranges, the tranquil flow of Mansi Ganga all unite together and make a charming view for the visitor.

Govardhan parikrama: This is very famous act done by almost all the devotees who come to Braj. Actually this is to be done with bare foot walking around the Govardan for about 22 km. But nowadays people travel by auto rickshaws and car. But even today the old system of walking barefoot or doing the parikrama by prostrating oneself throughout the distance is done by some devotees-- both male and female. 

Radha kund: It is about 5 km north of Govardan. It is said that Shri Krishna bathed here for self-purification. We sprinkle holy water on us.

Kusuma sarovar: It is a very big lake and is one of the best swimming spot in braj. Legends say that gopis would pick flowers from here for Krishna. It is a peaceful place where one can relax.

Barsana: Situated 21km away from Govardan, this is the birth place of radha. It is a famous pilgrimage spot in vraj. It was originally called “Brahmasaran”.

Lakshmi Nagara: It is situated 4km east of Mathura. There are temples here for Shiva, hanuman and Dauji.

Mahavana: Situated 8.5km from Mathura on the banks of river Yamuna, Krishna performed many pastimes here. It is said that one who goes to this place, would be worshipped in Indralokam.

Brahmanda ghata: It is situated one km south of Mahavana. Mother Yasoda was told that Krishna had eaten clay, and when Yasoda asked him to show his mouth. When Krishna said “ha” Yasoda saw within his mouth seven heavens, hell, sun and moon etc. This clay is given as Prasad in the temple here.

Rangji mandir: It was constructed in 1851 following south-indian architectural pattern. The Dwaja stampa is 50ft tall and gold-plated. The pujas are done by strict vaishnavaites from Tamilnadu.

Shri Krishna Premi Ashram: In Vrindavan there is a Radha Krishna temple constructed by Shri Krishna premi who is fondly called “Shri Anna” in Tamilnadu.

Nidhivan: It is a sacred place where Krishna and Radha along with other gopis did Rasleela. It is said that lord Krishna associated himself with more than 10,000 gopis and made his presence feel to each and every gopi. Even today it is a fact that from sunset to sunrise, the windows of all the houses facing Nidhivan is kept closed so that Krishna can conduct his Rasleela in peace.

Shri Meerabhai temple: Inside this temple is the deity of Giridhara gopal. Every afternoon and evening the songs of Meera and other saints are sung here.

Shri Radha Shyam Sundar mandir: The ornamentation of this deity is very beautiful. On the Akshaya tritiya day, the deity is adorned with sandalwood paste.

Shri Pagal Baba mandir: There is a wonderful radha Krishna temple where an unbroken ‘harinama maha yagna’ is taking place.

Shri Andhera ghat: It is said that here Krishna and gopis in turn shut each others eyes and play hide and seek.

There is a platform in Vrindavan on which is believed that saint Jayadeva sat and wrote his Ashtapathi which is sung even today. There is a room here which is said that saint Jayadeva brought back life into the dead body of this wife after singing Ashtapathi.

There is an ashram for widows and there are about 5000 such ladies in white attire. They assemble here and sing the glory of Radha and Krishna. All such ladies get rice, dhal, clothes and money for that day at the end of bhajan.

There is a society called “food for life” which arranges food for all those who visit Vrindavan.

There are about 4000 temples to visit in Vrindavan. Apart from this there are many Goshalas and resting houses, which provide all the visitors with good food and rest. There is one goshala which needs to be mentioned. Actually they pick up old and abandoned cows which get hurt in road accidents or down with disease. In this way they save these cows from being mercilessly taken to slaughter houses. This goshala is known as “care for cows”. There are about 320 cows which are taken care of by a charitable trust.

Bhaktha Seva Samaj of Cochin took us to this holy tour of Vrindavan and its surroundings with utmost comfort, good food and accommodation. A Bhagavatha Saptaham was conducted under the auspices of Swami Sanmayananda Saraswathi of Narayanalayam, Palghat. A wonderful discourse was given by the Swamiji which made us drench in the ocean of bhakthi. Swamiji accompanied us to all these above mentioned temples and briefed us about the importance of them in Malayalam, so that everybody could understand. On the last day of sapthaham a procession was taken from the “Shri Krishna Pravah Ashram”(malayali ashram) where we stayed to the river Yamuna about 5km away. The laddu gopal was immersed in Yamuna after a brief puja and we also had a holy dip with the lord. The total journey was very pleasant and comfortable.

Pilgrimage to such places washes off all our sins accumulated elsewhere over many births and makes us prosper in life and makes our lives peaceful as constant mental surrender to God is true devotion. Whoever has just once in a lifetime smelled the flowers of Sri Vrindavan, touched its breeze or seen its form will attain His abode for sure.

Hope now you would have made up your mind to go to Mathura-Vrindavan the abode of radha and Krishna!!!

Radhe Krishna!            Radhe Krishna!!            Radhe Krishna!!!