Vrindavan, 2017.07.02 (VT): The ritual of ‘Mahabhishekam’ with 108 silver pots of water was performed in the sanctum sanctorum of the Lord Varadraja Temple on Saturday, during the anniversary of the consecration of the temple.

‘abhishekam’ by the South Indian priests

Priests from South India performed the Mahabhishekam under the aegis of Swami Jai Krishnacharya. The Abhishekam continued for two hours, during which the Lord was bathed with panchamrita, herbs, panchagavya, fruit juice and other items.

The entire temple campus echoed with Vedic chants during the ceremony. Devotees were excited and blissful to have darshan of Lord Vardaraja’s divine bathing ritual with 108 silver pots.

Dharma Sabha

Magnificent celebrations were held at Bada Khatla on the anniversary of its consecration. The temple was decorated with fragrant flowers; walls were adorned with pictures and montages of Krishna’s pastimes, and the altar was resplendent with exotic flower arrangements and decorations.
Celebrations included a large number of transcendental activities which included a homa, readings from religious texts including the Vedas, Prabandhas, Geeta Bhashya, Alvandar strotra and so forth. Discourses on  religious texts were  given by the guest speakers.

All attendees felt the atmosphere of bhakti, rejuvenation of their faith and bliss through participating in the event. The prominent devotional singers Chitra Vichitra mesmerized the devotees with melodious bhajans in the evening.

The Lord Vardaraja Temple of Bada Khatla is situated near the Katyayani Temple and Rangji’s bada bagicha in Vrindavan.

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Vrindavan, 2017.07.03 (VT): The groundwater level in Vrindavan has dropped four to five meters and continues to fall rapidly. Most of the municipal tube wells on the bank of Yamuna have gone dry. These tube wells are situated between Keshi Ghat and Yugal Ghat. Other tube wells are producing dirty water that gives off a putrid stench. Submersible pumps in individual residences have failed, and the underground water level has fallen below 150 feet.

“The town’s tube wells are pumping out muddy water,” said a municipal pump operator, not wanting to be named. He added, “Sometimes black water comes out, as if it is pumping from a sewage drain.”

Environmental experts are pointing to sheet piling installed under the controversial Yamuna Riverfront Project as the main contributor to Vrindavan’s rapidly depleting water table. Sheet piling is a construction technique in which steel sheets are driven deep underground.

Surrounded by the Yamuna on three sides, Vrindavan is greatly dependent on the holy river for recharging its groundwater. The steel sheet piling has created a 25-30 foot underground barrier on the riverbed in a two-kilometer radius at the point where Yamuna flows nearest to the city center. The aquifer cannot be adequately recharged due to the civil work along the river.

Coincidentally, The Riverfront Project, executed by the Irrigation Department of Uttar Pradesh, is also under fire for threatening to compromise the architectural and aesthetic integrity of Vrindavan’s heritage ghats.

Ms. Charchita Rangacharya of Vrindavan’s Rangji Mandir said, “There is no doubt that the Riverfront Development Project has caused great damage to the catchment areas of Yamuna. The sheet piling activity is one of the reasons behind the falling of the water table. There are fourteen wells and a water tank (kund), in our temple. The water supply for all the rituals of the temple is largely dependent on the water of the wells and the kund. We have seen a drastic fall of water levels in both reservoirs. The bore wells in many parts of the city have also dried up even before the onset of summer.”

Shri Seemant Sharma, a resident of the Cheer Ghat area said, “If this problem is not taken seriously, Vrindavan will soon come in the grip of a severe drinking water crisis. We urge our local and state officials to offer a viable solution.” He added, “The submersible pumps in the houses located on the river banks have begun to dry up. The water level has gone below 150 feet.”

Shri Deepak Sharma (Ghatwale) from the Govind Ghat temple said, “The groundwater level in this area continues to deplete at an alarming rate due to unregulated extraction and relentless concretisation of the Yamuna floodplain. The sheet piling activity has further added to the damage, as it obstructs the Yamuna to recharge the aquifers.”

A letter has been sent by residents to the District Magistrate of Mathura with a demand to investigate the cause of the groundwater decline. The copy of the letter has been sent to the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and the Central Ground Water Board, New Delhi.

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2017.06.03 (Dr. Demain Martins): Almost five hundred years after its composition, Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati’s Viveka-satakam (A Hundred Verses of Wisdom) has been published for the first time. Although an ancient manuscript of the text was listed among a private collection in 1883, its whereabouts was unknown for many decades. After locating the manuscript in the course of my research work, it was a joy to verify that it was at least four hundred years old. Upon analyzing the text, it became clear that it had many characteristics common to other works of Srila Prabodhananda. Yet there was a difficulty – it was a poor transcription into Bengali characters and a number of incorrect readings compromised the text intelligibility to some extent. I was fortunate to come across a manuscript in Devanagari that proved to be essential to determine the original readings.

In a quasi-autobiographical tone, Srila Prabodhananda tells us some of his experiences and impressions in life, his struggles in worldly affairs, his anxieties in family life and above all, his burning desire to give up everything to go to Vrindavan, which is glorified throughout the book. It is clear that at the time of composition the author was already an adherent of Lord Caitanya’s philosophy, as he expresses his desire to serve the Lord birth after birth, declares that Krsna, the Lord of Gokula, is superior even to Lord Visnu, and mentions Srimati Radharani’s name several times. He also mentions the name “Radha-ramana” a few times, which hints that this name had special significance to him.

The present edition features other two texts previously unknown among Srila Prabodhananda’s works: Caitanya-citrastakam and Nityanandastakam. Manuscripts of these texts were subsequently located in different places in India, and each of them is several centuries old. In these two texts, the author praises both Lords with selected poetical words.

This edition includes the original Sanskrit text in Devanagari, the transliterated Roman text with diacritics, word-for-word meanings, an English translation, and an article by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura about the life of Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati. It also includes an extensive introduction that presents recent findings about Prabodhananda, and addresses several misconceptions, such as the idea that he was previously known as Prakasananda.

This publication is part of the Baladeva Vidyabhusana Project. For more details and to order a copy, please visit the following page and use the contact form: www.vidyabhusanaproject.blogspot.in.

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Vrindavan, 2017.07.06 (VT; Photos by Anjali Syal): The rainy season has come. The kadamb flowers are blooming, ghevar is being sold in the sweet shops, and the sky has wrapped her soft blanket of deep blue clouds tightly around Vrindavan.

It is so cool; so fresh and fragrant. The summer scorched us, but it also gave us the most gorgeous jasmine flowers, ripe yellow mangoes and juicy lychees to offer to our Beloved. And best of all, it brought our pran Radharaman out into his jagmohan for this grishm kalin (summer) seva.

By the blessings and inspiration of nitya leela pravisht jagadguru Shri Purushottam Goswami Maharaj, Shri Radharamanji’s nikunjas, also known as phool banglas (flower palaces) have been absolutely spectacular during this summer festival.

Peacock-Throne Nikunj

Each nikunj has a special theme, for example the shopan (stairway) nikunj which was offered on June 23rd. This kunj is carefully crafted from fragrant flowers and slices of banana tree trunks, which shimmer elegantly like mother-of-pearl. Its five steps represent the five sacred moods devotees offer to the Lord: shant (a peaceful mood), dasya (servanthood), sakhya (friendship), vatsalya (the love of a parent) and madhurya (romantic love).

On June 29th, Radharamanji enjoyed a “peacock-throne” kunj. The banana stems and flowers of this kunj are arranged and sculpted in such a way that Radharamanji appears to be surrounded by a peacock’s tailfeathers. The bhav is that the peacocks have offered this special nikunj, endowed with their own beauty, to their Beloved Radharaman, and they are passionately dancing for him.

Radharamanji’s Ratha Yatra

But the highlight of these days was the Ratha Yatra. On this day, Radharamanji wore a stunning new red dress and sat in a charming chariot made of silver, complete with silver charioteers. Devotees vied with each other to catch a glimpse of the Darling of Vrindavan as he sat on the rath with Radharani. Shaligram shila was taken on a small procession around Radharmaanji’s jagmohan (the outer part of his altar).

July 4th featured a very special kunj made of hundreds of mangoes! And on July 5th, the official final day of the seva’s transition, Radharamanji stunned the devotees in a vibrant sparkling green dress which perfectly evoked the special sweetness of monsoon.

Mango Kunj

In his gorgeous green dress

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For centuries devotees have been coming to Vrindavan with the desire to die here.

Since the re-discovery of the holy dham in 1515, devotees have come here to devote their lives to the pursuit of spirituality and, ultimately, to die on the holy dust of Vrindavan. It is a traditional belief that those who die in Vrindavan become part of the spiritual world after death. The Mathura Mahatmya states that even an insect, worm or tree that dies in Vrindavan will attain the supreme Abode.

There are many instances where a devotee spent his entire life in Vrindavan, waiting to die in the holy abode, but near the end was taken for medical treatment to New Delhi or another city outside of Braj and passed away there. To seek the Vrindavan mood is rare enough, but to actually live there is very rare. And to die there is most rare and difficult to attain.

Moolchand Dubey is one of those lucky few. On Tuesday, as Dubey stepped into door number three of the Bakey Bihari Temple, his soul suddenly left his body. The police were informed and the body was taken to the hundred-bedded hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

The seventy-five year old was later identified as Moolchand Dubey, an auto-rickshaw driver by profession and a resident of Om Nagar of the Auraiya District of Uttar Pradesh. Dubey, who had come to Vrindavan alone for darshan, had a history of blood pressure difficulties, and the cause of death was determined to be a stroke. His death is believed to have been sudden and painless.

Banke Bihari Police Chowki in-charge Shri Prem Narayan Sharma said, “We were able to identify him by calling the telephone numbers in a diary found in his pocket. One of the telephone numbers belonged to his daughter, while another was that of his younger son, Mukesh Dubey.”

Sharma further added, “We have informed the next of kin and kept the body safe. The rest of the formalities will be done when the family comes to claim the body.”

bhag bado vrindavan paayo

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2017.07.07 (BBC) India’s revered Ganges and Yamuna rivers cannot be viewed as living entities, the Supreme Court has ruled.

It overruled an order made in March by the High Court in Uttarakhand state, which said that the two rivers had the same legal status as human beings.

The move was seen as a measure to increase protection for the rivers, which are deeply venerated in India but are heavily polluted.

But Uttarakhand’s state government took the issue to the Supreme Court.

It argued that the declaration was legally unsustainable.

The river Ganges – worshipped in Hinduism as “Ganga Mata” or mother – is a lifeline to more than 500 million people across India. It and its tributary the Yamuna are two of the country’s major rivers.

BBC South Asia Editor Jill McGivering says they are central to Indian life and much celebrated in Indian culture, even worshipped as deities.

But both are heavily polluted by industrial waste, by sewage and even by the remains of the many bodies cremated on their banks.

There are laws to stop pollution but critics say they are inadequate and poorly enforced.

So the landmark judgement in March to give the rivers the same legal status as people was an attempt to improve all this.

The argument was that it made actions to pollute or damage the rivers legally comparable to assault or even murder.

The declaration attracted a lot of publicity. But the state government of Uttarakhand, where the Ganges originates, argued that the ruling simply was not practical and could lead to complicated legal situations, even claims against the rivers in cases of flooding or drowning.

They took those objections to the Supreme Court, which agreed and has now overturned the earlier ruling.

However, correspondent says the key question remains unanswered – how best to clean up two of India’s most important rivers and keep them clean.

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Vrindavan, 2017.07.08 (VT): On the eve of his disapperance day, which is now known as “Mudiya Puno”, Shri Sanatan Goswami performed the abhishek of Madan Mohan. The tradition continued today as Madan Mohan’s abhishek was performed in a grand way.

Acharya Shrivatsa Goswami and Shri Sanatan Kishor Goswami

The abhishek was administered by Acharya Shrivatsa Goswami of the Shri Radharaman Temple and performed by Shri Sanatan Kishori Goswami of the Shri Radha-Madan Mohan Temple. Vijay Kishor Goswami, Ajay Kishor Goswami, Arun Goswami, Prateek Goswami and other Goswamis also participated.

According to the Goswamis of Shri Madan Mohan Temple, the abhishek was done according to Haribhakti Vilas, Govind Abhishek Paddhati and Bhagwat Bhakti Vilas by Roop Goswami, Sanatan Goswami and Gopal Bhatt Goswami. A small Giriraj Shila which Shri Sanatan Goswami used to keep in his mala jholi was also offered abhishek.

Celebrations will continue this evening with katha by Shri Premdas Shastri, and kirtan by Madhukar Ji.

The abhishek marks the second day of the festival. Yesterday Adhivas Kirtan was held, and tomorrow a special pooja and suchak kirtan will be held at Sanatan Goswami’s samadhi. A new murti of Sanatan Goswami will also be installed.

Mudiya Puno is Guru Purnima and the disappearance day of Sanatan Goswami. It is by far the largest festival in Braj. Millions of pilgrims are expected to perform Govardhan Parikrama and visit Sanatan Goswami’s bhajan kutir at Chakleshwar and his samadhi at Shri Radha-Madanmohan Temple in Vrindavan.

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Shri Sanatan Goswami’s new murti at Shri Radha-Madanmohan Temple

Vrindavan, 2017.07.11 (VT): Braj’s most popular festival, Mudiya Puno (Guru Purnima), was celebrated on Sunday. This year an estimated six and a half million pilgrims attended the festival.

Across India, Guru Purnima is a day for worshipping one’s spiritual teachers. But in Braj this day coincides with the disappearance day of Sanatan Goswami, the seniormost of the famous Six Goswamis who rediscovered the lost holy places of Braj about five hundred years ago. Sanatan Goswami is considered to be the incarnation of a gopi named Lavang Manjari and his temple, the Shri Radha-Madanmohan Temple, is the oldest temple in Vrindavan. The word “mudiya” itself refers to the practice of mundan or shaving ones head, which the devotees perform to mourn Sanatan Goswami’s passing.

P.C. Hindustan Samwad

Filled with eagerness for Girirajji’s darshan, devotees literally risked their lives to attend the festival. Indian Railways added extra trains in an attempt to meet the demand of pilgrims journeying to Braj, but it was not enough. Devotees held on to the outsides of over-packed trains and busses, and many even rode on the roof shouting Giriraj Maharaj ki Jai!

Shri Radha-Madanmohan Ju

In Vrindavan, the occasion was celebrated at Shri Radha-Madanmohan Temple where Shri Sanatan Goswami’s samadhi (tomb) is located. A beautiful new deity of Sanatan Goswami was installed this year along with an abhishek or ritual bath, and Sanatan Goswami’s suchak kirtan (a kirtan that tells the story of Sanatan Goswami’s life through song). A twenty-four hour naam sankirtan, chappan-bhog (an offering of 56 types of food) and prasad distribution were also organized by the temple. Devotees also enjoyed a dance drama on Sanatan Goswami’s life.

Govardhan Parikrama Marg on Mudiya Puno – P.C. Hindustan Samwad

In Govardhan, the main attraction was the Mudiya Shobhayatra, a procession in honor of  Sanatan Goswami. Following a centuries-old tradition, the Gaudiya Vaishnavs shaved their heads in remembrance of Shri Sanatan and paraded through the streets around Mansi Ganga to the beating of drums and small cymbals, as they sang songs of longing for their Guru. The procession began near Sanatan Goswami’s bhajan-sthali at Chakleshwar and continued through Dasbisa, Saunkh Adda, Danghati, Deeg Adda, Bada Bazar, Hathi Darwaza and back. Many of the millions of devotees who were performing Govardhan Parikrama tried to get a glimpse of the beautiful procession, with the chitrapat (picture) of Sanatan Goswami leading the way.

The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department also chose Mudiya Puno weekend to test their Helicopter Parikrama service. A number of devotees sampled the ten-minute helicopter ride, at a cost of Rs. 2,499.

Shri Sanatan Goswami’s suchak kirtan in Vrindavan

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Deharadun, 2017.07.08 (Prithviraj Singh, Hindustan Times): A 56-year-old foreigner in Tehri jail has gone on a hunger strike, leaving jail officials in a fix.

For the past nine days, Serguei Razvozjaev has refused to take food in protest against his arrest. Police have not found any valid document for his Russian citizenship, which he claims. Subsequently, Serguei was admitted to the Tehri district hospital on July 4. “He is protesting against his arrest and imprisonment, saying why he is being treated as a criminal,” Superintendent of Police (Tehri) Sonika said.

Sources in the police intelligence said Serguei was arrested on July 1 for overstaying more than 14 years without any valid document in India. Serguei came to India on a student visa in 1999 and had been wandering across the country ever since then, the sources said.

During this tenure, Serguei stayed at Mathura and Vrindavan ashrams as he followed ISKCON – the socio-religious organisation dedicated to Lord Krishna. The Uttarkashi police said Serguei told the police that his visa expired in 2003 and was overstaying in India since then.

“Although he has claimed to be a Russian citizen but we are yet get the proof as he was not carrying his passport. We have also not found any incriminating information or suspicious motive behind his overstay but a detailed report about him has been sought from the Russian embassy to verify his antecedents and bring out truth. He was staying at Damta village area for the past one month from where the police got the information about him,” Superintendent of Police (Uttarkashi) Dadan Pal told Hindustan Times.

Serguei told his interrogators that he lost his passport in Vrindavan at an ashram but managed to procure a ‘World Passport’ provided by a Washington-based NGO but it is not valid in many countries including India. He was arrested by the Uttarkashi district police but imprisoned in Tehri as the district police has no jail of its own.

Meanwhile, Serguei’s reluctance to take food for the past nine days has left the Tehri administration worried about his health. Doctors said the foreigner may develop serious kidney ailment due to deteriorating health.

“All efforts to make him eat food have failed as he has refused to cooperate so far. On Friday he turned violent when out medical staff to force feed him. He runs the risk of kidney trouble. Efforts are on make him take food,” Tehri chief medical officer Dr YS Thapliyal said.

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Barsana, 2017.07.17 (VT based on HS): Every year during the month of Saavan, devotees come from all around to have darshan of Sanket Bihari (Shri Radharamanji), Sanket Devi and Katyayani Mata in Sanket Van. Sanket Bihari enjoys an amazing swing festival on his five-hundred-year-old swing (jhula). But unfortunately, the land mafia is trying to bring Sanket Bihari’s swing festival to an end.

About five hundred years ago Shri Narayan Bhatt Goswami identified five major places where Shri Thakurji’s jhulan lila occurred. These places are Dangarh and Vilasgarh in Barsana, Sanket Van, Anjan Bihari Mandir in Anjanauk and Chhatravan in Chhata. By his inspiration, the Mughal Emperor Akbar’s Revenue Minister Todarmal had grand stone jhulas constructed at each of these places.

Sanket Bihari’s jhula is located on the edge of the village, on the premesis of the Sanket Devi temple. The temple has about two acres of property, which includes the baithak of the Gaudiya Vaishnava saint Shri Gopal Bhatt Goswami.

The land mafia is agressively trying to take over the property. Thugs have been storing heavy agricultural equipment, wood and other building materials on the temple land, including inside Thakurji’s jhula. They are keeping farm animals tied in the temple courtyard and filling the temple entryway with sewage and garbage so that devotees won’t come in for darshan. 

In 2013 the Tourism Department spent 25 lakhs on rennovations to the temple, but these encroachments are on the way to destroying their work. We urge the government to intervene as soon as possible to ensure the safety of this place with its deep historical and spiritual significance.

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Vrindavan, 2017.07.17 (VT): Today is the disappearance day of Shri Loknath Goswami.

This important day in Vrindavan’s history was celebrated at the Shri Radha-Gokulananda Mandir in Vrindavan, where his samadhi (tomb) is located. Special pooja was held in the morning, after which the suchak kirtan of Shri Loknath Goswami was performed in front of his samadhi.

Devotees lost themselves in the soothing melodies of Shri Narottam Das Thakur’s padavali kirtan, followed by aarti and prasad seva in the main mandir. Shri Achyut Lal Bhatt Goswami offered a special katha for the occasion throughout the week. The festival was presided over by Shri Abhinav Goswami of the Shri Radharaman Temple.

Shri Loknath Goswami’s Samadhi (interior), Shri Radha-Gokulananda Mandir, Vrindavan

A Childhood Friend of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

Shri Loknath Goswami was a childhood friend of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who became his follower. He was born circa 1483 in Talkhandi village, district Yashohar, in present-day Bangladesh. He is known as the incarnation of a gopi named Manjulali or Lila Manjari.

Loknath came from a scholarly family, and began to study Shrimad Bhagwatam from Adwaitacharya at the age of 14. After completing his studies, Loknath returned home and started his own school.

But Loknath always remained absorbed in the love of Radha and Krishna. Mahaprabhu was always in his heart. Eventually, Loknath renounced the world and came to Nabadwip to surrender himself at Mahaprabhu’s feet. But Mahaprabhu had already decided to take sannyas. 

Loknath’s Mission

Mahaprabhu instructed Loknath to go to Vrindavan and rediscover the lost holy places of Shri Krishna’s lila. He followed that instruction with all his heart.

The work was very difficult because the scriptures only give a general idea of where these holy places are, and the forest was thick and full of dangerous animals. But by the mercy of Shri Radharani, he was very successful in his efforts.

The Braj Bhakti Vilas states that Loknath Goswami discovered 333 of the lost holy places in Vrindavan. Bhugarbha Goswami, a disciple of Shri Gadadhar Pandit, assisted him. Later, Shri Roop Goswami, Sanatan Goswami, Shri Gopal Bhatt Goswami and others came and continued the seva.

Loknath Goswami did not write any books but it is believed that Shri Roop and Sanatan learned a lot from him, and he may have had a substantial influence upon their writings.

Shri Radhavinod

During the course of his exploration, Loknath Goswami found the deity of Shri Radhavinod in Kishori Kund at Chhatravan. He served him all his life. The original deity of Radhavinod is now in Jaipur, whilst His pratibhu vigraha is worshipped at Shri Radha-Gokulananda temple in Vrindavan. It is said that Shri Radhavinod Ju helped Loknath Goswami find the lost holy places of Braj.

Shri Radha-Binodilal (Radha-Vinod Ju) worshipped by Shri Loknath Goswami, Jaipur

The Next Generation

After Mahaprabhu passed away, many other pillars of the Gaudiya Sampradaya also left this world. Nityananda Prabhu and Advaitacharya left, as did Shri Roop and Sanatan, and Shri Raghunath Bhatt Goswami. Shri Raghunath Das Goswami retired to Radhakund, weeping constant tears of separation.

The only leaders of the Sampraday who were still in Vrindavan were Loknath Goswami, Bhugarbha Goswami, Gopal Bhatt Goswami and Jeev Goswami.

The next generation of the Gaudiya Sampraday was already starting to take form. One of the most promising young aspirants was Narottam Das. He was from a royal family, but renounced it all to live in Vrindavan.

Narottam wanted Loknath to be his guru, but Loknath had taken a vow not to initiate anyone. He also would not accept seva from anyone. But Narottam was determined that only Loknath would be his guru. And so he found every opportunity to serve him in secret.

Shri Narottam Das Thakur’s Samadhi, near Shri Loknath Goswami’s Samadhi. Radha-Gokulananda Mandir, Vrindavan

Narottam’s Guru Seva

Every day at about 3a.m. Narottam went to the place in the forest where Loknath would ease the call of nature. Narottam cleaned the spot with a broom and placed an earthen pot full of water there for Loknath to use. He then hid behind a tree and waited until Loknath came. And after he left, he removed the feces and again swept the spot with a broom.

He did this every day. Narottam was so happy to do this seva for his chosen guru that he would hug the broom and wash it with his tears.

After a year, Loknath began to wonder who was serving him in this way. He decided to find out.

One day he went early to the forest and watched as Narottam came and began to sweep the spot. It was very dark, and Loknath was not able to see him clearly.

“Who are you?” he asked

“I am Narottam.” replied the man in a humble voice.

“Narottam? You do this work every day?”

Loknath was moved and finally agreed to give Narottam initiation. By his blessings, Narottam Das became one of the great leaders of the Gaudiya Sampraday.

Entering Nitya Lila

As Loknath was preparing to leave this world, he gave Narottam his wooden sandals and bade him farewell. He entered the Nitya Lila on Shravan Krishna Ashtami between the years 1583 and 1588AD.

Shri Loknath Goswami’s Suchak Kirtan, Shri Radha-Gokulananda Mandir (2017)

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Vrindavan, 2017.07.18 (VT): The word “forest”, or van in Sanskrit, is literally included in Vrindavan’s name. Yet the Forestry Department now says that there is no more room for trees in Vrindavan. What greater tragedy could there be for a land which is synonymous with forests in the minds and hearts of India’s people?

There are ample descriptions of Vrindavan’s woodlands in the scritptures. When Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to Vrindavan in the 1500s, it is said that when he saw the forest’s beauty, he broke down in tears. But due to unbridled development, most of those ancient trees, which made the saints weep with joy, have been replaced with concrete.

The colonies of the old city – Govind Bag, Gopinath Bag, Radha Bag and Gopal Bag – were once actually bag (gardens). The famous Nidhivan and Seva Kunj covered a vast expanse of land, but now they are reduced to two small spaces within walled areas in the center of town. Whatever gardens are left are not easily accessible to the public. Bihariji ka Bagicha, Rang Ji ka Bagicha, Madan Ter, Lalita Bag and a few others are all that is left of that glorious forest which remained until just a couple decades ago.

Outside of Vrindavan we have Akrur Van, but babul trees have mostly replaced the ancient varieties like tamal and kadamb. And on the other side of town is Sunrakh Van. Some years ago the government planted many trees there, but most of them have died due to negligence.

Each year during the monsoon, the government plants trees throughout the country. Uttar Pradesh’s Makhdoom Goat Research Center, for example, will get 64,000 new trees this year. But not one new tree will be planted in Vrindavan.

Forest Department Ranger Shri Mukesh Mina says, “There is no space for planting trees in Vrindavan. Trees have already been planted on all the land available to us. Thus no new trees will be planted this year. We will only be able to replace dead trees with new ones.”

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Agra, 2017.07.16 (Anuja Jaiswal, TNN): As lord Krishna’s homeland awaits the monsoons, two 15-year-old girls, Suman and Rukmani, have been sitting on a fast for the last two days in Malsarav village of Mathura to appease the “rain god”. The girls say that they would continue to fast till the lord listens to them and it rains.

Incidentally, while the average rainfall in UP from July 6 to July 12 is said to be more than the normal, nearly a dozen districts, including Mathura and Agra, have received inadequate rains. According to IMD website, actual rainfall in Mathura was reported 3.5 mm from July 6 to 12 while normal rainfall should be 43.6 mm which is 92 percent deficient.

The recent report on rainfall status indicated that the state has received 110.6 mm rainfall between July 6 to 12, which is 65 percent more than the normal rain of 67.1mm, while Mathura received 3.5 mm actual rain which is 92% less than the normal rain of 43.6 mm.

Malsarav villagers feel they that the fast by the girls may appease the lord and the region has plenty of rainfalls.

Suman and Rukmani Chaudhary, who have not eaten anything since Saturday evening, said they strongly feel that their prayers would be answered.

Shyam Singh, a farmer in the village, said that everyone is confident that the prayers of the these two girls would yield the desired results.

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Vrindavan, 2017.07.19 (VT): The state government of Uttar Pradesh under Yogi Adityanath is preparing to create a Krishna theme park in Mathura along the lines of Disneyland. The park will recreate the different sites of Krishna’s life story, including the jail where Devki and Vasudev were imprisoned, and an artificial Yamuna River.

“Why should pilgrims visit the ancient temples of Vrindavan, when they can visit fake, plastic versions of the exact same places at “Krishna Land”? Why bother cleaning Yamuna Maharani when you can just make an artificial version of the river, put a wall around it, and charge admission?” said Vrindavan resident Raman Bihariji.

Disney’s Epcot Center offers park visitors a taste of different cultures from around the world, but Krishna Land may be the first theme park to offer a taste of a city within that same city. Imagine a New York Land with a lifesize Statue of Liberty, replica Hudson River and Empire State Building… in midtown Manhattan.

Whether or not the park will feature actors in Radha and Krishna costumes on the lines of Mickey and Minnie Mouse remains to be seen.

The project is being decried as frivolous in a place where solid waste managment and sewage treatment systems are almost nil. The state government, however, is moving full speed ahead, hoping to bring more tourists to the area. Officials have reportedly been asked to create a full plan for the project, with construction slated to begin later this year.

Officials say that tourist packages will be offered so that people can stay overnight within the boundaries of “Krishna Land”, enjoying a high level of security and all the comforts of home.

But local residents are skeptical as to whether the park will help or harm the local economy.

“They are making our living tradition into a museum; I am absolutely shocked.” said Ram Das, a resident of Ramanreti. “I do have great hopes for the Yogi government, but this makes me question, are they really thinking of the welfare of Vrindavan and the Brajwasis?”

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Vrindavan, 2017.07.20 (VT): It seems Akhilesh Yadav’s dream project, the Yamuna Riverfront Project in Vrindavan, has now become the dream project of the Yogi governement as well.

But the problem is, the project is running without a DPR (Detailed Project Report). Without a detailed plan, the people of Vrindavan have no idea what the government is really doing to the riverfront, and there is a good possibility the government itself doesn’t either.

This week Vrindavan made news when the Forestry Department refused to plant any new trees in the city, saying that there is no space left for greenery. Meanwhile there is still no sewage or solid waste management system; the municipality sold the town’s only landfill to the local grain market years ago.

A clueless and corrupt approach to development has made disasters like these possible. Unless a DPR is submitted for the riverfront project, we can only expect the it to turn out as poorly as every other government-run project in Vrindavan.

Local citizens are especially concerned that the Riverfront Project’s sheet piling work is lowering the water level in Vrindavan. They have written to the District Magistrate, Divisional Commissioner and the Chief Secretary of the State of UP, alarmed that soon there may not be any ground water available due to the sheet piling along the ghats.

It is shocking that the Yogi government is pushing for the Riverfront Project’s completion without bothering about the DPR. The National Green Tribunal, however, has on multiple occasions insisted that the DPR be submitted before any work on the riverfront is done.

Last Februrary, the previous CM of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, alotted 180 crore rupees for the Yamuna Riverfront Project in Vrindavan. The project was handed over to the Irrigation Department for implementation last June. The rising of the Yamuna River’s water level during the monsoon, as well as several court cases against the project in the Delhi High Court and the NGT, put the work on hold.

Two months ago, on May 18th, the NGT heard the case. They allowed sheet piling on the riverfront. But the court also ruled that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) must be filed by July 13th. According to the NGT’s ruling, the DPR must be approved by the NGT before any further work is done.

The deadline has passed but the Irrigation Department has still not submitted the DPR.

The Superintendent of the Irrigation Department Mr. NC Upadhyay says that he does not know whether the DPR has been prepared or not. He requested us to ask the Executive Engineer.

The Executive Engineer of the Irrigation Department, Mr. Rajnikant Sharma, said that the job of preparing the DPR was allocated to the Jal Nigam (Water Corporation).

On the other hand, Jal Nigam officials say that they have not been paid for preparing the DPR, thus the DPR has not been prepared.

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SRI RADHAKUND (Sakhicharan Das): Radhakund is protected in all four directions by Mahadev. The two most ancient mandirs are Kundeshwar Mahadev and Bankhandi Mahadev. When coming to Radhakund it is best to first stop and offer your obeisances and prayers to Mahadev and seek his permission to enter Radhakund. Kundeshwar Mahadev protects the south side of Radhakund. Bankhandi Mahadev protects the east side. Rameshwar Mahadev protects the west side and the Mahadev shrine adjacent to the Radha Raman Mandir guards the north side. I have attached some photos I took of these four Mahadev temples and told the story from Caitanya Mangal, by Locan Das Thakur about Mahaprabhu entering the village of Ekamraka, which is the place of Shiva and Parvati and is located at Bhubaneshwar. Jai Bholenath!

Gaurahari walking like a ferocious lion eventually arrived at the village of Ekamraka. Shiva and Parvati stay in this village. Gaura’s heart went wild and He ran to see them. Soon Gaura Mahaprabhu found the temple. Great longings filled His heart. He became wild with ecstatic loving emotions. A beautiful flag fluttered on top of the mandir. Seeing the flag on the temple Gaurahari offered obeisances. He got up and continued walking until he was able to enter the temple of Shiva.

In the village of Ekamraka there are ten million Shiva-lingas. The main Shiva-linga is known as Vishveshwar. It is said that the ground of that village looks like sandesa. The waters of all the holy rivers are present in the Maha-bindu sarovar which is there. Many different holy places are also present in that village.

Upon entering the temple, Gaurahari saw Shiva and Parvati. He bowed down before them, and was overcome with prema. Anyone who sees the linga of Shiva and Parvati finds that his troubles are soon broken into pieces. Seeing the linga of Lord Shiva, Gaurahari was overcome with ecstasy. His body trembled, and He was unable to remain peaceful. From His reddish eyes tears flowed nonstop, and the hairs of His body stood on end. Again and again He recited prayers.

Note: Sri Gaurahari then recites prayers that are said to have been composed by Himself to glorify Sri Shiva. The verses are known as Sri Shivastakam—eight verses along with a ninth verse known as the phala-shruti which states the benediction one receives by devotionally reciting these prayers.

Sri Shivashtakam

namo namas te tri-daśeśvarāya
bhūtādi-nāthāyua mṛdāya nityam
gaṅga-taraṅgotthita-bāla-candra-
cūḍāya gaurī-nayanotsavāya

I repeatedly offer my obesisances unto you, controller of the 30 primal devas…unto you, original father of created beings…unto you, whose character is gracious…unto you, whose head is crested by the sickle moon arisen from the waves of the Ganga and unto you, who are a festival for the eyes of the fair Goddess, Sri Gauri.

sutapta-cāmīkara-candra-nīla-padma-
pravālāmbuda-kānti-vastraiḥ
sa nṛtya-raṅgeṣta-vara-pradāya
kaivalya-nāthāya vṛṣa-dhwajāya

I offer my obeisances unto you, who are dressed in garments resembling molten gold, the moon, blue lotuses, coral, and dark rainclouds…unto you, who bestow the most desirable boons on your devotees by means of your delightful dancing…unto you, who are the master of the impersonalists, and unto you, whose flag bears the image of the bull.

sudhāṁśu-sūryāgni-vilocanena
tamo-bhide te jagataḥ śivāya
sahasra-śubhrāṁśu-sahasra-raśmi-
sahasra-sañjit-tvara-tejase ‘stu

I offer my obeisances unto you, who dispel darkness with your three eyes—the moon, the sun, and the fire…unto you, who causes auspiciousness for all the living entities of the universe and unto you, whose potency easily defeats that of thousands of moons and suns.

nāgeśa-ratnojjvala-vigrahāya
śārdūla-carmāṁśuka-divya tejase
sahasra-patropari saṁsthitāya
varāṅgadāmukta-bhuja dvayāya

I offer my obeisances unto you, whose form is brilliantly illuminated by the jewels of Ananta Deva, the king of snakes…unto you, who are clothed by a tiger skin and thus radiate divine effulgence…unto you, who sit upon a lotus of a thousand petals, and unto you, whose two arms are adorned by lustrous bangles.

su-nūpurārañjita-pāda-padma
kṣarat-sudhā-bhṛtya-sukha-pradāya
vicitra-ratnaugha-vibhūṣitāya
premānam evādya harau videhi

I offer my obeisances unto you, who bring happiness to your servitors as you pour on them the liquid nectar of your reddish lotus-feet, which ring with charming ankle bells….Obeisances unto you, who are adorned with an abundance of gems—please endow me today with pure love for Hari!

śrī rāma govinda mukunda śaure
śri kṛṣṇa nārāyana vāsudeva
ity ādi-nāmāmrta-pāna-matta-
bhṛṅgādhipāyākhila-duḥkha-hantre

O Sri Rama! O Govinda! O Mukunda! O Sauri! O Sri Krishna! O Narayana! O Vasudeva! I offer my obesisances unto you, Sri Shiva, who are the monarch of intoxicated bee-like devotees, maddened by drinking the nectar of these and other Holy Names of the Lord. Obeisances unto you, who destroys all grief.

śrī-nāradādyaiḥ satataṁ sugopya-
jijñāsitāyāśu vara-pradaya
tebhyo harer bhakti-sukha-pradāya
śivāya sarva-gurave namo namaḥ

I  offer  my respectful obeisances again and again unto you, who are forever inquired of confidentially by Sri Narada and other sages…unto you, who also grant favors to them very quickly…unto you, who bestows the happiness of Hari bhakti…unto you, who create auspiciousness, and unto you, who are the guru of everyone.

śrī-gaurī-netrotsava-maṅgalāya
tat-prāṇa-nāthāya rasa-pradāya
sadā samutkaṇṭha-govinda-līlā-
gāna-pravīṇāya namo ‘stu tubhyam

I offer my obeisances unto you, who are a festival of auspiciousness for the eyes of goddess Gauri…unto you, who are the monarch of her life-breath…unto you, who are capable of bestowing sacred rapture, and unto you, who are expert in forever singing songs of the lila of Govinda with great longing.

etat śivāsyāṣṭakam adbhutaṁ mahat
śṛṇvan hari-prema labheta śīghram
jñānaṁ ca vijñānam apūrva-vaibhavaṁ
yo bhāva-pūrnaḥ paramaṁ samādaram

A person, filled with loving sentiments, and who listens with rapt attention to this eight-fold prayer to Sri Shiva can quickly gain Sri Hari prem as well as transcendental knowledge, the complete realization of that knowledge and unprecedented powers.

Gaurahari recited these prayers to Shiva. His companions who surrounded Him also recited prayers to Shiva. Then one of the Lord Shiva’s pujaris offered Shiva’s prasada remnants of fragrances, sandal paste, and flower garlands. After offering His obeisances to Lord Shiva, Gaurahari left the temple.

Gaurahari went to the home of a devotee and rested. Later He ate, and slept happily. At dawn, He who is the master of the three worlds arose. Gaurahari then bathed, completed his morning duties, and after offering His obeisances to Shiva, He  departed. Mahaprabhu continued His journey accompanied by His companions. Now I will describe a conversation that took place between two of His associates, Murari Gupta and Damodar Pandit. Please listen carefully to the description of their conversation. Damodara Pandita asked Murari Gupta, why did Gaurahari who is the Supreme Lord accept the prasada of Lord Shiva? Because of a curse by Bhrgu Muni it is said that no one should accept remnants offered to Lord Shiva. Why then did Gaurahari accept them being fully aware of such a curse? Murari said, please hear me. Oh Damodar, how can I know what is in the heart and mind of Mahaprabhu? I can only speak as far as my intelligence allows. If your heart thinks I speak the truth you may accept my words.

Shri Bankhandi Mahadev, Radhakund

A person who serves Lord Shiva but does not honor the prasadi remnants of Shiva does so only because he thinks that Shiva and Krishna are different. The brahman Bhrgu Muni spoke his curse for people with an impure heart that don’t know Shiva’s true glories. However a person who is fully aware that Shiva and Krishna are non-different, and who serves Shiva should certainly honor the prasad of Lord Shiva. Such a person brings great pleasure both to Siva and to Krishna. Shiva is the king of the Vaisnavs. For this reason he should be worshiped. A person who eats Shiva’s prasad is released from the prison of the material world. In truth Gaur was a guest in Shiva’s house. With a joy filled heart Shiva offered Him all hospitality. Please know that Bhrgu Muni’s curse is meant for the non-Vaisnavs. A Vaishnav who honors Lord Shiva brings pleasure to Sri Krishna. Gaurahari descended to this world to instruct the jivas. Damodar Pandit then said, you have destroyed my foolish ideas. Hearing these words everyone’s heart became full of bliss.  In this way Locana dasa narrates Sri Chaitanya dev’s pastimes. This is coming from the madhya-lila of Locan Das Thakur’s book. Similar descriptions can be found in Murari Gupta’s book, Sri Chaitanya Charitra Maha Kavya in the third prakrama of his writing.

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May the birds of Braj, who are so dear to Sri Radha and Krishna, who know Them very well and who increase Their happiness with their sweet singing, delight us with their merciful glance. 

Verse 71:

paricaya rasa magnāḥ kāmamārāt tayor ye
madhuratara rutenollāsam ullāsayanti
vrajabhuvi nava yūnoḥ supriyāḥ pakṣiṇas te
vidadhatu mama saukhyaṁ sphāram ālokanena

Stavāmṛta Kaṇā Vyākhyā: In this verse, Shri Raghunath Das Goswami praises Braj’s birds, who are very dear to Sri Radha and Krishna. Sripad Shuk Muni mentions that the birds of Vrindavan are all sages. In the words of the Vrajdevis, who were endowed with pūrva rāga (first love) he said:

prāyo batāmba vihagā munayo vane’smin
kṛṣṇekṣitaṁ tad uditaṁ kala veṇu gītam
āruhya ye drumabhujān rucira-prabālān
śṛnvanty amīlita-dṛśo vigatānya-vācaḥ

The purport of this verse (Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.21.14) is that one gopa-sundarī told the other – “O mother! Why do Vrindavan’s birds love Krishna so much? Although they live in the woods and fly from branch to branch, they love Sri Krishna with all their hearts! As soon as they see him or hear his flute from a distance they come flying in groups to the nearest tree branches and sit there like sages fixed in samadhi.

“Although there are ripe fruits and green leaves which they could eat if they wanted to, they do not eat them. They simply sit there motionlessly and silently. Some keep their eyes half-closed, while rivulets of tears trickle from their eyes, while others mumble ‘Krishna Krishna’. Therefore I think that they are all sages, and not just sages, but devotee sages (bhāgavata pravara muni) who have flown away from the branches of the wish-yielding tree of the Vedas and have taken shelter of the branches of Vrindavan’s trees, from where they can see Krishna. They love Krishna very much, hence they are immersed in meditation on his lotus feet, sitting in this tree.”

The birds whom Das Goswami praises in this verse are very well acquainted with Sri Radha and Krishna, because they always stay very close to Them. These birds, for example the parrots, awaken the Divine Pair with sweet songs of awakening at night’s end.

vṛndā vipinahi saba dvija kula; kūjaye caudiśe hoi ākula
sāri śuka tahi kokila meli; kapota phukārata alikula keli
mayūra mayūrī dhvani śunite rasāla; bānarī rava tahi ati suviśāla
aichana śabada bhelo vana māha; jāgalo duhuṅ jana nāgarī nāha
ālase duhuṅ tanu duhuṅ nāhi teje; śuti rahalo puna kiśalaya śeje
punahi phukārai śārī sukīra; aichana yaiche sudhārasa gira
kabo balarāma śunabo tahi śravaṇe; rādhā mādhava herabo nayane

“All the birds of Vrindavan are anxiously chirping everywhere. The female and male parrots meet with the cuckoos and sing with the pigeons, while the bees hum. The peacocks and peahens call delightfully and the she-monkeys cry out loud. In this way the forest is filled with natural noises that awaken our hero and heroine, who are both still tired and unable to leaveeach other, and thus lie down again on their bed of fresh flowers. Again the female and fine male parrots make such necterean sounds. When will Balaram das hear these sounds and see Sri Radha and Krishna with his own eyes?

vṛndā vacanahi, uṭhai phukārai, śuka pika śārīka pāṅti
śuni tahi jāgi, puna duhuṅ ghumalo, nāyarī korahi yātī
hari hari jāgaho nāgara kāna!
vara pāmara vihi, kiye dukha deyala, rajanī hoyala avasāna
āolo bāurī, varaja maheśvarī, boloto puna dadhi lola
śunaite kātara, vidagadha nāgara, thora nayana yuga khola
nāgarī heri, punar hi diṭhi mudala, pulaka mukula bharu aṅge
balarāma heri, kabahu sukha sāyare, nimajaba rasa taraṅge

“When Vrinda addresses them, the Shuk, Pika and Sharika birds awaken and start to sing. Hearing this, the Divine Pair awakens and falls asleep again. Krishna takes shelter of the lap of his heroine. ‘Wake up, O hero Krishna! What misery the wretched Creator is giving You! The night is over!’ The monkey named Dadhi-lola says: ‘The crazy old woman (Jatila) has come!’ Hearing this, our clever hero Krishna becomes very distressed and slightly opens his eyes. Seeing his heroine he closes his eyes once again, his skin studded with sprout-like goosebumps.’ Balaram das says: ‘When will I float on billowing waves of ras an ocean of bliss as I witness all this?’”

These birds give boundless bliss to the Divine Pair and Their girlfriends with their messenger-services and their descriptions of Sri Radha and Krishna’s glories, and sometimes the shuk and shari (the parrots and mynah birds) greatly increase the bliss of the Divine Pair and Their girlfriends by choosing Radha or Krishna’s side and making a wonderful loving quarrel amongst each other. Das Goswami says: “May these birds, who are very dear to the Divine Couple, delight me with their merciful glance!”

vṛndāvane pakṣigaṇe, yugalera sannidhāne,
nirantara kore avasthāna
rasa magna sucatura, dhvani kori sumadhura,
kore doṅhāra ānanda vardhana

“Vrindavan’s birds always stay near the Divine Couple, immersed in ras, increasing Their delight by sweetly and cleverly singing,”

sei sab pakṣigaṇe, karuṇa nayāna koṇe,
āmā pāne bāreka tākāo
preme kaṇṭha phulāiyā, rase ḍagamagi hoiyā,
guṇa gābo ei mati dāo

“May all these birds cast one merciful sidelong glance at me and give me the intelligence to sing the glories of the Divine Couple with a voice blossoming with love, immersed in ras.”

800080;”>Devotional songs in Bengali that follow each commentary were composed by Dr. Haripada Sheel.

800080;”>More of Ananta Das Pandit’s writings in English translation can be found at Tarun Govinda’s blog, Vraja Vilasa :: May the birds of Braj delight us appeared first on Vrindavan Today.

Vrindavan, 2017.07.21 (VT): From the Saturday before Hariyali Amavasya, Vrindavan will remain closed to outside traffic.

Five parking areas will be provided on the edge of the town, where pilgrims will be expected to park their cars. Autos and e-rickshaws will be available for hire, to take them into town.

Traffic will be stopped from the Mathura side and Yamuna Expressway, as well as from Chhatikara.

Traffic is expected to be stopped from 8am on Saturday July 22nd, and continue till Wednesday July 26th at 10pm. So far, outside traffic is to be allowed on Monday, making it a four-day traffic ban.

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Agra, 2017.07.21 (Anuja Jaiswall, TNN): With rains still eluding many UP districts, including Mathura and Agra, people are resorting to “totka” and prayers to appease the rain gods.

Ever since last Saturday when two teenaged girls went on an indefinite fast to pray for rains, a virtual race has now started to appease the rain gods.

On Thursday, in village Sujgai in Agra, three daughter of a farmer, Sakhi Sharma, Anjali and Kalpana Tomar, ploughed their field as part of an old age tradition to please rain gods, as its believed this could lead to plenty of rainfall in the region.

Before ploughing their field, they all participated in hawan and even villagers gathered to perform bhajans and keertan.

In Mathura’s Sihora village, a 60 year old, Ram Das Mahant, has also been sitting on fast for past four days. He said that due to scanty rainfall, farmers are worried about their future, as drought could lead to multiple problems for the farmers.

Ram Bahadur, a farmer form the same the village, said that everyone is confident that the prayers of the baba and two girls, Suman and Rukmani, who have been sitting on a fast in Malsarav village of Mathura would yield the desired results.

Monsoon has eluded Agra, Mathura region, while rains have occurred in most parts of south, west and eastern India.

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