Vraja Mandala Parikrama '97 Update

Lokanatha Swami

Camp: Kokilavana

Please excuse our absence from the conference. The com lines in Vrindavana

are giving everyone a hard time.

Vaisnava calender: Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance day.

On this day, all the parikramis are visiting the ISKCON Krishna Balarama

Mandir in Vrndavana.

Today’s report is by Akiladhara prabhu. He is a disciple of Srila Prabhupada. This is his third Vraja Mandal Parikrama. His report is being

made in the guesthouse lobby of the Krishna Balarama Mandir.

"This 1997 Parikrama is the most nectarine experience in Vrndavana in my life. The parikrama around Govardhana and Radha Kunda was equal to the most intense Krishna conscious experience that ever happened to me which was during the last day of a book distribution marathon with Gunagrahi Swami on Krishna Fest.

Jada Bharat’s guidebook, Vrndavana and Vraja Mandala, enabled me to fully absorb my mind in the pastimes of Lord Krishna, Srimati Radharani, and the rest of the residents of Vrndavana while moving on the parikrama trail. While moving to different places, I was totally absorbed in the mellows of the particular pastimes that took place there. For the first time in my life, I have realization of Srila Prabhupada’s statement of being absorbed in Krishna consciousness for 24 hours. I even began dreaming about these things!

Because of the detailed instructions in the guidebook, I was also able to visit different places which are two minutes down the path, which the party might not stop at because of the time factor. For example, around Radha Kund there are a lot of special places which the party didn’t have time to visit, and which I’ll never forget.

There is a place called Narayana Sarova, which is right off the Radha Kund parikrama path. Lord Siva’s linga is there as the Bankhandi Mahadeva, one of the four protectors of Radha Kund. To get there, there is a little dirt path, with garbage on both sides of it. And just behind it is Narayana Sarova which is a beautiful lake. The forests and agricultural fields all around Narayana Sarova are totally cut off from the hustle and bustle of the Radha Kund crowd. It is a wonderful place to chant japa in the serene atmosphere of the Vrndavana countryside and meditate on the pastimes which took place there.

Lokanath Swami has also greatly helped me in this regard because of his strong desire to absorb our minds in the spiritual reality of Vrndavana. Whenever he is able to visit us on the parikrama, he takes every opportunity to capture our attention and open our eyes to the unique mellows of Vrndavana!

In addition, the sweet simplicity of the vaisnavas and their pure and sincere desire to develop love for Sri Sri Radha and Krishna has enabled me to experience all this, in the midst of the wonderful association of Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual family. So many material attachments, desires and relationships have been left on the ground while flying in this transcendental realm of Vraja Bhumi and replaced with eternal loving spiritual friendships.

This is my third Vraja Mandala parikrama. The first one, in 1987, was a transcendental struggle, but I liked it very much and realized great purification afterwards. The second one, in 1994, was easier. I was able to relish it much more and walked every step barefoot. Each time I do this parikrama, I experience more and more freedom from my material conditioning and the mental suffering that goes with it. My taste for Krishna consciousness increases. This time, in 1997, while I am on the parikrama, the material world appears like a dream and Lord Krishna and His pastimes with His loving associates becomes the actual reality.

I’m eternally indebted to Srila Prabhupada, Lokanath Maharaja, and all the organisers and participants of this voyage into the transcendental rasas which are going on eternally in our spiritual home. Through their mercy, I can get a little peek behind the curtain of the material energy.

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

Lokanath Maharaja ki jaya!

Vrindavana Dhama ki jaya!"

Your servant,

Akhiladhara dasa brahmacari

Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day

November 4, 1997

(Text COM:881357)

Camp: Kamyavana

Kamyavana to Varsana

"I offer my respects to Radharanai, whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the queen of Vrndavana. You are the daughter of king Vrisabhanu, and you are very dear to Lord Krishna."

Varsana is the city capital of King Vrishabhanu, the father of Radharani. This is where Srimati Radharani grew up and had many pastimes with Krishna. We visited Kadamba Kahandi, a beautiful kund is there wath a kadamba tree and a tamala tree intertwined, a Radha Krishna tree.

We visited Narayana Bhata Goswami's samadhi. He was a contemporary of the six Goswamis and established several temples in this area, including Larili Lal temple in Varsana. He compiled Vrajabhaktivilasa, a detailed guide book of Vraja Mandala.

Encircling Varsana like bees hovering around honey are the villages of the eight principal sakhis. On our way we see Sunahara, the home of Sudevi and Rangadevi. Sudevi would lovingly decorate Srimati Radharani's hair and instruct her two green parrots, Suka and Sahika, while Rangadevi's expertise was in painting complicated designs on Her lotus feet. Lalitadevi would dress Srimati Radharani very tastefully. Her village is situated closer to Varsana and we honour prasadam there before entering Varsana.

Sunara(gold)gram refers to Lord Brahma's fair complexion. In this village he performed extensive austerities to have darsan of Lord Krsna's pastimes. As a result of pleasing the Lord he appeared as Varsana, in the form of hills.

Srimati Radharani's kindness suffuses the dust that blows over the rural footpaths and as we approach Her land the walk tastes sweeter and sweeter. Skipping along through the plains of Vraja the younger Vaisnavas performing Vraja Mandala Parikrama relish the enchanting pastimes of the Lord. Such is the intriguing nature of this land that even children of five and six years old enthusiastically undergo the austerities of parikrama life, completely absorbed in pleasing the Lord. Their spontaneous desire to hear about the places we visit steeps the devotees in a well of everfresh enthusiasm. In reciprocal affection the vaisnavas shower the eager children with care and attention.

Following Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundara's kirtana party we take a right turn, over a thorny patch and up a very rocky knoll and steep, steep steps to Chitra sila. What a beautiful sight! In amazement, the pilgrims cluster around the intricate leaf patterns of Srimati Radharani's veil imprinted in the smooth rock. Here, Radha and Krsna were secretly meeting but when they heard some friends approaching, Srimati Radharani fled in shame. Her veil was left behind and touched by the cloth, the rock melted and the veil's embroidered design remained impressed in it. The transcendental cowherd friends would perform Holika here and the liquid vermillion highlighting Radharani's veil remains after five thousand years. The surrounding area is known as Sakh Giri Parvat beacause all the intimate friends of Vraja's queen would play together, in the surroundings. If one looks carefully as he hunts for Krsna on the mountain top he may be blessed with the sight of the gopis' lotus foot prints and the etchings they would make in the rock.

YS

Lokanath Swami

(Text COM:881393)

Camp: Shergarh

DAY 22

SESASAYI TO SHERGARH

Morning mist shrouds the land with mystry. "Jay Radhe!", the village children call as they wave us out of sight. We file along an 11km trail on the bank of an irrigation canal and enjoy the gentle touch of rich Vrndavana soil. As we pass sugarcane fields the workers offer us sticks of juicy sugarcane. The western devotees learn from the expert indian pilgrims how to peel the cane, without a knife. Prying the tough green skin between their teeth they pull it back, in strips. For some, it is a harduous task. It reminds us of material life so much extravagant efforts to obtain a fleeting drop of nectar. The devotees crunch the sweet cane fibres, spitting them out by the roadside. One devotee carries a bundle of five foot long sticks, distributing pieces to whomever desires more.

At the junction where the parikrama turns left for another 11 km to Shergarh, flat rice and yogurt prasadam is served. Fresh clear drinking water is drawn from the well. Villagers surround us waiting to be served after we have eaten.

It is another world out here. A land rich in simplicity. Every minute of the twenty two kilometre walk remains vivid with memory of the breathtaking paysage, the harmony of man and beast, the thorns, slendid sunshine, the birds, the peacocks. When Krsna would dance the peacocks would lovingly offer him their divine feathers.In reciprocation Krsna would accept these presentations and place them atop his head.

Vraja Mandala Parikrama is the crown educational system. At every moment we learn about how to deal with devotees, how to associate with each other assist and serve each other. only appreciate the vaisnavas' qualities, avoid vaisnava aparadha. Not only is this education theoretical but it becomes incorporated into one's life: how to respect the inhabitants of the Holy Dhama, how to enthusiastically pay hommage to every aspect of Vraja the forests, the kundas, the deities, the trees. We have darshan of the deity, hear the history, perform the austerities and preach. This is Krsna consciousness! And its blissful! This is the most effective preaching preaching to our mind...becoming free from the dictates of lust, anger and greed...becoming more purified...more austere...more sober...developing some feeling, some love for Krsna; becoming more potent preachers. One month of deep reflection and preaching to ourselves so that we can absorb the Vraja spirit and distribute it throughout the world.

We have been "on the road" for over three weeks! At every step the devotees have been praying to Srimati Radharani for some change in their lives. How much she has reciprocated! No other single event in any of the devotees' experience has marked them as deeply as this parikrama.

The tarred road makes a left turn into the village of shergarh. Our residence is a large school, so there is plenty of room for eeveryone to make theselves comfortable. No sooner than we arrive than the more eenergetic amongst us gather around the well to wash laundry. Nylon lines are attached between the trees and soon wet laundry is flapping in the wind. Groups takee their buckets and gamchas to bathe in the kunda behindthe school. This is a real Vrajabasi life.

In his Vraja Bhakti Vilas Narayana Bhatta Goswami describes various places in Shergarh. If one takes bath in Baladeva sarovara where the demigods performed an abhiseka for Lord Balarama, he states, his life will be very long. In Vrajahilgiri Radharani serves Krsna ladoos, which he shares with the gopis. Vakhyavana is the grave where Krsna spoke sweet words to the gopas. If one is either deaf or dumb and resides in the place for three months he will be cured.

While residing in Dvarka, Lord Balarama, feeling intense separation from His parents and the other Vrajabasis came to Vrindavana to console them. During his two month visit He not only pacified the older Vrajabasis but also pleased the sakhas and charmed the gopis. It is in Ramghata very nearby that He performed many pastimes during this time. Tomorrow we will visit Rama ghata .

After Damodarastaka we chant the glories of Vraja: "All glories, all glories to Ramaghata where Lord Balarama performed His rasa dance. All glories to Lord Balarama, the son of Rohini. All glories to all the residents of Vrindavana." (Sri Vrajadhama mahimamrta 7).

YS

Lokanath Swami

(Text COM:892387)

Vraja Mandala Parikrama '97 Update

Camp: Brahmanda Ghat

Please forgive us for not sending all reports. We have had difficulties

getting on com here in Vrndavana.

Brahmanda ghat is part of Nanda Maharaja's courtyard where the children would come to play. Here Krishna was accused of eating dirt. All His cowherd friends complained about this to Mother Yasoda, who forced Him to open His mouth to verify their accusations. The Lord showed her how much dirt He really contains wihtin His mouth and showed Mother Yasoda the entire universe (brahmanda) including herself peering into her little son's mouth. Vendours along the river bank and roadside sell flattened balls (pera) of Brahmandaghat dust and necklaces strung of beads of its clay. They come up, clustering around the devotees trying to convince them to buy the light brown dust.

A wide flight of steps lead down to the refreshingly clean Yamuna waters. She is deep and her waters glide past swiftly. Srila Rupa Gosvami, in his Sri Yamunaastakam prays,"Yamunadevi is an intimate witness to all Krishna's wonderful activities, and her shimmering beauty outshines and humbles the dazzling aura of a precious blue sapphire... She inspires spontaneous devotion and attraction in the hearts of the Vaisnavas who bathe in her waters. Hundreds and thousands of elegant white swans glide along Yamunadevi's waters, their shrill cries echoing on her curved shores, chargng the atmosphere with great festivity. Yamunadevi is lovingly worshipped by demigods, Gandharvas, and humans steeped in devotion to Lord Hari. Anyone who is touched by her gentle breezes is released from the cycle of birth and death. May that daughter of Surya, Yamunadevi, forever purify me." Submerged, waist deep, the devotees chant their sacred Gayatri mantra. The scene reminds one of Srila Prabhupada's potent preaching. It overwhelms one with deep admiration for him. In the classic film clip, Prabhupada took bath here with the devotees, dunking up and down three times.

Sri Sri Nitai Gaura Sundara are worshiped in a small room overlooking the Yamuna's beautiful waters. We all squeeze into the room, at Their lotus feet and share our realisations of Vraja Mandala Parikrama. Appreciation of our month of close association, service to each other, the dhama, the feelings the parikrama has invoked within the core of our hearts, the determination it has awakened within our minds, our thoughts on all aspects of parikrama life, we share with the assembled Vaisnavas.

All the devotees relished the parikrama as a spiritually intense experience. Just as impurities in butter rise when it is heated all one's impurities quickly come to the surface on parikrama. Srimati Radharani holds her transcendental looking glass before us and we are faced with the stark reality of our positions. One devotee speaks, "Vraja Mandala Parikrama is a perfect test for one's spiritual health, As in the pure atmosphere of the dhama, our impurities and anarthas stand out like black spots on a white sheet. Because in the dhama we are surrounded entirely by Krishna, any dirt of material desire or infection of the modes of material nature become clearly apparent. Out here we see clearly how far we have to go in spiritual life and how miniscule and tiny our own realization of Krishna is. We also get a glimpse of true gosvami life and how far we are from it. Yet, this is all encouraging; it increases our desire for purification so that one day we may reside in Vrindavana Dhama."

From Kamsa's prison in Mathura, Vasudeva carried Krsna, across the Yamuna to Kolo ghat on this side, then brought Him to Nanda Maharaja's palace. There during the first years of His life Krsna brought much joy to the residents of Gokula. In Maharaja Nanda's courtyard He killed many demons, played with His friends and calves and fed the monkeys. Here He would lie in His mothers lap sucking one breast and carressing the other....His mother would also carress Him with her fingers. When the gopis would ask Krsna to find His eyes, ears, nose, or tuft of hair, He would point with His little finger and give them great pleasure. When Krsna would cry the gopis would kiss Him and embracing Him to their breasts, would look into His beautiful eyes." (Bhakti Ratnakar 5th wave.)

YS

Lokanath Swami

(Text COM:898639)

Camp: Raval

This is the last installment of the Vraja Mandala Parikrama '97 update. Thank you for listening. Please forgive the gaps in our reporting. We had a transcendental computer breakdown over the phone lines of Vraja Mandala. On the outskirts of Gokula we stop at the local Gaudiya Math temple. Here we offer respects to the beautiful and opulently worshiped deities of Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda. Lord Caitanya stands by Their side. On an altar to Their left are lovely deities of Nanda, Yasoda, Krishna and Balarama. Krishna in His form of Bala Gopala has a bright, mischievous smile. We are warmly welcomed and the pujari places Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundara on the altar, and offers Them arati and milk sweets. The kirtana is touching.

On our way to Raval we meet modern roads, hooters and fumes. Lord Caitanya's and Raghava Pandita's parikrama must have walked through quite a different setting on their way from Gokula to Raval, Radharani's birthplace, is tucked away in a pleasant and lonely place on the banks of the Yamuna, and we cross many thorny patches to get there. There is always a higher price to pay for the sweetest mercy. "In the city of Mukyervali the precious jewel known as Srimati Radharani took birth in the mine of Kirtida devi's womb, which is glorified by jubilant demigods, sages, ad human beings. I pray that when I enter King Vrsabanu's capital city of Mukhyeravalipura, populated with many gopas, gopis and surabhi cows, I may become drowned in a great flood of transcendental bliss and love." (Vrajavilasstava)

Srimati Radharani's birthplace, where she appeared on a golden lotus, is very special. Brsabanu and Kirtida, after ten thousand years of performing great austerities as Suchandro and Kalavati, were blessed by Lord Brahma and received the Queen of the goddesses of fortune as their daughter. Radharani's appearance in Vrsabhanu's temple was a moment of great rejoicing. "Sri Radha vanquished the sighs and depressions of everyone. Her body was as soft as milk cream and she was beautifully shaped. Seeing Her beauty, Her parents could not control their excitement and repeatedly looked at her moon like face. The world was reverberant with a glorious sound , and the gopis, accompanied by musical instruments, sang the Mangala Gita." (Bhakti Ratnakar 5th wave)

"In fact, Radharani is the internal potency of Sri Krshna, and She eternally intensifes the pleasure of Sri Krisna. Impersonalists cannot understand this without the help of a maha bhagavata devotee. The very name Radha suggests that She is eternally the topmost mistress for the comforts of Sri Krishna. Devotees in Vrindavan therefore seek the mercy of Srimati Radharani in order to be recognised as loving servitors of Sri Krishna..."(Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi lila 4.56 ppt)

When Lord Caitanya arrived in Raval He became ouerwhelmed with spiritual joy and seeing Him, people came from all directions, chanting the holy names. After spending some time here, Lord Caitanya proceeded to Mathura. When Raghava Pandit's parikrama party come to Raval they felt great love for Srimati Radharani. They spent all night, here, discussing the Lord's pastimes.

There is a temple of Lardlilal (RadhaKrsna) here. Sitting in the small temple room listening to Srimati Radharani's glories we are steeped in thought of Her causeless mercy. "O Queen of Vrindavana, Sri Radha, I worship you, Your fair complexion is more resplendent than molten gold, the colour of Your sari the hue of a blue lotus flower...Even the beautiful lotus in full bloom or the rising full moon offers no comparison to Your breathtaking face, for it is much more exquisite...The arches of your elegant eyebrows put to shame cupid's bow. Your cascading black tresses sway and the dark mascara on Your roving eyes makes them look like restless black partridges. Your fine nose is decorated by a ring studded with the noblest pearl, and Your lips are more charing than bright red tulips. Your sparkling, even teeth are like rows of spotlessly white jasmine buds...O Srimati Radha! Among all the beloved gopis You are the cherished jewel. Therefore, kindly be pleased with me..." (Catupuspanjali by

Rupa Gosvami)

Breakfast prasad is sumptuous. We sit in rows beneath the trees that shade the once gorgeously decorated gardens of Raval. A soft breeze is blowing. Local villagers greet us with an enthusiatic "Jaya Radhe". "Jaya Radhe", we echo in chorus.

A three kilometre walk along thorny paths bordering the Yamuna leads us back to Mathura. The Yamuna's sands sparkle like jewels. "Yamunadevi's charm is further increased by the lowing of the Surabhi cows that graze on her beautiful banks. The Kadamba trees lining her shores intoxicate and exhilarate her with their heady perfume, and she experiences her greatest ecstasy when Krishna's devotees assemble on her banks. May that Yamunadevi, daughter of the sungod, always purify me." We sit on her shores to wait for all the devotees to catch up with the main kirtana party.

We see the city of Mathura rise from the plains of Vraja like some ancient medieval kingdom. We've made it! One hundred and sixty eight miles in thirty days. A tremendous feeling of accomplishment and exhilartion rises in our hearts. Our Vraja Mandala Parikrama is almost over and our walk on the path back home, back to Godhead, has just been shortened. A tall bridge leads us across the Yamuna back to Mathura, where we take our final bath at Vishram Ghata. The kirtana reverberates through the crowded backstreets of the city. . Despite separation from Vraja and the devotees we may always be united in our desire to fulfill Srila Prabhupada's mission. Our eagerness to search for Krishna in our service to him is awakened.

Finally the party returned to Visrama Ghat and took a holy dip in the Jamuna there. We thanked Srimati Radharani by whose grace devotees had an easy journey through Vraja. Submerged in the cool green water the devotees reminisce about their uniquely wonderful experience. "By tasting a single drop of the memory of the transcendental ocean of sweetness of the divine couple my heart has become restless. I bow down before the land and people of Vraja. I yearn to see my two masters." (Vraja vilasstava 3)

With a heavy heart, some devotees were feeling transcendental emotions, separation and regret at the finish of the yatra. Prabhupada’s family that prayed together and stayed together day and night for a month had to split and go their separate ways. At the same time, they all looked rejuvenated and ready to return to their services in different parts of the world.

Thank you for reading these accounts from our Vraja Mandala Parikrama. I was suprised with the overwhelming response of appreciation from just a few grains of nectar dust from Vraja Mandala that I sprinkled in your direction. I wish I could have done more in this regard. There is always next time. I look forward to speaking to you during next year’s 12th annual Vraja Mandala Parikrama. I would prefer to speak to you face to face in the land of Krishna during that Kartik period. Otherwise, we will continue more of what we did this year. Please remind me in case I forget. Offering our obeisances in the dust of the lotus feet of the devotees again and again, we pray to always remember the nectar of Vraja Mandala Parikrama. Your servant,

Lokanath Swami

Please note our new address:

Lokanath Swami

Prabhupada House

B40, Sector 56

Noida 201301

U.P. India

Phone: 0091(0)118545861 (temporary)

email: Lokanatha.swami@com.bbt.se

(Text COM:902614)

Maha Vishnu Goswami

Tridandi Sannyasi

ISKCON Shree Shree Radha Shyamasundar Mandir

Bharatiya Bhavan, Devi Bhavan Road

Dwarka 361335 Gujarat India

Tel: 91 2892 34606

Email mahavish@cyberway.com.sg