Visiting Vrindavan
Consciousness
Vrindavan is a state of consciousness, what conciousness ? We need to have Krishna Consciousness.
What is Krishna Consciousness ? It is a state of being that is filled with “Love” For The Lord of Vraja.
Krishna of Vraja
Who is the Lord of Vraja? It is Vraja Lala, Nanda Yashoda Suta(Son of Nanda and Mother Yashoda).
This Love is never, not for a moment filled with awe and reverence. It is not “God fearing” or “God the order fullfiller” it is “God Loving”.
Most people do not get this, maybe that is all-right in other Godly places, not in Vraja.
Vraja Vasis(inhabitants) what “nothing” i repeat, want “nothing” from their Lala. They will only give Him. It is not that Krishna of Vraja does not want to give Vraja Vasis things, no !, He is sold out to them, but then they do not want anything, please understand THEY WANT NOTHING FROM HIM ! They want to just see Him happy ! If He is pleased, they are pleased, that is all.
This is very different, is it not!
Aindra Prabhu Explains
Aindra Prabhu Explains in these three lectures, how to cultivate Vraja Prema. At leat spend some time and listen please, before going to Vraja.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Visting Vraja
Dealing with Pandas, Priests and Pujaris
Remember even the trees, dogs and moneys of Vraja are special. What to speak of human beings.
Temples used to be maintained by rich kings and other rich patrons. Most temples are not in control of Brahmanas any more, many of them are under government control.
If we can give something or some Laxmi(money), for seva, do so, if not be humble and say so. Remember the only revolution we need, is to make ourselves Krishna Concious. Remember hypothetically speaking, if these people who are very intelligent, left the service of temples and went on to earn money, temples would be empty.
Remember we are not the controller, Krishna is, if we do not/can not do seva by giving Laxmi(money), Krishna will send others to do seva. Seva will go on regardless of us.
All are happy in Vraja
Vrindavan ISKCON temple
This is a divine gift to us, from His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. Also Prabhupada is present here, just visit his samadhi or his rooms and get His divine mercy by chanting The Maha Mantra here Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Prabhupada Samadhi :
ISKCON :
Vrindavan seven temples and Gopeshwar Mahadev
Just go to the Seven temples and Gopeshwar Mahadev, by foot if possible. If not take an electric rickshaw.
Make sure we negotiate the exact money before hand so as to not offend the rickshaw wala. They are not rich people, if we can be generous, it is nice.
Start With Gopeshwar Mahadev temple if possible.
Gopeshwar Mahadev
Seven temples
Video 1
Video 2
Gopeshewar Mahadev
Barasana(Varasana)
This is Radharani’s place. We can get cars from Krishna Balaram Temple to go here.
Barasana
HH Indradyumna Swami Maharaj Video
ISKCON Desire Tree
Nanda Gaon
This is Krishna’s place. We can get cars from Krishna Balaram Temple to go here.
Nanda Gaon
Video
Sri Vrinda Kund
This is near Nand Gaon, no seperate car needed.
This is the place of Srimati Vrinda Devi. It is a place where all leelas are planned. She has a lot of parrots to help her.
Site
HH Indradyumna Swami Maharaj Video
Sri Ter Kadamba
This is near Nand Gaon, no seperate car needed.
This is the pace The Lord Calls his cows from in th evening time
HH Indradyumna Swami Maharaj Video
HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj Video
Sri Giriraj Govardhan
We can get cars from Krishna Balaram Temple to go here.
Govardhan is the best devotee of the Lord. The Gopis confirm this.
https://www.vedabase.com/en/sb/10/21/18
Translation and purport By HDG Srila Prabhpada
SB 10.21.18
hantāyam adrir abalā hari-dāsa-varyo
yad rāma-kṛṣṇa-caraṇa-sparaśa-pramodaḥ
mānaṁ tanoti saha-go-gaṇayos tayor yat
pānīya-sūyavasa-kandara-kandamūlaiḥ
Synonyms:
hanta — oh; ayam — this; adriḥ — hill; abalāḥ — O friends; hari-dāsa-varyaḥ — the best among the servants of the Lord; yat — because; rāma-kṛṣṇa-caraṇa — of the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; sparaśa — by the touch; pramodaḥ — jubilant; mānam — respect; tanoti — offers; saha — with; go-gaṇayoḥ — the cows, calves and cowherd boys; tayoḥ — to Them (Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma); yat — because; pānīya — with drinking water; sūyavasa — very soft grass; kandara — caves; kanda-mūlaiḥ — and edible roots.
Translation:
Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O my friends, this hill supplies Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, 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 Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant.
Purport:
This translation is quoted from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 18.34).
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains the opulence of Govardhana Hill as follows: Pānīya refers to the fragrant, cool water from the Govardhana waterfalls, which Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma drink and use to wash Their feet and mouths. Govardhana also offers other beverages, such as honey, mango juice and pīlu juice. Sūyavasa indicates dūrvā grass, used to make the religious offering of arghya. Govardhana also has grass that is fragrant, soft and conducive to the strong growth of cows and increased production of milk. Thus this grass is used for feeding the transcendental herds. Kandara refers to the caves where Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma and Their friends play, sit and lie down. These caves give pleasure when the weather is too hot or too cold, or when it is raining. Govardhana also features soft roots for eating, jewels for ornamenting the body, flat places for sitting, and lamps and mirrors in the form of smooth stones, glistening water and other natural substances.
Do not go to Govardhan before we read here, A Class by HH Giriraj Swami Maharaj
http://www.backtogodhead.in/the-glories-of-govardhana-hill-the-best-servant-of-lord-hari/
Govardhan
HH Indradyumna Swami Maharaj Video
HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj Video
Sri Radha Kund
This is on the Govardhan Parikrama Marg, So no seperate car needed.
This Kunda is the liquid form of Srimati Radharani. What more can we say. Chant Some intense rounds here.
Radha Kund
Please hear HG Aindra Prabhu Kirtan from here
Youtube Video
Kusum Sarovar
This is on the Govardhan Parikrama Marg, So no seperate car needed.
“Once Narada approached Siva for an explanation of Rasalila. Lord Shiva gave Narada a mantra and asked him to go to Brahma Kund and worship Vrinda devi. When worshiped by Narada, Vrinda devi instructed him to meditate upon Krishna and Krishna’s Vrindavan pastimes. Narada went to Narada Kund and performed his tapasya by which Vrinda devi appeared and asked him to take bath in the north-west side of Kusum Sarovar. Upon doing so, Narada became Naradi Gopi. Later, when he again took bath, he became Narada muni. Narada then returned to Narada Kund to write Narada Bhakti Sutras.”
This is a place we can relax and have intense chanting.
About
Video
HH Radhanath Swami Video
ISKCON 24 hour Kirtan
Please see if we can attend the 24 hour Kirtan.
Conclusion
There is so much more to Vraja than this post can show but this is just a glimse compiled for my dear sister Lali(Sheetal Jani).