VMP Mathura to Madhuvana

[Guest guest]

Today we had the good fortune of visiting Dhruva-tila in the forest of

Madhvana. Yesterday we visited Dhruva ghat, where Dhruva Maharaj was

instructed by his spirtual master Narada muni. Dhruva-tila is the site where

Dhruva Maharaj performed his austerities and had the darsan of Lord Visnu.

 

Narada instructed his disciple, "My dear boy, I therefore wish all good

fortune for you. You should go to the bank of the Yamuna, where there is a

virtuous forest named Madhuvana, and there be purified. Just by going there,

one draws nearer to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who always lives

there." (SB 4.8.42)

 

Narada then gave a vivd description of the Lords transcendental form and

features. "The Lord’s face is perpetually very beautiful and pleasing in

attitude. To the devotees who see Him, He appears never to be displeased,

and He is always prepared to award benedictions to them. His eyes, His

nicely decorated eyebrows, His raised nose and His broad forehead are all

very beautiful. He is more beautiful than all the demigods. The Lord’s form

is always youthful. Every limb and every part of His body is properly

formed, free from defect. His eyes and lips are pinkish like the rising sun.

The Lord is further described as having the mark of Srivatsa, or the sitting

place of the goddess of fortune, and His bodily hue is deep bluish. The Lord

is a person, He wears a garland of flowers, and He is eternally manifest

with four hands, which hold [beginning from the lower left hand] a

conchshell, wheel, club and lotus flower. The entire body of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, is decorated. He wears a valuable jeweled

helmet, necklaces and bracelets, His neck is adorned with the Kaustubha

jewel, and He is dressed in yellow silk garments. The Lord is decorated with

small golden bells around His waist, and His lotus feet are decorated with

golden ankle bells and the jewellike nails of His lotus feet are always

glittering. He is always peaceful, calm and quiet and very pleasing to the

eyes and the mind. The Lord is always smiling, and the devotee should

constantly see the Lord in this form, as He looks very mercifully toward the

devotee." (SB 4.8.45-52)

 

Dhruva Maharaj's determination to achieve Krishna is a fitting example for

us. Dhruva Maharaj was a small 5 year old boy, and similarly we are

spiritually young. But by our determination and patience, and the merciful

instruction of the spiritual master, our goal can be achieved.

 

We heard of Dhruva Maharajs humble prayers on meeting the Lord. "Persons who

worship You simply for the sense gratification of this bag of skin are

certainly influenced by Your illusory energy. In spite of having You, who

are like a desire tree and are the cause of liberation from birth and death,

foolish persons, such as me, desire benedictions from You for sense

gratification, which is available even for those who live in hellish

conditions." (SB 4.9.9)

 

Vrndavan dhama ki jaya!

 

Your servant,

Bhakta Damon.

(Secretary to Lokanath Swami)