VMP Govardhana puja; Barsana to Nandagoan

[Guest guest]

Deena Bandhu prabhu honoured the parikrama party today by attending the

Govardhana celebrations during our stay in Barsana. He oversaw the making of

Govardhana Hill, which tuned out to be over three metres long and

beautifully decorated with dolls, paper cows and all varieties of sweets.

A meter-high form of Krsna, brightly dressed and made of cow dung, rested on

the hill. It was made by Parasurama’s sister, who has made cow-dung Krsnas

on Vrindavana parikrama for the last several years.

 

Barsana is the capital city of King Vrshabhanu, the father of Srimati

Radharani. In this area are four hills. Tha padma purana states that Lord

Brahma wanted to do some service for Krsna, and so he incarnated as these

four hills. On top of one of the hills, majestically overlooking the town is

the Ladalila Mandir, the main temple of Varsana. It is said that on the very

same spot was the palace of King Vrshabhanu.

 

"Varsana’s beauty is inspiring. There is no Swiss cable car yet to attract

tourists, only hand-carried palanquins bringing pilgrims up and down the

hill. A big crowd was taking shelter of the lotus feet of Radharani the day

I was there. The views from the top of the high, high hill made me dizzy as

I sat on the edge of a wall to chant evening gayatri. The next morning we

walked eight kilometers to Nandagram. As we approached, we eventually saw

Nanda Maharaja’s palace on the hill in the distance. Once we got their, I

watched the mischievous monkeys steal shoes and trade them for bananas."

Tattvavit Dasa (USA)

 

This entire area has a special attraction for the Vaisnavas. Nanda Maharaj

moved his family here after being disturbed by all the demons that were

attacking his family. Krsna lived here from the age of 6 years 8 months,

until the age of ten years. Radhaarani, Krsna, the gopis and the gopas spent

alot of time between Varsana and Nandagram. Radharani went from Varsana to

Nandagram everyday to cook for Krsna.

 

"Sometimes Radhika checked if the fire was burning well, sometimes She added

wood to the fire, and sometimes She lifted the lid to see if it was cooking

nicely and stirred the preparation, making Her belly, breast and arm vibrate

along with Her garments. Acyuta came from his room and looked through the

window of the kitchen to relish the sweetness of this scene with His eyes.

Intoxcated by desire, He said something to Madhumangala, just to attract

Radhika with the sound of His voice. When this very sweet sound entered the

cups of Sri Radhika's ears, it forcibly took Her mind off Her cooking. But

nevertheless, She managed to cook very nicely. The sakhis, being eager to

hear Krishna's ascertainment of a meeting place with Priyaji, walked here

and there in His vicinity, casting sly, meaningful glances at Him. Krishna,

knowing that the time was right, clearly expressed His desires to them."

(Visvanatha Cakravrti's 'Krishna Bhavanamrita Mahakavya.')

 

 

THE PARIKRAMA EXPERIENCE

 

"I have learned to appreciate that simple living is the real way to live. I

would to try and make my life more simple. Normally we are so complicated,

but on parikrama there is only Krsna."

Bhakta Josh (USA)

 

"It's ceratinly an austerity, but when you're together with the devotees all

the time, you develope a bond and because you are all performing the

austerities it's not so bad. I don't know how I have come this far, but

there is such a sweet taste that is unequalled. Vraja enters your heart in

the form of dust taken in through the mouth, ears and nose. You don't get it

from just visiting for one or two days. It's an all or nothing affair."

Vaidarbhi dd (USA)

 

"Parikrama has taught me a lot about the need for association. I even tried

to sleep apart from the devotees one night, but I just felt lonely. On

parikrama you learn that other devotees are what helps you."

Yudhishtira das (USA)

 

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Adi-kesava das: The devotees are asking one question. They're

wanting to know how it was that even though there is so much distance

between, let's say, Govardhana and Radha kund and Vrndavan Nandagram and

Varsanan, how it was that still Krsna and Radha could go and meet, and the

cowherd boys could go and meet at these various places? They could go such

great distances.

Prabhupada: That is distance for you, not for them. Just like a

small ant. It goes from here to here. It is a great distance for him, three

hundred miles, but for you, one step. Why do you study Krsna like you? Why

do you think that Krsna was like you? Avajananti mam mudha manuñéà tanum

ashritam [bg.9.11]. Krsna can do anything, so His associates.

(April 2, 1976, Vrndavana)

 

Your servant,

Bhakta Damon

(Secretary to Lokanath Swami)