Vraja Mandal Parikrama. Part 6.

[Guest guest]

Dear Maharajas and Prabhus

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

Day 11. Parikrama of Badrinath. Today we were joined by HH Mahavisnu

Goswami and HG Deena Bandhu Prabhu. On route, we visited the Haridwar, Har

Ki Puri, Rishikesh and Laxman Jhula of Vraja Dhama. We had our Srimad

Bhagavatam class on the foothills of Badrinath.

 

HH Lokanath Swami:

"Lord Krsna never leaves Vraja, nor does He like His devotees to leave. He

brought the Ganga here - Manasi Ganga. In Radhakund He invited all the holy

rivers. Similarly, when Nanda Maharaja wanted to go on pilgrimage to

Badrinath in the Himilayas, the Lord brought all the residents of Vraja to

this place, which is non different from Badrinath. Actually, this is the

original Badrinath. All the holy tirthas in the universe reside in Vraja

Dhama. Sometimes, we refer to these combined radio and cassette players as

"2 in 1". This Vraja Dhama is "All in One". All the sacred rivers and

places, all the incarnations of the Lord, are all in this holy dhama."

 

We also visited the village of Gantholi. It was here that the gopis in a

playful mood, tied together with a knot (Ganth) the sari of Radharani and

the top cloth of Krsna. Also, here 500 years ago Lord Caitanya got

darshana of the Gopal deity. Initially, this deity was installed on

Goverdhana hill. Lord Caitanya would not step on the hill. Therefore, by

transcendental arrangement a rumor started that Turkish soldiers were

heading in the direction of Goverdhana. Gopala's priests took the Him to

Gantholi for protection.

 

Day 12. Badrinath to Kedarnath. The Kedarnath temple is situated on the

top of a hill. In order to go to the temple, we had to climb up more than

300 steps.

 

HH Mahavisnu Goswami:

"We are all very fortunate to be allowed to come to the dhama. Ambarish

Maharaja says that the success of the feet is being allowed to use them in

going to the different temples of the Lord. If they are not used like this

they are as valuable as bamboo sticks.

 

"We worship this Vraja Bhumi because the Lord performed His pastimes here.

His footprints are everywhere in this land. There is not one grain of dust

here which has not been touched by His feet."

 

********************************************************

Your servant,

Ekanath dasa