Gaura purnima,Vasantotsava and Holi

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Dear Vaisnavas

PAMHO

AGTSP

Gaura purnima is a holy day in a few more ways than most devotees know.

Lord Caitanyas birth is the most auspiscious event,and has been celebrated

since Mahaprabhu left this planet.

One interesting event that happened on one of the forst Gaura purnima

celebrations was when the devotee Hrdaya Caitanya invited many vaisnavas

without the knowledge of his Guru,Gauri das Pandita.That was for the Gaura

Purnima festival,and Gauridas Pandita had these wonderfull deities

of Gaura Nitai.They are still there in Ambika KAlana,not so far from

NAvadvipa.There is a special story in this connection but that can be told at

another time.Gauridas PAndita was a bit disturbed his disciple had invited so

many vaisnavas without his permission.Anyhow on Gaurapurnima day,Hrday

Caitanya and other devotees where dancing at the bank of the Ganga in ecstatic

Kirtana.And Gaura Nitai left the alter to join the fun.So Gauri Das Pandita

noticed that the deities where missing

and went to the Ganges with a stick to bring the naughty brothers back to

the temple.When Gaura- Nitai saw the angry GAuridas PAndita they hid in the

heart of Hrdaya Caitanya,that is how he got this name.GAuridas Pandita told

the two brothers to get back into the temple at once,and accept all the food

that had been offered for the Gaura Purnima festival.

 

Vasantotsava: is described in the Haribhakti Vilasa

"On the fullmoon day of the month of phalguna,one should ,accompanied by other

Vaisnavas, celebrate a festival to worship Lord Krsna's dear devotee

Vasanta(springtime)".Sanatana Goswami has stated about this:

"Because he eternally stays in Vrindavana,the spring season is a dear devotee

of Lord Krsna.That is why a festival should be observed to worship the

spring."

Note:at Radha kunda there is some gardens where all the seasons are eternally

manifest at all times.Krsna is in favor of spring ,and declares of the seasons

He is the flowerbearing spring.Bhagavad Gita 10.35,Srila Prabhupada remarks

there in the purport:"In spring there are also many cermonies commemorating

Krsna's pastimes,therfore this is considered to be the most joyful of all

seasons,and it is the representative of the Supreme Lord ,Krsna."

 

One of these festival pastimes that take place on Gaurapurnima day is the Holi

festival of Radha and Krsna.Actually there in Mayapure everyone

throws dyes on each other,commemorating this pastime.Everyone that has been

there remebers it clearly,all the pink dye.And in Vrindavana as

well.Especially at Varshana and Nandagrama it is like a little war in dye.Very

funny.I will later narrate some of the pastimes on holi performed by Radha and

Krsna.

 

Your servant

Payonidhi das