Day 1 Vraja Mandala Parikrama Begins

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Day 1

 

13th Annual Vraja Mandala Parikrama Begins!

 

Sunday, October 24, 1999, Vrndavana Dhama

 

This morning at 6 am, approximately 225 devotees left the ISKCON Krishna

Balarama Temple for a parikrama (circumambulation) of the holy town of

Vrndavana. The devotees are from all over the world including Russians,

Padayatries from India and elsewhere, Mexicans, and 80 devotees from Bombay.

Chanting the holy names and most walking in bare feet, the devotees appeared

jubilant, while smiling and briskly walking along the soft dusty pathway of

the sacred Vrndavana Parikrama Marg (path).

 

Leaders of the party include H.H.Kavichandra Swami, H.H. Subhag Swami, H.H.

Hanumat Prasak Swami, Lokanath Swami, H.G. Dadhi Baksa prabhu, H.G. Badra

Prabhu, and H.G. Radha Raman Prahhu.

 

The party walked along the bank of the breathtakingly gorgeous Jamuna river

and stoped at the Kaliya Ghat, where Krishna jumped off the tree into the

Jamuna to fight and vanquish the Kaliya Serpant. To the delight of all the

devotees, the tree is still there and accepts worship and prayers from

devotees who pay obeisances and embrace such a desire fulfilling tree.

Madan Mohan Temple was the next stop. Then the party visited Imli Tala, the

place where Lord Caitanya would go to chant japa under a tamarind tree

until noon. There is a beautiful temple with Radha Krishna Deities

installed by H.D.G. Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaja. There are

also big Gaura Nitai Deities originally worshiped at Radha Madan Mohan

Temple by Sanatana Goswami there.

 

The last stop of the day was Mahaprabhu Baitak, the sitting place of Lord

Caitanya, under a banyan tree where Lord Caitanya would stop and chant

japa on his way back to Akrura Ghat after visiting Imli Tala.

 

The party returned at 9:15 am and took prasadam with the Krishna Balarama

Mandir Devotees. There was an istagoshti in the afternoon to discuss the

upcoming 1 month Parikrama of the holy land of Vraja.

 

Vraja Mandala Parikrama ki jaya!

 

Tommorow: Mathura Parikrama.