VMP Mathura parikrama

[Guest guest]

After mangala arati devotees proceeded to Vishram ghat, and took the

customary bath. Technically, parikrama starts here with this bath and ends

with a final bath at Vishram ghat. Shouts of Jaya Radheeeeeeeeeeeeeshyam

could be heard along with loud splashing. When Lord Caitanya arrived in Vraj

Mandal, He started His pilgrimage at Vishram ghat with a bath. The Caitanya

Caritamrita describes that the Lord took bath at the 24 ghats on the bank of

the Yamuna.

 

Then we began parikrama of Mathura dhama. Yasomatinandan prabhu spoke of the

pastimes to the english speaking devotees and Lokanath Swami gave the hindi

class. When Krishna and Balarama came to Mathura They walked through

different towns and now we were also following in their footsteps on the

same path. We can see the difference between the town that is described in

the Bhagavatam. Where are those glorious palaces surrounded by beautiful

clean lakes with lotus flowers and swans? It was such a nice place that

Krishna and Balarama preferred to walk instead of taking a ride in the

chariot.

 

Krishna and Balarama wanted to dress appropriately in the town for the

upcoming wrestling event, and as is said, 'When in Rome, do as the Romans

do.' When a washerman was not forthcoming in donating his cloth to the

Lords, he had his head chopped off by the lotus hand of the Lord. Being not

far from a tailor shop, Krsna and Balaram, with the help of the tailor had

some custom made cloth for Them. Of course Krishna had picked up some yellow

garments, and Balarama picked up the blueish garments.

 

As They proceeded, They passed by a flower vendor by the name of Sudama.

Sudama rushed forward with freshly made garlands and offered them to the two

Lords with great pleasure. Krishna and Balarama were wearing nicely fitted

cloth and were properly garlanded. What was missing? The sandal wood paste.

And here she comes, Kubja. She made a statement, 'Although I am the official

sandalwood maker for the King Kamsa, You deserve this, not the king.' We

stopped briefly at Kubja's palace, where Krisna came after being

successfully petitioned by Kubja. All her desires were fulfilled.

 

On the way as Krsna and Balaram proceeded towards the wrestling arena, Kamsa

had organised a Danur yajna, worship of the bow that Kamsa had received from

Shiva as a special boon. He was told that only the Supreme Personality of

Godhead would be able to lift and break this bow. Krishna did, and when the

bow broke, the sound filled up the air and Kamsa immediately understood that

the eigth son of Devaki had arrived in town and was just around the corner.

 

Rangeshwara Mahadeva temple where Kamsa used to worship a Siva-lingam. Siva

also plays the role of the protector of Mathura. After taking darsan at the

Krishna Balarama temple at the foothill, devotees climbed another hill in

the middle of the town called Kamsa tila, where the wrestling arena was and

and heard the pastimes of the Lord killing Kamsa and Balarama killed the

eight brothers of Kamsa.

 

Just prior to the wrestling arena is Kolia pitha where one of Kamsa's

elephants, the most powerful elephant in the world, tried to kill our two

Lords. But They played with the gigantic elephant, pulling his tail. Then

They took a tusk each and entered the wrestling arena. Kamsa saw Them both

and thought "Here is Yamaraj personified. Here they come!"

 

The wrestling was not considered to be very fair match, but Kamsa went ahead

with his dirty fight, and when the leading wrestlers were killed by Krishna

and Balarama, the smaller wrestlers fled in fear to the nearest exit they

could find. The background music was creating a festive atmosphere at hte

wrestling arena and after the demons were killed, all the cowherd boys who

had come from Vrndavan, they stepped in and were dancing ecstatically to the

music in celebration with Krsna and Balarama. Kamsa said "Stop this! Stop!"

Krishna turned to Kamsa and immediately Kamsa took the fighting posture and

jumped up out of his throne. He took his sword in right hand and shield in

the left hand and faced the Lord. Krishna dragged Kamsa from his elevated

throne and very easily killed him, almost effortlessly. Then the eight

brothers of Kamsa rushed forward to take their revenge, and Balarama took

good care of them.

 

The audience wasn't sure if Kamsa was dead or if he was just unconscious or

waiting for the opportuntiy to jump up and attack Krishna. To convince them,

Krishna dragged Kamsa around by the hair around the arena and through the

streets of Mathura, thereby comforting His devotees that Kamsa was finished.

All Kamsa's queens were mourning the loss of their husband, plus the loss of

Kamsa's brothers. Krishna also comforted them, and the acaryas write that

Krishna dutifully went over to them and consoled them in their time of

sorrow. Krsna was found shedding tears over the death of His uncle.

 

We visited Dhruva ghat, the meeting place of Dhruva Maharaj and Narada muni,

on a hillock where seven rsi's performed yajnas. In the Adi Varaha purana it

is stated that if one performs any japa, tapasya or puja at Dhruva ghat, one

will receive 100 times the benefit of performing it anywhere else. In the

same purana it is said that whoever takes bath here, will go to Dhruvaloka.

 

Vrndavan dhama ki jaya!

 

Your servant,

Bhakta Damon

(Secretary to Lokanath Swami)