Vrndavana parikrama 2005 - part 3

[Guest guest]

Next we went to Pili Pokhar, meaning yellow pond. Mother Yashoda wishes to

have Radharani as her daughter in law. Yashoda Mayi rubs a handful of

turmeric to Radharani's hands to have it as a sign of marriage contract to

her son, Gopal. This is the place where Radharani washed Her hands, being

embarrased that Her family will see the yellow color of Her hands. The whole

kunda became yellow due to Radhikas's washing Her hands at the pond. It is

the vedic culture that the hands of the bride to be smeard with yellow color

signifying the acceptance of the groom's family members. Mahanidhi Swami

spoke more of Hari Katha for at least one hour at this place. Then we walked

for at least 20 minutes in the middle of the day to Prema Sarovar. By this

time it is realy hot and most of our feet are already getting burnt. We did

not know that it will be like this but no way of turning back. Maharaja was

saying that it is like our hearts is burning with so many desires and

ultimately when we get rid of all of them then purification takes place and

in the end Prema will be attained. Prema Sarovar is the place where Krsna's

and Radharani's tears get mixed together with Their perspiration because of

Their love for each other. We took bath in the kunda to get ease of the heat

and ultimately to be purified and prayed that we may also attain pure loving

devotion to the Divine Couple in the near future.

 

We returned back to the temple around 2:00pm just about time for the lunch

prasadam. And in the evening the boat festival started around 5:00pm. Sri

Krsna Balaram temple's courtyard were filled with water. There was a

temporary island built in the middle of the courtyard for the utsava Deities

of Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundar and Lalita Sakhi and Vishaka Sakhi. Many

devotees and pilgrims alike offered their pranams, flowers, and sweets bhoga

to Their Lordships. At around 7:30 Their Lordships rode on Their

transcendental swan boat made of flowers. By now the whole temple is packed

with thousands of devotees. Their Lordships enjoyed Their boat lila for the

next 2 hours where They went all over the courtyard to give darshan to Their

devotees accompanied with the sweet kirtan from our 24 hour kirtan group

headed by Aindra Prabhu. The whole temple room is surcharged with bhakti and

the atmosphere is completely purified only for the pleasure of the Eternal

Couple and Their Confidantes. This spectacular scene has to be seen and

experience by every devotees. This Vrndavana boat festival has become world

famous that devotees all over the world are so eager to stay in Vrndavana

for a few more weeks after the Mayapura festival each year. This occur on

the first Saturday after the Gaura purnima festival every year. So put it on

your schedule for your next visit to India next year!

 

The next day, April 3, HH Mahanidhi Swami gave the Srimad Bhagavat class. He

spoke on the 10th canto 21st chapter text 18, explaining the best of Lord

Hari's servant. He mentioned that there are 3 Hari dasas mentioned in the

Srimad Bhagavatam and they are Yudhistira Maharaja, Uddhava and

Girigovardhana. However, Giriraja is not only the best servant of the Lord

but He is also the Lord Himself. Maharaja did not finish explaining the

whole verse, he gave another Srimad Bhagavatam class on the same verse

before returning back to Radha Kunda after the parikrama and still he was

not able to finish the verse. He said that he will continue next year the

same sloka during the Vrndavana part of the Mayapura Vrndavana - Gaura

purnima festival. The class was a preparation for our Govardhan parikrama to

be done the next day. We went to Govardhan in the evening around 3:00pm and

stayed in one of the ashrams at the foot of Giriraja. This is the first time

that we did like this because we have to start the next day circumambulating

Giriraja at 4:00am. Maharaja spoke more about Giriraja for at least two

hours that evening and we all took milk and light prasadam snacks before

retiring.

 

TO BE CONTINUED...