Vrindabani

[Guest guest]

by Dhrstadyumna dasa

 

Vrindabani devi dasi left her body at 2:15pm on Janmastami day August 31, 2002.

This is a brief account of her story.

 

Vrindabani or Vrinda Mata gave birth to three calves that we know of, two of

which have names. I met her after she gave birth to Nanda Rani, the second

calf, in the late summer of 1999. Bhakta Seva recognized Vrindabani as the same

cow that was milking earlier under the name Goloka, and Krsna Balarama

confirmed it. We bread her a third time and she gave birth to Laxmi Priya in

the early spring of 2002.

 

It is quiet astonishing to note how Krsna arranged for Vrinda Mata to be

engaged in His service. If we look at the probability of one cow giving birth

to three calves over the last six years it is a miracle. The first two births

where by 'accident'. Our big herd in the late 1990's consisted of over 180 cows

and oxen. If half are cows, then Vrindabani was one out of 90 cows that was

impregnated by bulls from neighboring farms, twice. 'By accident' means that

when the herd is out to pasture, if a cow is in heat and a bull from another

farm close by can detect it, then he will sneak into our pastures and mate with

the prospective cow. This means that Vrindabani was coupled twice. Her third

calf was by artificial insemination and so was planned, by she was the only cow

in the barn to take out of nine different attempts.

 

This shows her fertility, but also how much Krsna arranged for her to give milk

for His pleasure prior to bringing her back home. Srila Prabhupada mentions in

his lectures in the Radha Damodhara courtyard in Vrindaban about the

significance of being born and dying on the dhama. He says there that if one is

sinful and leaves their body on the dhama that they will come back in the body

of an animal, and after that lifetime as an animal they will return home, back

to Godhead. Also it is mentioned that if one is born on the dhama, then that is

their last birth, that they are liberated. Vrindabani was born at New Vrindaban

over 15 years ago and died at New Vrindaban on the Diving Appearance Day of

Lord Krsna.

 

I personally could experience how the Deities were lovingly guiding her back to

Them. Vrindabani was always peaceful and happy giving milk, and she gave milk

up to a few days before she left this world. She was dried up after having a

severe case of diarrhea. A few days later she was reluctant to come back from

the pasture with the rest of the herd to the barn. I left her out that day and

by the next day she was 'down'. Her eyes where sunk and her mouth dry, she was

dehydrated and couldn't stand. I fed her electrolytes in water and tried to

coax her to stand but inevitable Time was upon her. I called every vet in the

book, no one could come out to see her on Labor Day Weekend. It was between

Krsna and His devotee, it was wonderful and ecstatic to watch.

 

On Janmastami Day, myself and a visiting sankirtana devotee Martyunga went out

to be with Vrindabani. I took Sri Nathaji's long garland of marigolds and a

maha Tulasi leaf out to Vrinda Mata, along with a picture of Sri Sri Radha

Vrindaban Chandra, a picture of Srimati Tulasi Maharani, and a picture of Srila

Prabhupada. I turned the Palace speakers toward the part of the forest that

Vrindabani lay, they echoed Prabhupada's bhajans. Tripada graciously gave us

Srila Prabhupada's garland from the Palace.

 

Vrindabani laid peacefully with her head bent toward her belly. Martyunga and I

chanted about an hour. She brought her head up as her life was being called

away, she held her head strait up and opened her mouth. I was meditating on the

Holy Name, and wondered if she was chanting. I felt Radha Vrindaban Chandra's

Presence in that shady forest, the wind blew above the treetops. Her head moved

forward until it lay outstretched in front of her body, I moved around and

placed it on my lap. Martyunga kept the flies off the whole time, and I

caressed her forehead. As we chant and prayed she left her body very

peacefully, with Tulasi leaf on her tongue, a Deity garland around her neck,

devotees chanting and praying on her behalf, less than fifty yards under

Prabhupada's Palace, on Janmastami day, after a lifetime of service to the

dhama.

 

I pray that I may leave under such auspicious conditions, and I pray that I may

have the privilege of her service again. Her body is buried next to the Palace

on the east facing slope which borders the ghat. We will install a plaque in

her honor. Laxmi Priya is the first calf intentionally born at the New

Vrindaban small milking barn, and she is the first of the next generation of

cows born here to serve the Deities. She is sweet and fat just like her mother

and is now under the care of her foster Mothers, especially Mangala.