Vrinda Devi in Scotland

[Tommy Gouranga]

Prabhupada Vani Prabhu told a wonderful story at the festival

regarding how the deity of Srimati Vrinda Devi came to <st1:country-region><st1:place>Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region>.

 

 

Many years ago the Muslim tyrants decided to attack Vrndavana. They

planned to smash the deities, desecrate the temples and other acts of

ignorance.

 

 

The devotees got word of the advancing invasion so most of the deities

were moved to Jaipur.(all the original deities of the 6 Goswamis are

still there today in Jaipur) as Jaipur and the area around was ruled

by many powerful Hindu kings which meant Muslim attack would not be

an issue. Jaipur was very well protected.

 

 

The deity of Srimati Vrinda Devi is not a common deity in Vrndavana.

There was one main deity and the devotees were in the process of

moving her. They stopped in the <st1:place><st1:PlaceType>forest</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName>Kamyavan</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> for the night, so

they put down the deity. Kamyavan is right on the edge of Vraja

Mandala, so they were practically on the border of the Holy dham.

 

 

The next morning they tried to lift Vrinda Devi but she could not be

moved. They prayed to her, fell down, tried and tried, but she

refused to leave.

 

It is said Vrinda Devi will never leave Vrndavana. And so it was true.

To this day, the deity of Vrinda Devi is still there out in Kamyavan

on the outskirts of Vraja. She would not leave.

 

 

 

So it so happened a few years ago there is a <st1:place><st1:PlaceType>temple</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName>Srimati Vrinda

Devi</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> at Vrinda Kund in Vrndavana. The devotee there decided he would

like to have a new form carved of Vrinda Devi.

 

 

The devotee knew that Puri Goswamis wife, (when Maharaja was married)

was a big devotee of Vrinda Devi and she would always donate whatever

money she would get to Vrinda Kund so that Vrinda Devi would always

get a nice worship. So he decided he would donate the deity to

ISKCON Scotland.

 

 

Prabhupada Vani Prabhu flew there and met the old Pujari at Vrinda

Kund. He was so amazed that vrinda Devi would go to <st1:country-region><st1:place>Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region>. She had

never left Vraja ever before. He was simultaneously very happy and

very sad.

 

 

Prabhupada Vani had arranged a taxi so he placed Vrinda Devi inside

the taxi after speaking for a long time with the Pujari.

 

As he looked back out of the taxi, he said the Pujari was standing

there looking completely amazed. Would Vrinda Devi actually leave?

 

 

Prabhupada Vani now had the mission of safely transporting her to

<st1:country-region><st1:place>Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region>, was she going to come even? He phoned up the airline and

booked a seat for Srimati Vrinda Devi!

 

 

It was not safe to place her in the hold, neither proper. She is made

from solid marble, and as you see, her hands, one offering

benediction, the other holding lotus with parrot. There is every

chance of her arm breaking.

 

 

 

The man from the ticket desk was Indian, so as soon as he understood

that a deity is coming, he immediately booked the seat. They picked

up the ticket. The name on the ticket read "Srimati Vrinda Devi"!

 

 

When the plane arrived though and they tried to board with the deity,

the flight crew were American. They refused on safety reasons.

Prabhupada Vani stood firm. She is not going in the hold. She has a

valid ticket here to board the flight.

 

A long argument ensued. The flight people would not back down. They

promised a very safe place in the hold. Prabhupada Vani Prabhu

eventually relented. Vrinda Devi arrived at this time of year in

1999. The airline gave a full re fund. She came to <st1:country-region><st1:place>Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region> without

a penny being spent!

 

 

 

Hari bol!!!!!

 

 

This deity is the first deity in the history of the world to have ever

left Vrndavana. She was the first Vrinda Devi in ISKCON. And now many

temples all over the world have deities of Srimati Vrinda Devi.

This shows that the temple is non different from the spiritual world,

Sri Vrndavana dham!!!

 

 

 

Hare Krishna!

 

Srimati Vrinda Devi Ki jaya!!!!!!