Vrindavan also known as Vraj is a town in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India
On
this earth, the place known as Vrndavan in the district of Mathura, ninety
miles southeast of Delhi, is a replica of that supreme Goloka Vrndavana in the
spiritual sky. In all of India, that eighty-four-square-mile tract of land is
considered to be the most sacred place of pilgrimage because Krishna sported in
it, and many devotees still linger there in ecstasy in search of Krishna and
His childhood associates. Srila Prabhupada has explained that "It is not
that such devotees meet Krishna face to face in that tract of land, but a
devotee's eagerly searching after Krishna is as good as his seeing Him
personally. How this is so cannot be explained, but it is factually realized by
those who are pure devotees of the Lord." Because Krishna, His name, form,
pastimes and remembrance are all on the absolute plane, to search for Him at
Vrindavan in pure God consciousness gives more pleasure to the devotee than
seeing Him face to face." The Brahma-samhita (5.38) confirms that those
devotees whose eyes are anointed with the pulp of love always see the eternal
form of Shyamasundar within their hearts.
In Vrndavana the effulgent ground is fashioned with many very
wonderful colourful cintamani jewels, the trees and vines are full of blissful
spiritual fruits and flowers, the birds make a great tumult by reciting the
hymns of the Sama Veda, and the lakes and streams are filled with
transcendental nectar. May my heart meditate on Vrndavana in this way.
In
Vrindavan
Vrindavana is illuminated by numberless moons of
spiritual bliss. It is cooled by the sweet nectar of spiritual love and it is
filled with desire trees and many hosts of madly cooing birds. Whose heart will
not run to Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, who enjoy eternal transcendental pastimes in
that Vrindavan.
Beautiful
Vrindavan
Beautiful Vrindavan is filled with cintamani gems
and many jewel palaces and temples. Many regal swans play in the waters of the
Yamuna, and in those waters a splendid golden lotus flower grows.
In
Vrndavan the kadamba trees offer obeisances, their flowering branches
reverently touching the ground. Bumble bees enjoy pastimes in Vrndavan, which
is filled with a very sweet fragrance.
Radha and Krsna stay in the place where They enjoy pastimes. How
beautiful They are. Their bodies are decorated with jewel ornaments, and They
are wealthy with many gem mines of intelligence and wit.
When will I renounce the circle of material family life, and,
drowning in transcendental bliss, go to Vrajabhumi? O Lord Hari, Lord Hari,
when will this be?
When will I see Govardhana Hill, my eyes filling with tears? When
will I reside at Radha-kunda? When, as a result of constantly wandering in
Vrndavan, will this body fall down?
When will I become pure at heart by bathing in the waters of the
Yamuna?
When will I circumambulate the land of Vraja, wandering from
forest to forest? When, becoming fatigued, will I stop to rest on the shore of
the Yamuna?
When will I be able to see the gardens of Vrndavan where the great
devotees worshipped the Lord?
When will I find relief from the heat of midday by resting in the
cooling shade of Vamsivata? When will I associate with the Vaisnavas in the
groves of Vrndavana? (Narottama Dasa Thakur – Prathana)
About
Vrindavan
Wherever he may be, one must always think
about life in Vraja-dhama and
about following in the footsteps of a particular devotee in the service of the
Lord. (Nectar of Devotion Ch. 16,)
Vrndavana, any person may go there, and even if he is sinful he will at once contact an atmosphere
of spiritual life, and automatically chant the names of Krsna and Radha.
(Srimad Bhagavatam, 3.20.4 purport)
Anyone who can stay permanently is welcome. I want that as many
devotees stay permanently and become Brijabasis. That will be
very inspiring. (Srila Prabhupada Letter, 9 November 1975)
Lord Varaha tells the men of earth, “Any person who becomes
attracted to places other than Mathura will certainly be captivated by the
illusory energy.” (Nectar of Devotion Ch.12)
If one somehow or other gets the opportunity to live in Vrndavana,
and if one is not a pretender but simply lives in Vrndavana and concentrates
his mind upon Krsna, one is liberated from material bondage. (Srimad
Bhagavatam 9.19.19 purport)
In the Brahmanda Purana it is said that all the results of
traveling on all the pilgrimages within the three worlds can be achieved simply
by touching the holy land of Mathura. (Nectar of Devotion
Ch. 12)
If we live in Vrndavana, we are living with Krsna, because Vrndavana
is nondifferent from
Krsna (Vrindavan Days, page 51)
How wonderful it is that simply by residing in Mathura even
for one day, one can achieve a transcendental loving attitude
toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead! (Nectar of Devotion Ch. 12)
Actually, if someone goes to Vrndavana, he will immediately
feel separation from Krsna, who performed such nice activities
when He was present there. (Nectar of Devotion Ch. 18)
In our Krsna consciousness movement we invite all the elderly
persons of the world to come to Vrndavana and stay there in retired life, making advancement in
spiritual consciousness (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.5 purport)
In a holy place like Vrndavana…. If one gets the chance to hear
from pure devotees …then the cultivation of Krsna consciousness becomes very easy.
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.29.39-40 purport)
"Yes, that effect [of living in Vrndavana and being so close
to Krsna] cannot be overestimated. At every turn, you are reminded of Krishna
here, and your spiritual strenght increases due to that contact.” (Vrindaban Days,
page 47)
Cultivating Krsna consciousness in Vrndavana is the best means of
being liberated from material bondage,
for in Vrndavana one can automatically meditate upon Krsna. (Srimad Bhagavatam
upon Krsna. 9.19.19 purport)
To live in Vrndavana is the highest perfection and to grow up in
Vrndavana the greatest fortune… Even to live in Mathura-mandala for a
fortnight guarantees one liberation. (Srila Prabhupada letter,
20 January 1976)
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