Mahanidhi Swami

In pursuance of the conceptions described in part one, we humbly offer the following prayer. With a handful of words, we will attempt to express our gratitude to worshipable Sri Vrindavana, and all the amazing objects and entities therein who have so kindly allowed me to live amongst them for the last 29 years.

In so many ways, both directly and indirectly, they have all taught me about humility, and how to love, how to serve and how to respect each and every entity and everything in Sri Vrindavana Dhama. To all of them and my beloved Vrajabhumi, I humbly bow.

O hills, mountains, valleys and dust of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O trees, forests and kunjas of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O plants, shrubs, vines, herbs, flowers and seeds of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O rivers, lakes, pools, kundas and sarovaras of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O sky, clouds, stars, moon and sun of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O spring, summer, rainy, autumn, cold and bitter cold seasons of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O heat, cold, hot winds, rain, hail and storms of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O Magha, Vaishakha and Karttika months of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O insects, ants, mosquitoes, scorpions, crickets, lizards, mice, rats and snakes of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O jackals, wolves, and bear of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O squirrels, mongoose, rabbits, deer and neel gaya of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O Gomata, buffalo, donkeys, camels, mules, horses, goats, sheep and chickens of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O cats, dogs, pigs and monkeys of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O hawks, owls, bats and crows of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O doves, pigeons, sparrows, mynas, parrots and peacocks of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O wasps, moths, butterflies and bees of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O fish, frogs, turtles, ducks and cranes of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O yatris, deshis, videshis and Vrajavasis of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O bhangis, baniyas, bankers, brokers, brahmanas, police and politicians of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O farmers, milkmen, mallis, sabji and fruits walls of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O laborers, students, husbands, wives, widows and retirees of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O boatmen, bus drivers, rickshaw, scooter and taxi wallas of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O poets, artists, artisans, sculptors, musicians, singers, magicians and mukuta wallas of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O brahmacaris, grhasthas, vanaprasthas, and sannyasis of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O devoted ladies, doing puja here and there, of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O sadhus, vairagis, swamis and babajis of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O mahantas, sevaits, pujaris and Goswamis of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O pandas, purohitas, vipras and vaidyas of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O acharyas, panditas and gurus of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O thakurjis, devatas, devis, lingas and shilas of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O Govardhana, Varsana, Nandagrama, Yavata and Surya-kunda of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O Radha Kunda, Shyama Kunda, Kusuma Sarovara, Manasi Ganga and Govinda-kunda of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O Yamuna, Keshi-ghata, Vamshi-vata, Nidhi-vana, and Seva-kunja of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O Dvadasha Vana, Upavanas, Nibhrta-nikunjas and Dana, Prema, and Mana gullies of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O Srimati Radharani in all Your astoundingly beautiful, sweet and compassionate forms of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O Sri Krishna in all Your incomparably enchanting, playful and mischievous forms of Vrindavana, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

O Sri Vrindavana Dhama! Today, tomorrow and forever into eternity, I bow down to you, and beg for your mercy.

pavana radhe tero nama, pavana sri vrindavana dhama.

jaya jaya shyamaaa, jaya jaya shyama, jaya jaya sri vrindavana dhama!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

Mahanidhi Swami

In Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu (1.2.88-89), Srila Rupa Goswamipada describes the devotional practice (bhakti-anga) of serving and worshiping persons and things (tadiyanam ca sevanam) that are related and very dear to Bhagavan Sri Krishna i.e. the Tulasi plant, Srimad Bhagavatam, Mathura/Vrindavana and the Vaisnavas, tadiyas tulasi-shastra-mathura vaisnava adayah.

All Gaudiya Vaisnava acharyas write and preach about worshiping Vrindavana because it is Bhagavan Sri Krishna’s sweet home, and the beautiful place of His most satisfying and blissful pastimes with His dearest sweetheart Srimati Radharani and all other elegant damsels of Vraja.

Here is a small sample of acharyas’ praising Sri Dhama Vrindavana.

Sri Prabodhananda Sarasvati:

“You should worship Vrindavana forest as if it were your very life and soul, because Vraja is filled with the essence of the greatest prema rasa known as madanakhya mahabhava. (5.45) With the nectar of ecstatic love, please worship Vrindavana, the most amazing of all Krishna’s abodes. (7.49) Please just worship Vrindavana, where Radhika eternally wanders from bower to bower. (13.25)

“Vrajabhumi is so special, unique and magnificently attractive that Srimati Radharani and Sri Krishna also worship Vrindavana. One day Shyama said, ‘O Priyaji! Let Us expand into millions of forms, and with each of those forms We will offer arati to Sri Vrindavana Dhama!’” (14.53) (Vrindavana Mahimamrita)

Srila Narottama dasa Thakura:

Thakura Narottama presents the essence of Krishna consciousness as, anande bolo hari, bhaja vrindavana, “Chant “Hari! Hari!” in bliss and worship Vrindavana!” (Nama Sankirtana)

Srila Prabhupada comments: “If you want a transcendental, blissful life, then chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, and come worship the holy place of Vrindavana!” (SB 4.23.7)

The entire Vraja Mandala is the tadiya vastu of Sri Krishna, and it is eternally and intimately connected with Krishna. Not only Vraja Bhumi but all the objects, places, things and Vrajavasi residents are also tadiya and worshipable. In his bhajana “Vrindavana Mahimamrita, Srila Narottama dasa Thakura sings, “jaya radhe, jaya krishna, jaya vrindavana, shyama-kunda, radha kunda, giri-govardhana….and…”All glories to Yamuna, Mahavana, Keshi-ghata, Vamshi-vata, Dvadasha Vana, Rama-ghata and also all glories, all glories to the wonderful Vrajavasis, jaya jaya vrindavana basi jata jana.”

While teaching the science of bhakti-yoga to His devotee, Bhagavan Sri Krishna said, “O my dear Uddhava! Without being embarrassed or caring about the laughter of friends, one should transcend his bodily consciousness and offer dandavat pranams to all—even the cows, outcastes, dogs and asses, visrjya smayamanan svan, drsham vridam ca daihikim, pranamed danda-vad bhumav, a shva, chandala go kharam.” (SB 11.29.16)

Srila Visvanatha Cakravartipada comments, “Here Bhagavan Sri Krishna is saying, ‘O Uddhava! This verse describes the practice of one who naturally sees Me everywhere. One should disregard the ridicule of friends who are saying, “Look! This great person is offering respects to a low creature.” ‘Uddhava, one should give up the bodily conception of thinking, “I am so elevated and he is so fallen. So how can I offer respects to him?” Just give up that embarrassment, see Krishna everywhere and offer respects even to the dogs and chandalas.’”

500 years ago, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu spoke similar instructions: “Considering one’s self to be lower than a blade of grass, one should always show respect to others, trnad api sunichena, mana dena.” Gauranga also said, “A devotee should be prideless and show respect to all living entities, knowing them to be the resting place of Krishna, habe nirabhimana jive sammana, dibe jani krishna adhisthana.” (Cc. 3.20.21, 25)

Jai Jai Sri Radhe! Vrindavana Dhama ki jai ho!

Mahanidhi Swami

O Krishna, as Gajendra once offered a lotus to You in submission, I put the lotus of my heart in my hand and surrender unto You.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, please touch me with Your lotus-like hand, so that the lotus bud of my consciousness will unfold and bloom with brilliant sattvika ecstasies in pure love for You.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, You sometimes hold a golden lotus in Your hand and twirl it back and forth, spinning the minds of the gopis in whirlpools of endless joy. O Krishna, I pray for the day when You spin my mind in the same way!

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, my mind is lazy and crazy, caring not for any authority. O Krishna, please enthuse my mind with Your murali, and make me move merrily on the path of bhakti.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, my mind is very sinful and lusty; sometimes happy and sometimes distressed. O Krishna, please remove the roots of sin from my mind and protect the tiny creeper of bhakti I am trying to grow there.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, there are many hidden demons lurking in the dark places of my mind and heart. Please enter there, find them, and destroy them. As Gopala, You maintain and nourish the universe. So, please nourish me by giving me all the divine qualities such as patience, confidence, conviction, compassion, simplicity, tranquility, modesty, forgiveness, fearlessness, steadiness, and self-control.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, You are the maintainer of religious principles. O Krishna, please support me, and help me to remain austere and steady in following all the regulative principles of devotional service.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, simply by Your touch, one can immediately become free from all material desires and contamination, and achieve transcendental knowledge. O Krishna, by Your touch, one’s heart fills with love and symptoms of ecstasy manifest in his body.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, with Your soft and sweet lotus hands, please lift me out of the horrible ocean of repeated birth and death. By Your touch, may I become free from all material contamination and be illuminated with pure spiritual knowledge. May my heart flood with Radha-Govinda prema, and may my body become effulgent with spiritual bliss.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, with Your lotus-like hands, you bestow benedictions upon all kinds of living entities. With Your gentle, loving lotus hand, You wipe the pearl-like drops of perspiration from the faces of the gopis who feel instantly refreshed by Your sweet touch. Pressing the vamshi to Your cherry-red lips, You play the sweetest, most enchanting music to thrill the hearts of Your devotees.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, as You hold the vamshi in Your hands, please hold me in Your hands and protect me from Maya. Use me as an instrument in Your service, and engage me in many sweet ways to please all Your devotees.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, You accept all that is offered with love. So now let me lovingly offer You my very self and beg for a blessing in return. May I always remember You, be with You and love You forever, serving You in Vraja Gokula as You sport and play with Your Priyaji Radha.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

Sri Krishna sharanam mama! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

Mahanidhi Swami

O Krishna, You destroy the darkness within devotee’s hearts. I am covered by the darkness of greed, anger, pride and the desire for fame. O Krishna, kindly illuminate my heart and destroy this darkness.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, You dissipate the darkness of the world, and manifest the knowledge of great souls. Please manifest pure knowledge of Yourself within my heart, and destroy the darkness of illusion covering my real identity.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, You are faster than mind, the master of speech and You perform wonderful acts. You are truth and encouraging statements. Whenever the tendency arises within my mind to speak nonsense, to belittle the devotees, or to speak negative, discouraging words, please be there at that moment with your lightning speed to work wonders. Make me always speak the truth about You, glorify You and lovingly encourage all Your devotees.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, I am full of improper behavior and desires to perform whimsical unregulated acts. I have no cleanliness, nor do I know what to do or what not to do. Please give me the power and the wisdom to strictly follow the example of the previous acharyas. Please give me the determination to always act purely and religiously, and to perform only activities that are pleasing to You.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, You easily destroy the magical forces of the demons. My rascal mind produces many such magical illusions, and like a ruffian he shouts cruel slogans like, “Go ahead! You can enjoy. Forget about Krishna and Guru. Just be natural, be yourself.” O Krishna, Please dispel these mystic illusions from my mind and fix my mind on Your soft and sweet, beautiful lotus feet.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, the crocodile of duplicity is swallowing my heart. Please crush this crocodile and make me Your honest devotee.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, You relentlessly chased the Vaisnava aparadhi Durvasa all over the universe. Please accompany me wherever I may travel, and immediately chase away the demon of Vaisnava aparadha from my mind and heart.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, Your glance is sweet, merciful and all auspicious. Your glance pacifies, enlivens, inspires and satisfies Your devotees. I am a lazy blind fool with very little determination to serve. O Krishna, please glance upon me, make me fortunate, purify my heart, and fill me with the enthusiasm to serve Sri Hari, Guru and the Vaisnavas.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, with Your invincible chakra, please cut down the karma cakra and samsara cakra which are moving me on through endless births with no end in sight! O Mukunda, please liberate me and tie me to Your feet as a slave bound in love. Kindly give me a place in the mandala of rasa, Vraja Mandala, and let me dance there around and around forever delighting in the light of Your love.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

Mahanidhi Swami

Spiritual life is nothing but one long, arduous journey of surrender.

We surrender our minds to hear Gita and Guru.

We surrender our hearts to take diksha from Sri Guru.

We surrender our time to practice bhakti sadhana.

We surrender our attachments to live as Krishna wants.

We surrender our desires to desire only Krishna.

We surrender our love to receive Krishna’s love.

And at last, we surrender our lives hoping to attain Sri Krishna.

In pursuance of that goal, we offer the following prayer to my Loving Lord, while continually praying, “O Krishna! I beg Your mercy.”

O Sri Krishna! I am a fool, completely ignorant and I have no experience, yet still I want to offer a prayer to You. I know that You are in my heart, so I beg You to please inspire me, and guide me in glorifying You with transcendental sound.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, You destroy the demons with Your weapons, Your will and with all-devouring time. You bless Your devotees with the lotus twirling in Your beautiful petal-like fingers. You make their lives auspicious by kindly giving them strength, protection and victory in the struggle of life.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna! May I always hear Your sweet melodious voice resounding in my heart, reassuring me with Your words: “My devotee will never be vanquished!”

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, You are completely pure but I am full of all dirty things. Please purify my mind and heart, and make me dance in joy to Your Holy Names. My mind is full of fear, hankering and anxiety. So please remove this filth and grant me the inner peace to always feel Your presence.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, the demoniac soldiers of arrogance and conceit are attacking the city of my heart. Please chastise these miscreants so that I may come to my senses, and realize that I am Your humble servant.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, the elephant of sinful lust has entered my garden of devotion. O Krishna, let me remember the elephant goad sign on the bottom Your right foot, and thus drive out this mad elephant of desire.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, please cover the eyes of the sinful enemies of envy within me that make me blind to the good qualities in others, and force me to offend the Vaisnavas.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, please protect me from the constant attacks of my bad habits of laziness and wasting time searching for material happiness.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

O Krishna, please protect me from the six faults: overeating and collecting too much, bad association, neglecting the rules and regulations of the scriptures, unnecessary talking about mundane topics, over-endeavor for material objectives, and lusting over mundane achievements.

O Krishna! I beg for Your mercy.

Sri Krishna sharanam mama! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!