Mahanidhi Swami

 

For fifty years, the sweet glories of Sri Radha-kunda and the service of Srimati Radharani in manjari-bhava have been broadcast worldwide by the esteemed Mahantaji of Radha-kunda, Srila Ananta Dasaji Maharaja.

 

What follows are a few of the gems collected from ocean of Babaji Maharaja’s deep love for Srimati Radharani and Sri Radha-kunda. May all the bhaktas relish these realizations with the utmost humility and gratitude.

 

Sri Ananta Dasaji Maharaja

Priyaji’s Sarasi [Radha-kunda] is most dear to those whose everything is the service of Sri Radhika’s lotus feet. (Vilapa Kusumanjali 15 p.)

 

Radha-kunda and Shyama-kunda will be merciful to anyone who is sincerely and earnestly surrendered. And they will bless such a soul by showing him the pastimes that are taking place there. (Vraja Vilasa Stava 52 p.)

 

For the sake of Her daily bath at Manasa Pavana Ghata, Srimati personally decorated Sri Shyama-kunda with a flight of stairs. (VVS 58 p.)

 

Radha-kunda and Shyama-kunda are non-different from Sri Sri Radha-Madhava. As Sri Krishna embraces His Priyaji with the greatest love, similarly Sri Shyama-kunda  lovingly embraces Sri Radha-kunda [at the Sangama] which is non-different from Srimati Radharani. (VVS 58 p.)

 

The attraction to reside at Sri Radha-kunda awakens within the heart of a person who is totally fixed on Sri Radha’s lotus feet. And in life or in death they don’t know anything but Radha’s lotus feet. (VVS 58 p.)

 

Srimati Radharani most carefully bathes in Shyama-kunda every day and thus attains the pinnacle of bliss. Sri Radha loves Shyama-kunda as much as She loves Shyama.  (Sri Visakhanandada Stotram 26 p.)

 

Sri Radha-kunda is the limitlessly beautiful crown jewel of Vraja, [Vraja Mukuta Mani]. (Vilapa Kusumanjali 15 p.)

 

The most fortunate souls can live on the banks of Sri Radha-kunda, and that fortune is Radharani’s personal mercy upon them. (Vilapa Kusumanjali 15 p.)

 

The water that fills Radha-kunda and Shyama-kunda is not actually water, it is the splendid spiritual erotic flavour of Radha-Madhava’a pastimes! (Vilapa Kusumanjali 15 p.)

 

The desire vine of love for Kåñëa will blossom for even an ignorant and unqualified person who performs some service at Radha-kunda in the form of bathing, living there, seeing or touching Radha-kunda, and it will bear the fruits of Radha service. (Vilapa Kusumanjali 15 p.)

 

O Radha, Because Radha-kunda is Your [Radha] dearmost place I will surely receive Your mercy by taking shelter of it! Surely one day Your loving pastimes in

this lake will appear before the spiritualised eyes of an unfortunate soul like me!” (Vilapa Kusumanjali 97 p.)

 

Without making any distinction between who is qualified and who is not, Sri Radha-kunda blesses everyone who performs some devotional service there with the treasure of love of God, even if they do not perform any sadhana bhajana. (Vilapa Kusumanjali 98 p.) Shyama-kunda Radha-kunda ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

Mahanidhi Swami

 

Puranas Glorifies Radha-kunda

Sri Hari said: “O Priyatama Radha! Dearest One! May Your Radha-kunda be even more world-renowned than than My Shyama-kunda! Here I will always bathe and play in the water, because Radha-kunda is as dear to Me as You are.

 

proce hariù priyatame tava kuëòam etat, mat kuëòato’pi mahimädhikam astu loke

atraiva me salila kelir ihaiva nityaà, snänaà yathä tvam asi tadvad idam saro me !”

 

“Radha replied: “I will also come to bathe in Your Shyama-kunda even though You may kill hundreds of Ariñöa demons here. In the future, anyone who has intense devotion for Shyama-kunda, which is on the spot where You chastised Ariñöäsura, and who bathes or resides here is sure to become very dear to Me.’

 

“That night Ghanashyama initiated a rasa utsava at Radha-kunda enjoying the Maha-Rasa dance which brought a torential downpour of joy, räsotsavaà prakurute sma ca tatra rätrau, kåñëämbudaù kåta-mahä-rasa-harña-varñaù (SB 10.36.16 Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti quoting Puranas)

Sri Rupa Gosvami

Paurnamasi said, O Madhava, I have a request!

If someone leaves all material activities to live in a kutira on the bank of Radha-kunda while deeply yearning to directly serve the Youthful Couple, then please make the tree of that devotee’s aspirations bear fruit very soon.

 

Radha-kunda-kuöéra-vasatis tyaktänya-karmä janaù

seväm eva samakñam atra yuvayor yaù kartum utkaëöhate

Krishna replied: Yes, let it be so, bhagavati, tathastu! (Dan-keli kaumudi 532-533)

Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami

O mind, always remember Priya-saraù (Radha-kunda) and Girindrau (Giriraja Baba) as two places the mere sight of bestows charming love for Radha Govinda Yugala. (Manah Siksha 9)

Radha-kunda is superior [to Govardhana Hill] because of its flood of prema, Radha-kundam ihäpi gokula-pateù premämåtäplavanät. (Mukta-carita)

With great care Srimati Radharani happily bathes everyday in Shyama-kunda, which is filled with the honey that oozes from Krishna’ lotus feet. (Visakhanandabhidha–stotra 26)

O sakhi (Rüpa Maïjari)! If the Youthful Couple, who enliven the whole world by distributing the nectar of Their mercy and anointing everyone with the fragrance of Their flower-like attributes, do not bestow Their mercy on me, then, O Sri Rupa Manjari, please arrange that I can always live at Sri Radha-kunda! (Prarthanashraya-caturdashaka 3)

udaïcat-käruëyämåta-vitaraëair jévita-jagad-

yuva-dvandvaà gandhair guëa-sumanasaà väsita-janam

kåpäà cen mayy evaà kirati na tadä tvaà kuru tathä

yathä me Sri-kuëòe sakhi sakalam aìgaà nivasati

 

Sri Jiva Goswamipada

The two lakes named Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda are the meeting of the lovers, Radha and Krishna. I think the sweet fragrances at those lakes are actually Radha-Krishna passionate embraces; the breezes there are Radha-Krishna’s passionate sighs and trembling, and the water seen in those lakes is Radha-Krishna’s passionate love melted into nectar!” (In Gopala Campu, One Prarthamam Puranam 13-15).

Sri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja

Because of its wonderful transcendental qualities, Radha-kunda is as dear to Sri Hari as Sri Radha Herself. In Radha-kunda, the beautiful Madhavendu Sri Krishna always lovingly plays with Radhika. Simply by bathing here once, one attains a love for Krishna like Radhika’s. (Govinda-lélämåta 7.102)

Sri-rädheva hares tadéya-sarasé preñöhädbhutaiù svair guëair

yasyäà Sri-yuta-mädhavendur aniçaà premnä tayä kréòati |

premäsmin bata rädhikeva labhate yasmin sakåt snäna-kåt

tat tasyä mahimä tathä madhurimä kenästu varëyaù kñitau

 

Vrnda: Hari is in the forest around Radha-kunda.

Radhika: What is Hari doing there?

Vrnda: Hari is learning dance.

Radhika: Who is teaching dance to Hari?

Vrnda: It is Your form Radha that is appearing in every tree and creeper in every direction and moving there like a skillful dancer, making Hari dance along behind. (Govinda-lélämåta 8.77)

kasmäd vånde priya-sakhi hareù päda-mülät kuto ’sau

kuëòäraëye kim iha kurute nåtya-çikñäà guruù kaù

taà tvan-mürtiù prati-taru-lataà dig-vidikñu sphuranté

çailüñéva bhramati parito nartayanté sva-paçcät

 

Every day without fail, Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami took three baths in Radha-kunda, tina sandhyä Radha-kuëòe apatita snäna. (Cc. 1.10.101)

Just as Srimati Radharani is most dear to Sri Krishna, Radha-kunda is also dear to Krishna. Among all the gopés, Srimati Radharani is supermost and very dear to Sri Krishna. (Padma P/Cc. 2.8.99)

Sri Narahari Cakravarti Thakura

Only by the grace of Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami can one live at Radha-kunda. (Bhakti-ratnakara 5)

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti

Longing to meet, but forced to remain separate, Radha-Govinda assumed the forms of Radha-kunda and Shyama-kunda. In this way, Radha-Govinda become splashed with the nectar of eternally meeting each other [at the sangam].

How did these divine kundas appear? I think that when Radha saw Krishna, Radha melted with ecstasy to assume a liquid form as the waters of Radha-kunda. In the same way, when Shyama saw Radha, Shyama also melted in ecstasy and became the waters of Shyama-kunda. (Vraja riti-cintamani 3.33-34)

Limitlessly beautiful Sri Radha-kunda is filled with Radha Govinda Yugala’s topmost love. (v. 39)

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati

The spiritual master has an eternal kunja on the shore of Sri Radha-kunda. There he has bound Krishna by the power of his service.” (Amrta Vani # 53)

“As the surrendered maidservants of Sri Radha, we have to constantly live on the banks of Radha-kunda.

Sri Rüpa-manjari instructed that service to Radha-kunda, the highest object of Sri Gaurahari’s internal mood, is the ultimate goal of all service.

Only the most fortunate live in the most sanctified place, Sri Radha-kunda, with pure hearts and worship Krishna twenty-four hours a day.

Sri Radha-kunda is the topmost section of Goloka, the most confidential place in the spiritual sky, and the only shelter for devotees on the platform of mädhurya-rasa.

Only by Sri Radha’s mercy can one reside eternally on the banks of Radha-kunda, the topmost place in the entire creation.

Therefore Sri Rüpa Prabhu mentions taking bath in Radha-kunda in his ultimate instruction: tat premedaà sakåd api saraù snätur äviñkaroti, “If one simply bathes once within those holy waters, one’s pure love of Krishna is fully aroused.

The topmost principle in the spiritual kingdom is to bathe in Sri Radha-kunda.” (Lec. 16 Oct. 1932 at Radha-kunda)

The eternal land of our abode should be Radha Kunda. By the border of Radha Kunda we should have our groves. (article: “Radha Dasyam”)

Bathing Mantra

The Gaur-Govinda Archana Smarana Paddhati recommends chanting the following mantra before lovingly and respectfully bathing in the divine holy waters of Sri Radha Kunda:

rädhikä-sama-saubhägya, sarva-tértha-pravandita

praséda rädhikä-kuìòa, snämi te salile çubhe

O Sri Radhika Kunda, You have obtained good fortune equaling that of Srimati Radhika Herself. And among all the holy places, you are the most praiseworthy. I am bathing in your sacred waters, so please be gracious toward me.

Radha Kunda Tilaka

Acyutananda Swami said, “Srila Prabhupada, our devotees are also wearing the Radha-kunda tilaka.”

Srila Prabhupada replied, “There is no harm.” (Folio:  760816rc.bom)

Shyama-kunda Radha Kunda ki jai!  Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

Mahanidhi Swami

 

Sri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami: I take shelter of the Sangama at Radha-kunda,

 

which is Radha-Madhava’s dear most charming playground that is surrounded by trees of excellent Ashoka, Bakula, Kadamba, Mango and Naga-Keshara, and vines of Campaka, Lavanga and Madhavi.

 

népaiç campaka-pälibhir nava-varäçokai rasälotkaraiù

punnägair bakulair lavaìga-latikä väsantikäbhir våtaiù

hådyaà tat-priya-kuëòayos taöa-milan-madhya-pradeçaà paraà

Radha-mädhavayoù priya-sthalam idaà kelyäs tad eväçraye.

 

What to speak of other places, even the delightful forest of Våndävana, the most beautiful Govardhana Hill, and the rapture-filled Rasa Sthali are not equal to even a single particle of one of the atoms of Sri Radha-kunda. I take shelter of Radha-kunda, which is dearer to Mukunda than His dearly beloved Radhika.

 

Sri-våndä-vipinaà suramyam api tac chrémän sa govardhanaù

sä rasa-sthalikäpy alaà rasamayé kià tävad anya-sthalam

yasyäpy aàça-lavena närhati manäk sämyaà mukundasya tat

präëebhyo’py adhika-priyeva dayitaà tat-kuëòam eväçraye. (Vraja Vilasa Stava 52-53)

 

I always eagerly worship Ariñöakuëòa (Shyama-kunda), who automatically appeared from Krishna’s lotus feet just as honey automatically trickles from a blooming flower when Krishna killed the wicked Ariñöa-demon. Shyama-kunda, who lovingly embraces Sri Radha-kunda, was beautified with staircases by Sri Radha due to Her great love [for Shyama-kunda].

 

duñöäriñöa-vadhe svayaà samudabhüt kåñëäìghri-padmäd idaà

sphétaà yan makaranda-viståtir iväriñöäkhyam iñöaà saraù

sopänaiù pariraïjitaà priyatayä Sri-rädhayä käritaiù

premëäliìgad iva priyä sara idaà tan nétya-nityaà bhaje. (Vraja Vilasa Stava 58)

 

Some great souls, who in their previous lives worshiped the beautiful lotus feet of Sri Gändharvä and Acyuta with the ever-fresh sweetness of ecstatic spiritual love, are able to live on the bank of Sväminé’s dear most lake Sri Radha-kunda. These great devotees are my life and soul!

 

purä premodrekaiù pratipada-navänanda-madhuraiù

kåta-Sri-gändharväcyuta-caraëa-varyärcana-balät

nikämaà sväminyaù priyatara-saras-téra-bhuvane

vasanti sphéta ye ta iha mama jévätava ime (Vraja Vilasa Stava 101)

 

In summer evenings, Sri Radha eagerly plays in the water of Radha-kunda with Her sakhis. When will I serve Radha at that time by filling a syringe with water from Her beloved lake Radha-kunda so She can sprinkle Govinda who is expert in jala-keli.

 

ULLÄSAIR JALAKELI LOLUPA MANAÙ PÜRE NIDÄGHODGAME

KÑVELÉ LAMPAÖA MÄNASÄBHIR ABHITAÙ SÄYAÀ SAKHÉBHIR VÅTÄM

GOVINDAÀ SARASI PRIYE’TRA SALILA KRÉÒÄ VIDAGDHAÀ KAËAIÙ

SIÏCANTÉÀ JALA-YANTRAKEËA PAYASÄÀ RADHAÀ KADÄHAÀ BHAJE

(Utkantha Dasakam 8)

 

O sakhi (Rüpa Maïjari)! If the Youthful Couple, who enliven the whole world by distributing the nectar of Their mercy and who anoint everyone with the fragrance of Their flower-like attributes, do not give me Their mercy, then please arrange that I can always stay at Sri Radha-kunda (and that I may leave my body there)!

 

UDAÏCAT KÄRUËYÄMÅTA VITARAËAIR JÉVITA JAGAD

YUVADVANDVAÀ GANDHAIR GUËA SUMANASÄÀ VÄSITA JANAM

KÅPÄÀ CEN MAYYEVAM KIRATI NA TADÄ TVAÀ KURU TATHÄ

YATHÄ ME SRI KUËÒE SAKHI SAKALAM AÌGAÀ NIVASATI

(Sri Prarthanashraya Chaturdasakam v. 3)

 

Eating only the yogurt and fruits of Vraja, I will always reside in a lovely grove on the bank of Våndävaneçvaré’s lake Sri Radha-kunda, at the base of Giriräja Govardhana. I will continually glorify Sri Radhika and Krishna, love Them and remember Their enchanting lotus feet.

 

GIRI-VARA TAÖA KUÏJE MAÏJU VÅNDÄVANEÇÄ

SARASI CA RACAYAN SRI RADHIKA KRISHNA KÉRTIM

DHÅTA RATI RAMAËÉYAÀ SAÀSMARAÀ TAT PADÄBJAÀ

VRAJA DADHI PHALAM AÇNAN SARVA KÄLAÀ VASÄMI

(Sri Prarthanashraya Chaturdasakam v.13)

 

On summer evenings, Sri Radhika blissfully plays with Bakari Krishna and Her girlfriends in Her own lake, which is filled with breezes cooled by rows of spotless lotus flowers. O, when will Radhika bathe me in Her service?

 

AMALA KAMALA RÄJI SPARÇI BÄTA PRAÇÉTE,

NIJA SARASI NIDÄGHE SÄYAM ULLÄSINÉYAM

PARIJANA GAËA YUKTA KRÉÒAYANTÉ BAKÄRÉÀ

SNAPAYATI NIJA DÄSYE RADHIKA MÄÀ KADÄ NU

(Sri Radhikastakam 8)

 

O blooming lotus-eyed girl (Rädhe)! When my eyes directly saw

Your pond (Radha-kunda), which is filled with sweet water and lotus flowers surrounded by blissfully humming bees, then I really got the desire to taste the nectar of Your service!

 

YADÄ TAVA SAROVARAÀ SARASA BHÅÌGA SAÌGHOLLASAT,

SARORUHA KULOJJVALAÀ MADHURA VÄRI SAMPURITAM,

SPHUÖAT SARASIJÄKÑI HE NAYANA-YUGMA SÄKÑÄD VABHAU,

TADAIVA MAMA LÄLASÄJANI TAVAIVA DÄSYE RASE (Vilapa Kusumanjali 15)

 

O Loläkñi (restless eyed girl)! You and Your beloved always stay at Radha-kunda. Here only I will live and here alone I will stay!

 

SVA KUËÒAÀ TAVA LOLÄKÑI, SAPRIYÄYÄÙ SADÄSPADAM,

ATRAIVA MAMA SAÀVÄSA, IHAIVA MAMA SAÀSTHITIÙ (Vilapa Kusumanjali 97)

 

“By the grace of beautiful Radha-kunda, which is my only shelter, the desire-vine of love for Krishna that bears the flowers of service to my Ishvari Radhika instantly sprouts in the heart of anyone who performs devotional service there.

 

API JANA IHA KAÇCID,  YASYA SEVÄ PRASÄDAIÙ

PRAËAYA SURALATÄ SYÄT,  TASYA GOÑÖHENDRA SÜNOÙ

SAPADI KILA MAD ÉÇÄ,  DÄSYA PUÑPA PRAÇASYÄS

TAD ATI SURABHI RÄDHÄ, KUËÒAM EVÄÇRAYO ME   (Radha-kunda Astakam 5)

 

O beautiful lake (Radha-kunda)! My Ishvari Radha always plays erotic games in you with Her beloved Krishna. If you are dearer to Them than the dearest, then please show me my Ishvari, who is my very life!

 

HE SRI SAROVARA SADÄ TVAYI SÄ MAD ÉÇÄ

PREÑÖHENA SÄRDHAM IHA KHELATI KÄMA RAÌGAIÙ

TVAÀ CET PRIYÄT PRIYAM ATÉVA TAYOR ITÉMÄÀ

HA DARÇAYÄDYA KÅPAYÄ MAMA JÉVITAÀ TÄM (Vilapa Kusumanjali 98)

 

My only shelter is that very fragrant, dear and beautiful Radha-kunda, which instantly makes a desire-tree of Krishna prema sprout in the land of the heart of anyone who bathes there, even though this is rarely attained by Krishna’s beloveds in Vrajabhumi.

 

VRAJABHUVI MURAÇATROÙ,  PREYASÉNÄÀ NIKÄMAIR

ASULABHAM API TÜRËAÀ,   PREMA KALPA DRUMAÀ TVAM

JANAYATI HÅDI BHÜMAU,  SNÄTUR UCCAIÙ PRIYAÀ YAT

TAD ATI SURABHI RÄDHÄ, KUËÒAM EVÄÇRAYO ME (Radha-kunda Astakam 2)

Kundavasi Dasa Goswami ki jai! Radha-kunda ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

Mahanidhi Swami

 

Sriman Mahaprabhu unveiled Radha-kunda and bathed there about 500 years ago.

 

After offering the following prayers, Mahaprabhu became overwhelmed in prema, and danced in bliss on the banks of Radha-kunda while meditating upon Radha-Madhava’s pastimes there, premäviñöa haïä tére nåtya kare kuëòa-lélä saìariyä. (Cc. 2.18.13)

 

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu:

  1. Radha-kunda is very dear to Sri Krishna because it is very dear to Radha, taiche rädhä-kuëòa priya ‘priyära sarasé’ (Cc. 2.18.7)
  2. In Radha-kunda, Krishna eternally associates with Radhika enjoying water sports and other rapturous pastimes on Her banks, yei kuëòe nitya kåñëa rädhikära saìge, jale jala-keli kare, tére räsa-raìge. (Cc. 2.18.9)
  3. Sri Krishna gives ecstatic love like that of Radha to whoever BATHES EVEN ONCE in Radha-kunda, sei kuëòe eka bära yei kore snäna, täre rädhä sama prema kåñëa kore däna!” (Cc. 2.18.10)
  4. The glorious sweetness Radha-kunda resembles Radha’s sweet glories, kuëòera ‘mädhuré’ yena rädhära ‘madhurimä’, kuëòera ‘mahimä’ yena rädhära ‘mahimä’. (Cc. 2.18.11)

 

Glorification of Sri Radha-kunda by Gaudiya Vaisnava Acharyas:

 

Sri Rupa Gosvami:

  1. Radha-kunda is the topmost holy place in Vrindavana because it immerses one in the nectar of Gokulapati Krishna prema. What discriminating person would not wish to serve this magnificent lake beside Giri-Govardhana, rädhä-kuëòam ihäpi gokula-pateù premämåtä plävanät, kuryäd asya viräjato giri-taöe seväà viveké na kaù. (Upadeshamrita 9)

 

Srila Prabhupada Purport:

Rädhä-kuëòa is superior to all because here love of Kåñëa overflows. Advanced devotees prefer to reside at Rädhä-kuëòa because this place is the site of many memories of the eternal loving affairs between Kåñëa and Rädhäräëé (rati-viläsa). Who, then, would give up Rädhä-kuëòa and try to reside elsewhere? No person with transcendental intelligence would do so.

 

  1. Radha-kunda is as profoundly dear to Sri Krishna as Radharani, the most beloved of the gopés. Who, then, will not reside at Rädhä-kuëòa and, in a spiritual body surcharged with ecstatic devotional feelings [apräkåta-bhäva], render loving service to the divine couple Çré Çré Rädhä-Govinda, who perform Their añöakäléya-lélä, Their eternal eightfold daily pastimes. Indeed, those who execute devotional service on the banks of Rädhä-kuëòa are the most fortunate people in the universe. (Upad. 10)

 

Srila Prabhupada Purport:

Srimati Radharani the most exalted devotee of Kåñëa and Her Çré Rädhä-kuëòa is the most exalted place. Therefore everyone interested in Kåñëa consciousness should ultimately take shelter of Rädhä-kuëòa and execute devotional service there throughout one’s life.

 

  1. Upon one who bathes just once in Her waters, Radha-kunda bestows gopi-prema which is very difficult for Krishna’s dear devotees to attain what to speak of ordinary sadhakas, yat preñöhair apy alam asulabhaà kià punar bhakti-bhäjäà, tat premedaà sakåd api saraù snätur äviñkaroti. (Upad. 11)

 

Srila Prabhupada Purport:

It is stated that a devotee will at once develop pure love of Kåñëa in the wake of the gopés if he once takes a bath in Rädhä-kuëòa. Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé recommends that even if one cannot live permanently on the banks of Rädhä-kuëòa, he should at least take a bath in the lake as many times as possible. This is a most important item in the execution of devotional service.

 

Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura writes in this connection that Çré Rädhä-kuëòa is the most select place for those interested in advancing their devotional service in the wake of the lady friends (sakhés) and confidential serving maids (maïjarés) of Çrématé Rädhäräëé.

 

Living entities who are eager to return home to the transcendental kingdom of God, Goloka Våndävana, by means of attaining their spiritual bodies (siddha-deha) should live at Rädhä-kuëòa, take shelter of the confidential serving maids of Çré Rädhä and under their direction engage constantly in Her service.

 

If, by great fortune, one gets an opportunity to come to Rädhä-kuëòa and bathe even once, he can develop his transcendental love for Kåñëa, exactly as the gopés did.

 

It is also recommended that one should live on the banks of Rädhä-kuëòa and should be absorbed in the loving service of the Lord. One should bathe there regularly and give up all material conceptions, taking shelter of Çré Rädhä and Her assistant gopés.

 

If one is thus constantly engaged during his lifetime, after giving up the body he will return back to Godhead to serve Çré Rädhä in the same way as he contemplated during his life on the banks of Rädhä-kuëòa.

 

THE CONCLUSION is that to live on the banks of the Rädhä-kuëòa and to bathe there daily constitute the highest perfection of devotional service. Thus there is no limit to the glory of Çré Rädhä-kuëòa.

 

By serving Rädhä-kuëòa, one can get an opportunity to become an assistant of Çrématé Rädhäräëé under the eternal guidance of the gopés. (All quotes above from Srila Prabhupada Upadeshamrita 11 pur.)

Radha-kunda snana ki jai! Radha-kunda vasa ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

Mahanidhi Swami

 

In the last article, we heard about the glories of brahmanas.

Here Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura reminds us of the power and position of the saintly devotees of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. May we always be blessed with the darshana, sanga and seva of the wish-fulfilling angels of mercy gracing this gloomy world in the form of Krishna bhaktas, the Vaisnavas.

 

“The lotus feet of the saintly Vaisnavas are the greatest wealth in this world. O my dear brothers! Please listen attentively. One who takes shelter of the Vaisnava and worships Krishna is never forsaken by Krishna. Others die without reason.

“The water that has washed the feet of a Vaisnava gives divine strength to a person engaged in loving devotional service. Nothing else is more powerful than this. The dust of the feet of the Vaisnavas upon my head is the only decoration needed at the time of death.

“The Puranas and bhakti discourses often mention the purifying power of tirtha jal. However, the water from the feet of a Vaisnava far surpasses the benedictory power of such sacred water. In fact, all of one’s desires are fulfilled by taking the water from the feet of a Vaisnava.

“One experiences great bliss in associating with Vaisnavas discussing hari-katha. Becoming impatient due to forgetfulness of Krishna, Narottama dasa thus laments. (Prarthana 5.44)

Satam prasangam ki jai! Koti koti bhakta gana ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

Mahanidhi Swami

 

Gaura nitya-parishad Murari Gupta describes how Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu once honored the brahmanas in Gaya by drinking their foot water. (Sri Krishna Chaitanya Carita Maha Kavya 1.15.11-12)

While narrating this pastime, Srila Prabhupada gives some important instructions for all followers of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, i.e. us.

Srila Prabhupada said, “When Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu went to Gaya, He became sick on the way. He had such a high fever that He asked His students to bring water that had washed the feet of brahmanas. After Mahaprabhu drank it He was cured.

“Therefore everyone should respect the position of a brahmana. Neither the Lord nor His followers displayed any disrespect to brahmanas. The followers of the Lord must be prepared to offer brahmanas all due respect.” (Cc. 1.17.9 p.)

The following entry from Padma Purana, Kriya-yoga-sara khanda (21.3-36) beautifully glorifies the brahmanas and reveals the severe reactions of not properly treating or respecting them.

Sri Brahmaji said, “Of all the castes the brahmana is the most venerable person. Gifts should be given to him by all men. A brahmana is the resort of all deities. He is actually a god on the earth (bhu-deva). He delivers one from samsara to whomever gives him a donation.

“Brahmanas are respectable to ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras. Brahmanas are always to be honoured. The lifespan, sons, fame and wealth will increase for one who worships a brahmana as being non-different from Sri Vishnu.

“One who does not respect a brahmana is just like a dog-eater. An intelligent person should not hate brahmanas who have committed faults. If out of foolishness someone shows hatred toward a brahmana then Vishnu will forever be angry with them.

“Yamaraja puts a needle into the eyes of one who looks angrily at brahmanas. And Yama puts a hot iron rot into the mouth of one who rebukes a brahmana.

“However, Yamaraja quickly destroys all the sins of one who carries a mere drop of water from the foot of a brahmana. All the holy places in crores of worlds exist in the right foot of a brahmana. He whose head is sprinkled with water from the feet of a brahmana, has bathed at all holy places and is initiated for all sacrifices.

By washing and worshiping a brahmana’s feet, one simultaneously worships Lord Vishnu, becomes free from all sins and attains liberation. By doing parikrama of a brahmana one circumambulates the entire universe.” Sri Brahmaji shiksha ki jai!

To conclude we offer this prayer:

namo brahmanya devaya, go brahmana hitaya ca

jagad-dhitaya Krishnaya, govindaya namo namah

I offer my respects unto Sri Govindadeva, the worshipable Lord for all brahmanas, and the benefactor of cows, brahmanas and the entire universe. (Vishnu P.1.19.65)

Brahmana bhu-devas ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

Mahanidhi Swami

 

It is very sad to see that in the holiest of places, Sri Dhama Vrindavana, the yatris and pilgrims show very little if any respect to the brahmanas, pandas and tirtha gurus.

 

Of course, such neglect can be expected since this is the age of Kali which is characterized by ignorance and degeneration, a lack of quality,  and total distrust in anyone and everything. It is very, very rare to find a good anything; be it a good teacher, good parent, good spouse, friend, politician, doctor, soldier, merchant or laborer, or a good devotee, guru or brahmana.

 

Everyone is faulty in one way or another. The Srimad Bhagavatam confirms that Kali-Yuga is the AGE OF FAULTS—each and every one of us is drowning in an ocean of faults and shortcomings, kaler dosha nidhe. (SB 12.3.51)

 

Thus we all have a “faulty outlook” and for various reasons or even no reason, many people have personal prejudices or negative feelings toward brahmanas.

 

However, if we just follow our minds and impulses, whims and wants, impressions, negative samskaras, dislikes and prejudices we will never attain any happiness or success in human life.

 

Follow the mind and attain frustration, anxiety and failure at last. Or follow shastra and attain happiness, perfection and liberation forever.

 

Sri Krishna describes these two paths in Gita (16.23): “One who rejects and neglects the shastra vidhi (rules and suggestions of scripture) and just follows his/her desires and lust will never achieve happiness, perfection or the spiritual world, yah shastra vidhim utsrjya, vartate kama-karatah, na sa siddhim avapnoti, na sukham na param.

 

An intelligent person should guide his thinking, desiring and actions on the basis of the perfect knowledge given by Bhagavan Sri Krishna, personally appearing before us in the form of shastra to guide, be friend and help all of us. In Srimad Bhagavatam (10.85.42), Daityaraja Bali said, “O Bhagavan, Your divine form comprises the revealed scriptures, tvayi shastra sharirini.

 

To create a healthy attitude toward brahmanas, to improve our understanding of their position, and to learn how to properly respect, honor and treat them, we offer the following shastric references for the benefit of all.

While touring South India, Bhagavan Sri Krishna and His exalted entourage visited the home of a brahmana devotee named Shrutadeva. At that time, Sri Krishna gave some very important “eternal instructions for everyone” regarding the proper vision and treatment of brahmanas.

By reading, reflecting upon, and trying to follow these Puranic teachings one will acquire a peaceful, controlled mind which will be shown by proper behavior toward the brahamanas.

Bhagavan Sri Krishna said, “My dear brahmana Shrutadevaji! You should know that these great sages have come here just to bless you. They travel throughout the worlds with Me, purifying them with the dust of their feet.”

Tika: Sri Krishna said, “I have heard you praise Me but not the brahmanas accompanying Me. Being favorable to the brahmanas, I will personally praise them in order to teach devotion to the brahmanas.” By saying this Krishna implies, “Even though I am Your object of praise, the brahmanas are Mine.

Sri Krishna: “One can gradually become purified by seeing, touching and worshiping temple deities, places of pilgrimage and holy rivers. But one can attain the same result immediately simply by receiving the glance of exalted sages.”

Tika: “Moreover, the brahmanas, who immediately purify one just by their darsana, are even greater than temple deities who slowly purify one.”

Sri Krishna: “By his very birth, a brahmana is the best of all living beings in this world, and he becomes even more exalted when he is endowed with austerity, learning and self-satisfaction, what to speak of devotion to Me.”

Tika: Krishna continued, “By birth, austerity, peace and knowledge the brahmana is the best of all living entities. He is even more so when he has attained direct realization of Me by intensely worshiping Me.”

Sri Krishna: “Even My own four-armed form is no dearer to Me than a brahmana. Within himself a learned brahmana comprises all the Vedas, just as within Myself I comprise all the demigods.”

Tika: The phrase sarva-veda-mayo vipraḥ means that the brahmana sages, who are the Vedas personified, can reveal Krishna who embodies all the demigods and Vishnu-tattva expansions of Narayana.

Sri Krishna: “Ignorant of this truth, foolish people neglect and enviously offend a learned brahmana, who, being nondifferent from Me, is their spiritual master and very self. They consider worshipable only such obvious manifestations of divinity as My Deity form.

Tika: Krishna said, “Foolish people who are ignorant of this truth find fault (asuyavah) with brahmanas, and think that deities are worshipable but not brahmanas.”

Sri Krishna: “Because he has realized Me, a brahmana is firmly fixed in the knowledge that everything moving and nonmoving in the universe, and also the primary elements of its creation, are all manifest forms expanded from Me.”

Tika: This verse describes the qualities of the brahmana. Krishna said, “Special brahmanas like Narada Muni, who are endowed with direct realization of Me (mad-ikshaya), know that this universe and its causes (hetavah), the primary elements (bhavah) such as mahat-tattva, are all manifest forms expanded from Me.”

Concluding His glorification of brahmanas, Bhagavan Sri Krishna said, “Therefore you should worship these brahmana sages with the same faith you have in Me. If you do so, you will worship Me directly, which you cannot do otherwise, even with offerings of vast riches. (SB 10.86.51-59 v& tikas Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti) See more in part two.

Respecting and serving brahmanas ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!