Tag Archive for: LivingInVrindavan

Mahanidhi Swami

We while walking along the beach beside the ocean of Srila Prabhupada’s vani, we found some rare gems of his words glorifying Sridhama Vrindavana. By reading and ruminating upon these sacred words, may we all expand our attitudes regarding and our appreciation for Vrindavana. Srila Prabhupada’s quotes have been arranged by topic.

  1. Identity of Vrindavana:
  2. “The earthly Vrindavana Dhama is always a representation of the original Vrindavana Dhama. Consequently Vrindavana Dhama is as worshipable as Lord Krishna. (Cc. 2.16.280 p.)
  3. “This Vrindavana is as good as Krishna.” (721030ND.VRN)
  4. “Always remember Krishna, Vrindavana is Krishna’s land, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto.” (760408mw.vrn)
  5. The Vrajavasis, Born Residents of Vrindavana
  6. “Anyone who is living in Vrindavana, even cats and dogs, they are also glorious, (740816BG.VRN)
  7. [Srila Prabhupada describes the position of the Vrajavasis living in Vrindavana]

“Simply by living [in Vrindavana], if they do not commit any sinful activities, they’ll go back to home [spiritual world of Goloka Vrindavana].”

Disciple: “Do the Vrajavasis need a spiritual master?”

Srila Prabhupada: “No, generally, naturally, the Vrajavasis are Krishna conscious.”

Disciple: “But they don’t have a spiritual master.”

Srila Prabhupada: “Yes, he has a spiritual master because spiritual master is within, caitya-guru. (760408mw.vrn)

III. Visiting Vrindavana

  1. “Shastra says that you should approach to a bhagavata, a devotee who is living in Vrindavana, a pure devotee and surrender unto him. That is tirtha yatra. Not that coming here [to Vrindavana] and taking bath in the Yamuna. (740316SB.VRN)
  2. Living in Vrindavana
  3. “Those who are living in Vrindavana, they should try to understand Krishna tattva [the truth of Krishna]. That is their business.” (721030ND.VRN)
  4. To live in Vrindavana means to know Krishna—how He appeared there, how He played here, how He executed His pastimes here. These are all celestial, all transcendental. Jaya Radha-Madhava Kunja Bihari. (721030ND.VRN)
  5. “As Krishna is worshipable, similarly His dhama is worshipable. We should be very much respectful to Vrindavana-dhama; otherwise we’ll be offender. Dhamaparadha.” (721029SB.VRN)
  6. “If we remain in Vrindavana, we should know that we are living with Krishna. And how much we should be cautious…and careful. Vrindavana Dhama is also Krishna.” (721030ND.VRN)
  7. [We should never commit sins while living in Vrindavana, or anywhere else. But if one living in Vrindavana somehow slips, then Vrindavana will help him.]

“Because I am living in Vrindavana. Vrindavana raja [dust of Vrindavana] will cure me, will purify me. That’s a fact. Yes!” (721029SB.VRN)

  1. “If you actually live in Vrindavana carefully, without committing any offense and sinful life, then in this life you are going to Krishna!!!” (721030ND.VRN)

Living In Vrindavana ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

Mahanidhi Swami

In a previous article, we mentioned that most of the Gaudiya Vaisnava mahajanas have lived here themselves, and instructed sadhakas to live and do Radha-Krishna bhajana in Vrindavana Dhama. There is a special sweet reason for living in Vrindavana and now it will be revealed!

Gaudiyas generally say that three different activities performed in three different Holy Dhamas quickly give Krishna prema. In Navadvipa Gaura Mandala, Harinama Sankirtana awards love of God. In Jagannatha Puri, relishing Jagannatha Swami’s tasty remnants brings prema perfection. In Sri Vrindavana Dhama, prema comes to one who glorifies, honors, contacts and rolls in the sacred dust, vraja-raja.

On behalf of all sadhakas, Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswamipada says, “How can anyone enter the ocean of Shyama rasa without worshiping the dust of Sri Radha’s lotus feet, and without living in Vrindavana where Radharani’s footprints are found…anaradhya radha padambhoja renum, anashritya vrindatavim tat padankam, kutah shyam sindho rasa avagahah?” (Sva Sankalpa Prakasha Stotram 1)

In other words, without Vrindavana vasa and Vraja-raja, which is mercy-packed with the dust (renum) of Radha’s lotus feet (pada ambhoja), no one can experience the intimate loving moods of Sri Krishna. Living in Vraja affords one the opportunity to worship the foot dust of Vrindavana Vilasini Radha, which of course is not available anywhere else in the universe!

Uddhava Mahashaya, Sri Krishna’s Dvaraka friend and minister, once visited Vrindavana, and later prayed for a future birth as a blade of grass in Vraja just to get sprinkled with dust from the gopis tender feet. Everywhere in Vrindavana, one will find Srimati Radhika’s foot dust and the places of Her blissful pastimes with Her Priyatama Shyama.

The dust of Vraja is not only closely connected to Srimati Radharani, but it is also fully devoted to Her. One popular Hindi bhajana says, “In Vrindavana, each and every pebble and particle of dust is chanting “Sri Radha, Sri Radha”…vrindavana me kan kan bole, Sri Radha Sri Radha!”

Thus, Srila Rupa Goswamipada commands us, “One should always live in Vraja…kuryad vasam vraje sada!” (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu) It seems quite clear that serious sadhakas should take shelter of Vrindavana, and live here worshiping the dust of Srimati Radharani’s lotus feet. By this practice, surely one will very quickly attain Krishna prema and the eternal service of Sri Radha.

Sridhama Vrindavana ki jai! Radhika charana renu ki jai!

Vraja raja luthan ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

Mahanidhi Swami

We while walking along the beach beside the ocean of Srila Prabhupada’s vani, we found some rare gems of his words glorifying Sridhama Vrindavana. By reading and ruminating upon these sacred words, may we all expand our attitudes regarding and our appreciation for Vrindavana. Srila Prabhupada’s quotes have been arranged by topic.

  1. Identity of Vrindavana:
  2. “The earthly Vrindavana Dhama is always a representation of the original Vrindavana Dhama. Consequently Vrindavana Dhama is as worshipable as Lord Krishna. (Cc. 2.16.280 p.)
  3. “This Vrindavana is as good as Krishna.” (721030ND.VRN)
  4. “Always remember Krishna, Vrindavana is Krishna’s land, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto.” (760408mw.vrn)
  1. The Vrajavasis, Born Residents of Vrindavana
  1. “Anyone who is living in Vrindavana, even cats and dogs, they are also glorious, (740816BG.VRN)
  2. [Srila Prabhupada describes the position of the Vrajavasis living in Vrindavana]

“Simply by living [in Vrindavana], if they do not commit any sinful activities, they’ll go back to home [spiritual world of Goloka Vrindavana].”

Disciple: “Do the Vrajavasis need a spiritual master?”

Srila Prabhupada: “No, generally, naturally, the Vrajavasis are Krishna conscious.”

Disciple: “But they don’t have a spiritual master.”

Srila Prabhupada: “Yes, he has a spiritual master because spiritual master is within, caitya-guru. (760408mw.vrn)

III. Visiting Vrindavana

  1. “Shastra says that you should approach to a bhagavata, a devotee who is living in Vrindavana, a pure devotee and surrender unto him. That is tirtha yatra. Not that coming here [to Vrindavana] and taking bath in the Yamuna. (740316SB.VRN)
  1. Living in Vrindavana
  2. “Those who are living in Vrindavana, they should try to understand Krishna tattva [the truth of Krishna]. That is their business.” (721030ND.VRN)
  3. To live in Vrindavana means to know Krishna—how He appeared there, how He played here, how He executed His pastimes here. These are all celestial, all transcendental. Jaya Radha-Madhava Kunja Bihari. (721030ND.VRN)
  4. “As Krishna is worshipable, similarly His dhama is worshipable. We should be very much respectful to Vrindavana-dhama; otherwise we’ll be offender. Dhamaparadha.” (721029SB.VRN)
  5. “If we remain in Vrindavana, we should know that we are living with Krishna. And how much we should be cautious…and careful. Vrindavana Dhama is also Krishna.” (721030ND.VRN)
  6. [We should never commit sins while living in Vrindavana, or anywhere else. But if one living in Vrindavana somehow slips, then Vrindavana will help him.]

“Because I am living in Vrindavana. Vrindavana raja [dust of Vrindavana] will cure me, will purify me. That’s a fact. Yes!” (721029SB.VRN)

  1. “If you actually live in Vrindavana carefully, without committing any offense and sinful life, then in this life you are going to Krishna!!!” (721030ND.VRN)

Living In Vrindavana ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!