Vraja Seva & Bhajan Gives 1,000 x 1,000 Benefits

Mahanidhi Swami

Although it is a popular notion that one will suffer 1000 X reactions for any offenses committed in Vrindavana (aparadhas to Thakuraji, Guru, Vaisnavas, Nama, Vrajavasis, Yatris, and the dhama itself, this fact is not stated anywhere in the Srimad Bhagavatam, or any of the Gaudiya Vaisnava Goswami granthas.

In this regard, Srila Prabhupada said, “It is the verdict of Vedic culture that one must follow the authorities. Krishna also said this in the Bhagavad-gita (16.24), tasmad shastras pramanam te: ‘Whatever you do, you must follow the shastras.’ Otherwise it is not bona fide. So we cannot avoid shastras.” (751103CC.BOM)

The Srimad Bhagavatam ( 7.14.30-33) which is the shastra pramana, amala Purana for the entire Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya says: “The extremely, sacred transcendental pilgrimage sites (tirthas, dhamas) of MATHURA/VRINDAVAN, Pushkara, Kurukshetra, Gaya, Prayaga, Dvaraka, Varanasi, Badarikashrama, Citrakuta…etc., and places where Radha-Krishna murtis are worshiped are the purest places on earth (punya tamah deshah). If one wants to advance in spiritual life, one should visit these transcendental holy places again and again.

shreyas kamo hy abhikshnashah, dharmo hy atrehitah pumsam, sahasradhi phalodayah sahasra adhi  

“All good activities like dana (giving charity), tapa (observing fasts and austerities) puja, punya karmas, Thakuraji puja, and Radha-Krishna bhakti bhajan performed in these sacred place give MORE THAN a thousand times the result of the same activities performed in other places.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 7.14.33)

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti tika: Acts performed in these places give a thousand times more result than at other places.

Vraja vasa, Harinama japa, kirtan and Krishna lila smaran ki jai! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!