Vrindavan Parikrama
1 December 2006--Today I circumambulated the sacred town of Vrindavan. This town of 5,000 temples is the site of many of the most intimate pastimes of Lord Sri Krishna. Five hundred years ago this area was a forest on the bank on the sacred river Yamuna. Lord Caitanya visited here in 1515 with the purpose of locating the lost holy places associated with Lord Sri Krishna's transcendental pastimes. Lord Caitanya wandered through the different sacred forests of Vrindavan in a spiritual trance of divine love, sometimes laughing, sometimes crying, sometimes dancing in ecstasy, and constantly chanting the holy names of Krishna. By His divine spiritual power, He was able to locate all the important places of Lord Krishna's pastimes in and around the present town of Vrindavan.
I both begin and end my parikrama by offering full dandavats (falling flat like a stick on the ground) in the sacred dust on the side of Parikrama Marga. The first major holy site along the trail is Kaliya Ghat. Here there is a kadamba tree that is over 5,000 years old. During Krishna's presence here this kadamba tree was standing on the bank of the Yamuna River. Krishna jumped from this tree into the Yamuna to subdue the gigantic Kaliya serpent who was polluting the Yamuna with his poison.
The next major holy site is the Madan Mohan Temple. This famous temple was the first temple to be built in Vrindavan. It was constructed under the direction of Sanatana Goswami on the hill known as Dvadasaditya Hill. It was on this hill that Krishna came to warm up in the sunshine. He was feeling chilled after having spent so much time in the water with Kaliya serpent. At time time twelve forms of the Aditya (Surya, the sun god) appeared here as twelve blazing suns in order to prevent the Lord from catching a cold. "Dvadasaditya" means "twelve Adityas."
After stopping off at Imli Tala, the remnants of an over 5,000 year tamarind tree associated with Lord Krishna's and Lord Caitanya's pastimes we came to Kesi Ghat.
This is place where Krishna killed the Kesi demon, who appeared in the form of gigantic horse. This is also the most famous bathing ghat in Vrindavan. An arati to Yamuna Devi is held here every evening. This Kesi demon was a friend of the evil king Kamsa, who was trying by so many means to kill Krishna. By this demon's mystic powers he assumed the form of a giant horse, and in wild and angry mood, entered Vrindavan where he found Lord Krishna playing by the bank of the Yamuna river with His cowherd boyfriends. He attacked the Lord to kill Him but ended up instead receiving the great benediction of being directly killed by the Lord.
By taking this 6 mile walk of two or three hours one is able to pay proper respect to the holy abode of the Lord. One washes away innumerable sins accumulated over many, many lifetimes by worshipping literally thousands of holy places.
I am only mentioning a few highlights here. There is much I cannot tell you here in this brief description. You must come someday and personally experience Vrindavan. It will help you connect with the eternal Vrindavan Dham, which exists forever in the wondrous spiritual sky.
Your humble servant,
Ameeta
If the living being was pious enough to get another human birth, it described in the Srimad Bhagavatam that after seven months he prays to the Lord to be released from the horrible situation that he is in. In this connection Srila Prabhupada explains, "As long as the child is within the womb of his mother, he is in a very precarious and horrible condition of life, but the benefit is that he revives pure consciousness of his relationship with the Supreme Lord and prays for deliverance. But once he is outside the abdomen, when a child is born, maya, or the illusory energy, is so strong that he is immediately overpowered into considering his body to be his self."
Therefore you should consider yourself most fortunate to have a human birth and be conscious of your relationship with Krishna. Now fully take advantage of this very rare opportunity you have been blessed and make your life perfect by complete surrender unto the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
The path around the town is called in Hindi "Parikrama Marga", which means "circumambulation path"
I both begin and end my parikrama by offering full dandavats (falling flat like a stick on the ground) in the sacred dust on the side of Parikrama Marga. The first major holy site along the trail is Kaliya Ghat. Here there is a kadamba tree that is over 5,000 years old. During Krishna's presence here this kadamba tree was standing on the bank of the Yamuna River. Krishna jumped from this tree into the Yamuna to subdue the gigantic Kaliya serpent who was polluting the Yamuna with his poison.
The next major holy site is the Madan Mohan Temple. This famous temple was the first temple to be built in Vrindavan. It was constructed under the direction of Sanatana Goswami on the hill known as Dvadasaditya Hill. It was on this hill that Krishna came to warm up in the sunshine. He was feeling chilled after having spent so much time in the water with Kaliya serpent. At time time twelve forms of the Aditya (Surya, the sun god) appeared here as twelve blazing suns in order to prevent the Lord from catching a cold. "Dvadasaditya" means "twelve Adityas."
After stopping off at Imli Tala, the remnants of an over 5,000 year tamarind tree associated with Lord Krishna's and Lord Caitanya's pastimes we came to Kesi Ghat.
This is place where Krishna killed the Kesi demon, who appeared in the form of gigantic horse. This is also the most famous bathing ghat in Vrindavan. An arati to Yamuna Devi is held here every evening. This Kesi demon was a friend of the evil king Kamsa, who was trying by so many means to kill Krishna. By this demon's mystic powers he assumed the form of a giant horse, and in wild and angry mood, entered Vrindavan where he found Lord Krishna playing by the bank of the Yamuna river with His cowherd boyfriends. He attacked the Lord to kill Him but ended up instead receiving the great benediction of being directly killed by the Lord.
By taking this 6 mile walk of two or three hours one is able to pay proper respect to the holy abode of the Lord. One washes away innumerable sins accumulated over many, many lifetimes by worshipping literally thousands of holy places.
I am only mentioning a few highlights here. There is much I cannot tell you here in this brief description. You must come someday and personally experience Vrindavan. It will help you connect with the eternal Vrindavan Dham, which exists forever in the wondrous spiritual sky.
Answers According to the Vedic Version
Question: When Does the Soul Get Realization?...
At what moment after death does the soul realize that he has wasted his life? Is there any moment when he regrets not giving his life to Krishna Consciousness? Does this realization come after entering into the womb of another living entity?Your humble servant,
Ameeta
Answer: In the Human Form...
He may not come to any realization for millions of lifetimes depending on how sinful he was. It is very sad situation. This is why we have to inundate this entire planet with Krishna consciousness.If the living being was pious enough to get another human birth, it described in the Srimad Bhagavatam that after seven months he prays to the Lord to be released from the horrible situation that he is in. In this connection Srila Prabhupada explains, "As long as the child is within the womb of his mother, he is in a very precarious and horrible condition of life, but the benefit is that he revives pure consciousness of his relationship with the Supreme Lord and prays for deliverance. But once he is outside the abdomen, when a child is born, maya, or the illusory energy, is so strong that he is immediately overpowered into considering his body to be his self."
Therefore you should consider yourself most fortunate to have a human birth and be conscious of your relationship with Krishna. Now fully take advantage of this very rare opportunity you have been blessed and make your life perfect by complete surrender unto the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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