Ecstatic Pilgrimage to Rajasthan

Today we are heading out at 4am on an ecstatic pilgrimage road trip to see the three principle deities of Vrindavana: Madana Mohana, Govinda, and Gopinatha. In the year 1670 A.D. these deities had to be secretly removed from Vrindavan because the army of the Muslim tyrant Aurangzeb was coming on his order to destroy them and the temples of Vrindavan. They were taken to Rajasthan, and were under the protection of the powerful Vaisnava king Maharaja Jai Singh II.

Our first stop after a three hour drive of 158 kilometers is the remote Rajastani village Karauli where Madana Mohana is presently being worshipped. He was originally worshipped by Santana Goswami in Vrindavan on top of hill overlooking the Yamuna River. These three deities are especially important to the followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Gaudiya Vaisnavas. In this connection Krishnadas Kaviraja Goswami has written in his great Vaisnava classic, the Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, as follows:

"These three Deities of Vrindavana [Madana-mohana, Govinda and Gopinatha] have absorbed the heart and soul of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas [followers of Lord Caitanya]. I worship Their lotus feet, for They are the Lords of my heart."--CC, Adi 1.19

The three Deities -- Madana-mohana, Govinda and Gopijana-vallabha (Gopinatha) -- have very specific qualities. Worship of Madana-mohana is on the platform of reestablishing our forgotten relationship with the Personality of Godhead. In the material world we are presently in utter ignorance of our eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord. Pangoh refers to one who cannot move independently by his own strength, and manda-mateh is one who is less intelligent because he is too absorbed in materialistic activities. It is best for such persons not to aspire for success in fruitive activities or mental speculation but instead simply to surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The perfection of life is simply to surrender to the Supreme. In the beginning of our spiritual life we must therefore worship Madana-mohana so that He may attract us and nullify our attachment for material sense gratification. This relationship with Madana-mohana is necessary for neophyte devotees. When one wishes to render service to the Lord with strong attachment, one worships Govinda on the platform of transcendental service. Govinda is the reservoir of all pleasures. When by the grace of Krishna and the devotees one reaches perfection in devotional service, he can appreciate Krishna as Gopijana-vallabha (Gopinatha), the pleasure Deity of the damsels of Vraja.

Tomorrow we will tell you about Govinda, the second deity of this holy Vrindavan trinity.

Madana Mohan Deity in Karauli, Rajasthan

Madana Mohan Deity in Karauli, Rajasthan

Answers by Citing the Vedic Version:

Question: Is It Okay to Dance Before the Deities?

Is it okay to dance in front of the Deities if one has not developed the attitude of dancing for the pleasure of Lord?

In submissive mood and with humble respects,

Sunil

Answer: You Must Dance Before the Deities

The attitude of dancing for the pleasure of Lord Krishna is already present with you. So if even if you do not feel like dancing, if you will dance anyway, the natural desire you have to dance for Krishna’s pleasure will become manifested, and you will find happily yourself dancing in ecstasy for the pleasure of Krishna. So feeling or no feeling you should always dance.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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