Journey to Sri Khanda, Sri Pat of Narahari Sarkar–Baradanga Pt. 2

Jai Nitai! Jai Gora! Jai Narahari!

Dilip Raya Goswami showed us around Narahari Gaura Kunja and told some lila katha about Narahari and Raghunandan Thakur. Raghunandan was Narahari’s nephew and in an upcoming post I will show a murti of his mother holding the newborn Raghunandan in her lap. The principal preachers of Gaura paramya vada and Gaura nagari vada were Raghunandan and two disciples of Narahari, Lochan Das and Lokanandacharya. On the premises there is a monument erected showing the place where Lochan Das wrote his famous book, Caitanya Mangal.  Just outside of the premises is a very old and very huge banyan tree that is worshipped as Yogamaya by the Sri Khandavasis.

A very old and very large banyan tree that is worshipped as Yogamaya

The place where Caitanya Mangal was written by Lochan Das

Another shot of the courtyard

The courtyard of Narahari Gaura kunja

Dilip Raya Goswami telling lila katha

The Radha Kunda samskar is over…

Jai Radhey!

From all appearances it was finished yesterday, but I was unable to get a reliable answer from anyone. This photo was taken about half past 6 PM and you can see just how few people are now coming to the kunda. Many of the photos you saw in the previous days were taken at this very same time.  I get a sad feeling from seeing the kunda so quiet, but soon it will be very crowded again with all the pilgrims doing Govardhan parikramas leading up to guru purnima.

Radha kunda this evening...

Radha kunda samskar may be over…

Jai Radhey!

Tonight there was no pumping and no one removing mud from Radharani’s kunda. I was told that the money for the project had run out and the cleaning needed to stop in order for enough water to return to the kunda in time for guru purnima. It was such an ecstatic event to nightly see the devotees of Radharani enthusiastically gathering to serve her. I may not know until tomorrow if it has definitely ended, but for now it certainly looks that way.

rAdhAkuNDa Azraya mora jIvane maraNe

evening 2

evening 1

morning 3

morning 2

morning 1

Sri Radha Kunda on the evening of June the 23rd

Jai Sri Radhey!

The seva continues…

Mathura Prasad Goswami at the Sangam

Brijbasi Dan-bihari Shukla, my favorite panda at the Sangam

Devotees bathing in Shyam Kunda during the seva of Radha Kunda

Radha kunda evening of June the 22nd

Jai Radhey!

Tonight there was a special appearance of the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Kumari Mayawati. She flew over Radha kunda in a helicopter several times and showered rose petals over the kunda and the devotees. This event attracted large crowds of people.

Radha kunda morning of June the 22nd

Jai Radhey!

I was surprised to see all the water in the kunda this morning. I haven’t yet found out what happened. In the middle of the night I heard loud cheers of, “Radhey! Radhey!” Perhaps something unexpected occurred in the middle of the night. I am sure I will find out.

Cleaning Radha Kunda continued… June 21

Jai Sri Radhey!

These images were taken this afternoon between 4-5:00 PM. Ordinarily, this is the time when things are gradually getting started. Some sheet metal was used to erect a temporary fence around Kankan kunda to help control the crowds. I didn’t manage to get any photos of tonights activities due to a camera malfunction, but tomorrow all should be back to normal.

Radhakund samskar evening of June 20

Jai Jai Sri Radhey!

Despite Nagara Sri Krishna’s endeavours, Srimati’s mana was not broken. She just stubbornly sat there, covering her head with her veil. The rejected Nagara thought of different means to break Srimati’s mana. Suddenly it came to him, “Aho! I am standing on the bank of Sri Radhakund! By the grace of the kunda I will be showered with the grace of Sri Kundesvari!”

In this way some glimmer of hope illuminated the desperate heart of Krishna. He bathed in Sri Radhakund, picked flowers from the trees and vines on its banks and kneeled on the jewelled steps leading down to the kunda. The flowers he collected were moistened with the tears of his love and he gently threw them into the kunda with devotion as an offering. He made obeisances to the kunda and prayed. “O Sri Radhakund! May I get the merciful glance of your Isvari by your grace!” One sakhi who witnessed the activities of Nagara Krishna ran to Srimati’s kunja and told her of Krishna’s loving seva to her kunda. This made tears of compassion trickle from her lotus-like eyes. The sakhis understood that Srimati was pleased with Krishna again, and her mana was broken so they quickly brought him to her kunja. Kundesvari being pleased with this servant of her kunda cast a merciful glance filled with love upon him. Nagara Krishna understanding that his service of the kunda was successful, considered himself blessed and the sakhis and manjaris were also blessed by seeing the sweet meeting of the Yugal.

Radhakund samskar morning of June 20

Jai Sri Radhey!

Most of the Vaisnavas assemble in the evenings to do the seva of Radhakund. This morning only one line of devotees assembled for seva.

Tulasi Dasi the artist, happily serving Kankan kunda

A view of Kankan kunda early this morning

Devotees assembled just after sunrise for seva of Kankan kunda

Radhakund samskar evening of June 19

Jai Sri Radhey!

Tonight was by far the most exhilarating and joyful of nights during the samskar of braja mukuTamaNi, Sri Radhakund! It is Yogini Ekadashi and Kankan Kund was fully revealed and visible for darshan. Over a thousand Vaisnavas came for seva and parikrama of Kankan Kunda. Music glorifying Sri Radha was loudly playing over loudspeakers adding to the astonishing atmosphere. The excavation of mud was called off early so everyone could do parikrama of Kankan Kunda. Even all the local people snuck out of their homes or shops to do parikrama. I could only think of the sweetness and kindness of Sri Radhaji and Sri Gurudeva for having me here experiencing this special occasion. I am a lowly wretch and have no qualifications whatsoever, but somehow Gurudeva always keeps me close by his side showing me the wonders of Sri Brindavan. I don’t have so many pictures tonight as I was having problems with the camera, but later I will provide many photos taken by friends.

yadA tava sarovaraM sarasa-bhRGga-saGghollasan
saroruha-kulojjvalaM madhura-vAri-sampUritam |
sphuTat-sarasijAkSi he nayana-yugma-sAkSAd-babhau
tadaiva mama lAlasAjani tavaiva dAsye rase ||VK 15||

O Blooming lotus-eyed girl (Radhe)! When my eyes directly saw your pond
(Radhakunda) 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!

kuNDera mAdhurI heno rAdhAra mAdhurimA
kuNDera mahimA yeno rAdhAra mahimA |
sei kuNDe eka bAra yei kore snAna
tAre rAdhA sama prema kRSNa kore dAna ||CC 2.18.10-11||

The kunda is as sweet as Radha’s sweetness and the kunda is as great as Radha’s greatness. Sri Krishna will bestow a love equal to that of  Radha’s to anyone who bathes even once in this kunda.

Parikrama of Kankan kunda

Kankan kunda

Kankan kunda

Journey to Sri Khanda, Sri Pat of Narahari Sarkar–Baradanga Pt. 1

Gora! Gora! Gora! Gora!

For a long time I had desired to go to the Sri Pat of Narahari Sarkar Thakur, Sri Khanda. By the grace of my Sri Gurudeva I was finally able to go this last March. I was accompanied by my dear gurubhai, Raghunath Da, the Head Mahant of all our ashrams, and some Vaisnavas from Samaj Bari. The place we first stopped is known as Baradanga which is just outside of town.

Narahari Sarkar was a very special and intimate companion of Mahaprabhu.  He took birth in 1480 in Sri Khanda, and was well educated, and in his youth he composed lovely Sanskrit verses on the lila of Radhey Shyam. When he finally met Mahaprabhu he was instantly sold out to him completely. Narahari and Gadadhar always lived with Mahaprabhu and served him with their heart and soul. Narahari is famous for his seva of waving a camara. It is said that Narahari was the only one with the adhikara to perform Gaura-kirtana in the presense of Gaura himself. Ordinarily, if someone praised Gaura in his presence, or chanted his name, he would cover his ears and cry out “Visnu! Visnu!” Narahari, however, enjoyed the special privilege of being able to do the kirtan of Gaurahari in a very special bhava and with ultra-sweet descriptions of his charming beauty without Gaura objecting. In Braja-lila Narahari was one of Radhika’s dearest sakhis named Madhumati Sakhi. His bhava towards Mahaprabhu is nagari bhava. Narahari is considered as the originator of Gaura nagari bhava. This Gaura-nagari-vada of Narahari spread far and wide through Bengal. In more recent times Siddha Caitanya Das Babaji and Siddha Vamsi Das Babaji were some of the famous upasakas of Gaura-nagari-bhava. Narahari left this world in 1540. All the prominent Vaisnavas of the time attended the disappearance festival of Narahari, including Virabhadra Prabhu, the son of Nitaichand. Srinivas Acharya was the chief organizer of the event.

Sri Khanda Goswamis – Dilip Raya Goswami and Banku Vilas Thakur Goswami

Narahari Gaura Kunja

The guru of the Sri Khanda Goswamis – Sri Balaram Vilas Thakur

Entrance to Narahari Gaura Kunja

lava-mAtra sAdhu saGge

Jai Nitai!

sAdhu-saGga sAdhu-saGga sarva-zAstra koy |

lava-mAtra sAdhu-saGge sarva-siddhi hoy || CC 2.22.54

The conclusion of all the sastras is that by only a moments association with a sadhu, one can attain all spiritual perfections.

sAdhu-saGga sAdhu-saGga sarva-zAstra koy |
lava-mAtra sAdhu-saGge sarva-siddhi hoy || CC 2.22.54

The conclusion of all the sastras is that by only a moments association with a sadhu, one can attain all spiritual perfections.

Namacharya Sri Sri 108 Ramdas Babaji Maharaj

I recently heard an unpublished story about an event in the life of Sripad Ramdas Babaji that I would like to share.

One day Babaji Maharaj and his companions were out on nagar-sankirtan and along the way they were taunted by some boys saying, “Hey! Hey! Babajis, where are all your matajis?”  Some of the babas became angry and wished to chastise the boys, but Babaji Maharaj, feeling compassion for them, singled-out the lead mischief-maker and giving him a loving glance shouted, Jai Nitai!.”  The sankirtan party then went on its way.

Some years passed by and Babaji Maharaj was out on nagar-sankirtan when a fellow approached him. It was the same person, who as a boy taunted Babaji Maharaj and his companions. He showed respect to Babaji Maharaj and told him how he had been very successful in life. He had now become a business owner and a family man with a significant amount of wealth. Babaji Maharaj silently blessed him and went on his way.

Again, after some years this man crossed paths with Babaji Maharaj. He had seen the kirtan party and approached them in great humility. This time the man was dishevelled and had long hair and a beard. He was covered in dirt, and was wearing old, worn-out rags as clothing. Babaji Maharaj didn’t recognize him, but feeling compassion for him he had a devotee take him to the ashram and clean him up and provide him food and a room. When Babaji Maharaj returned to the ashram he could understand who the man was and asked him how such a state had befallen him. The man told of the reversals in his life, how he lost all his wealth and was rejected by his family and friends, and how he had to take to a life on the streets. The man begged for the shelter at the wish-yielding feet of Babaji Maharaj and he was given diksha and some seva in the ashram. Very soon he won the favor of the ashramites for his dedication and loving seva and earned respect as a Vaisnava in his own right. The man soon took bhek and Babaji Maharaj blessed him by sending him to Brindavan to perform bhajan.

A report came a couple of years later that the man had become quite accomplished in his bhajan and left his body while chanting Nitai Gaura Radhey Shyam Hare Krishna Hare Ram in his kutir in Sri Brindavan Dham.

Radhakund samskar evening of June 17

Jai Radhey!  The samskar continues with hundreds of people devoted to Sri Radhakund joyfully performing seva! There is a very wonderful, festive mood in the air as usual. I feel so fortunate to be here taking part in serving Sri Sri Radhakund. If you look closely in some of the photos you will see four bamboo poles in the center of the kund. These are marking the boundry of kankan kunda, the place where Radhika began digging the kunda with one of her bracelets. People are circumambulating this area in great ecstasy!

rAdhA-kRSNau parama-kutukAd yal-latA pAdapAnAM

citvA puSpAdikam uru-didhaM slAghmAnau jusAte |

snAnAdyaM yat-sarasi kututaH khelato yat-khagAdyaiH

vRndAraNyaM parama-paramaM tAn na seveta ko vA ||VM 2.10

Radha and Krishna bathe and sport in the lakes of Brindavan and play with the  birds and other creatures. In the forests they happily decorate themselves by picking the many varieties of flowers found on the trees and creepers. Who would not like to serve the supreme transcendental abode of Sri Brindavan?

rAdhA-kRSNau parama-kutukAd yal-latA pAdapAnAM
citvA puSpAdikam uru-didhaM slAghmAnau jusAte |
snAnAdyaM yat-sarasi kututaH khelato yat-khagAdyaiH
vRndAraNyaM parama-paramaM tAn na seveta ko vA ||VM 2.10

Radha and Krishna bathe and sport in the lakes of Brindavan and play with the  birds and other creatures. In the forests they happily decorate themselves by picking the many varieties of flowers found on the trees and creepers. Who would not like to serve the supreme transcendental abode of Sri Brindavan?

Radhakund samskar evening of June 16

Jai Sri Radhey! Here are my latest photos taken this evening.

padma-gandhe suvAsita rAdhAkuNDa jale;
vihare pramatta hoiyA dampati yugale
prema mattA sakhIgaNa yugalera saGge;
sarovare kore keli nava rasa raGge
manojJa se rAdhAkuNDe ekAnta prArthanA;
AmAra Azraya hon kori e kAmanA

Radhey Shyam madly play ever-fresh watersports in the lotus-scented water of Radhakund with their equally love-intoxicated sakhis. My only prayer is that this beautiful Radhakund gives me shelter. This is my desire.

Kunda samskar evening of June 15

These photos were taken this evening just before sunset. Jai Sri Radhey!
 
 
 
 

Radhakund Samskar June 14

Today the Radhakund Samskar is in full force. The water is quickly being pumped out and hundreds of people are coming to do seva.