By Lakshman Das
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Sannyasis in attendance:
1. HH Lokanath Swami 2. HH Radha Raman Swami 3. HH Ram Govinda Swami 4. HH Bhakti Narasimha Swami
Today was the most auspicious day for the VMP devotees. We went for our Sri Giriraj Goverdhan Parikrama! It is said that of all the devotees, Govardhan is the best. Goverdhn supplied Krishna and Balaram as well as Their calves, cows and cowherd friends with all necessities such as pristine clear nectarine water for drinking, tender grass, caves fruits, flowers and vegetables. Touched by the tender lotus feet of Krishna and Balaram, Goverdhan Hill appears very jubilant.
HH Loknath Swami maharaja explained that “go” means cows, senses and the Earth, while “vardhana” means, to increase, thus Goverdhana means one who nourishes the cows and makes them healthier and healthier, nourishes everyone’s spiritual senses, and expandes the glory of Earth.
The Goverdhana Parikrama began early at 5am. We did our Tulasi Puja on the parikrama marg in the nagar-sankirtana. In the parikrama our first stopover was Kusum Sarovar. Kusum Sarovar is another landmark of Vrindavana after Sri Madan Mohan Mandir and the Keshi Ghat. This large and beautiful Kund is where the Gopis pick up flowers for Sri Krishna. Besides Kusum Sarovar is Ashok Lata. In this kunja, Lorrd Krishna braided Srimati Radharani’s hair. On the south-west bank of Kusum Sarovar is a small temple dedicated to Uddhava called Uddhava Mandir.
On the left side of the Parikrama Marg further ahead is Narad Kund where Narada Muni wrote the Narada-bhakti-sutra.
Soon we reached Manasi Ganga. After Lord Krishna killed Vatsasura, since this demon had assumed the form of a calf, His friends told Sri Krishna to bathe in the waters of Ganga for purifying Himself. So, by the potency of His mind Sri Krishna invited mother Ganga to appear here. Then Lord Krishna took bath here. Thus this Kund is non-different from River Ganga.
Besides Manasi Ganga is the ancient and beautiful mandir of Sri Haridev. This temple is made of red rock. Haridev is one of the four presiding Deities in Vraj. Later fearing the attack of the Yavanas, the Deity was moved. The Grandson of Lord Krishna, Sri Vajranabh established four special Deities whose name end with “Dev”. Sri Haridev at Manasi Ganga, Sri Keshavadev at Krishna Janmabhumi, Sri Govinddev at one of the Mukharvind of Goverdhan and Sri Baladev at Dauji.
Nearby is Brahma Kund. Lord Brahma permanently resides here. Bilvamangala Thakura performed austerities here. Lord Caitany Mahaprabh and Lord Nityananda prabhu visited and rested on the banks of Brahma kund.
Chakra Tirtha is on the bank of Manasi Ganga. The Chakra Tirtha was created when Indra tried to devastate the whole of Vraja with torrential rains. After the lifting of the Goverdhan Hill, Sudarshan Chakra generated immense heat of many suns after rising up in the sky and dried up the flood waters.
At Danghati Lord Krishna begged for milk and yogurt from the Gopis. Soon we passed the village of Aniyor where the Vrajavasis offered bhoga to Giriraj. The VMP morning class was given by HH Loknath Maharaj at Govinda Kund. Lord Indra worshipped Lord Krishna and performed His abhisheka with the milk of Surabhi cow and the waters of Akash-ganga brought by Airavata. The caranamrita of this abhishek is the Govinda Kund.
During the class, HH Lokanath Maharaj showed us the Tamal tree under which Sripad Madhavendra Puri one day was doing his japa when Lord Krishna visited him and gave him milk to drink.
The parikrama passed through Punchari (the tail of the peacock form of Goverdhan at His southern end). Lord Krishna performed his Rasa Dance here. At punchari we had darshana of Lautha Baba in his mandir. When Akrura took Sri Krishna to Mathura, Lautha who is one of Sri Krishna’s friend asked Him when He would return. Krishna told him He ould come soon. So Lautha arrived at this place and sat down. Lautha baba is still awaiting Krishna here.
The VMP breakfast was at Surabhi Kund and Airavat Kund. Lord Indra pleaded forgiveness from Sri Krishna keeping Surabhi Cow in front here. Airavata also had come with Lord Indra.
Later we passed through Jatipura or Yatipura. Yati means “sannyasi” and pura means a village. Jatipura is named after Srila Madhevendra Puri who lived here during his visit to Vraja.
Our next major stop was the most beautiful Uddhava Kund. Sriman Uddhava lives here eternally in the form of a grass desiring to receive the dust from the lotus feet of the gopis and devotees who pass by.
We then visited the Radha Kunjbihariji mandir that as established by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura in 1935. A pushpa-samadhi of Srila Gaura Kisoredas Babaji Maharaj is located here.
In the evening HH Ramgovinda Maharaj gave a very informative class for all the VMP devotees.