*Barsana to Nandgram*
Yesterday morning devotees visited *Khadirvan* and had wonderful lecture by HG Sarvabhaum Prabhu. Yesterday we also had initiation ceremony by HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj. In the evening we did very blissful Parikrama of Shri Barsana Dham, today we will move from Barsana to Nandgram. It’s little cold here devotees putting up in tents get up early in the morning pack their luggages and keep them in the truck, while they walk towards Nandgram their luggage reach there before them. While moving towards Nandagram we will visit following places of divine pastimes
*1. Prema-sarovara*
Our first stop is at Prema-sarovara. It was formed by the tears of Srimati Radharani and Krishna when they cried in separation for each other.
*2. Sanketa*
It is midway between Nandisvara Hill and Vrsabhanu Hill. It is most confidential area of Vraja, which is one of the first meeting places of Radha and Krishna. Sanketa means “to indicate”. Radha and Krishna would indicate Their next meeting place through body language and other signs. Here Krishna and gopis performed rasa-lila and jhulana (swing) pastimes.
We pay humble obeisances to beautiful Sri Sri Radha-Sanketa-bihari. Nearby is temple of Sanketa-devi.
Next is bhajana-kutira of Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami whose Damodara-sila transformed into a beautiful black Deity of Krishna (Radha-ramana).
*3. Uddhava-kyari*
It’s currently a grove of bushes, thorns and kadamba trees. After Krishna left Vrndavana, the Vrajavasis were lifeless in separation. One day, Krishna sent Uddhava to Vrndavana with a solacing message to appease His aggrieved associates.
Uddhava met with the gopis at Uddhava-kyari, where he personally read them a letter Krishna had written them. We are fortunate to touch the dust on which the gopis, in their intense vipralamha-bhava, rolled and cried.
*4. Nanda Baithaka*
This is where Nanda Maharaja sat with his brothers and other community leaders to discuss important matters. Nanda-kunda, where Nanda Maharaja used to bathe, is also here.
*5. Yasoda-kunda and Hau-bilau*
At Yasoda-kunda, mother Yasoda used to bathe. She often brought Krishna here to bathe.
Next to Yasoda-kunda is Hau-bilau. Yasoda used to scare Krishna and Balarama saying Hau or bogeyman, would kidnap Them. As Yasoda described Hau had sharp teeth, red eyes and he breathed fire.
Now there are only two statues of Hau.
*6. Narasimha Varaha temple*
Garga Muni advised Nanda Maharaja to worship both Narasimhadeva and Varahadeva. We take darsana. In a courtyard we see a big pot Mother Yasoda used for churning yoghurt.
*7. Nandagrama: Krishna-Balarama temple*
This is a beautiful, three domed structure built in nineteenth century. We pay our obeisances to Deities of Krishna and Balarama, with Nanda Maharaja and Mother Yasoda. The shiny black Krishna and Balarama are unique.
There is also a temple of Lord Narayana whom Nanda Maharaja worships.
*8. Nandisvara Mahadeva temple*
The linga here is said to be installed by Vajranabha.
Lord Siva once came to Nanda Maharaja to take darsana of baby Krishna. Thinking that Krishna would get frightened, Mother Yasoda didn’t allow him to enter. Lord Siva went away to meditate beneath a tree. Krishna started crying. Realising the mistake Mother Yasoda called Lord Siva.
*9. Pavana-sarovra and Sanatana Gosvami’s bhajana-kutira*
Gopis would meet Lord Krishna here on the pretext of going to fetch water. This is one of the Krishna’s favourite bathing spots. On hot summer evenings, He swims in it.
Krishna disguised as cowherd boy would come to give milk to Sanatana Gosvami here. Also here we find puspa-samadhi of Srila Akincana Krishna Das Babaji Maharaja (Srila Prabhupada’s godbrother).
North of Nandisvara Hill is *Ksunahara-kunda* where Parjanya Maharaja, Krishna’s paternal grandfather fasted and worshipped Lord Narayana to get sons as instructed by Narada Muni.
Four brothers of Nanda Maharaja are Upananda, Abhinanda, Sananda and Nandana.
*Akrura-sthana* is a place where Akrura saw Krishna’s lotus footprints as he arrived in Nandagrama. He rolled and cried on the ground at this place.
*Vrnda-kunda* is about a km from Nandisvara Hill. Here Vrnda-devi contemplates how she will arrange the Divine Couple’s pastime. Next to Vrinda-kunda is *Gupta-kunda*.
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*Day-19:::::: 11th November 2018*
*Srila Prabhupada Disappearance Day*
Today is the auspicious day of Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance.
Srila Prabhupada revealed Vrindavan Dham to the whole world, before meeting Srila Prabhupada most of us didn’t even hear the name of Vrindavan, what to speak of knowing the glories of Vrindavan. Following in the footsteps of 6 Goswamis, Srila Prabhupada presented an ideal example of being a true Vrajavasi.
“He reasons ill who tells that Vaisnavas die When thou art living still in sound! The Vaisnavas die to live, and living try To spread the holy name around!”
—-Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur
Before leaving this world Prabhupada had his last desire to do Govardhan Parikrama on a Bullock-cart.
In Vrindavan Srila Prabhupada Disappearance day celebration is performed at Krishna Hall at Krishna-Balram temple. There, its a great gathering of devotees from all over the world.
After offerings we all offer Pushpanjali to Srila Prabhupada and in the evening at 7.00 PM we will gather at Srila Prabhupada’s quarter and take his darshan.
Srila Prabhupada Ki Jai!!!!!
ISKCON and BBT founder Acharya ki Jai!!!!!
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*Day -20::::::: 12th November 2018*
*Nandagram to Kokilavana*
We are back on Parikrama tomorrow, each day parikrama comes packaged with fresh adventures, new challenges, and deeper realization of our relationship with Krishna. Most of our first-time pilgrims have adapted by now and are thriving on the experience-their smiling faces testify to the truth of this. We are walking from Nandagram to Kokilavan today, and on the way will visit many places of divine Pastimes.
*Asheshvara Mahadev*
About 2km east of Nandgram is Asheshwar Mahadev Temple. It is at this place Shivas’s heartfelt desire to see Krishna got fulfilled.
*Ter Kadamba*
It is said that Krishna brought His cows to graze here and that He often sat under a Kadamba tree to play His flute and call the cows back when it was time to go home.
*Javat*
To the north of Nandishvara hill is the town of Javata. That populous town is like the crown jewel of all such towns, and it is the home of Shrimati Radharani’s parents-in-law.
*Kokilavan*
Kokila means cuckoo, The forest where Krishna made sound like a kokila thus came to be known as kokilavan.
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*Day -21::::::13th November 2018*
* *Kokilavana to Sesasayi*
We left kokilavana in the morning at around 6 am as the sun is rising later and later- a reminder that hay winter is fast approaching. We shall visit the following places:
A. *Bathain* – Nanda Maharaja and the other cowherd men would sit here to hold important discussions. Over time, Baithana must have evolved into Bathain.
B. *Carana- pahadi* – here we see footprints of Krsna, His cows and other animals melted into rocks.
C. *Kotvana* – the Lord spent time enjoying His blissful pastimes in this forest. We are about seven kilometers north of Kosi. Kosi is the place where Nanda Maharaja kept his Treasury. In October 1932 Abhay Caran De traveled from Allahabad to meet up with Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s Vraja-mandala parikrama at Kosi.
D. *Sesasayi* – One day Krsna transformed Himself into Lord Narayana and lay down ok n Balarama, who became Ananta Sesa. Srimati Radharani them massaged Krsna’s lotus feet. In this way, the Lord displayed His Vaikuntha mood in Vraja.
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*Day -22:::::: 14th November 2018*
*Sesasayi to Shergarh*
Today took bath in Ksira-sagara-kunda before attending mangala-arati in the Sesasayi temple. We had darsana of majestic form of Sesasayi Visnu.
While walking through an eleven kilometers trail while walking along a bank of an irrigation canal, we shall pass through sugarcane fields and we shall be offered juicy sugar cane sticks by local Vrajavasis.
We shall hear from Srila Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakur’s Camatkara Candrika. Before reaching Shergarh we shall pass through:
*Payagrama* where Krishna is said to drink milk with His friends. One day while Krsna and Balarama, and the cowherd boys were herding their cows, the boys became very Hungary. Since their lunch had not arrived, they milked their own cows and drank the milk.
*Shergarh* was given this name because it’s said to have been the village if Shekhar Gopa, one of Krsna’s friends.