Vraja Mandal parikrama – day 7 (Album of photos)
Katha by: H.H Radha Raman Swami Maharaj.
Now we are at the banks of sacred Govind Kunda
Srila Prabhupada used to say hear while hearing. So the only thing you have to do is hearing.
It is interesting to know how Govind Kunda was formed.
Brajavasis before worshiping Giriraj they used to worship Indra at this spot near Anyor Village since time of Paryjanya Maharaj father of Nanda Maharaj
Krsna inquired why are we worshiping Indra. To that Nanda Baba said, since long time we have been doing this as he is the one who provides us rain. In the response Krsna said, instead of Indra we should worshiping Giriraj as He gives us everything. When Brajwasis stopped worship ping Indra, he became angry and sent heavy rains for 7 days & 7 nights. In order to protect Brajwasis, Lord lifted Giriraj.
But later Indra, understood that Krsna is Lord Himself and he performed abhishek of the Lord and with that water kunda was formed called Govind kunda and since then Krsna is called Govind.
Once Madhavendra Puri came at the bank of Govind Kunda and was chanting under a tree. While Madhavendra Puri was doing his japa, saw a small boy who bringing a milk pot and kept the pot in front of him. He had never before seen such a Beautiful Boy. The Boy started speaking in a voice was filed with nectar and hearing His voice, the heart of Madhvendra Puri was fully satisfied.
“puri dugdha laiya kara tumi pan…”
The Boy complained, why don’t you do madhukari and eat something? Why are you doing so much austerities by fasting? To which Madhavendra Puri asked the Boy, Who are you? And how do you know that I am fasting?
The Lord said I am from the nearby village and my mother doesn’t want anybody to fast in our village. Therefore, my mother has sent some food for you. In response Madhvendra Puri asked, how does your mother know that I am fasting? The Boy said some ladies of the village told my mother so my mother and she sent me with a pot of milk.
Madhvendra Puri drank that milk and was waiting for the Boy to come back again. But the Boy didn’t return. That night Madhvendra Puri wasn’t able to sleep as he was thinking I will talk to the Boy if he comes back. Thinking like that he went to sleep and in the dream that Boy came as Krsna. In the dream Krsna said my deity is lying in the bushes please retrieve me. In morning when Madhvendra Puri woke-up, he called all the villagers and retrieved the deity of Gopal Ji and installed the deities on *Giriraj* which later on was shifted to Nathadwara.
Coming Back to Giriraj Puja
After the worship of Giriraj Goverdhan was performed by Brajavasis, everyone did the parikrama of Giriraj. So in this way the parikrama was started by Krsna himself.
Rupa Goswami says about Giriraj vaikuntha janito vara.
We will now talk about Vrindavan
What Gopis say about Vrindavan?
Vrindavan is fortunate as the footprints of Krsna is decorating it.
At the base of Govardhana, when *Krsna* starts playing flute all the peacocks come and start dancing while the other animals climb on Giriraj from where they can have darsana of Lord Krsna While Krsna plays flute cows stop eating grass and everything comes to a stand-still. As Krsna takes birth here in Vrindavan it has become fortunate. _Even Goddess Laxmi stays as a menial servant in Vrindavan.
Pranam Mantra of Giriraj
namo girirajaya sri govardhana namine a sesa klesha lasaya padmananda daiyine
Mahaprabhu recited this Srimad Bhagwatam sloka while He was doing Giriraj Parikrama.
hantaya adri ravala Haridas varya
Krsna loves and serves His cow and Giriraj gives nice soft grass for cow.
Srimati Radharani says that the fresh green soft grass has nice taste, and is easily digestible. Also is good for health and _dugdha vardhak.
There are wonderful caves in Govardhana and if sometimes it rains or it’s a sunny day Krsna could rest in the caves. And when Krsna wants to eat something Giriraj Ji is filled with trees full of fruits.
Giriraj is also known as Haridasa-varya In Srimad Bhagvatam there is a mention of three Haridasa’s: *_Uddhav, Yudhisthira and Giriraj_*. So if there is a mention of Haridas then it is said about one of these Haridasa’s.
When there is a mention of Rajasuya-Yajna performed by *Haridas* where Krsna was also present, then *Haridas* here means Yudhisthira
When Krsna went to Mathura, in order to pacify residents of Vrindavan, Haridas was sent. So here Haridas means Uddhav.
Bhakti Vaishnava Ashraya Maharaja* has come today with us and I am feeling like fruits have come to our Bhakti-Lata.
H.H Bhakti Vaishnava Ashraya Maharaja : This place where you are sitting is Govind kunda.
Lord said to Brajavasis because you can see Giriraj that it means you have seen Indra and we can serve him directly.
Find them here: http://bit.ly/2N0wxol