![](\"http:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/wp-content\/uploads6\/tumblr_oeb7tiaZ0S1sbj0vuo1_500.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Notes of a pilgrim.
\nMukhya Devi Dasi (President of Iskcon\u2019s Raman Reti community in Alachua): We\u2019ve spent the past week in the rarefied atmosphere of Sri Vrindavan Dhama, by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. ISKCON\u2019s Krishna Balaram Mandir is chock full of life: kirtan, seva and bhakti vibrating from end to end. Just watching the pilgrims stream through during sundara arati and hearing the 24 hour kirtan in full swing begin dancing as they have darshan of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Sri Sri Krishna Balaram and Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar, is an evening activity for us. There is nothing like it in the three worlds. We are charmed and humbled by their natural devotional feelings. Many classes going on from morning to night, in many languages, with many devotees in attendance. There\u2019s even a class for guests that happens right after mangal arati, in an office within the Temple itself.
\nThe holiest of holy tirthas, for me, is here too, Srila Prabhupada\u2019s Samadhi, his resting place. His huge murti form emanates a unique expression of compassion, certainly Krishna was guiding the hands of the artist who created this most extraordinary murti. In one form the pure devotee remains within his Samadhi to give mercy to faithful and sincere devotees, and here one can receive inspiration and enthusiasm in his devotional service. Each day after the morning program we leave for parikrama, visiting one or two temples where we can sit and read and chant, before getting into the market for shopping. Some of where we\u2019ve been:
\nGopiswara Mahadeva Temple (this linga was installed 5,000 years ago by Lord Krishna\u2019s grandson Vajaranabha) Here we take permission to enter the holy dhama Vamsi Vata (where Krishna called the gopis to dance with Him)
\nGovindaji Mandir Even after desecration and deterioration, this huge mandir which was originally seven stories high made of huge red sandstone block, intricately carved domes and lattice work screens, seems like an architectural marvel. Somehow they take us right up onto the altar here, then down a secret stairwell to have darshan of an ancient deity of Yogamaya (Krishna\u2019s sister).
\nBraja Mohan Temple. The deity of Narottam das Thakura, this lovely well maintained, quiet (and monkey proof) spot is one of our favorites. We sit here a while and chant the songs of Narottam das and feel our good fortune. His Holiness Indradyumna Swami gave a donation here to fix up the temple, and they are very nice and personal with us.
\nRadha Vinode, Radha Gokulanada, deities of Lokanatha Goswami and Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakur. We also visits the Samadhi garden here, chant and circumambulate.
\nRadha Kunda
\nWe did a half day parikrama of Radha Kund with Dina Bandhu prabhu. The only way to go! We really understood why they say only mad dogs go out in the noon day sun, it was painfully hot for us, but Dina Bandhu was cheerfully carrying on, being respectfully and happily greeted by every baba we met.
\n64 Samadhis, all the major goswamis and preachers of Vrindavan have either a full or a pushpa, nama, or smrita Samadhi here.
\nPurnamasi Temple. The mother of Sandipani Muni, everyone considered her on all matters, and she made arrangements with Vrinda devi for Radha Krishna\u2019s pastimes. Situated at a corner of Seva Kunj.
\nBath in Yamuna, she was very shallow this week, but cool and refreshing nonetheless.
\nRadha Damodar Temple. \u201cthe center of the spiritual world.\u201d The bhajan place of Rupa Goswami, where he would daily hold discourse on Srimad Bhagavatam with the other goswamis and their close associates. Also here is the Govardhan sila of Srila Sanatana Goswami which has the footprint of Lord Krishna impressed upon it. Srila Prabhupada\u2019s rooms are here, beautifully maintained \u2018as they were\u2019. We spend extra time here reading aloud Bhagavad Gita, and chanting bhajan.
\nWe were happy for the chance to visit with His Holiness Gunagrahi Swami, who is absorbing himself in kirtan, nice association, hearing-chanting-remembering. We had a nice chat, sharing realizations and memories. Two more days and we leave for the airport on a very very long trek home. Be it ever so humble\u2026I will be very happy to get there.
\nEverywhere I go I am praying for all the residents of New Raman Reti, may we always stay engaged in service at Srila Prabhupada\u2019s lotus feet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
![](\"http:\/\/68.media.tumblr.com\/fc2b4e2e079fbc207f6a507a4ca74d67\/tumblr_oeb7tiaZ0S1sbj0vuo1_500.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Notes of a pilgrim.
\nMukhya Devi Dasi (President of Iskcon’s Raman Reti community in Alachua): We’ve spent the past week in the rarefied atmosphere of Sri Vrindavan Dhama, by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. ISKCON’s Krishna Balaram Mandir is chock full of life: kirtan, seva and bhakti vibrating from end to end. Just watching the pilgrims stream through during sundara arati and hearing the 24 hour kirtan in full swing begin dancing as they have darshan of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Sri Sri Krishna Balaram and Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar, is an evening activity for us. There is nothing like it in the three worlds. We are charmed and humbled by their natural devotional feelings. Many classes going on from morning to night, in many languages, with many devotees in attendance. There’s even a class for guests that happens right after mangal arati, in an office within the Temple itself.
\nThe holiest of holy tirthas, for me, is here too, Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi, his resting place. His huge murti form emanates a unique expression of compassion, certainly Krishna was guiding the hands of the artist who created this most extraordinary murti. In one form the pure devotee remains within his Samadhi to give mercy to faithful and sincere devotees, and here one can receive inspiration and enthusiasm in his devotional service. Each day after the morning program we leave for parikrama, visiting one or two temples where we can sit and read and chant, before getting into the market for shopping. Some of where we’ve been:
\nGopiswara Mahadeva Temple (this linga was installed 5,000 years ago by Lord Krishna’s grandson Vajaranabha) Here we take permission to enter the holy dhama Vamsi Vata (where Krishna called the gopis to dance with Him)
\nGovindaji Mandir Even after desecration and deterioration, this huge mandir which was originally seven stories high made of huge red sandstone block, intricately carved domes and lattice work screens, seems like an architectural marvel. Somehow they take us right up onto the altar here, then down a secret stairwell to have darshan of an ancient deity of Yogamaya (Krishna’s sister).
\nBraja Mohan Temple. The deity of Narottam das Thakura, this lovely well maintained, quiet (and monkey proof) spot is one of our favorites. We sit here a while and chant the songs of Narottam das and feel our good fortune. His Holiness Indradyumna Swami gave a donation here to fix up the temple, and they are very nice and personal with us.
\nRadha Vinode, Radha Gokulanada, deities of Lokanatha Goswami and Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakur. We also visits the Samadhi garden here, chant and circumambulate.
\nRadha Kunda
\nWe did a half day parikrama of Radha Kund with Dina Bandhu prabhu. The only way to go! We really understood why they say only mad dogs go out in the noon day sun, it was painfully hot for us, but Dina Bandhu was cheerfully carrying on, being respectfully and happily greeted by every baba we met.
\n64 Samadhis, all the major goswamis and preachers of Vrindavan have either a full or a pushpa, nama, or smrita Samadhi here.
\nPurnamasi Temple. The mother of Sandipani Muni, everyone considered her on all matters, and she made arrangements with Vrinda devi for Radha Krishna’s pastimes. Situated at a corner of Seva Kunj.
\nBath in Yamuna, she was very shallow this week, but cool and refreshing nonetheless.
\nRadha Damodar Temple. “the center of the spiritual world.” The bhajan place of Rupa Goswami, where he would daily hold discourse on Srimad Bhagavatam with the other goswamis and their close associates. Also here is the Govardhan sila of Srila Sanatana Goswami which has the footprint of Lord Krishna impressed upon it. Srila Prabhupada’s rooms are here, beautifully maintained ‘as they were’. We spend extra time here reading aloud Bhagavad Gita, and chanting bhajan.
\nWe were happy for the chance to visit with His Holiness Gunagrahi Swami, who is absorbing himself in kirtan, nice association, hearing-chanting-remembering. We had a nice chat, sharing realizations and memories. Two more days and we leave for the airport on a very very long trek home. Be it ever so humble…I will be very happy to get there.
\nEverywhere I go I am praying for all the residents of New Raman Reti, may we always stay engaged in service at Srila Prabhupada’s lotus feet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10650,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[118],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-recent-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31857","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/10650"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=31857"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31857\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37339,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31857\/revisions\/37339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=31857"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=31857"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=31857"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}