I have been travelling a lot these days, from Chennai - Bangalore - Coorg - Delhi - Vrindavan and back to Chennai. In all these two weeks, spending time in a spiritual retreat like Vrindavan was the most invigorating one.
Ani performing Surya Namaskar at Kesi Ghat |
The Bhagavata Purana describes Krishna's early childhood pastimes in the Vrindavan forest where he, his brother Balarama, and his cowherd friends stole butter, engaged in childhood pranks and fought with demons. Along with these activities, Krishna is also described as meeting and dancing with the local girls of Vrindavan village, especially Radharani, who were known as Gopi's.
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Haridas Temple, Great Singer Tansen's Guru, a great Krishna Bhakt dreamed the famous idols picturised here, that's installed in the major temples in Vrindavana |
As my brother, Animesh, and me wandered around the city, I could feel “Vrindavan” carrying the essence of the eternal love of Krishna and Radha, still permeating through the meandering streets. This makes one feel attached to the universal consciousness and love.
The street leading to the most revered temple of Krishna - Banke Bihari |
As we followed the footprints of Krishna and his Gopi's specially Radha Rani, standing under the famous iconic Kadamba tree on the banks of River Yamuna and walking in the Nidhivana, where Krishna used to dance with Gopi's which is known as Raslila, was sheer ecstasy.
Woh Kadamb ka ped, Joh rehta yamuna teere... The Iconic Tree where Krishna played prank with Gopi's |
So here are some of the images for you to walk with me and I am sure you will also be blessed with the eternal and universal love…
The Vrindavan from the other side of the river.... |
Ani lost in the Nidhivana, where Krishna used to have Ras Lila... Dance of eternal love with Gopi's of Vrindavan |
Vrindavan is also known as City of Widows... as according to Hindu Upper Caste widows can not remarry. 15K-20K widows live on streets that's the irony of India... feeling sad about it |
Ani in front of Banke Bihari Temple... |
In the streets.... |
Leaving you with probably the most powerful place in Vrindavan... The Nidhivan, where its said that you can still hear the sound of Radha Rani's Anklet bell... Its beautiful place. |
Oh By the way, there even the monkeys are friendly and treat all your unattached items, like bag, purse, shining objects on your person as their own and take it before you know it. So be careful. My brother Animesh had to part with his specs (that's one reason you don't see both of us wearing specs and holding on to our bags etc tightly) as one monkey felt that it belongs to him. Then we have had to offer him better things like biscuits etc to replace it within his teeth as he happily went on chewing it on top of a huge boundary wall... finally he let it go only when this particular monkey god was offered Mango Juice Tetra pack (Frooti)... :-)
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Shashi
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya