For Dust, We Live In Vraja

Mahanidhi Swami

In a previous article, we mentioned that most of the Gaudiya Vaisnava mahajanas have lived here themselves, and instructed sadhakas to live and do Radha-Krishna bhajana in Vrindavana Dhama. There is a special sweet reason for living in Vrindavana and now it will be revealed!

Gaudiyas generally say that three different activities performed in three different Holy Dhamas quickly give Krishna prema. In Navadvipa Gaura Mandala, Harinama Sankirtana awards love of God. In Jagannatha Puri, relishing Jagannatha Swami’s tasty remnants brings prema perfection. In Sri Vrindavana Dhama, prema comes to one who glorifies, honors, contacts and rolls in the sacred dust, vraja-raja.

On behalf of all sadhakas, Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswamipada says, “How can anyone enter the ocean of Shyama rasa without worshiping the dust of Sri Radha’s lotus feet, and without living in Vrindavana where Radharani’s footprints are found…anaradhya radha padambhoja renum, anashritya vrindatavim tat padankam, kutah shyam sindho rasa avagahah?” (Sva Sankalpa Prakasha Stotram 1)

In other words, without Vrindavana vasa and Vraja-raja, which is mercy-packed with the dust (renum) of Radha’s lotus feet (pada ambhoja), no one can experience the intimate loving moods of Sri Krishna. Living in Vraja affords one the opportunity to worship the foot dust of Vrindavana Vilasini Radha, which of course is not available anywhere else in the universe!

Uddhava Mahashaya, Sri Krishna’s Dvaraka friend and minister, once visited Vrindavana, and later prayed for a future birth as a blade of grass in Vraja just to get sprinkled with dust from the gopis tender feet. Everywhere in Vrindavana, one will find Srimati Radhika’s foot dust and the places of Her blissful pastimes with Her Priyatama Shyama.

The dust of Vraja is not only closely connected to Srimati Radharani, but it is also fully devoted to Her. One popular Hindi bhajana says, “In Vrindavana, each and every pebble and particle of dust is chanting “Sri Radha, Sri Radha”…vrindavana me kan kan bole, Sri Radha Sri Radha!”

Thus, Srila Rupa Goswamipada commands us, “One should always live in Vraja…kuryad vasam vraje sada!” (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu) It seems quite clear that serious sadhakas should take shelter of Vrindavana, and live here worshiping the dust of Srimati Radharani’s lotus feet. By this practice, surely one will very quickly attain Krishna prema and the eternal service of Sri Radha.

Sridhama Vrindavana ki jai! Radhika charana renu ki jai!

Vraja raja luthan ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!