Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Glories of Sri Krishna’s Nandagrama (continued from part 5)

IV. Eternal Associates of Sri Krishna 

Although all the people of Nandishvara appear to exhibit temporary qualities such as youth and old age to facilitate their individual rasas, they are actually all liberated souls. Their so-called youth and old age are beyond the transformations of time.

Nanda Maharaja, the king of Vrindavana, resides in this town as the embodiment of paternal affection. Manifesting the pure nature of the soul, he is the essence of all auspiciousness, a veritable island amidst an ocean of bliss. By assuming the role of Krishna’s father, which he plays eternally, he has become endowed with all auspicious qualities. His wife Yasoda resides in Nandishvara as the embodiment of maternal affection, and a desire creeper awarding the darsana of Krishna. As a beautiful flower spreads its fragrance in all directions, the effulgence of Yasoda’s fame illuminates her entire dynasty.

Hundreds of honest and gentle cowherd men live in this capital city. They are not attached to their families, but they are completely attached to Krishna. Although they diligently care for their domestic animals and maintain themselves by trading in milk and yogurt, they exist totally in the spiritual world. A few of the cowherd men are intimate relatives of Nanda Maharaja, but all them are closely related to each other.

The husbands embody religious principles and the wives embody devotional feelings. Their sons are Krishna’s cowherd boyfriends and their daughters are His dearest lovers. Like the four Kumaras, all of Krishna’s friends are eternally youthful. As flocks of birds decorate a forest, Krishna is surrounded by friends of the same age. Krishna and His friends have a very close and intimate relationship resembling the intimacy of flowers strung on a thread. 

The blissful boyfriends of Krishna have clear eyes and brilliantly shining hair. With their musk and sandal scented bodies, smiling lotus faces, well-proportioned ears, elegantly shaped noses, handsome and resplendent necks, long, beautiful arms, and their chests are always swelling with happiness. The waists of the boys are as firm as the sides of an elephant. Krishna’s friends have very strong thighs that give joy to everyone. They walk on their bare feet, which are as tender as the rays of the moon. The cowherd boys of Vrindavana far surpass the demigods, and they exist eternally as Krishna’s beloved associates. Subala, Sridama, Sudama and Vasudama are some of Krishna’s intimate boyfriends.

Now the intimate girlfriends of Krishna will be described. The delicate feet of Krishna’s gopis resemble poetry full of wonderful rhymes. Their slender ankles move with the speed of the mind. The thighs of the gopis conquer the splendor of the broad trunks of banana trees, and the sweetness of their graceful hips is very attractive. They have charming bellies, delightful navels and thin waists. 

They have long graceful arms, and their throats have three attractive lines resembling a conch shell. They have beautiful noses, captivating eyes and beautiful ears that always drink the sweet nectar of hari-katha. They sport splendid curls and attractive hairstyles. 

Sri Radha reigns as the best of Krishna’s beloveds. This beautiful young girl is resplendent with all good qualities such as mercy, sweetness, and vitality. As the crest-jewel among Krishna’s lovers, Kishori possesses all ornaments, and all types of emotional mellows. Radhika is a golden flower in a garden of prema; a lightning flash in a cloud of sweetness; or a golden line on a testing stone of beauty. 

Radhika is the light of the moon of bliss. Her slender arms conquer the pride of Cupid. Radharani is the splendorous essence of the ocean of loveliness, and the enchanting smile of those intoxicated by love. She is a mine of the sixty-four arts, and the precious crest-jewel of all good qualities. Radhika’s complexion is more golden than a thousand Parvatis.

Radhika is also called Syama, which means that Her transcendental body is warm in the winter and cool in the hot season. Her breasts are firm, full, slightly raised, and very beautiful. Although existing since time immemorial, Radhika is an ever-fresh young girl. Radharani is the epitome of beauty and the life and soul of Her girlfriends. 

Though just an innocent young girl, Radharani controls all the goddesses of fortune in the universe. Learned pandits call Her Maha-Laksmi, tantrics call Her Lila-sakti and bhaktas call Her Hladini-sakti. Radhika is ornamented by Her dear friends who display all good qualities and move as Radha’s reflections.

Among all the young gopis, there is also one group leader named Candravali, who is the crest jewel of dalliance. She bestows the bliss of a million moons. Candravali has all good qualities, and her feminine form is the natural embodiment of beauty. Candravali is the essence of all rasa who gives bliss to all. Padma, Saibya, and others serve as her dearest companions. Although she is very prominent, Candravali is merely another gopi group leader amongst the Vraja gopis. There is another gopi group leader named Syama-sakhi, who is very dear to Radhika.

All the brahmanas living in Nanda Baba’s capital embody the principles of bhagavata dharma. They are extremely merciful, and always display sense and mind control, tolerance, and renunciation. With great skill they recite sastras like the Bhagavata, and always study the Narada Pancaratra and other Vedic works that corroborate the Bhagavata. They alone qualify for Nanda Maharaja’s charity, and only they perform the appropriate rituals and ceremonies.

Some of these brahmanas worship the aishvarya aspect of Krishna, and others adore the madhurya feature of the Lord. After thorough study of the eighteen branches of knowledge they have become genuinely peaceful and fixed in their own realizations. It is not surprising that they have never been defeated in debate. Though possessing abundant wealth, they always remain humble and exhibit gentle behavior, friendship, kindness, and compassion to one and all. 

Although the oil-sellers, tambula salesmen, goldsmiths, pot makers, weavers, and blacksmiths have spiritual forms, they behave like ordinary humans. Commanding the respect of all pious men, they freely distribute their wealth wherever needed. They do not have material bodies, nor do they experience the sufferings of ordinary mortals.

Surrounding the town of Nandishvara are many rows of small forest groves filled with varieties of multi-hued trees, dangling creepers, kunjas and bowers. The vanadevis wander hand in hand along the forest paths softened from the sap constantly dripping from the trees. The whole forest is sweetly scented from the juice of the kakkola berries spilling out of the mouths of the wild rams as they contentedly ruminate. The air is also scented from the aromatic bark of the deva daru trees rubbed off by the horns of wild buffaloes.

The sides of the hills are strewn with tree branches broken by the tusks of the wild baby elephants. And the ground is covered with bunches of half-eaten grapes scattered by families of monkeys. The aborigine women wander through the thick forest groves.

There are many other forests such as Kamyavana and Lohavan, full of trees and exotic vegetation. The lakes are full of crystal clear water and covered with water lilies. White, blue and red lotuses lie scattered throughout these forests. These lakes resound with singing herons, ducks, swans, cranes, ospreys, and cakravakas. 

  Vraja-mandala, although completely spiritual, is situated within the material world. Thus those with mundane vision see Vrindavana as a material place. Svatantra Bhagavan Sri Krishna freely chose to appear in this world in Vrindavana as the baby son of Nanda and Yasoda, the eternal embodiments of parental affection. Since Krishna is the origin of all avataras and the ocean of all pastimes, why does He perform pastimes in the material world? Simply to give pleasure to  His devotees. 

To show the world the astonishing depths of their parental affection, Krishna appeared as the son of Nanda and Yasoda. Accepting their care and attention, the omnipotent Lord covered His majesty with an unprecedented sweetness. By exhibiting all the different stages of boyhood such as kumara, pauganda, and kaisora, the Supreme Lord Krishna appeared like an ordinary human being. But throughout these stages Krishna remained in His original form as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Although madhurya rasa is predominant one in Vrindavana, the previous verse has only mentioned parental affection. The reason for this is that all of Krishna’s pastimes with the cows, gopas, and gopis also go on eternally in the spiritual world. But Krishna’s babyhood pastimes and the killing of demons occurs only in the Gokula in the material world. Thus one should understand that the sweetness of bhauma-lila is not available in the spiritual world.

Kaviraja Sri Karnapura Goswami’s Ananda Vrindavana Campu ki jai! 

Radha-Govinda Vraja Lilas ki jai!  Jai Jai Sri Radhe! 

All parts of Krishna Nectar Lilas can be found here.

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

Sri Yamunaji & Giriraja Ji

The Yamuna River

While meandering through the forest of Vrindavana, the famous River Yamuna appears like a garland of blue lotuses, a moat of kajala, a dark blue sari, or a necklace of blue sapphires around the neck of Vrnda-devi, the presiding deity of Vrindavana. Though agitated with waves, the Yamunaji holds unlimited lotus flowers in her pure waters to offer to the dark Lord of her heart—Shyama! 

Herons continually play in her waters, and delighted fish swim in large schools enjoying the ebb and flow of prema. Yamunaji grants happiness to anyone who surrenders to her or bathes in her sacred waters. And to Krishna’s devotees, Yamunaji forever thrills them with premananda.

Yamunaji looks resplendent with her multi-colored bodice composed of the many tiny saivala creepers floating on her surface. Her breasts are the cakravaka birds, and her colorful yellow dress is the pollen of white lotuses. Swarms of meandering bumblebees form her hair braid. 

The blue lotuses—her eyes; the red lotuses—her lips; the blooming lotuses—her face; the wide riverbanks—her hips; and her waist belt—a flock of herons. Sonorous geese chortle as her ankle-bells. Yamuna-devi, the personification of bliss, worships Krishna by constantly offering Him lotus flowers with her fickle wave-like hands.

The flower-filled trees on her banks reflect in the water to appear like a second blossoming forest. Seeing the reflections of birds in the water, the foolish fish come there and nibble at them. At night when they see the reflections of the stars on the water the small fish, mistaking them for food, swim up to surface and try to eat them. 

The shimmering white banks of the Yamuna appear like streams of camphor; attractive lightning flashing in the dark; sandalwood paste smeared on the limbs of Vrnda-devi; or malati garlands in the braid of a woman.

On these banks stand flowerbeds situated between emerald green strips of grass. There are also many attractive kunjas and beautiful sub-forests containing cintamani cottages. Parrots, cuckoos, cakoras, and water birds such as ducks, herons, sararis, kuraris, and cakravakas move about the courtyards surrounding these cintamani cottages singing happily. 

They appear like a group of rasika devotees discussing the delightful pastimes of Krishna. Bathing ghatas made of rubies, coral, emeralds, and vaidurya gems line the Yamuna’s shores. These ghatas appear like the embodiment of auspiciousness.

The Glories of Govardhana

An exquisite line of mountains called Govardhana stretches down the middle of Vrindavana. Giriraja’s thousands of peaks appear like the thousands of hands and feet of the virata rupa avatara. Many smaller hills surround these peaks, and many jeweled plateaus and lakes like Radha-kunda provide additional beauty. 

In this way, Giriraja appears just like a romantic hero decorated with many jeweled bracelets and earrings. Just as Giriraja contains many minerals (dhatus) of red clay and arsenics, similarly, the Sanskrit language features a wonderful variety of word roots (dhatus).

By the Lord’s grace, Govardhana has surpassed the splendor of Vaikuntha and become famous as the best of mountains–GIRI  RAJA!!! Govardhana holds many difficult to enter caves. For Radha-Shyama the interiors of these caves are the embodiments of bliss. Lord Siva holds the moon in his topknot, but Giriraja’s peaks touch the moon. Govardhana is kind and gentle, and decorated with long lines of forests, as Krishna is adorned with forest garlands reaching to His ankles. 

Cascading waterfalls continually bathe all sides of Govardhana. The glorious and beneficial sight of Giriraja Baba pleases both the eyes and hearts of one and all! The banyan trees around Giriraja are grand and glorious. Their abundant cooling shade always give joy to all the Vrajavasis. It is Govardhana’s nature to protect the deer, forest creatures, and anyone who takes His exclusive shelter.

The grand glories of Mt. Kailasa, Mt. Meru, or even the best of metaphors can never compare with the unlimited glories of Govardhana. Kailasa is composed of silver, and golden Mt. Meru is born of the material nature. They pale in comparison with Govardhana, which is made of divine cintamani gems, and eternally manifested as the transcendental energy and form of Bhagavan Sri Krishna Himself!

Just as dancers enhance the charm of a theatrical performance, the gracious trees of Govardhana forever increase the endlessly sweet splendor in seeing Him. The streams flowing by the roots of the many sandalwood trees growing there pick up the divine fragrance, and pass it on to the valleys and grass growing on Govardhana. 

When all the different animals such as rurus (black deer), camara, gavayas, gandharvas, srmaras, rohisas, sasa, and sambaras bathe in the parrot-green colored streams flowing under the densely foliated green trees they appear to be made of emeralds. No one can tell whether they are real animals or made out of green jewels. 

The crystal rocks of Govardhana reflect the blue rays of its sapphires to appear like Balarama dressed in blue. The large emeralds reflected in the smooth golden rocks look like Narayana adorned in His golden dhoti. The waterfalls pouring over the emerald cliffs look like Lord Rama carrying His curved bow. The clear waterfalls rapidly falling from the tall peaks of Govardhana carry the reflections of many multi-colored jewels and appear like long rainbows. 

The light coming from the various stones and jewels in the plateaus reflect in the sky like a rainbow. The effulgence from the peaks of vaidurya gems appears like the tail of a comet streaking over Govardhana, or like a flock of flying gray birds.

Govardhana offers its many cooling stone thrones as sitting for Krishna’s pleasure. Its flat, jeweled-studded areas await to serve Krishna’s rasa dance. Its wonderful caves look more enchanting than temples made of jewels. For serving Krishna there are many flower canopies that pour down fragrant pollen when moved by the wind. The dense cool forests provide soothing relief from the hot sun. Animals such as deer and tigers always live there in peace and harmony.

Sri Yamunaji ki jai! Sri Giriraja Baba ki jai! 

Kaviraja Sri Karnapura Goswami’s Ananda Vrindavana Campu ki jai! 

Radha-Govinda Vraja Lilas ki jai!  Jai Jai Sri Radhe! 

All parts of Krishna Nectar Lilas can be found here.

Mahanidhi Madan Gopal Das

The Ten Amazing Seasons of Vraja

Because the seasons and forests are inseparable, we will first describe the astonishing transcendental forest of Vrindavana, which overflows with all wonderful attributes. Though the forest of Vrindavana contains the matchless essence of the majesty of Vaikuntha, it also features limitless sweetness and splendor that eternally manifests in newer ways at every moment.

The ever-increasing natural beauty of the forest kunjas rivals majestic houses made of priceless jewels. What exactly makes a kunja? The corners of the forest cottages (kunja) are formed of four tall kadamba trees which have many leafy branches that hang down to make natural canopies. Each of these four trees is encircled by two creepers appearing like a pair of embracing lovers. The creepers entangle with the flowers, leaves, and fruits of these trees to create a wonderful panorama of color, design and depth.

The four walls of the pastime cottages (kelimandirs) are made of flowering madhavi creepers that comprise the walls of the pastime cottages. The entwined branches of various creepers form the cottage doors that are surrounded by other fragrant creepers. Varieties of colorful flowers hang down to make the domes above the cottages. When the wind blows, these dangling flower creepers move about as natural camara fans to please Priya Yugala.

The sweet sounds of bees and cuckoos echo through the kunjas that are lit by phosphorescent vines. For the pleasure of Radha-Govinda, the kindly musk deer scent the air, and the camari cows sweep clean the forest floor with their long bushy tails.

Although the forest realm of Vrindavana exists beyond the reaches of time, it appears to display six unique seasons. Though resembling their material counterparts, the six seasons of Vrindavana are completely transcendental, charming and unlimitedly sweet because they exist only to increase the spiritual bliss of Krishna’s pastimes. The six seasons are known as: the joy of monsoon, the pleasure of autumn, the satisfaction of winter, the happiness of the dewy season, the beauty of spring, and the auspicious season of summer.

Besides the six distinct seasons mentioned above, the divine realm of Vrindavana is distinguished and beautified by three more seasons appearing in pairs as autumn and winter, dewy and spring, summer and monsoon. In this way, Vrindavana features nine seasonal forests.

But wait! There are actually ten seasonal divisions in Vrindavana (the six different seasons, the three combinations, and the six seasons together simultaneously manifesting in the same place as experienced in aprakata Sri Radha Kunda. Thus, Sri Vrindavana Dhama has ten different seasons!

In the tenth season (all six seasons at once) the youthful gopis take fresh kadamba flowers from the rainy season and fix them in their hair parts. They twirl autumn season lotuses in their petal like fingers, smear the pollen of winter lodhra flowers on their cheeks, and put bandhuli flowers from the dewy season around their necks. They place bunches of asoka buds from the spring over their ears, and entwine mallika garlands in their hair from the summer season. Every day, the Vraja gopis beautifully decorate themselves like this to worship their PriyatamaShyama.

Now we will describe the six major seasons of VrajaDhama which are the source of the ten individual forests.

The Six Seasons of Vraja

1. Rainy Season (monsoon)

During monsoon season the constant torrential rain showers resemble the intense pleasure derived from rendering pure, unalloyed devotional service. As a self-realized person becomes illumined with the eternal light of bliss, this season illumines the sky with flashes of flickering lightning which satisfy the heart. Clamoring dahuka birds mimic the conflicting arguments found in books of logic. Arjuna trees appear like a second sun to brighten all directions with their bold red flowers.

Rain showers during particular naksatras summon effulgent emeralds appearing like tender shoots of grass. The camuru deer mistake the emeralds for shoots of grass and try to nibble on them. When’ the indragopa (tiny red insects) crawl on these emeralds, they appear like tiny rubies moving across a green bodice stretched across the breast of the earth.

Kadamba flowers fill the air with a sweet herbal aroma. Due to the constant pouring of misty rain, the air always feels cool and refreshing. The rumbling clouds sound like cataki birds crying in anguish, “Please give us rain and save our lives.” The clouds answer, “Do not lament, I will rain now.”

The monsoon season abounds with a symphony of sounds. Everywhere catakabirds call, tithi birds chirp, daduri birds cry, peacocks wail piteously, clouds roar, and raindrops pitter-patter. The nourishing waters of this season beautify all the trees and gardens.

The abundant ripened fruits of the mango trees tint the center of the forest with a golden glow. With all kinds of colorful hues the gardens of Vrindavana appear as beautiful as a painting.

2. Autumn Season

Lakes of Vraja

The splendorous season of autumn is characterized by lakes full of deep blue water filled with red lotus flowers that look like the lotus feet of Visnu being caressed by the loving lotus hands of Laksmi. Brimming with water, these lakes are as clean and pure as the sinless heart of a devotee aspiring for prema. As Narayana is beautified by the presence of the joyful Goddess of Fortune, similarly, the autumn lakes are beautified by the presence of cakravaka birds and blossoming lotuses.

Groups of lazy swans sport freely in the lakes. Gliding along the water, they resemble liberated souls (parama/hamsas) swimming in the ocean of spiritual bliss. The cooing herons appear to be echoing the tales of Rama and Laksmana. Blue lotuses please everyone with their splendid fragrance, spreading through the land like the fame of the all-attractive Lord Sri Krishna. Red lotuses cast their colors across the autumn lakes like the setting sun coloring the evening sky with it pastel pinks.

The autumn moon shines brilliantly like a glinting sword unsheathed before battle. The large lakes of this season like Shyama and Radhakundas are very beautiful with warm water on their surfaces and cool water within. They resemble a peaceful man who keeps cool within, even when harassed by the hot words of a fool.

These cloud wisps appear like the white scarf of a young woman waving in the breeze, or cotton fluff carried by the winds personified as young girls. When the groups of pure white clouds reflect in the Yamuna, it appears like a brilliant white sandbar in the middle of the river. Three wonderful features fill the autumn season with bliss, namely the fragrant pollen from blooming lotuses, the directions darkening due to the swarms of bees maddened by the intoxicating fragrance of the chatima tree, and the wind driven clouds moving like freely roaming elephants.

Kaviraja Sri Karnapura Goswami’s Ananda Vrindavana Campu ki jai!

Radha-Govinda Vraja Lilas ki jai!  DasaRtuVanaVrindavana ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!

All parts of Krishna Nectar Lilas can be found here.