Why The Gopis Did Not Go to Mathura?

Mahanidhi Swami

Devotees often ask, “If the gopis loved Krishna so much, then why didn’t they go to Mathura to meet their dearest after Akrura whisked Krishna away from their hearts one dismal day in February? After all, Mathura is only eight kilometers from Vrindavana.”

For the following five reasons, the gopis did not go to Mathura:

1) Sweet Intimate Pastimes:

Mathura and Dvaraka are filled with opulence and grandeur (aishwarya), formality, and social etiquette which generate an atmosphere of awe and reverence that creates a bridge between loving hearts. Vaikuntha is God’s office and Vrindavana is God’s playground. Only here in Vrindavana, and nowhere else, can Krishna experience the sweet and natural, free-flowing, uninhibited love of the Vrajavasis. In Vrindavana, Krishna carries Nanda’s slippers on head; and Yasoda bathes Krishna in cow urine and dung; Govinda carries the winning gopas upon His shoulders.

Only in Vrindavana does Madhava massage Radha’s feet and bathe them with His tears to mollify Her maan. Sometimes Krishna even dons a female disguise to meet Radha in Her in-laws home. Nowhere else but Vraja Dhama can such inconceivably close and warm loving exchanges take place. Thus neither the gopis nor the Vrajavasis could leave Vrindavana and visit Krishna in Mathura.

2) Faith in Krishna’s Promise:

Because of their innocence and simple love, the gopis and all the Vrajavasis had full faith in Krishna’s promise that He would return soon. Thus they patiently awaited Krishna’s arrival.”

3) Memories

Although the Vrajavasis were all burning in separation from Krishna, they sustained their lives by remembering Krishna’s lilas in the fields, forests and towns of Vraja. Memories connect separated hearts.

4) News Reports

The regular visits of Narada Muni and Uddhava to Vraja, bringing the latest news of Krishna’s activities in Mathura, gave immense pleasure. Thus the Vrajavasis remained in Vrindavana, because for them, Vrindavana was Krishna and Krishna was Vrindavana.

5) Prevent Suffering for Krishna

The Vrajavasis felt so distressed without Krishna that they wanted to give up their bodies. But they didn’t, because they thought it would cause too much pain to Krishna when He finds out. So they dragged on somehow maintaining their lives.

Our goal is Vrindavana and Vraja Prema; to lovingly serve Radha and Krishna like the Vrajavasis do in Vrindavana.

I have revealed here just one drop from the unlimited ocean of attachment for Krishna that the Vraja damsels and the Vrajavasis swim in. By hearing this, we can get a little understanding of the degree and depth of their absolutely selfless, totally self-sacrificing pure divine love for Krishna.

Vraja Prema ki jai! Gopis’ Vishuddha Nirmala Prema ki jai! Jai Jai Sri Radhe!