Nov 27, 2016 — CANADA (SUN) — A serial presentation of Sri Bhakti Ratnakara by Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thakur.
Chapter Five
Sri Vrndavana (12) (Part One)
Sri Raghava described the glory of Vrndavana to Srinivasa and Narottama. "O holy earth this twelfth forest of Vrndavana is the destroyer of all vices and is protected by Vrnda devi. It is certainly my favorite place. Here I will perform pastimes with my gopas and gopis in the famous beautiful places which are beyond the attainment of the demigods." (Adi Varaha Purana)
Vrndavana is completely under Vrnda devi's grace. Sri Hari himself lives in this splendid yet incomprehensible place which is worshipped by Brahma, Vedra and other demigods. Extending over wide area, Vrndavana is decorated with tulsivana and is the ashram of saints. Vrndavana is as dear to Govinda as Sri Laksmi is to Sri Visnu. Surrounded by his cowherd boys and cows Madhava sports in Vrndavana with Balarama. O what a beautiful place is Vrndavana where Govardhana mountain sweeps away the sins of mankind. Within Vrndavana are the different holy places created by Bhagavan Visnu." (Skanda Purana Mathura Khanda)
Vrndavana is always decorated by fresh flowers, green trees and creepers and the beauty of this place stirs the hearts of the gopis and gopas. It is in a dear place for grazing cows. The beauty of the forest is eternal and it destroys the miseries and sins of mankind. (Padma Purana)
There is a verse in the Srimad Bhagavatam in which one gopi says: "O Sakhi, Vrndavana is a special creation of the earth. Because Vrndavana derives its beauty from the lotus feet of Devaki Nandana all living entities stand motionless at the feet of the mountain they see the dance of the peacocks and are enchanted by the sound of Govinda's flute."
Raghava then told his followers something which was written in Goutami tantra where Krsna says to Narada, "Every part of this beautiful Vrndavana is my abode. Every creature or demigod who lives in this place will attain Golokadham after death. The cowherd girls who live in my abode are Yoginis. The five Yojanas (nearly 25 miles) of Vrndavana forest are like my body and the spinal cord of the body is Kalindi who flows with nectar like water. Deities and other spirits live here in invisible bodies. And I, living within every being, never leave this place. My appearance and disappearance has been enacted in every age. The divine and glorious illumination of this place are beyond worldly vision."
"The glory of Vrndavana is beyond anyone's calculation. Vrndavana extends over 16 krosa, where in the Shastra it is said 5 yojana. Whoever has darshan of Govinda in Vrndavana never goes to Yamalaya but conversely attains the glory of a virtuous person. The temple of Sri Govinda Deva is situated in Vrndavana and is surrounded by devotees. A fortunate person can have His darshan."
"In Vrndavana the temple of Govinda Deva is surrounded by devoted worshippers. I prefer to live there. O king, in this world Vrndavana is the Vaikuntha of Govinda. Vrnda and other female devotees of Krsna also remain there. O Mahapala, those great souls who get darshan of the powers of Govinda in Vrndavana are the most glorified persons in this world." (Narada Muni Skanda Purana)
Sri Govinda deva and the auspicious methods of worship Vrajendra's son, Sri Govinda deva, performed his lilas in various ways according to his own desires. Worldly persons see him as a deity but his devotees know him as Govinda himself. In Vrndavana he enjoys himself with his beloved gopis and a Karnika of a eight petalled lotus. (Karnika equals the seed pod of the lotus)
The dark complexion, yellow robed, Nirguna (without attributes), two armed Govinda deva, with his head adorned with a peacock comb, with hands holding a flute and stick stands in the center of the sixteen petalled lotus with eight clustered petals symbolizing Vrndavana in the shape of a thousand petalled lotus in the center of which is Mathura Mandir, specifically Gokul. On either sides stands Radha and Candravali. (Atharveda)
I bow to the feet of Radha the Godess of the Yogapatha who stands always with Govinda with her wonderful gestures and postures. (Sanmohana Tantravakya)
The Yogapatha in Vrndavana is one of the wonders of the world. Govinda's beauty is indescribable in this place.
In the Padma Purana, Parvati asks, "O Lord of mercy, please describe the wonderful nectarine beauty of Govinda. I want to hear it."
Mahadeva answers, "There is a place in the centre of Vrndavana which is decorated with Nandara trees and many other kinds of trees. It covers several miles and is the abode of happiness. Bumble bees him there being maddened by the sweet scent of the flowers. The eternal place of Govinda is that Siddhapatha which is covered by seven veils. It is the best place for those who want to hear. In that place there is a jewel studded platform of the holy Hemapatha. Within the center of Hemapatha the bright and beautiful Yogapatha is situated. This octagonal patha is elimated by different bright objects. A golden throne bedecked with bright jewels is there. And on the throne is a eight petalled lotus. Govinda forms his favorite place within the pollen which are enriched with abundant happiness. How can I sufficiently glorify this place? I pray to that Govinda who remains within the pollen worshipped by the gopis. he is Vrndavana Natha, Gokulapati. He is young and beautiful and the dear most associate of the maidens of Vraja."
Raghava then quoted a verse from the Varaha Tantra that Vrndavana patha was floating on an ocean of love with Radha upon that jewel studded golden throne. The pollen is a immortal place where Govinda resides eternally.
"Within the pollen of the lotus Sri Krsna performs his maha lila. What can be said about the maha lila? Krsna, the eternal master of Vrndavana assumed his Gopala form on that mountain of Mahalila rasa. The charming third petal of the lotus is the brightest and best of all desired objects. The glory of the pollen of this lotus cannot be described and it is the Vallabha of the Vrajabasis, the concealer of his own divinity, and the dearest of the Gopis, who is splendidly beautiful with his youthful age and his charming gait." (Varaha Tantra)
In the Varaha Tantra Prithivialso inquired about the real identity of Krsna who is the source of every cause, the absolute entity, the ever lasting master of Vrndavana and the source of Nirguna Brahma. He is known as Govinda.
Varaha said, "I pay homage to Govinda who sits on a golden throne with Radha and whose beauty has already been described. I bow to Govinda who is beautifully bedecked in celestial ornaments who is very soft and who is the cinosure of the Gopis eyes as he stands in his three fold bending posture. Within this Yoga Patha with its golden throne exists the divinely dressed Krsna Vallavha, his prkiti Lalita and the original prkiti, Sri Radha. Lalita devi is in front, Shyamala is positioned in the North East, Sri Madhumati in the North, Dhyana in the North East, Krsna's beloved Visakha in the East, Shaibya in the South East, Padma in the South and Bhadra in the South West. In front of them stands the beautiful Carucandravali. These eight main prkitis are the dearest of Krsna but Radha is the Supreme Goddess. The num prkiti of Krsna. Citra vasha, Vinda, Candra, Madana Sundari, Saprya, Madhymati, Shasi Rekha and Hari Priya also surrounded the place. Radha is the Goddess of Vrndavana and the head of all sixteen prkitis. Lalita is also as dear to Krsna as Radha."
"I sing the glory of Krsna who sits on a jewelled mountain and remains within a golden pavilion inside the kopa tree." (Gautamiya tantra)
According to Sri Raghava, whoever can visualize Krsna, whose lilas are glorified throughout the world, never wants to see anything else.
"Dear friend, if you want to enjoy yourself with your friends do not visit the place near Keshi tirtha and do not see the deity of Krsna who is known as Govinda as he stands with a sweet smile in his three fold bending form giving meaningful side glances as he holds his flute and wears his peacock crown." (Bhaktirasamrta Sindhu)
"A man can free himself fron worldly entanglement if he performes dhyna of Krsna within his heart. Krsna is worshipped by the sweet cool breezes created by the waves of the Jamuna. He is situated in the center of a jewelled lotus adorned with celestial ornaments as he stands at the base of a kopa tree surrounded by cows and gopis. With his two hands, beautiful lotus eyes, his dark complexion like a rain cloud and dressed in clothes as bright as lightning Ranamali is the master of everything." (Gopala tapani)
