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Sri Bhakti Ratnakara Oct 01, CANADA (SUN) — A serial presentation of Sri Bhakti Ratnakara by Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thakur.
Virachandra first took permission to visit the forests of Vrndavana from Sri Bugarba and Sri Jiva Gosvami, then started out along with Yadava Acarya and others to visit the forests of Madhu, Tala, Kumuda and Bahula. He also went to Radha Kunda where he relished the association of Sri Jiva and others. Surrounded by numerous great Vaisnavas, Virachandra enjoyed the beauty of the Radhakunda. Seeing the Tamala tree under which Prabhu Gaurachandra had sat during his visit to Sri Radhakunda, Virachandra became ecstatic. After visiting Shyamakunda and Radhakunda he went on to Girigovardhana, where he sang and danced madly absorbed in the ecstasy of sankirtana. Eager to serve him, the people of Vraja offered many items of food for his pleasure. He and his followers stayed there for five or six days. Thereafter Sri Jiva, Sri Bhugarba and others bed farewell to him. Virachandra then slowly proceeded from Govardhana towards the cottage of Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja. He stayed with Sri Kaviraja for two days and then went to Vrndavana, accomapnied by Krsnadasa Kaviraja, Vasudeva, Uddhava, Yadava and some other devotees. He then traveled to Kamyavana, the place where Lord Krsna played as a youth. He took his bath in Vimala and other kundas in Kamyavana and then went to Vrisabhanupura. Vasudeva pointed out the location of King Vrisabhanu's palace where Lord Krsna first met Sri Radha. One day Krsna began thinking of a plan by which he could enter into the palace of Vrsabhanu. Very soon thereafter, on the occasion of Sri Radha's birthday celebration, Vrsabhanu sent Sridama to the house of Nanda to invite Nanada Maharaja and his family and friends to his palace. When Nanda and his party entered Vrsabhanu's palace, Krsna and Sri Radha met and stood staring at one another, enchanted by each other's beauty, later on they managed to meet in a private place. From Vrishabhanupura, Virachandra went to Nandagrama, where Vasudeva told him about the wonderful birthday celebration which was held there to commemorate Lord Krsna's appearance: One that day Queen Yasodamayi told Nanda that today is Krsna's birthday so he should invite all His friends. Nandaghosh sent the son of Upananda to the palace of Vrisabhanu and requested them to come to his house. Vrisabhanu and others came to the house of Nanda carrying various gifts. Vrisabhanu's queen, Kirttika, and their daughter Radhika came along with Nanada Maharaja. Queen Yasoda cordially received them, offering them celestial seats. News of the festival spread throughout Vraja and all the gopi's rushed to the house of Nanda, joyfully singing songs for Krsna's well being. The gopas decorated themselves with ornaments and went to the house of Nanda carrying many buckets of milk, curds and ghee. The Lord's birthday celebration was thus celebrated with great ecstasy. On that occasion Krsna observed Sri Radha from a secluded place, but the two of them were unable to come closer to each other due to the presence of so many respected elders. Thus Sri Radha began to consider some pretext by which she could escape to meet Kanu. Somehow her confidante Lalita managed to take Radha to a lonely place where she met her beloved Krsna. Virachandra was enchanted by the wonderful descriptions of Radha Krsna's pastimes. Thereafter he took his bath in Sri Pavana Sarovara, visited Khandiravana and came to Yabata. From there he went to Ramaghata where he arranged for the Rama Rasa performance. He observed the place of the Vandir-vata, but Vasudeva informed him that the actual Vandir-vata was no longer in existence. Virachandra prabhu sat in a secluded spot and meditated upon the sports which Krsna and Balarama use to play. Suddenly before him he saw the two brothers Rama and Krsna playing with Their friends. Virachandra was overwhelmed with excitement. Virachandra happily roamed throughout Nandaghata, Chiraghata, Vadravana, Vandira, Sri Louhavana and then visited the great Sri Gokulavana and observed the birthplace of Lord Krsna with great ecstasy. He visited the birthplace of Sri Radhika at Raol and then went to the Visramaghata in Mathura, where he took his bath with great pleasure. He observed the temple of Gokarnaksha Siva and the place of Akrura. Then he returned to Vrndavana and entered the temple of Sri Govinda on the appearance day of Lord Krsna. A wonderful abhiseka ceremony took place that day which everyone delightfully participated in. Virachandra also observed the day of Vadra-Sukla astami, i.e., the day of Radhika's birth abhiseka. Virachandra stayed happily in Vrndavana for a few more days then started for Gauradesa with his followers. All the residents of Vrndavana cried in despair to see Virachandra departing, and Virachandra also unable to hold back his tears. Virachandra patiently consoled everyone then went to Gaura via Mathura. Upon reaching Gaura, Virachandra visited all the places of importance and informed the residents there about the happenings in Vrndavana and Mathura. He then returned to Khardaha and reported everything to his mother Sri Jahnava devi. Those who attentively hear these pastimes are sure to be freed from all miseries of material life, thus I earnestly request the listeners to go deep into the ocean of Bhakti Ratnakara. Remembering the lotus feet of Srinivasa Acarya, I Narahari dasa, take the pleasure of writing this book, Sri Sri Bhaktiratnakara.
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