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WORLD  Vrajamandala With Srila BB Tirtha Goswami Maharaj BY GOKUL INDIA, Nov 8 (VNN) — Krishnaloka is described in Srimad Bhagwatam, 10th Canto, 20th Chapter, 47th sloka. There it is stated: "From the transcendental realm which is called Krishnaloka, there emanates a glowing effulgence that resembles the tail of a comet. This glowing effulgence is unlimited, immeasurable and unfathomable. Within this effulgence there are innumerable glowing planets, each of them self-luminous. Somewhere, a limited part of that glowing effulgence is covered by material energy, just as a part of the sky is covered by a cloud. Within this material energy there are innumerable universes, in every universe there are innumerable material planets, and the earth is one of these planets. Thus we can understand what an insignificant part of the entire cosmos is this globe on which we live." His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj reached Vrindavana on October 14th for one month long Vrajamandala Parikrama. Speaking on the subject Who will show us Vraja-dhama', Srila Maharaj ji said that only a tatvik-vrajawasi like Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarawati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad can give us the knowledge of Vraja-dhama. Quoting from Srila Prabhupad's discourses of the 1932 Parikrama of Vrajamandala, Srila Maharaj explained the sign! if! icance of doing circumambulation of dhama. This world is a perverted reflection of the spiritual world. All act as purushas and want to enjoy and lord it over others. If we want Sri Krishna to appear in our heart, we will have to make our mind Vrindavan. Unless we do this Sri Krishna will not appear. In Vrindavan, Sri Krishna is the only enjoyer and master. He is Purushottama', the highest Person, all else are His prakriti'. All the holy scriptures of India describe the glories of Vrajamandala, the land where Sri Krishna appeared 5000 years ago. Also known as Brajabhoomi or Braja, the abode of Sri Krishna is the most sacred place of pilgrimage. Braj', Mathura', Vrindavan Dham', not only refer to the place located in the cultural and linguistic region of Braja situated on the banks of the Yamuna river in the present day Uttar Pradesh (U.P, India), but in the spiritual sense, this is the celestial transcendental ab! od! e of the Supreme Personality of the Godhead Sri Krishna. In the minds of devotees, there is no doubt that the spiritual abode of Krishna, descended as earthly Vrajamandala or Braj Dham. This terrestrial dham is as much transcendental as the celestial abode. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has said that just as Sri Krishna is worshipable, His abode, Vrajamandala is also worhsipable. Even the trees, creepers, rivers, ponds, streets etc. of Vrajamandala are as worshipable as the Lord. In Bhagavatam it has been stated, "Vrindavan Dham is non-different from Sri Krishna because the Name, Form, Attributes and the place where the lord appears are all identical with the lord". In the words of the great gaudiya poet sage Sri Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami: Vrajamandala manifests its true form only to those who look upon it with the eyes of love'. We have to follow a pure devotee of Sri Krishna to get those eyes of love. Hearing from a bonafide sadhu is the b! es! t way of getting the true knowledge of the abode of Sri Krishna. On 16th evening, Srila B.B. Tirtha Goswami Maharaj came to the first camp of this year's Vrajamandala Parikrama, Mathura. Devotees from all over have arrived here for participating in the Parikrama, beginning tomorrow. Mathura is one of the sapta-puris, the seven holy cities of India. All major Puranas mention the name of Mathura, but only the Ramayana and the Harivamsha Purana describe the origin of the place. Traditionally founded by Madhu Daitya, the city was rehabilitated by Sri Shatrughna, the youngest brother of Lord Rama, after conquering the region from Lavana, the tyrannical son of Madhu. The first reference to Mathura can be traced back to Atharvaveda in the sloka ö tadvishnu paramam padam sada pashyanti surya diviva chakshuratatam'. Long after Shatrughna came, ther Shoorsena dy! na! sty in which Lord Sri Krishna appeared in Dvapar Yuga. Mathura was widely known when Kamsa, the cruel king, made it his capital. Lord Sri Krishna rescued people from Kamsa. Later, Yudhishthir Mahraraj enthroned the great grandson of Sri Krishna, Vajranabha, who established the major temples of Vrajmandala. Most of these temples and their deities are worshipped even today. Who will show us Brajadham? Adhivas Tithi of Sri Vrajamandal Parikrama Mathura, Wednesday, 16 October Srila Maharaj arrived at Sri Bhivani Dharamshala, Bengalighat, Mathura, from his Math in Vrindavan, in the evening, on the holy day of Ekadasi. Generally, Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, commences Damodar Vrata, also known as Kartik Vrata or Niyam Seva Vrata, from Ekadasi. But this time as there is Vyanjuli Mahadvadasi, the vrata will be started on Mahadvadasi Tithi, 17 October. In the night, Srila Maharaj performed ecstatic Narasimha Kirtan and prayed for the grace of Guruvarga and the personal Associates of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. During his divine lecture, Maharaj said 'Who will show us Vraja-dhama?', only a tatvik-vrajawasi, like Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarawati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad can give us the knowledge of Vraja-dhama. Quoting from Srila Prabhupad's discourses of 1932 Parikrama of Vrajamandala, Maharaj ji explained the significance of doing circumambulation of Dhama. This world is a perverted reflection of the spiritual world, all act as purushas and want to enjoy and lord it over others. If we want Sri Krishna to appear in our heart, we will have to make our mind Vrindavan. Unless we do this Sri Krishna will not appear. In Vrindavan, Sri Krishna is the only enjoyer and master. He is Purushottama', all else is His prakriti'. The night meeting was not made to go too late as devotees had to prepare for the first Yaam Kirtan in the next morning at 4:30 a.m. submitted by Rasaviharidas, Secretary, GOKUL, India. Contact VNN about this story  Send this story to a friend
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