Friday, April 1, 2016

HOW TO ENTER VRNDAVAN


How to enter Vrndavan:
Each time I am fortunate enough to read
the transcendental writings of my guru deva
I find something new.
It is inconceivable. How can this be?
But it is the case. Each time it is more wonderful than the last.
"Krishna Book" is especially difficult for me.
Because the descriptions are so fantastic...
Giant demons and what appears to be impossible events...
recorded as factual.
That is why it is so important to prepare by hearing "Bhagavad gita" and taking the guidance of a spiritual master.
Srila Prabhupada has presented 10th Canto
in such a way in "Krishna Book" that the reader is helped along.
Reading chapter 11... the section describing the move to Vrndavan.
I want to go to Vrndavan.
This describes why and how Krishna's devotees went to Vrnadavan.
There are other accounts of how and why
devotees have entered Vrndavan.
Akrura is one such account and also Uddhava.
Also Nalakuvara and Manigriva... how and why they entered.
And of course we have many examples
of how "not" to enter Vrndavan. Vatsasura, Bakasura, Putana, etc...
This is the description of how Krishna's intimate associates
actually brought Krishna and Balarama to Vrndavan.
"...all the elderly members of the cowherd men assembled together, and Nanda Maharaja presided. They began to consult amongst themselves how to stop great disturbances in the Mahavana on account of the demons."
They were concerned about the disturbances caused by demons.
"In this meeting Upananda, brother of Nanda Maharaja, was present. He was considered to be learned and experienced,
and he was a well-wisher of Krishna and Balarama."
He was a leader, and he began to address the meeting as follows:
"My dear friends! Now we should leave here for another place because we are continually finding that great demons are coming here to disturb the peaceful situation, and they are especially attempting to kill the small children."
Upananda was a respected elder cowherd and brother of Nanda Maharaja. He was considered learned.
Upananda was concerned about Krishna and Balarama but also all the children. The attacks were being directed to Krishna specifically but Krishna was not alone, He was surrounded with childhood friends and they too were in danger.
"On hearing the statement of Upananda, all the cowherd men immediately agreed. 'Let us immediately go there.'"
He described the land of Vrndavan so beautifully. With lush grasses for the cows, and Govadhana Hill. He saw such a land with it's forests and river as ideal. Everyone was enthusiastic to relocate from Mahavana to Vrndavan.
"Everyone then loaded all their household furniture and utensils on the carts and prepared to go to Vrndavana. All the old men of the village, the children and women were arranged on seats, and the cowherd men equipped themselves with bows and arrows to follow the carts. All the cows and bulls along with their calves were placed in the front , and the men surrounded the flocks with their bows and arrows and began to blow on their horns and bugles. In this way, with tumultuous sound, they started for Vrndavana."
With tumultuous sound....Horns and bugles...
The thousands of cows and bulls and calves in front...
so there was a lot of dust...
Mother Yasoda rode in one cart with Krishna in her lap
and Mother Rohini rode in another cart with Balarama in her lap.
This is such a beautiful description of their caravan.
The Ratha Yatra celebration is also an instance
where Krishna and Balarama are being taken to Vrndavan.
Here Krishna and Balarama are being taken to Vrndavan
for the first time.
Ratha Yatra celebrates trying to bring Them back to Vrndavan
after they have taken up their duties in the royal family of the Yadus.

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