Vrindavana

Vrindavana is the holiest of all the Holy Dhams. It is here that the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna performed His most celebrated lila – The Rasa Lila. Every devotee of Krishna wishes to settle down in Vrindavana to take advantage of its purity and ultimately achieve the love of Radha and Krishna.

Amongst the twelve forests of Vrajabhumi, the forest of Vrindavana is the most famous and most sacred. It is the 47 krosha portion of the Supreme abode of Lord Sri Krishna known as Goloka Vrindavana.

Garga Samhita mentions that just by uttering the name of Vrindavana, one attains the merit of chanting Krishna’s holy name. By smelling the fragrance of Vrindavana, one is blessed by the merit of smelling the sweet fragrance of tulasi leaves offered to Lord Govinda.

The Rasa-Lila happened in Vrindavana

Vrindavana is the celebrated forest where the rasa-lila pastimes took place and especially the ones of Sharada Purnima. As the full moon rose in the night sky over the forest of Vrindavana, Krishna, while standing in His tribhanga-rupa, played an enchanting melody on His celebrated flute. As soon as the Vraja-gopis heard that enchanting vibration, they were impelled to leave their homes and rush to Vrindavana forest simply to satisfy Krishna’s desire to dance with them in the rasa-lila.

The gopis were unable to resist the call of the flute and as they entered the sacred forest their hearts were throbbing in expectation of being embraced in the powerful arms of their beloved Krishna and experience the unforgettable taste of His nectar-like kisses.

The origin of Vrindavana

Vrindavana means the forest of Tulsi or Vrinda Devi. The sacred forest is the manifestation of the heart of Vrinda Devi on which Lord Krishna resides eternally. This Vrindavana is the original abode of the Supreme Lord Krishna. The origin of Vrindavana Dham is mentioned in the Garga Samhita.

Once when devatas and Lord Brahma approached Lord Krishna in Goloka to descend to this Earth and help them kill the demons. Lord Krishna requested Radharani to accompany Him but She denied as Govardhana, Yamuna River and Vrindavana were not present on this Earth.

Lord Krishna thus assured Srimati Radharani that Goloka Vrindavana, Yamuna and Govardhana will also accompany Them to Bhumandala. Thus Vrindavana Dham, Yamuna River and Govardhana Hill all descended from the spiritual realm to this Earth for the lilas of Lord Sri Krishna and continue to remain for our benefit.

Parikrama of Vrindavana

The sacred city of Vrindavana has a pradakshina path of ten kilometres. It generally takes two hours to complete this parikrama by walk. Whoever performs Vrindavana parikrama simultaneously performs the parikrama of five thousand temples.

Devotees perform the Vrindavana parikrama on Ekadashi Day, important festivals such as Radhashtami, Janmashtami, Rama Navami, Govardhana Puja, etc, during the purushottama masa, during the Karthika masa and many such occasions. Some devotees even perform a dandavat parikrama by lying on the ground and paying their pranams to the holy dham.

Temples in Vrindavana

Although Vrindavan is famous for the five thousand temples all dedicated to Lord Sri Krishna, there are still seven temples which are prominent amongst all these temples. These seven temples are the icons of the sacred land. They were established by the six Goswamis of Vrindavan and their followers.

Sri Radha Madana Mohana Temple established by Srila Sanatana Goswami

Sri Radha Govinda Temple established by Srila Rupa Goswami

Sri Radharamana Temple established by Srila Gopala Bhatta Goswami

Sri Radha Damodara Temple established by Srila Jiva Goswami

Sri Radha Shyamsundar Temple established by Srila Shyamananda Pandit Goswami

Sri Radha Gokulananda Temple established by Srila Lokanatha Goswami

Sri Radha Gopinatha Temple established by Srila Madhu Pandit Goswami

Then there are lila sthalis where Lord Krishna performed His lilas

Kaliya Mardana Ghat

Shringara Vata

Dwadashaaditya Tila

Seva Kunja & Nidhi Vana

Vamshi Vata

Gopeshwara Mahadeva

Keshi Ghat

Davanala Kunda

Varaha Ghat

Meditation on Vrindavan Dham

tato vrindaavanam dhyaayet paramaananda vardhanam

Vrindavan-dham is an abode of ever-increasing joy. In that transcendental land grow flowers and fruits of all seasons, and various birds fill it with sweet sounds. Cool breezes and the Yamuna’s waters enhance the atmosphere, and all directions resound with the humming of bumblebees.

Vrindavan is decorated with wish-fulfilling trees embraced by many varieties of flower-bearing creepers, and its divine beauty is ornamented with the pollen of red, blue, and white lotuses. The ground is made of jewels that shine with the brilliance of ten million suns rising in the sky at once.

On that ground is a garden of desire trees forever showering divine love, and in that garden sits a bejeweled temple with a pinnacle of rubies. Bedecked as it is with various jewels, that temple shines brilliantly in every season.

It is beautified with brightly colored canopies, glittering with various gems, and endowed with coverings decorated with rubies, as well as gateways and arches inlaid with gems. That temple shines with the splendor of millions of suns and is eternally free from the six waves of material miseries. Within it sits a great, golden, gem-inlaid throne. In this way one should meditate on Sri Vrindavan Dham, the divine realm of the Supreme Lord. (Gautamiya-tantra 4)

How to reach Vrindavana?

If you want to relish the Vrindavan in its totality, you are welcome to join Vrajabhumi Yatra which shall take you to all the beautiful places where Lord Sri Krishna performed His lilas. One need not worry about any arrangements such as stay, food or transport. Just focus on relishing the place and its beauty.

If you wish to brave yourself to reach Vrindavan, here are the methods

By Air: The nearest Airport is New Delhi International Airport which is well connected with major cities of the world. From there private taxis are available to Vrindavan.

By Rail: The nearest Railway Station is Mathura. It is well connected from the major cities in India. From there private taxis are available to Vrindavana.

By Road: Vrindavan is well connected with roadways from the nearest cities.

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