Kartik-2009 in Vrindavan - Day1

After experiencing the Diwali and Goverdhan Puja festivals in Vrindavan in 2007, this time too, I decided to spend these auspicious days in Sridham. Krishna willing my parents also acceeded to my plans. So we left for Vrindavan on 17th October, Saturday. It was Diwali and came back on 21st, the Monday.

 Kartik Yatra

Day 1 - Diwali

Day 2 - Goverdhan Puja

Day 3 - Goverdhan Parikrama 

17-Oct-2009, Saturday

The day when Damodara Pastime was performed.

We reached Krishna Balarama Temple around 8:30 AM, missing the precious Sringar Darshan and Guru Puja.

In the courtyard, His Grace Makhan Lal Prabhu (ACBSP) was giving a lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam. He was establishing the position of Srila Prabhupada as an complete Acarya who has given everything in his books. he lambasted the claims of some immature people who say that Srila Prabhupada only taught ABC. He was very strong in his words. He asked the assembled devotees to read CC, NOD and SB to judge themselves.

We are so grateful to Srila Prabhupada that he picked us up, made us qualified and then gave us the biggest treasure in the world in the form of his books. All Glories to him. That fulfilling feeling was there, sitting in the courtyard of Krishna Balarama Mandir, morning chill in the air, vaishnavas all around with nice shining dhotis and kurtas adorned with Big, bright Tilak and Kanthi. It seems like Vishnu-dutas have themselves descended to Vrindavan and rightly so. And there stand in front of our eyes, the lords of our life, the two transcendental brothers, princes of Vrindavan smiling affectionately seeing their devotees assembled together for the sole purpose of Their pleasure.

Met Sri Kehshav Pr, (will soon be posting about this lovely devotee from Vrindavan), Chakravarti Prabhu. After breakfast Prasadam, 3 of us along with CVP left for Goswami Temples. We first visited Radha Damodar Mandir. The area in front of Rupa Goswami's Samadhi and Bhajan Kutir has been revamped. It looks really great now. Then we left for Radha Shyamsundar Mandir, there Krishna was in Durga Vesha. For the whole month of Kartik, Shyamsundar is dressed in various ways. Off to Radha Raman, it was closed so we quickly moved to Gopal Bhatt Goswami's Samadhi adjacent to Radha Raman Mandir. Then we visited Radha Gokulanand Mandir, which houses the deities of Loknath Goswami and Narottam Das Thankur's apart from others. This time I even visited Nupur Sthali, where Shyamanand Pandit discovered Radharani's ankle bells.

Then we sent off my parents to the rooms to take rest, while CVP and I went to loi Bazaar to shop for some essentials. I got a great deal on chanting beads n bags. Returning back to room after taking rest, we went for lunch prasadam. After being satiated again four of us set for visiting Radha Madan Mohan Mandir and Keshi Ghata. Keshi Ghata is very dear to me, as that place is a little isolated from the noise of the vehicles and people. Cool breeze flows there along with the calm and serene Yamuna. I aspire to once go and spend like 2-3 hours there and chant my rounds. Perhaps there my rascal mind will get subjugated and for once chant attentively. This reminds me to beg you and all vaishnavas that might be reading this blog to pray for improvement in my Japa. Its going downhill for me. Quality is at it's worst. So please keep me in your prayers.

We also spent some time at Kaliya Daha, which has been revamped very nicely. Its really awesome. Then off we were to Krishna Balarama for the legendary 6:30 kirtan by the legendary kirtan king of ISKCON, His Grace Aindra Prabhu. What followed was ecstatic dancing and singing during Gaura Arati. Wonders of Wonders!!! What do i see, Apurva Gopal Prabhu is also here. A day before his planned arrival. Vijay Madhav prabhu had also arrived. So after this we hit the Govinda's snack counter opposite Prabhupada's samadhi and we sat together just like old times in Pune. It's so good to be in Vrindavan. After this I again went back in to relish some more kirtan. This time Radha Caran prabhu was generous and allowed me to carry his beautiful Gaura Nitai on my head and dance. It's good, but at same time it's exhausting.

After this long day's routine, I retired to our room at Chitrkoot Ashram. Waiting for next day's celebrations.