An Odyssey to God’s Own Abode - Sri Vrindavan-Jaipur Yatra 2022

The engines of the train chugged as it ploddingly halted. A shrill whistle blew as the travelers alighted onto Mathura’s
bustling railway-station. Amongst them was an enthusiastic assemblage of about 40 people, most of whom were residents of
Powai. The jolly group had embarked on a 6-day journey to Vrindavan & Jaipur and upon stepping onto the hallowed land
of Mathura, their joy knew no bounds! The trip was organized by the Hare Krishna Movement (HKM) Mumbai, which is
based in Powai.

Sri Vrindavan Dham is the esoteric, holy abode of Lord Krishna where He displayed His transcendental pastimes during His
appearance on this planet some 5000 years ago. With a beautiful temple at almost every other step, Vrajabhumi is
embellished with over 5000 gorgeous temples! Stepping on the same sacred soil where Sri Krishna once frolicked with His
cowherd friends, the congregation of the HKM Mumbai trip visited the various pastime spots of Vrindavan, hearing and
contemplating upon the activities the Lord performed there. The scent of sweet ketaki flowers was in the air, and the song of
the chirruping parrots could be distinctly heard as the devotees traversed the very busy gullies of Braj, which seemed to be
painted with Radharani’s (the Queen of Vrindavan’s) love for Krishna. The glittering waters of the Yamuna adorn
Vrindavan, encircling it like a moat of black mascara, winding through Vraja in a very crooked course, searching for
Krishna, the moon of Vraja. On its shores, reside the temples of the prime deities of Vrindavan, where the devotees took
darshans of their Lordships, and performed harinaam sankirtan, the congregational chanting of the holy names of Krishna.
In this hallowed land where every step is a dance and every word is a song, the devotees lost their hearts, overcome by a
deluge of love and devotion!
Softly murmuring the HareKrishna Mahamantra (Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna
Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare) here felt magical.

Vrindavan is not an ordinary place; the scriptures proclaim it to be a replica of the Lord’s abode in the spiritual world,
known as Goloka-Vrindavan and Lord Krishna and his abode are equally worshipable. Often, people come here as tourists
for sightseeing and consider it to be an “unclean”, Indian village. However, the land of Vrindavan cannot be perceived in
totality simply by our imperfect, material senses.
Lord Krishna and His abode, Vrindavan, are equally worshipable, being non-different from each other.
On this yatra organised by HKM Mumbai, every moment was spent in the company of devotees, deliberating upon the Lord.
Lakhs of people come to Vrindavan every day all-year round, yet they are bereft of experiencing and understanding the
mood of Vraja. In the company of devotees, however, one can realise and relish the abstruse potency of this place, constantly
feeling the presence of the Lord; and fathom the arcane position of Vraja and the vrajavasis!
In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said: “In the association of pure devotees, discussion of the pastimes and activities of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead is very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and the heart. By cultivating such knowledge one
gradually becomes advanced on the path of liberation, and thereafter he is freed, and his attraction becomes fixed. Then
real devotion and devotional service begin.”

This trip became even more special, as it was held in the holy month of Kartik. In the Skanda Purana and Padma Purana, it
is mentioned that “Kartik is the topmost of all other months. If someone performs a little worship of Sri Hari in this month,
He offers that devotee His own abode!”

Spending 3 days in the holy abode of Vrindavan in the month of Kartik, the attendees of the trip felt saturated with immense
spiritual bliss. On the last day in Vraja, they wistfully prayed to Their Lordships to allow them to enter Sri Vrindavan Dham
again and again…always! Physically leaving Vraja dham, the devotees left a piece of their hearts tucked somewhere in
Krishna’s glistening ankle-bells and another in the midnight curls of Sri Radhika’s braids!

Following the trip to Vraja, the attendees of the yatra next made their way to Jaipur, which is also known as Gupt-Vrindavan
or “Hidden” Vrindavan. This is because many of the Vrindavan’s prime deities were brought here for safety, due to the
onslaught of Mughal invaders in Vraja a few centuries ago. Taking darshans of these ethereal deities in their scintillating
temples and hearing about Their glories made the devotees feel as if they were actually present in Vrindavan only!

As the trip concluded, the attendees experienced a bittersweet feeling tugging at their hearts, a feeling of extreme happiness,
tinged with a desire of wanting more! Wrapping all the cherishable memories of the yatra, hoping to protect them in their
hearts for many decades to come, the attendees of the trip now look forward to join the upcoming yatra to Dwarka in
December, and many more organized by Hare Krishna Movement and beseech you to do so too!
Day1: Paying their humble respects to the sacred soil of Vrajabhumi, the devotees carried on
to their hotel rooms in the magnificent accommodation of the Hare Krishna Orchid where
they were greeted with broad smiles and sumptuous breakfast by the Yatra Committee of
HKM Mumbai. The scent of sweet ketaki flowers was in the air, and one could distinctly hear
the song of the chirruping parrots. The devotees boarded the designated bus, and the trip
commenced, with the first visit to Raval, the birthplace of Srimati Radharani, the queen of
Vrindavan. The other places that were visited- Brahmand Ghat, Chintaharan Mahadev,
Ukhal Bandhan (“Damodar Lila”), Raman Reti, Nidhivan, Radharaman Temple,
Radha Gokulananda

Day 2:
Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir (VCM) at 4 am. Mangal-Aarti of the gorgeous deities of
Sri Sri Radha Vrindavan-Chandra commenced, soaking all those present in waves of awe and
reverence.
Barsana, the sweet abode of Srimati Radharani.
Nandagaon next, Vrinda Kund temple.
Madan Mohan temple, Kaliya Ghat, Sri Sri Radha-Shyamasundar Mandir, Sri Sri
Radha-Damodar

Day 3 Govardhan Parikrama by electric rickshaws. Kusum Sarovar and Uddhava-

baithak, as well as Narada-Kund, Govinda-kund, Manasi-ganga, Radha Kund and
Shyam Kund are described as Govardhan’s two love-filled eyes… Haridev Temple,
Srinathiji Temple,
Bhandiravan, Venu Kupa, Sridama Vata, and Radharani Maan-Sarovar,
Vamshivata

The next morning, the devotees wistfully attended the mangal-aarati at the Vrindavan
Chandrodaya Mandir, praying to Their Lordships to allow them to enter Sri Vrindavan Dham
again and again…always. Physically leaving Vraja dham, the devotees left a piece of their
hearts tucked somewhere in Vrindavan-Chandra’s glistening ankle-bells and another in the
midnight curls of Sri Radhika’s braids!

Day 4 of the yatra was an absolute adventure. This was the day when the devotees took
“Sampurna-Darshan” of the three prime deities of Vrindavan, i.e., Madan-Mohanji(in
Karauli), Gopinathji(in Jaipur) and Govinda-Devji(Jaipur).
These deities originally resided in Vrindavan, but due to the onslaught of Mughal invaders,
They were concealed safely in Jaipur, also known as Gupt-Vrindavan.

The devotees then came to Sri Sri Krishna-Balaram Mandir (HKM Jaipur) and retired for the
night in the temple guesthouse.

Day 5: mangala-aarati at 4.15am, Charan-Pahadi, Kanak Vrindavan -After Mughal

attacks in Vrindavan, all the prime deities were brought here, before Their separate temples
were built. Jagat Shiromani Temple of Meera-Bai and then proceeded to Khole Ke
Hanumanji temple were they honoured delicious lunch prasadam of ‘Daal-Baati-Churma’!
The evening was spent in HKM’s Krishna-Balaram Mandir where grand ‘Palki-Utsav’ took
place. The charming utsav-vigraha of Krishna Balaram enthroned on a grand palki came out
of the altar and circumambulated the temple as thousands of devotees euphorically sang and
danced. Showers of flowers rained from the upper balconies and the temple was lit up by
scintillating chandeliers and brilliant diyas. It felt ethereal, absolutely magical!

And thus concluded a most wonderful trip to Vrindavan and Gupt-Vrindavan!