Mathura Parikrama (fourth day Vraj Mandal Parikrama 2012)
Sannyasis in attendance:
1. HH Radha Raman Swami
2. HH Ram Govinda Swami
3. HH Bhakti Narasimha Swami
In the land of Madhupuri, Mathura the Vraja Mandala Parikrama (VMP) pandal was already teeming with devotees as the Mangala Arotik conch was blown over the PA system. The reverbating sound of the conch sent chills of joy in the consciousness of the devotees signaling the beginning of the day’s spiritual festivities.
The Mangala Arotik had barely begun when the enthusiasm among the devotees became spontaneously contagious. A congregational devotee unable to contain his enthusiasm brokeout of the crowded pandal into the open to proceed to express his helplessly overflowing bliss through his ecstatic dance.
After the early morning program at around six, the parikrama party left for Mathura Parikrama with gamchas. The first stop was Vishram Ghat, the most important Ghat on the bank of mother Yamuna. After killing Kamsa, Krishna and Balaram came here and took rest (vishram). Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also took bath here.
Yamuna Devi the celebrated sister of Lord Yamaraja who personally resides here by the Vishram Ghat once requested Yamraja that whoever takes bath here at the Vishram Ghat must not be allowed entry in Yamaloka. Lord Yamaraja in order to please his loving sister granted her the boon that then onwards this will be so.
Lord Vajranabha, the great grandson of Lord Krishna personally installed the deity of Yamuna Devi and her brother Lord Yamaraja here in a small temple.
Under the guidance of Choubey brahmana, the official Panda of our VMP, all the devotees either half immersed in Yamuna or after doing achamana performed their sankalpa for the VMP. This sankalpa will be ended after finishing the Parikrama upon the group’s return from Raval.
The group then proceeded by the Bengali Ghat to Dhruva Ghat. During his stay in Madhuvan Dhruva Maharaj everyday came here thrice for taking his holy dips in Mother Yamuna.
The VMP’s next stop was the Sapta Rishi Mandir, where the seven great sages who are also our ancestors had performed austerities. The devotees offered their humble prostrated obeisances to the deities and prayed for Krishna Consciousness of the entire world.
Passing the Kubja Mandir and the sacred well at the house of Kubja where Lord Krishna accepted her worship, the VMP entered the Rangeshwar Mahadev Mandir. Kamsa worshiped this shiva Linga before the wresting match. Besides Rangeshwar mandir is Kamsa Tila. Here Krishna and Balarama killed Canura, Mushtika and Kamsa. Enthused in devotional spirit a few brahmacaris jested with each other acting out the celebrated fight between Lord Krishna and Kamsa to the delight of all.
The VMP’s next stop was Keshavji Gaudiya Matth. Srila Prabhupada took his Sannyasa diksha here from Srila Bhakti Prajnana Keshav Maharaj. Here the devotees were blessed by the beautiful darshan of Sri Garuanga Mahaprabhu’s very sweet Deity that was personally donated by our Srila Prabhupada. A we proceeded through the Mathura city the devotees did Guru Puja sankirtana and mentally offered flowers to Srila Prabhupada.
After returning back to the Parikrama Camp the devotees rested a while after the breakfast prasadam and then proceeded towards Sri Krishna Janma Bhumi, the celebrated appearance place of Sri Krishna in the prison house of Kamsa here in Mathura.
On the way the devotees had darshan of the magnificient Putrada Kunda which was earlier part of Kamsa’s prison. Mother Devaki took her bath here everyday during her stay in Kamsa’s prison.
The presiding deity of Sri Krishna Janma Bhumi is Sri Keshavaji. The original Deity has been long moved away, but in place now is a replica Deity whose darshan we take before proceeding to Sri Krishna Janmasthan.
Under a lot of high security the devotees had darshan of the vicinity of the appearance place of Lord Krishna and then proceeded to the Gita/Birla Mandir and had darshan of Sri Sri Jagannath Baladev Subhadra, Sri Sri Radha Krishna and Sri Sri Sita Rama Lakshmana and Hanumanji.
The evening Hindi class was by HG Gudakesha prabhu, a very deep philosophical English class was given by HH Ram Govinda Swami Maharaj, and the Bangla class was by HG Samadhir prabhu.
With great expectation the VMP now looks forward to tomorrow’s Madhuvana vaas.
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