Festivals in Vrndavana
A Comprehensive Guide to Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma
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Overview
The process of reception according to Vedic rites is not at all dry. The reception was made not simply by decorating the roads and streets, but by worshiping the Lord with requisite ingredients like incense, lamps, flowers, sweets, fruits and other palatable eatables, according to one's capacity. All were offered to the Lord, and the remnants of the foodstuff were distributed amongst the gathering citizens. So it was not like a dry reception of these modern days. Each and every house was ready to receive the Lord in a similar way, and thus each and every house on the roads and streets distributed such remnants of food to the citizens, and therefore the festival was successful. Without distribution of food, no function is complete. That is the Vedic culture.
This Vedic tradition is followed even today in houses and temples around the world on the auspicious days associated with the transcendental pastimes of the Lord and His associates.
In different festivals the Lord, seated on a car, car moves through different streets of the city so that people may take advantage of visiting the Lord. In the Bhavisya Purana it is said: In such a ceremony, if even a candala [dog-eater], simply out of curiosity, sees the Lord on the cart, he becomes counted as one of the associates of Visnu. Any one participating in such a festival, even though they are not devotees of Krsna are considered to be associates of Lord Visnu and thus their lives become auspicious.
These Krsna conscious festivals are a wonderful opportunity to attract the general public to take part in the pastimes of the Lord, thus giving them the opportunity to take to Krsna consciousness. Festivals are an opportunity to celebrate the opportunity to serve the Lord and to also take part in His spiritual pastimes by assisting Him in performing the activities of these different pastimes
Guru Purnima
This festival takes place in the month of Asadha (June-July). It is customary to worship the spiritual master on this day, because it is the appearance day of Vyasadeva. On this day many devotees gather at Manasi Ganga and do Govardhana parikrama. Sanatana Gosvami left his body on Guru Purnima, at Manasi Ganga, on the full moon day in the month of Asadha, in 1558.
Jhulan Yatra Mahotsava
This festival lasts for 13 days. It starts on the Tritya (third day) of the bright fortnight of Sravana (July-Aug) and lasts until the full moon night of the month. During this festival the Radha-Krsna Deities in the temples are swung on a swing. This is one of the biggest festivals of the year and Vrndavana is very crowded at this time. Often the swings are gold and silver. Some of the main temples that this festival is celebrated at are the Banke Bihari Temple and the Radha-Raman Temple in Vrndavana, the Dwarkadish temple in Mathura, and the Larily Lal Temple in Varsana.
In Sri Vrindavan for five days, in many of the 5000 temples there, the small Utsav-vighraha functional Deities (Vijay-utsav bera) are taken from the altar and placed on an elaborately decorated swing in the temple room. After receiving the traditional arati worship, the Deities are pushed on Their swing. Members of the congregation are invited to participate. Each person offers flower petals and personal prayers, and then pushes the swing several times as the other members chant Hare Krsna, Jaya Radhe Jaya Krsna jaya Vrndavan, or Jaya Radhe, Jaya Jaya Madhava dayite in kirtan. The atmosphere of this festival is especially sweet as everyone has the chance to intimately serve Radha and Krsna.
In Vrndavan it starts on the Tritya (third day) of the bright fortnight of Shravana and lasts until the full moon night of the month. During this festival the Radha-Krsna Deities in the temples are swung on a swing. Some of the main temples that this festival is celebrated at are the Banke Bihari Temple and the Radha-Raman Temple in Vrndavana, the Dwarkadish temple in Mathura, and the Larily Lal Temple in Varsana.
In our ISKCON temples we observe this festival for five days in accordance with Srila Prabhupada's instructions. So whether one observes for the four days or for the seven, or thirteen days, the same festival is put on for the pleasure of the Lord and His loving associates.
It is a most pleasing and satisfying festival, with the swings often highly decorated with forest creepers, jasmine flowers (malati) that has newly blossomed in the season, and streamers of garlands. Sometimes they use a fine spray of rose water and direct it toward the Divine couple of Radha and Krsna on Their swing.
Jhulan references
"Regarding Jhulana yatra ceremony, during these five days the Deities' clothing should be changed everyday, and there should be nice prasadam distribution and sankirtana as far as possible. If you are able to do it, a nice throne may be constructed on which the Deities can be placed. This throne may be swung gently during kirtana. That will be very good, and surely the Deities will enjoy the function." (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.1st August. 1969. Letter to Jayapataka Swami. Letters book pg. 977.)
"So we have to practice this Krsna consciousness. Here, in this material world, we have to work. Without work, you cannot maintain even your family, your body. That is not possible. Sarira-yatrapi te na prasiddhyed akarmana-. Krsna says (to) Arjuna that without karma you cannot maintain even your body. So you have to work. Sarira-yatrapi te na prasiddhyed akarmana-. And this material world means you have to maintain by working. And spiritual world means na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate. There is nothing to work, as Krsna has nothing to work. He is simply enjoying What is called? Swing. So Krsna is enjoying, and Krsna's associates are enjoying. They have nothing to work. That is spiritual world. Cintamani prakara sadmasu kalpa vrksa: that is a different world. There is no material body. Therefore there is no need of the material body. That is a different world. But in this material world we have to work. Trt'ya-karma-samj-anya avidya-karma-samjanya trtiya aktir isyate. This material world means you have to work and adjust things for your maintenance. That you cannot escape. But still, we have to become Krsna conscious" (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 10th August 1976. Srimad Bhagavatam 3:22:21. Tehran, Iran.)
Radha-Krsna Pastime
From the Chronicles of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur
Every year Srimati Radharani used to go to Varsana to her parents' house and have a very nice time there with her Gopi friends and Krsna, whom She could freely meet (because Jatila and Katila were not around).
'One time Radharani was waiting for her brother Sridam to come and take her to her fathers' house. She was waiting, waiting, and waiting, but there was no sign of Sridam and She became so sad. One day a person from Varsana was there. She asked the man to ask her father, "Why have they have forgotten Me?" She then started to cry bitterly. The person went to Varshana and told Vrishabhanu Maharaja about the condition of his daughter. Hearing this news, Vrishabhanu Maharaja immediately sent Sridam to Varsana to get Radharani.
Srimati Radharani's Mother Kirtida packed many presents for Jatila to send with Sridam, knowing that if she did not do this, Jatila, being harsh of character sometimes would not send Srimati Radharani to Varsana.
Meanwhile, day and night Srimati Radharani was staring at the road coming from Varsana. One day, She saw Sridam and when he finally arrived at the front gate they embraced each other. She was weeping, "Oh brother you had forgotten Me?; My father and mother too?; Everyone forgot Me?"
At first Jatila refused to let Srimati Radharani go. "No no, She cannot go. She has so much work to do here, and there is so much danger there because of that black boy. She cannot go."
Then Sridam gave Jatila all the presents given by Kirtida ma. Seeing this, she said, "Alright, she can go, but only for a few days."
"Then Srimati Radharani and Sridam went on a cart pulled by four bullocks to Varsana. Seeing the palace of her parents on the hilltop, feeling great happiness Radharani started weeping and even more weeping when She saw Her father and mother face to face.
At that time Jhulan-yatra had already started and Srimati Radharani started swinging with Her sakhis (friends) during periods in the day and night, but She was not satisfied alone, without Krsna there. Knowing this, Krsna sometimes came in disguise to the palace. Sometimes He dressed as a Gopi selling bangles or beautiful garlands. Or He appeared in any other form and made an appointment for Them to meet each other somewhere in a very secret place in the forest.
Once, Srimati Radharani was seated on the Jhulan and Krsna was pushing the swing very gently. Suddenly Krsna put so much force in pushing the swing that Srimati Radharani became fearful and started crying out, "O Krsna, save Me, save Me!" That transcendental trickster Sri Krsna climbed on the swing and She firmly embraced Him, giving Him so much pleasure. Why so much pleasure? Because normally He has to do so many tricks so that Radharani will embrace Him, but in this instance She embraced Him out of Her own will, without much effort on His part. Therefore He is so fond of these swing pastimes.
Meditations on Sri Jhulan Yatra
The Jhulan time is very intense. In general the Shravana masha have an exceptional mood, it is raining all the time, Yamuna-mayi became very wide, flooded and there is a fresh atmosphere for devotees who move daily to worship and take the lila-darshan which is performed in diverse temples in Vrndavan. As an example, in Jai Sing Geera, the lilas are performed during the whole week: every morning Gauranga-lila and at the evening Krsna-lila's theatre is played.
Devotees tell that some time ago a king, who was a great devotee of Sri Radha-Raman used to came to Vrndavan in the Shravana month to assist that performances which started out of his own desire. The rasa-lilas and theatre performance of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu and Sri Krsna lilas were very dear to him and surely to Sri Radha Krsna also because since that time it now takes place as a yearly event.
In each of Vrndavanas' temples a wonderful swing-kunja is to be found, each with singular features along with the swinging mood and the always happy "Jay Sri Radhe! Jay Sri Radhe!". There took place also the golden swing darshan of Sri Banka Bihariji, which occurs once yearly. It happen the first day of Jhulan in which streets are completely crowded, any vehicles, like cars, even auto-rickshaws transit are very much restricted and rikshaws can move only in the main roads. Some devotees wait until the midnight special aratis to get darshan because during the day it's difficultto try and get in with the hundreds of thousands of villagers who descend on Vrndavan township to be absorbed in this wonderful festival.
Lord Balarama's Appearance Day
On the last day of the Jhulan, on the Purnima (full moon) this comes Lord Balaram's appearance day festival. This festival is in the month of Sravana (July-Aug). On this day Lord Balarama appeared in Gokula.
Sri Baladeva is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. He is equal in supremacy to the Supreme Godhead, yet wherever Krsna appears, Sri Baladeva appears as Krsna's brother, sometimes elder, sometimes younger. In his vaibhava-prakasa feature, Lord Krsna manifests Himself as Balarama. The Balarama feature is as good as Krsna Himself, the only difference being that the bodily hue of Krsna is dark and that of Balarama is fair. These two Lords, Krsna and Balarama, are each the seed and womb of the universe, the Creator and His Creative potency. They enter the hearts of living beings and control their conditioned awareness. They are the primeval supreme. (Appreciating Sri Vrndavana Dhama, Mahanidhi Swami)
Yogamaya transferred Ananta Sesa (Balarama) from the womb of Devaki to the womb of Rohini. Seven months later during the most auspicious moment in Sravana month, Rohini, just like a lioness gave birth to Lord Balarama feeling all happiness. His complexion was just like a white lotus flower and He looked like the full moon. His eyes were brilliant like lightning flashes and his hair was the color of a new cloud yet brilliant like the sun. Such extraordinary beauty prevailed because He was none other than the Lord Sankarsana. Astrologers said that He would have long arms and kill Pralambasura; that He would have a younger brother and kill many other demons. They said He is Dhenupal, the protector of cows an the killer of Dhenekasura. The brahmanas under Vasudeva's order performed the jata karma samskara ceremony. Though He was extremely beautiful, everyone was extremely anxious because He was mute and inactive. No one could get Him to make a sound or move. Once when Yasoda was pregnant, she picked Him up and carefully placed Him on her lap next to her heart where Krsna was residing, Balarama immediately began to laugh and play like a blissful child. But when Yasoda would set Him down, again he would become inactive. He remained in this condition until the appearance of His younger brother (Krsna). (Sri Vrndavana Dhama, Newsletter, Janmastami 1993, pg. 6)
Shaji Temple
Two days before Balarama's Appearance Day, during the Jhulan Yatra swing festival, the Vasanti Kamara room in the Shahji Temple is open. The Deities in this temple are brought to this room. This is a crowded event.
Special Darshan of Gosvami's Temples
This is the day after Balarama's Appearance Day. Some of the special darshans are: Madana Mohana Temple (Rairaja), Radha Damodara (Syama Sakhi), Syamasundara (Naukar Bihar), Gokulananda (Raval Raja), Gopinatha (Van Bihar), and Govindaji (Subal Vesh).
Sri Krsna Janmastami
This celebrates the appearance day of Lord Krsna in Mathura. It is celebrated in an elaborate way in Vrndavana. Rasa lila plays are performed, depicting different pastimes of Lord Krsna. There is a huge arati at 12 midnight in temples all over Vrndavana. Devotees fast until midnight. This festival falls on the 8th day of the dark half of the month of Bhadra (August/Sept).
Krsna is God, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This fact is stated and corroborated in the Vedic scriptures and by various authorities. Lord Brahma in Brahma Samhita says, "Krsna who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes" (BS 5.1). In the Bhagavata Purana Krsna becomes the chief object of devotion. After describing various incarnations of the Lord such as Rama, Balarama, Vamana, Nrsimha, and Vishnu, Srila Sukadeva Goswami states, "All of the above mentioned incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Krsna is the original Personality of Godhead" (SB 1.3.28).
Lord Shiva in Gita Mahatmya, states that "only one God - Krsna, the son of Devaki" (Verse 7). In the Padma Purana it is stated, "By scrutinizingly reviewing all the revealed scriptures and judging them again and again, it is now concluded that Lord Narayana is the Supreme Absolute Truth, and thus He alone should be worshipped". Similarly it is said in the Skanda Purana, "In the material world, which is full of darkness and dangers, combined with birth and death and full of different anxieties, the only way to get out of the great entanglement is to accept loving transcendental devotional service to Lord Vasudeva. This is accepted by all classes of philosophers".
The position of Krsna as God is confirmed by great personalities like Narada, Asita, Devala, Vyasa, Parasara, Brahma and Shiva. Finally Krsna Himself confirms this fact in the Bhagavad-gita to His friend and devotee, Arjuna. He clearly says that He is "the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods" (BG 5.29), that "there is no truth superior to Me" (BG 7.7) and - "I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me" (BG 10.8).
What is the position of Krishna?
As God, there is no one equal to or greater than Krsna. He is the original, unborn, eternal person, the most ancient, completely independent, and the cause of all causes. Parasara Muni, the father of Srila Vyasadeva and a great scholar who had himself held the position of Vyasa in a previous kalpa, very nicely defines the position of Bhagavan (God) as one Who is complete in six kinds of opulence namely - wisdom, beauty, fame, power, wealth and renunciation. While there are many great personalities who are very famous or very wealthy, only Krsna as God is replete in all six opulence.
The scriptures not only give us the unique position of Krsna but also give us a detailed description of all His aspects. They tell us that above this temporary material universe is an eternal spiritual world called Vaikuntha, and Krsna lives in the topmost planet of this universe called Goloka Vrindavana which is full of palaces made of touch-stone (cintamani), with trees that are capable of fulfilling all desires (kalpa-vraksha) and cows that are called Surabhi.
Here Krsna eternally resides, served by hundreds and thousands of goddesses of fortune. He sports with His most confidential and intimate devotees, headed by Srimati Radharani. He has a form just like us but His body is spiritual and thus eternal. His complexion is dark-blue, like that of a rain-filled cloud and His eyes are like lotus petals. He is ever youthful, full of bliss and His beauty excels that of thousands of cupids. He likes to play the flute, He sports a crown with a peacock feather and He is adorned by the exquisite kastuba jewel.
What is Krsna Avatar?
In Chaitanya-charitamrita (2.20.263-264) it is stated that the "avatar, or incarnation of Godhead, descends from the kingdom of God for creating and maintaining the material manifestation. And the particular form of the Personality of Godhead who so descends is called an incarnation, or avatar. Such incarnations are situated in the spiritual world, the kingdom of God. When They descend to the material creation, They assume the name avatar."
The Srimad Bhagavatam states that there are countless incarnations just like the waves of the oceans. They fall in various categories like lila (pastime), yuga (period of yuga), manavantara (period of Manu), purusa (Vishnu expansions) and shaktivesa (empowered). These avatars perform various pastimes based on the time, place and circumstances, but their purpose is always the same - "to attract the conditioned souls back to their eternal spiritual abode".
The incarnations emanate from Vishnu. Maha-Vishnu is the original cause of all material creation and from Him Garbhodakashai-Vishnu expands and then Ksirodakasayi-Vishnu. Generally all incarnations appearing within the material world are plenary portions of Ksirodakasayi-Vishnu (also known as Hari).
However only once in a day of Lord Brahma (which lasts for 4.32 billion of our years), does Krsna descend in His original form, as the avataree, the cause of all avatars. When Krsna appears all the incarnations join with Him. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the complete whole and all the plenary portions and incarnations always live with Him. So when Krsna appeared, Lord Vishnu was always with Him, and while Krsna enjoyed His pastimes in Vrndavan, the killing of the demons was actually carried out by the His Vishnu portion. Since Krsna eternally resides in Vrndavan, when He left Vrndavan at the age of ten, it was His Vasudeva expansion that actually left.
Appearance of Lord Sri Krsna
In the era of the Svayambhuva Manu, prajapati Sutapa and his wife Prsni were instructed by Lord Brahma to have progeny. They performed severe austerities for twelve thousand years of the demigods to have the Lord as their child. Pleased by their austerities the Lord appeared and granted them this benediction. Since He gave them this benediction three times, in Satya-yuga He first appeared as the son of Prsni and Sutapa and was called Prsnigarba. In Treta-yuga they were Aditi and Kasyapa Muni and the Lord appeared as Vamanadeva. Finally in the Dvapara yuga, Krsna in His original form, appeared as the child of Devaki and Vasudeva.
Krsna appeared specifically on the request of Bhudevi, the presiding deity of the Earth planet. Distressed by the burden of many demons who had appeared as powerful Kshatriyas and were ruling the planet impiously, she assumed the form of a cow and pleaded to Lord Brahma for help. Lord Brahma with all the demigods prayed to Lord Vishnu in Svetadvipa by chanting the Purusa-sukta prayers. At this time the Lord informed Brahma that in order to establish religiosity and destroy evil, He would soon appear as His original Self. In the meantime the various demigods were instructed to take birth in various families in the Yadu dynasty and prepare for the appearance of the Lord.
Lifeline of Lord Krsna
Historically, Lord Krsna appeared in the Dvapara yuga, on the midnight of the 8th day of the dark half of the month of Sravan. This corresponds to July 19th 3228 BC. He exhibited His pastimes for a little over 125 years and disappeared on February 18th 3102 BC on the new moon night of Phalgun. His departure marks the beginning of the current age of corruption known as Kali yuga.
The great scholar Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti neatly outlines Lord Krsna's activities in this way. He was born in Mathura in the prison cell of Kamsa and carried to Gokul. The first three years and four months were spent in Gokula, then equal lengths of time in Vrndavan and Nandagram. At the age of eleven He left Vrndavan for Mathura where He lived for eighteen years and four months, and finally ninety-six years and eight months in Dvaraka totaling about 126 years of manifest pastimes. At the time of Mahabharata, when Krsna spoke the Bhagavad-gita, He was about ninety years of age.
Pastimes of Krsna
The tenth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam describes the activities and transcendental pastimes of Sri Krsna. They are also described in the epic Mahabharata, specially in the Bhishma parva which also contains the Bhagavad-gita. The pastimes of Krsna appeal to the liberated souls, those that are trying to get liberated and also to the gross materialists.
The pastimes of Sri Krsna, known as Krsna-katha fall into two categories. Words spoken by Krsna, as the Bhagavad-gita, and words spoken about Krsna, as in the Srimad Bhagavatam. Souls in the liberated stage derive great pleasure in relishing anything and everything related to Krishna. For those that are trying to be liberated, Krsna-katha makes their path of liberation very clear. By studying the Gita one becomes fully conscious of the position of Sri Krsna; and when one is situated at the lotus feet of the Lord, he understands the narration's of Krsna as described in the Srimad Bhagavatam.
Even the gross materialists are attracted by the pleasure pastimes of Krsna with the Gopis and His wives. Even though the loving affairs of Krsna have nothing to do with the gross, mundane sex affairs, they attract the people engrossed in sense-gratification and gradually elevate them to higher levels of spirituality.
Causeless Mercy of Krsna
Even though Krsna is completely self sufficient and self satisfied, He descends for the benefit of all the conditioned souls. His most endearing quality is that of "bhakta vatsala". His pure devotees are always trying to please Him, and He is always trying to please His devotees. Just as He lives in the heart of His devotees, His devotees constantly reside in Him.
Krsna is so merciful that He not only helps His devotees, but also those who are envious of Him. Krsna destroys evil by providing them with an opportunity to take up devotion.
On the greatly auspicious day of Krsna-Janamastami, let us all pray to Sri Krsna for a drop of His causeless mercy, for only that alone is sufficient to take us out from this material word, back home, back to Godhead.
All glories to the appearance day of Lord Krsna ! All glories to Sri Krsna and His devotees!!
Nandotsava
This festival is the day after Janmastami. This celebrates the birth celebration performed by Nanda Maharaja after Krsna was born.
Vyasa Puja
In Honor of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Srila Prabhupada
This is the most auspicious appearance day of Srila Prabhupada, who is the founder of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness. This day falls on the same day as Nandotsava, which is the day after Krsna Janmastami. There is a festival held in the morning at the Krsna Balarama Temple. This event is also celebrated at some of the other temples in Vrndavana.
In line with the Vaishnava tradition, an Acharya's appearance day is celebrated with nir-jala fasting by his followers and admirers. We remain in a state of nir-jala (fasting even from drinking water) on Srila Prabhupada's appearance day because we are busy cooking various prescribed items to be offered to him on his appearance. We remain busy making and then performing various wonderful arrangements for abhishek, arati and glorifications, marking his most merciful appearance.
In the noon, Srila Prabhupada's abhishek is performed followed by guru-puja. Then bhoga is offered with ecstatic kirtan and festivities going on among the devotees. Finally after the maha-prasad is removed, arrangements are made for the maha-feast. Guests line up in long queues and Srila Prabhupada's maha-prasad is then served to all assembled devotees. Amongst Krsna-katha, the devotees honor maha-prasad with great taste and satisfaction. Everyone is fed till they collapse! With lot of vaishnava-jokes, brotherhood and cheering everyone swims in the ocean of spiritual nectar and spontaneously glorifies the mercy of the Acharyas - the pure devotees of the Lord.
So in this regard, we the followers and admirers of Srila Prabhupada, break our Janmastami fast right after the mid-night abhishek of the Lord with ekadasi-prasadam. Immediately then we go into nir-jala fasting observing Srila Prabhupada's auspicious appearance day. This fast remains till the afternoon and then the fast is broken with maha-feasting. This is a vaishnava tradition approved of by Srila Prabhupada himself, so this is what we follow. (ACBSPN)
Festival at Ranganatha Temple
This festival takes place on Nandotsava. A thirty foot wooden post is erected near the front gate of the Ranganatha temple. The wooden post is lubricated with mustard oil. Mustard oil is regularly poured down the post to make it very slippery. People then try to climb to the top of the post.
Jal Jhulan
This is the swing festival at the Ranganatha temple. At night the temple tank is lit up. This festival is on the 11th day of the month of Bhadra (Aug-Sept).
Sastri Sri Lalita's Appearance
There is the swing festival on this day at Huncha Gaon. This day falls in the month of Bhadra (Aug-Sep), two days before Radharani's appearance day.
Radhastami
This is the appearance day of Srimate Radharani. Srimati Radharani appeared on the eighth day of the waxing moon of Hrsikesha (Bhadra) mase, at noon. This festival falls on the eighth day, of the bright fort-night in the month of Bhadra (August-Sept), 15 days after the appearance of Lord Krsna. There is an all night kirtana held the night before Radhastami at the Larila Lal Temple in Varsana, ending with an ecstatic mangala arati. Many people go to Varsana on this day.
On Bhadra Sukla Saptami, Sridama, Radharani's brother or Her mother Kirtida comes and picks Her from Yavat, Her mother in-law Jatila's house and takes Her to Varsana where there is three day celebration for Her appearance day. Krsna comes from Nandagram and stays for three days to participate in the festival and of course Radha & Krsna enjoy unlimitedly Their ever-new pastimes in Their secret hideouts, even in very house of Vrishbhanu & Kirtida-devi. That is why everyone goes to Varsana on Radhastami for 4:30 am Mangal arotik at the Sriji temple there.
So, so far Radharani, Radharani, today is the birthday of Srimati Radharani. Radharani is the pleasure potency of Krishna. Krishna is the Supreme Brahman. Just try to understand. Krishna is the Supreme Brahman. Param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]. So when param brahma wants to enjoy... That enjoying spirit is there in the param brahma. Otherwise we cannot have this enjoying spirit. Because we are part and parcel, therefore we have got that enjoying spirit; but that is materially contaminated. But the fact is there, because Krishna, He is enjoying, this enjoying spirit we have got also, but I do not know how to enjoy. We are trying to enjoy in the matter, in the dull matter. That is spiritual. So brahman, brahman sukhanubhutya. People are trying to feel what is brahma-sukha, pleasure of brahmanubhava. That is not material pleasure. So many yogis, they have given up their family life, their kingdom, and meditating to achieve that Brahman pleasure. Actually, the idea is Brahman pleasure. So many brahmacaris, so many sannyasis, they are trying to achieve that Brahman pleasure, and in order to achieve that Brahman pleasure they are neglecting, they are kicking off all this material pleasure. Do you think that Brahman pleasure is ordinary, this material pleasure? To achieve a portion of Brahman pleasure, if they are kicking off all this material pleasure... Don't talk of ourselves. We are ordinary men. In the history we have got instances, that of Bharata Maharaja. Bharata Maharaja, under whose name this planet is called Bharatavarsa. That Bharata Maharaja was the emperor of the whole world. And as emperor he had his beautiful wife, young children. But at the age of twenty-four years, just young man, he gave up everything. All right. This is very old story, of course, but you know Lord Buddha. He was also a prince. He was also prince, not ordinary man, and he was ksatriya, and he was always enjoying with beautiful women. That is the palace pleasure accustomed in every, in Oriental countries, that in the palace there are many beautiful girls, they're always dancing and giving pleasure to the kings and the prince. So Lord Buddha was also in such pleasure, but he gave up everything and began to meditate.
There are many hundreds of instances in Indian history that to realize the Brahman pleasure they gave up everything. They gave up everything. That is the way. Tapasya means voluntarily accepting something severe for realizing the supreme pleasure. That is called tapasya. So if, for tasting a little Brahman pleasure, all materialistic pleasures are to be given up, do you think that the Supreme Brahman, Lord Krishna, is enjoying this material pleasure? Is it very reasonable? This Krishna, He's enjoying laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam [Bs. 5.29]. Hundreds and thousands of goddess of fortune are engaged in His service. Do you think these laksmis are material women? How Krishna can take pleasure in the material women? No. This is mistake. Ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhis tabhir ya eva nija-rupataya kalabhih [Bs. 5.37]. In the Brahma-samhita you'll find that He expands His ananda-cinmaya-rasa, the mellow of transcendental pleasure potency. And these gopis are expansion of His pleasure potency. And Radharani is the center. Radharani is the center. So Radharani is not... Don't take that Radharani is an ordinary woman like we have our wife or sister or mother. No. She is the pleasure potency. And the birth of Radharani was not from the womb of any human being. She was found by her father in the field. While father was plowing, he saw one little nice child is lying there, and he had no children, so he caught it and presented to the queen, "Oh, here we have got a very nice child." "How you got?" "Oh, in the field." Just see. Radharani's janma is like that. So this janma is today and Radha, this name is sometimes not found in Bhagavata. So the atheistic class of men protest this Radharani's name is not in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. How this name came, Radharani? But they do not know how to see it. There is anayaradhyate. There are many gopis, but there is mention that by this particular gopi He is served more pleasingly. Krishna accepts this gopi's service more gladly. Anayaradhyate. Aradhyate. This aradhate, this word, aradhyate means worshiping. From this word aradhyate, Radha has come. But Radha's name are there in other Puranas. So this is the origin.
So Radha, so Radha and Krsna. Krsna is the enjoyer and He wants to enjoy. So He's the Supreme Brahman. He cannot enjoy anything, atmarama, He can enjoy it in Himself. Therefore Radharani is the expansion of His pleasure potency. Krsna hasn't got to seek external things for His pleasure. No. He is in Himself full, atmarama. So Radharani is expansion of Krsna. Krsna is the energetic, and Radharani is the energy. Just like energy and energetic, you cannot separate. Fire and the heat you cannot separate. Wherever there is fire there is heat, and wherever there is heat there is fire. Similarly, wherever there is Krsna there is Radha. And wherever there is Radha there is Krsna. They are inseparable. But He is enjoying. So Svarupa Damodara Gosvami has described this intricate philosophy of Radha and Krsna in one verse, very nice verse. Radha krishna-pranaya-vikrtir hladini-saktir asmad ekatmanav api bhuvi pura deha-bhedam gatau tau [Cc. Adi 1.5]. So Radha and Krsna is the one Supreme, but in order to enjoy, They have divided into two. Again Lord Caitanya joined the two into one. Caitanyakhyam prakatam adhuna. That one means Krsna in the ecstasy of Radha. Sometimes Krsna is in ecstasy of Radha. Sometimes Radha is in ecstasy of Krsna. This is going on. But the whole thing is Radha and Krsna means the one, the Supreme.
So Radha-Krsna philosophy is a very great philosophy. It is to be understood in the liberated stage. Radha-Krsna philosophy is not to be understood in the conditioned stage. But when we worship Radha-Krsna in our conditional stage, actually we worship Laksmi-Narayana. You have seen that picture, this viddhi-marg and raga-marg. Radha-Krsna worship is on the platform of pure love, and Laksmi-Narayana worship is on the regulative principles. So long we do not develop our pure love, we have to worship on the regulative principles. One has to become a brahmachari, one has to become a sannyasi, one has to perform the worship in this way, in the morning he has to rise, he has to offer. So many rules and regulations. There are at least sixty-four rules and regulations. So we shall introduce them gradually as you develop. So in the viddhi-marg, when you have no love for God or Krsna, we have to follow the regulative principles and automatically..., there is practice. When practicing. Just like you practice this mridanga playing. In the beginning it is not in order, but when you become well versed in the practice, the sound will come so nice. Similarly, when we are engaged by regulative principles in the worship of Radha-Krsna, that is called viddhi-marg. And actually when you are on the love platform, then that is called raga-marg. So without viddhi-marg, if anyone wants to learn the raga-marg immediately, that is foolishness. That is foolishness. Nobody can pass M.A. examination without going through the regulative principles of primary schools and colleges. So therefore I do not, I mean to say, indulge in the discussions of Radha and Krsna so easily. Rather go on with the regulative principle at the present moment. Gradually, as you become purified, as you become on the transcendental platform, you'll understand what is Radha-Krishna. Don't try to understand Radha-Krsna very quickly. It is a very big subject. If we want to understand Radha-Krsna very quickly, then there will be so many prakrita-sahajiyas. In India there are prakrita-sahajiya. Just like Radha-Krsna dancing. Radha-Krsna has become a plaything. The painting Radha-Krsna, Krsna is kissing Radha, Radha is kissing. These are all nonsense. Radha-Krsna philosophy has to be understood by the liberated person, not by the conditioned soul. So we shall await for the fortunate moment when we are liberated, then we shall understand radha-krsna-pranaya-vikrtir. Because Krsna and Radha, They are not on the material field. Try to understand. This is Jiva Gosvami's analysis, that Krsna is the Supreme Brahman. The Supreme Brahman cannot accept anything material. So Radha is not in the material field.
Rupa Gosvami's Song
- radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite
- gokula-taruni-mandala-mahite
- damodara-rati-vardhana-vese
- hari-niskuta-vrnda-vipinese
- vrsabhanu-dadhi-nava-sasi-lekhe
- lalita-sakhi guna-ramita-visakhe
- karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharite
- sanaka-sanatana-varnita-carite
- radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite
This song was sung by Rupa Gosvami. He is the real person, actual person, to understand Radha and Krsna. So he says, "All glories to Radharani." Radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite. "She's so dear to Krsna." Krsna, everyone is trying to love Krsna, but Krsna is trying to love somebody. Now how great She is. Just try to understand. Everyone, the whole world, the whole universe, all living entities, they are trying to love Krsna. Krishna-prem. Lord Caitanya describes, prema-pumartho mahan. And Rupa Gosvami described that "You are distributing krsna-prem." So krsna-prem is so valuable, but Krsna is after Radharani. Just see how Radharani is great. Just try to understand the greatness of Radharani. Therefore She is so great, and we have to offer our respect. Radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite. How She is? Gokula-taruni-mandala-mahite. Taruni, taruni means young girls. You'll see the pictures, they are all young girls. But of all the young girls, She is the most beautiful. She is enchanting to the young girls also. She is so beautiful. Gokula-taruni-mandala-mahite. Damodara-rati-vardhana-vese. And She always dresses Her self so nicely that Damodara, Krsna, becomes attracted by Her beauty. Hari-niskuta-vrnda-vipinese. And She is the only lovable object of Krsna, and She is the queen of Vrndavan. This queen of Vrndavan... You'll find in Vrndavan, if you go to Vrndavan, everyone is worshiping Radharani. Rani means queen. They are always speaking, "Jaya Radhe!" Radharani. All the devotees in Vrndavan, they are worshiper of Radharani. Hari-niskuta-vrnda-vipinese. Vrsabhanu-dadhi-nava-sasi-lekhe. And She appeared as the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, and Her companion, Lalita-sakhi and Visakha-sakhi, and the devotees... So on behalf of the pure devotees of Krsna, Rupa Gosvami is praying, karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharite. "Oh, my worshipable Radharani, You are full of mercy. So I am begging of Your mercy because You are so merciful, very easily You offer, bestow Your mercy. So I am begging Your mercy." Karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharite, sanaka-sanatana-varnita-carite. Now somebody may say, "Oh, you are so great, learned scholar, you are so great saintly person, and you are begging mercy from an ordinary girl? How is that?" Therefore Rupa Gosvami says, "Oh, this is not ordinary girl." Sanaka-sanatana-varnita-carite. "This girl's description is possible to be made by great saintly persons like Sanaka-Sanatana. She is not ordinary."
So the lesson is that we should not treat Radharani as ordinary girl, or Krsna as ordinary man. They are the Supreme Absolute Truth. But in the Absolute Truth, there is the pleasure potency, and that is exhibited in the dealings of Radha and Krsna. And Radha's expansion all the gopis, and Krsna is the Supreme Lord.
Dipawali
This festival is celebrated 20 days after Dussera. It celebrates the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya, after His victory over Ravana. This is celebrated by burning lamps and candles in temples and homes and by fire-works. This is a very important festival all over India.
Govaradhana Puja
On this night Govardhana Hill is lit by thousands of lights. Especially lit up is Manasi Ganga in the town of Govardhana. This occasion celebrates Krsna lifting the hill of Govardhana, saving the residents of Vrndavana, 5,000 years ago.
Annual Festivals List
1) Gaura Purnima
2) Janmastami
3) Rama Navami
4) Nrsimha Caturdasi
5) Snana yatra
6) Ratha yatra
7) Radhastami
8) Radha Govinda
9) Jhulana Yatra
10) Odana Sasthi
11) Govardhana Puja
12) Nityananda Trayodasi
13) Ekadasi
14) Bhaktivinode appearance/disappearance
15) Raghunatha däsa Gosvami disappearance
16) Rama Vijaya
17) Candana Yatra
18) Tulasi Salagrama Jala Dan
19) Panihati Cida Dahi Utsava
20) Gundica Marjana
21) Balarama's Appearance
22) Nityananda's Appearance
23) Vamana Dvadasi
24) Varaha Dvadasi
25) Disappearance of Haridasa Thakura also (Ananta Caturdasi)
26) Krsna Pusya Abhiseka
27) Vasant pancami
28) Hera Pancami
29) Guru Purnima
30) Diwali
Sub-pages
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