Srila Prabhupada's Quotes on Vrndavana
A Comprehensive Guide to Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma
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Overview
Founder-acarya of ISKCON, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, was empowered to broadcast the glories to Sri Vrndavana around the world. It was also his kindness that he did so. Srila Prabhupada was himself a Vrajavasi or resident of the holy land, having lived for eleven years in Vrndavana while he translated Srimad-Bhagavatam. At that time, he would write in Vrndavana, then travel to New Dehli to oversee the printing of his books.
Later, in order to fulfill his spiritual master's order that he preach in the West, Srila Prabhupada accepted passage on a freighter, and with Vrndavana in his heart, he came to America to share that transcendental abode with the world.
Srila Prabhupada spent his time glorifying the holy dhama and its essence, pure devotional service to Lord Krsna. He was always , enthusiastic to see people go to Vrndavana on pilgrimage. What follows are some of his words about Vrndavana-dhama taken from his books, private correspondence, recorded conversations, and lectures.
From the Bhaktivedanta Purports:
"Akrura's journey to Vrindavana is exemplary. One who intends to visit Vrindavana should follow in the ideal footsteps of Akrura and always think of the pastimes and activities of the Lord. As soon as one reaches the boundary of Vrindavana, he should immediately smear the dust of Vrindavana over his body without thinking of his material position and prestige. Actually one cannot go to Vrindavana by purchasing a ticket. The process of going to Vrindavana is shown by Akrura." (Krishna, Chapter 38)
"The dust of Govinda's lotus feet is so sacred that even Brahma, Siva, and the goddess of fortune Rama take the dust on their heads to dispel sinful reactions." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.30.29)
"The dust of Krishna's lotus feet, which is the source of holiness for all places of pilgrimage, is worshiped by all the great demigods. The principal deities of all planets are engaged in His service, and they consider themselves most fortunate to take the dust of the lotus feet of Krishna on their crowns." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.68.37)
From Letters
to S. dasa 5/15/70
"Krsna's lila in Vrndavana is prakata or manifest lila, and the same is going on eternally in the spiritual realm, which is known as aprakata or nonmanifest. Actually, Krsna's planet and Krsna's pastimes are going on eternally, and the same is manifested before the conditioned souls at certain intervals--that is to say, once in a day of Brahma, exactly as the sun is visible for twelve hours once in a twenty-four-hour cycle of day and night.
"When the sun is visible it is called prakata, and when the sun is not visible that is called aprakata or unmanifested. Nonmanifested therefore does not mean there is no existence, but the terms are used in relation to the visibility or nonvisibility to the limited conditioned souls.
"Krsna, by His causeless mercy, manifests Himself along with His form, name, qualities, entourage, and pastimes in order to attract the conditioned souls to the eternal blissful life of knowledge. Thus by understanding Krsna in His manifest lila one is attracted to His eternal lila, and that is the highest success of life, which is explained in the latter part of the verse: yam prapya na nivartante, tat dhama paramam mama--'Going, no one ever returns from My Supreme Abode.'
to G. Swami 11/18/76
"Our business is to glorify Krsna as the Lord of Vrndavana and to popularize Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Hare Krsna movement. I was a resident in Vrndavana, but at the age of seventy I tried to preach Krsna consciousness a little and now this Institution has come out. So I think it is more profitable to preach about the Master of Vrndavana, Krsna, outside Vrndavana.
"A devotee of Krsna can create Vrndavana everywhere by preaching the glories of Krsna. There are many sahajiyas who imitate Rupa Goswami not to go out of Vrndavana, but Caitanya Mahaprabhu remained always outside Vrndavana for preaching purposes, although He is personally the master of Vrndavana. I have no objection to your coming to Vrndavana, but as you have accepted the sannyasa order, it is more important to preach about Vrndavana rather than to come to Vrndavana.
"I am getting older and older and it is getting difficult for me. Therefore I am requesting all my younger disciples to preach all over the world. Otherwise, you are always welcome in Vrndavana. I have no objection."
From Lectures
From a spoken introduction to the Gitopansad:
"The Lord descends on this mortal world to show His pastimes in Vrndavana, which are full of happiness. When Lord Sri Krishna was in Vrndavana, His activities with His cowherd boyfriends, with His damsels, with His friends, damsel friends, and with the inhabitants of Vrndavana, and His occupation of cowherding in His childhood--all were full of happiness. The whole of Vrndavana, the whole population of Vrndavana, was after Him."
Other Quotes Prayers and Quotes; Srila Prabhupada