Your Pilgrimage Schedule
A Comprehensive Guide to Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma
| Table of contents |
Defining Your Aims
Such a rare opportunity it is to visit Vrndavana dhama. For many, it is a once in a lifetime trip, for others, a regular part of their lives. Defining your reasons for pilgrimage will help insure the best possible experience.
Some devoteees travel to attend seminars, some for quiet personal bhajana and temple service, some for wide ranging trips and parikrimas. Try to isolate your specific goal(s) and focus on using your available time and resources towards those goals.
Temple Attendence
In attending a temple one share's in the group atmosphere of glorifying Krishna. Congregational chanting is the prime religion for this age, and to engage thus in the Holy Dhama brings 1000 times the result obtained elsewhere. Visiting the many temples provides one a rich spiritual experience of various Deities of Krishna, styles of worship and temple building.
Many Vrajavasis strictly follow the religious prinicple of visiting a temple of krishna at least once a day, and some visit all seven major temples. This is an experience not to be missed.
Personal Bhajana
Vrndavana provides the quintenssential environment for personal bhajana. Whether sitting quietly in one of the serene tirthas, before the beautiful Holy Yamuna River, or simply on a temple rooftop gazing over the spiritual town of Braja, chanting the Holy Names, or meditatively reading the scripture is sublime. There is no better place for personal bhajana.
Vrndavana is known as a retirement place for many devotees who spend their remaining days in absorbed bhajana and worship of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna.
Associating with Devotees
It is said that the chief benefit of visiting Holy Places is the chance to associate with, and thus hear from advanced devotees about Krishna. There are regular scripture classes and casual discussion groups one can join. Simply to offer some assistance to a temple sevaite, assisting them in his or her devotional service, provides a unique and unforgettable opportunity to learn the science of devotion.
Staying close to a body of devotees stimulates one's enthusiasm and taste for devotional practices, and is generally preferred to reclusive living.