Bhakti Wisdom

Vrindavan Dham…. Such a special place… 

The deeper you go in your spiritual life, the deeper realisations you get about Vrindavan Dham.

In separation from Vrindavan, I remember my last Govardhan parikrama that left such a deep impression on me.

Before starting Govardhan parikrama I always visit Haridev temple and beg the Lord to bless me with the strength so I can complete parikrama in the proper mood. After offering prayers and receiving blessings and maha prasad from the priest I start my parikrama.  

Govardhan parikrama for me means two things; sadhu sanga and Dham seva.

Whilst doing Govardhan parikrama I very carefully observe local sadhus performing their sadhana. Some of them are chanting many rounds of the Maha-mantra next to the Govardhan hill whilst others are offering hundreds of obeisances to Giriraj daily. Some sadhus decide to live next to Govardhan and their main seva is to serve all sadhus who come for parikrama. Often I stop and with the help of my translator ask them questions and almost always I get the same answer; “Giriraj is very kind, ask him for anything and he will fulfil your desires”.

Whilst visiting Govardhan my meditation is to serve the Dham by performing parikrama properly under the instructions of senior Vaishnavas. There are many details and rules on how to perform parikrama in the mood of seva to Govardhan Hill and not for our own benefit. As local sadhus said; “Giriraj fulfils all desires, only a fool will ask him for something material”.

Whilst performing Govardhan parikrama I always meditate on Giriraj and how this parikrama is a form of worship that we are offering to Giriraj. Parikrama is a form of service to Govardhan and if done properly it opens up doors for us to receive deeper realisations about the bhakti process. 

Once, whilst doing Govardhan parikrama I stopped in the middle section where there is a sandy path next to Govardhan hill. This section of Parikrama is extremely quiet. On the right side, just a few inches away is Govardhan Hill and on the left are many small trees with beautiful hot pink flowers around them in the shade cows are peacefully digesting the grass they ate earlier, whilst monkeys are hiding on the branches of the trees avoiding the heat of the sun. 

In front of me was just a sandy path and nothing else. Whilst walking and trying hard to focus on my japa, suddenly I noticed one old man walking towards me with the intention to speak with me. Once he came close, with great eagerness he spoke in Hindi something that I couldn’t understand.

Whilst trying to understand what this old sadhu wants from me, I looked into my pocket to find some coins to offer as a donation. A couple of pilgrims nearby said; “he doesn’t want your money, he wants your beads.” They continued to walk without giving more details.

Now I end up being more confused than before. This sadhu wants my beads! He lives in Vraja, he probably does parikrama every day and now he is asking for my beads? It was strange and I felt very uncomfortable.

I suddenly remembered that I always used to carry small spare chanting beads in my japa pocket for the guests in our temple when they come so we can teach them how to chant. I immediately checked out, found the beads, gave them to this old sadhu, and told him about the mantra that I chanted and showed him how to do it. The moment he got the beads and mantra he left without looking back.

I also continued with my parikrama but then after a couple of minutes, I thought about this sadhu. “Why he was so eager to get the chanting beads”, I asked myself and turned back to look after him but he was gone.

He was an old man, he could not walk fast and there was no other way for him to go other than the opposite direction of mine. He could definitely not climb the hill and on our left was a thick bush and behind that was a fence so he could not go there. I walked back for a few minutes to search for him but I could not find him.

I resumed my parikrama again and meditated on what just happened. This sadhu probably lives somewhere around Govardhan and is asking me to give him chanting beads!

Who was this person? Was he a saint who wanted to teach me a lesson or was he some celestial being who came with the mission to take part in the chanting of maha mantra in this age of Kali?

I never found out but one thing I know, it was another of those magical experiences in Vrindavan that will always remain in my heart.

Ananta Gopal das

13 August 2020