For our first parikrama we went to Kamyavan and had darshan of Vrinda-Devi, the beautiful reddish coloured Deity worshipped by Srila Rupa Goswami 500 years ago. In the courtyard of her temple we discussed many of Radha and Krsna’s pastimes, as well as Maharaja Yudhisthira’s answers to Yamaraja’s 10 questions that took place at nearby Dharma-kunda. The kirtans led by Bada Haridas prabhu were especially sweet in that most auspicious atmosphere.
Madanmohan means “one who can even enchant Cupid.” The Deity of Madanmohan (formerly Madan-Gopal) was made for Krisnas great grandson Vajranabha and for many years it was lost. Advaita Acarya discovered the original Deity of Madanmohan (Krishna) in Mahavan-Gokul and served Him here at the base of an old «vat» tree. Before His departure for Navadvip He entrusted the Deity to brahmana Chaubhe in Mathura. Years later Caitanya Mahaprabhu sent Sanatana Goswami to Vrindavan to discover lost places of Krishnas pastimes and write books about devotional service. Advaita Acarya performed his bhajana here at Advaita-vat at the base of the hill.
Sanatan used to beg in nearby Mathura and one day came to doors of the brahman Chaubha. He saw brahmanas children playing with the Deity as if Madanmohan was one of them. Horrified Sanatan chastised Chaubha and taught him proper ways of Deity worship. Both Sanatan and brahman had a dream that night. Madanmohan appeared to Sanatan and told him, that he liked to be treated as one of the brahmanas children and since Sanatan introduced so many rules, He dont like it any more.
To Chaubha Madanmohan said that he is like one of his children. He told him that he had many children and he should give Him to Sanatan. Next morning both devotees wanted to apologize, but at the end Madanmohan went with Sanatan. But not before He promised to Sanatan that He would be satisfied with whatever he will be able to offer. Sanatan, being traveling mendicant could not give much luxury to his Deities.
Sanatana was practicing madhukari (begging from doors to doors) and he could offer to the Deity just dry bread balls.
Madan-Mohan asked him, if he could give Him at least little salt. Sanatana replied he would like to but being dedicated to his bhajan couldnt afford such a «luxury». Shortly afterwards down the Dvadasaditya Hill, the merchants boat went aground in the Yamuna river.
The owner Krisnadas Kapoor was worried about his goods and didnt know what to do. Madan-Mohan took the form of small cowherd boy and led him upwards to Sanatana.
Merchant described what happened, but Sanatan replied he couldnt do anything about it, being just a sannyasi. But he told him to pray to Madan-Mohan Deity he had kept just humbly roofed nearby.
The merchant did what Sanatan advised and few moments later his boat was released by rising of Yamunas waters.
Sailing down to Agra and making big profit, he later under Sanatanas direction began to construct temple for Madan-Mohan which became one of the symbols and dominant features of Vrindavan.
Worshiped along with Madan-Mohan are Radharani and Lalita. They were sent to Vrindavan by Purusottam Sen, a disciple of Maharaja Prapatarudra. The original Madan-Mohan Deity was moved from Vrindavan to Jaipur when the Mughal Emperor Aurangzebs soldiers attacked Vrindavan in 1670. That Deity is now in Karoli, which is southeast of Jaipur in Rajasthan.
We started our parikrama in Jaipur by visiting Madan Mohan Temple in Karoli.
Karoli (Karauli) is about 182 km southeast of Jaipur and about 100 km southwest of Mathura. It is a small town and is home to the important Madan Mohan Temple.
Madan Mohan means “one who can even enchant Cupid.” The Deity of Madan Mohan (formerly Madan-Gopal) was made for Krishnas great grandson Vajranabha and for many years it was lost…
Advaita-acarya found the Deity near Dvadasatiya Hill in Vrindavan and before His departure for Navadvip He entrusted the Deity to brahmana Chaubhe in Mathura. Years later Caitanya Mahaprabhu sent Sanatana Goswami to Vrindavan to discover lost places of Krishnas pastimes and write books about devotional service.
Sanatan used to beg in nearby Mathura and one day came to doors of the brahman Chaubha. He saw brahmanas children playing with the Deity as if Madan Mohan was one of them. Horrified Sanatan chastised Chaubha and taught him proper ways of Deity worship. Both Sanatan and brahman had a dream that night. Madan Mohan appeared to Sanatan and told him, that he liked to be treated as one of the brahmanas children and since Sanatan introduced so many rules, He dont like it any more.
To Chaubha Madan Mohan said that he is like one of his children. He told him that he had many children and he should give Him to Sanatan. Next morning both devotees wanted to apologize, but at the end Madan Mohan went with Sanatan. But not before He promised to Sanatan that He would be satisfied with whatever he will be able to offer. Sanatan, being traveling mendicant could not give much luxury to his Deities.
And after some time wealthy businessman build a temple for Madan Mohan that became one of the symbols of Vrindavan.
Maharaja Jai Singh brought Madan Mohan to Jaipur from Vrindavan. His brother-in-law, Maharaja Gopal Singh, had a dream in which Madan Mohan said “Take Me to Karoli.” He then told Maharaja Jai Singh about the dream and asked permission to bring Madan Mohan to Karoli. Maharaja Jai Singh told him if he could distinguish Madan Mohan from Govinda and Gopinatha, the two other main Deities of Jaipur, while blindfolded, then he could take the Deity. When Gopal Singh was blindfolded, he directly approached Madan Mohan and touched his feet.
In the temple, there are three altars. Madan Mohan stands on the center altar, with Sri Radha on his left and Lalita Devi on his right. On the left altar is Gopalaji Krishna with Radha and Lalita. The king of Karoli worshiped these Deities 100 years before Madan Mohan came to Karoli. The Deity receives a midday offering consisting of fifty-six dishes. Most of the preparations are sweet—malpura, sweet samosas, and other items.
More info: www.kksblog.com/2019/11/jaipur-part1-braja-parikrama-2019/
Two days before Kartika we journeyed to Jaipur to see the beautiful deities of Radha Govinda. The citizens of Jaipur’s love for these historic deities is evident in the fact that they come in large numbers each morning and evening to see their Lordships and to sing and pour their hearts out to Them. Such bhava, such love, is contagious!
Parikrama around Govardhan Hill during the month of Kartika in Vrindavan, India is a favorite devotional activity for devotees of Lord Krsna. Chanting softly on our prayer beads our group of 400 devotees relished every step of the 24 kilometer walk. Ananta Vrindavan dasa’s outstanding footage captured the bliss of the pilgrimage.
Yesterday our parikrama party visited the temple of Madan Mohan. The beautiful and ornate structure was he first temple to be constructed in Vrindavan. The temple is situated on a small hill overlooking the Yamuna river and surrounding plains. It was the perfect atmosphere for Krsna katha and the sweet singing of the Lords holy names. We also visited the sacred samadhi of Srila Sanatan Goswami, where we dove deeper into the mysteries of this transcendental land of Sri Vrindavan dhama.
Support the Ananta Vrindavan — Videographer who is behind this amazing video: bit.ly/354ezbJ
I was giving a lecture in a yoga club when someone said, «Prabhupadas just arrived in Paris and youre supposed to go right now.» I said, «Ill finish my lecture.» «No,» he said, «we want to go right now. We dont want to miss it.» I said, «Well finish the lecture. Prabhupada would want us to finish the lecture. This is our duty.» So I finished the lecture in 10 or 15 minutes and I said to the audience, «My spiritual master, a pure devotee of the Lord, has just arrived in Paris. If any of you want to, you can come with us and meet him. Can any of you come?»
At the back a man in uniform raised his hand. He said, «Yes, my family and I will come. This is the first time weve been to a yoga centre, but what youve said is interesting and Id like to meet the person who explained this to you — your guru.» I said, «Sir, who are you?» He said, «Im an admiral in the French Navy.» I said, «Youre an admiral in the French Navy? All right.» He said, «Dont worry, Ill get off duty.» I said, «Well, well leave in about a half an hour.» He said, «No problem,» and made a few phone calls. He got off work, his wife packed a few belongings and got their tow kids, and within a short time they were back. We jumped in our sankirtan van and went off for the 13-hour drive to Paris with the French admiral in tow behind us.
Prabhupada had just started speaking when we walked in. I was so happy I could bring this person to my spiritual master. The etiquette is you bring your guru some dakshin, some flowers or fruits, and here we were bringing an admiral in the French Navy. I was bursting with pride to be the disciple of my guru and, «this is my alms, Ive brought this person for you to preach to.»
Prabhupada saw the admiral, and «Ohhh,» he beamed. I asked the admiral and his wife, «You sit down here in front of Srila Prabhupada.» They were respectful. They sat down and I sat next to them and told Prabhupada, «Srila Prabhupada, we were doing a program in Corsica, and when we heard of your arrival, I asked if anyone wanted to come and this admiral ...»
Prabhupada said, «Oh, very nice,» and began explaining how the Bhagavad-gita was spoken to Arjuna, who was a warrior. He described what brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas, and sudras do and how everyones focused on offering their service to Krishna. Prabhupada said, «Even though you are a warrior, you can also be a devotee of God. You can use your work to serve God.» The admiral was drinking in every word of it, «Oh, yes.» Then Prabhupada started speaking of reincarnation and karma, which was new to the admiral, but he listened carefully. Prabhupada preached to him for forty-five minutes and in the end the admiral said, «What do I call you?» I said, «Call him Srila Prabhupada.» He said, «Srila Prabhupada, this is very interesting for me. I dont know whats happened. My wife wanted to go to a yoga club and now Im sitting here in front of you, a very special person. If I want to understand this philosophy, what should I read?» Prabhupada said, «Bhagavad-gita.» One of the servants got a French Bhagavad-gita. Prabhupada said, «This is our French Gita. Read this.» The admiral looked at it — it was a big book. He said, «I may not have time to read the whole book — of all the chapters, which one should I concentrate on?» Prabhupada said, «Read the Ninth Chapter and then youll understand everything about Krishna.» The man took the Bhagavad-gita that he received from Prabhupada and left. We were so young in those days, I didnt get his address or telephone number and he was gone. I thought, «Boy, I wish I had gotten his contact information.»
Years later I was distributing books near the mayors office in Paris when there was a big function. I saw a group of Navy personnel who were part of the function and who saw how Id been roughly thrown out. And who did I see? The admiral in his uniform. He went to the police and said, «Let this boy come.» I thought, «Oh, this is a good opportunity.» I said, «Admiral, its good to see you again,» and I gave a few books to the people around there. The admiral said, «Yeah. Not a day goes by I dont remember your spiritual teacher. Not a week goes by I dont read the Ninth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita.» I said, «Thank you very much,» and we shook hands. I thought it was Krishnas mercy that this man met a pure devotee and that he would have the opportunity to meet Prabhupada again.