Travel with Twinny … Hare Rama , Hare Krishna

There is something very divine about Anju !

In the ISKCON family she is known as Anand Mayi Devi Dasi . For me , she is my very gracious , very evolved, ‘Samdhan’!

When she suggested a trip to Mathura along with her very sweet and very practical ‘Samdhan’ , Vandana, I jumped !

We called ourselves ‘ Samdhan Sakhis ‘ and together, we made our way to Brajbhoomi or ‘the land of Krishna ‘ in the auspicious month of Kartik.

‘’Auspicious it is , but you must be patient ‘’ she warned ,’’ The crowds at this time can be overwhelming!’’

The time for me was apt , there was a ‘ Krishna Calling ‘ in my heart . I just had to go !

Brajbhoomi is an ‘84 kos ‘ triangular zone between Agra , Jaipur and New Delhi in the heart of India .

Hundreds of devotees , both from nearby villages to Iskcon centres of distant USA , Europe , Africa travel here , to get a Darshan of the Lord of Love and Compassion , whether it be at a famous temple like Banke Bihari , a kund like Radhakund or at a grove like Nidhivan!

Soon , we were making our way through the winding gullies of Vrindavan , past jalebi shops , bangle sellers , ‘mukut’ Decoraters , flute , ‘dholak ‘ and ‘shingaar ‘shops , undettered by flies , open gutters ,prankster monkeys , wedding processions ,honking rickshaws . In this town the 8 th avatar of Vishnu is everywhere yet not easy to see !

You have to move , in complete surrender, with the heaving crowds to manage a peek of the beauteous Radha Krishna .

In the inner sanctum , the Lord is being bathed , anointed , dressed in scintillating regal splendour .At a precise moment , the curtains open… Maashallah .. in unison there is a gasp of awe !

As one sights the luminous deities one experiences an uplifting energy.

And an uncanny peace .

Seriously !

Krishna Krishna Krishna is what you see and Radhe Radhe is what you hear . It could be used as a greeting , as a phrase to say please move aside , make way , to ask is all well , to wish you goodbye , till we meet again !

Anything and everything in Vrindavan seems to distil into this one expression.

‘Radha’ by the way , means ‘Worship ‘.

Stories of Krishna’s pastimes abound .

That he could speak innumerable languages ,even the language of animals and birds fascinates you .

Most importantly the language of love!

How he played his flute under the kadamba tree , adorned Radha with his own hands , braided her plaits , danced the Ras Leela or the divine dance of love . Ever youthful , handsome , wonderful , wise …

Even when he left his body at 120 years , he looked just 16 !

He loved all , forgave, even granted salvation to his enemies. Now there’s Something to learn in there !

Did this amazing person really exist ??

Yes , yes he evidently did !

5120 years ago !

He was the eight son , born to Vasudev and Devaki in a jail in Mathura , spent his childhood in Gokul , playing in the soft sands of Raman Reti ,killed his evil uncle Kans after which he rested on the banks of the river Yamuna at Vishram ghat .Yes , Even Gods need rest !

All these places and more are here to see in Mathura , in Gokul .. the jail , RamanReti , a deer park , Vishram ghat !

Look! Here’s Raman Reti , the Deer 🦌 park , Vishram Ghat !

An evening tour of Goverdhan with the dynamic physician , Prabhuji Prem Vilas left us mesmerised . On this 21 km Parikrama , partly on foot , partly on tuk -tuks,

he swiftly showed us Goverdhan hill ( the one that Krishna lifted on his finger to save the villagers from Indras thunderous wrath ), Krishnas footprint , his food bowl , even the seat on which he sat!

We saw temples dedicated to Krishnas friends Uddhav and Lautha , a kund dedicated to Radha’s dear friend Lalita , a shrine dedicated to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ( born in 1486) , a reincarnation of Lord Krishna , who revealed ‘krishna ‘ stories to the world .

Below is a picture of the magnificent Kusum Sarover made of red sandstone where the Gopis bathed ,decorated themselves in beautiful shingar , went for moonlit boat rides . How ethereal !

Yes the towering Prabhuji is right behind us .

We lit diyas , we chanted mantras at the gorgeous Radha kund , a lake which the Lord bestowed to his eternal soulmate Radha !

Oh my goodness I thought to myself .. these places REALLY do exist ! Krishna is REAL !

A real person with the hugest persona . With immense powers , a logical mind , full of love and kindness !

Every woman and man wanted a bit of Krishna , to be like him , to be one with him . ‘HOW to be like KRISHNA ?’ I earnestly asked Prabhuji .

‘’CHANT daily ‘’he advised , ‘’Chanting centres you .Use this tulsi mala. Tulsi is Krishna’s favourite . ‘’ he said , gifting me one .

I was touched , but seriously wondered whether I could inculcate this discipline ‘daily’ into my life .

‘’DO SEVA ! Be charitable ‘’ I remembered these sage words of Giriraj Swami as I leafed through the riveting pages of his book ‘ I ‘ll build you a temple’ .

‘’ Well , I do look after my staff at home and at work … is that seva not good enough Swami ji ?!’’

‘’ That is Good , but what is better is ‘selfless seva’

To serve persons whom you donot know , who donot do something for you in return ‘’.👍

‘’FOCUS On that ONE unchangeable constant in your life ! ‘’ offered Swarupa Damodar Das , the head of ISKCON Durban .

I was bewildered ! What possibly could be that ‘one unchangeable Constant’ in one’s life ???

Everyone , everything is in a state of change !Nothing / No one is ever constant !

Then Eureka !The answer hit me ….

God , Allah , Jesus , Buddha , Krishna ! These are the unchangeable constants in our lives !Keep them in the forefront , in FOCUS , you will never be alone ! Am I right , Damodar ji ??

Be clean , Be Selfless , spread happiness . Keep life simple …That’s Krishna’s way !

No stress, no drama ! Hey …just

Hare Krishna, Hare Rama !!

I Thankyou , Anju with all my heart . Unlike the rest of India , Brajbhoomi is caught in some kind of time warp but has Krishna’s love flowing through it , as does the river Yamuna , fresh and full !

Through YOU , I felt HIS love!

Thankyou 🤗❤️✨