Gopinatha's Story: 2000
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Gopinatha's Story: 2000: Rasa Dance
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Gopinatha's Story: 2000: Vamsi Vata
On the Full Moon Night of the Beautiful Autumn Season,
Krishna and the Gopis Enjoyed the Rasa Dance Pastime
When Krishna saw that the full moon night of the Sarat season (Autumn) had arrived, remembering the gopi's prayers to Goddess Katyayani, He thought that this beautiful night was just suitable for enjoying the rasa dance. By the enactment of this superlative pastime, the gopi's desire to have Krishna as their husband would be fulfilled.
Within the fragrant and festive atmosphere of the Vrndavana forest. at a secluded place known as Vanisi Vata, Krishna began to play on His celebrated flute. Upon hearing that alluring sound, the gopis all over Vrndavana became completely enchanted. They immediately left their respective engagements and swiftly proceeded to the spot where Krishna was standing.
By giving up all other concerns and considerations to come to that place in the dead of night, the gopis exhibited complete self-surrender to Krishna. However, in an effort to intensify the mood of loving exchange even further, Krishna surprised the gopis by first of all speaking clever words as if to discourage them, and then by completely disappearing from their company,
Feeling Krishna's absence to be worse than cruel death. the gopis frantically searched everywhere for Him. Immersed in the mood of intense separation from their beloved, they madly called out to Him. With their minds absorbed in thought of Him, they even began imitating His transcendental pastimes. Overwhelmed by the gopis ecstatic display of love in separation, Krishna eventually reappeared before them. Desiring to now finally reciprocate with them in full, He commenced the performance of the rasa dance.
Krishna danced in the centre of the rasa dance circle with Radha, and by exhibiting His inconceivable potency, He simultaneously entered between each pair of gopis in the surrounding circle. Placing His hands on the shoulders of the gopis on both sides of Him, He danced in their midst. Expertly singing and dancing for His pleasure, each gopi thought that Krishna was dancing with her alone, and they all became completely surcharged with pure love for Him.
In his Krishna Book commentary, Srila Prabhupada explains the transcendental nature of this superexcellent pastime as follows:
"... because they had that natural tendency to accept Krishna as their supreme husband, the relationship between the gopis and Krishna is called parakiya-rasa. This parakiya-rasa is ever-existent in Goloka Vrndavana, in the spiritual sky, where there is no possibility of the inebriety which characterizes parakiya-rasa in tile material world In the material world, parakiya-rasa is abominable, whereas in the spiritual world it is present in the superexcellent relationship of Krishna and the gopis. ... "
Gopinatha's Story: 2000: Vamsi Vata p.2
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Gopinatha's Story: 2000: Vamsi Vata p.3
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Gopinatha's Story: 2000: Kheturi Dhama
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KHETURI DHAMA
For the Pleasure of His Beloved Devotees, Lord Caitainya Once when Narottama Thakura met Srinivasa Acarya in Bhudari, he shared with the acarya his desire to hold a great festival across the Padmavati River in Kheturi. Narottama explained that he had recently constructed a beautiful new temple in Kheturi, and that it was his heartfelt desire that Srinivasa should come there on the occasion of Gaura Purnima, the day marking the auspicious appearance of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu. Although moved by the request of Narottama, Srinivasa Acarya also felt greatly anxious that time was very short. However, that very night, Mahaprabhu Himself appeared to Srinivasa in a dream and assured him that the festival would indeed he a great Success. Srinivasa and Narottama immediately began preparing for the festival. Invitations were sent out by messengers to many far off places, and soon many parties of exalted vaisnavas began converging on Kheturi. The village of Kheturi became a cynosure of divine happiness! Narottama and Srinivasa made many wonderful arrangements to take care of their guests in every respect. When, on the day before Gaura Purnima, Sri Jahnava devi and her associates also arrived in Kheturi, their joy knew no bounds. Jahnava devi was an exalted leader of the Gaudiya Vaisnava community at that time, and thus her arrival was considered extremely auspicious. Early the next morning, in a grand ceremony conducted by Srinivasa Acarya, six deities were installed. Immediately afterwards, Sri Narottama commenced ail ecstatic performance of nama sankirtana. As the ocean of that sankirtana overflowed it's banks, everyone present completely forgot their external existence and became drenched with the tears flowing from each other's eyes. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard the sankirtana of Narottama and the assembled vaisnavas, He became inspired to appear there Himself. Like lightning within a cloud, Mahaprabhu and His associates appeared in the courtyard pavilion, dancing gracefully in time with the ever-increasing beat of the kirtan. In this way, out of immense love for His dearmost devotees, Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu granted His personal association to all who were present at the inaugural Gaura Purnima Festival at Kheturi Dhama.
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Gopinatha's Story: 2000: Kheturi Dhama p.2
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Gopinatha's Story: 2000: Janmastami
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Gopinatha's Story: 2000: Kusuma Sarovara
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KUSUMA SAROVARA
Kusuma Sarovara is one of the eternal pastime places of Sri Sri Radha Krishna in Vrndavan. Kusuma means flowers and Sarovara means lake. This enchanting lake is situated near to both Radha Kunda and Govardhana Hill. In Nitya Vrndavan (the eternal pastime realm of Vrndavan), Kusuma Sarovara is surrounded by a beautiful forest known as Puspa Vana (forest of flowers). This forest is resplendent with many groves of blossoming trees and creepers. Sometimes Krishna comes to this place and surprises Radha and Her friends who are busily engaged in picking flowers. Joking with them, He claims that He is the gardener here. and that they have no right to be picking His flowers! However Srimati Radharani is quick to respond by informing Him that this entire area of Vrndavan is the property of Her friend, Vrnda devi, that He hasn't planted even one single tree here, and that He only comes here with His cows and tramples on everything! Many varieties of birds reside on the waters and shore of Kusuma Sarovara, and the pleasant sounds of their singing and their joyful cooing can be heard everywhere. |
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Gopinatha's Story: 2000: Kartika
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Gopinatha's Story: 2000: Kartika p.2
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Gopinatha's Story: 2000: The Lifting Of Govardhana Hill
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Gopinatha's Story: 2000: The Lifting Of Govardhana Hill p.2
GOVARDHANA HILL
To Protect the Residents of Vrndavana from the Wrath of Angry Indra,
Sri Krishna Enacted His Pastime of Lifting Govardhana Hill
This diorama depicting Sri Krishna lifting Govardhana Hill was specifically inspired by descriptions of this pastime in Ananda Vrndavana Campti, by Sri Kavi Karnapura. The following excerpts capture the very essence of this wonderful lila.
As the relisher of nectarean rasas, Krishna has a beautiful body, which is as sweet as the honey in a flower. Without even tightening His cloth He showed complete indifference to the mighty wrath of foolish Indra. Instantly, Krishna picked up Govardhana Hill with one hand and held it aloft with no more effort than a child takes to hold a mushroom or an elephant uses to lift a clump of grass..
... Giriraja served Gokula as a jewel-bedecked umbrella that could not be moved by the fierce winds or pierced by the razor-sharp lightening bolts of Indra. Balanced on the beautiful emerald pole of Krishna's raised arm, Giriraja cast a pleasing radiance upon everyone...
... While holding Giriraja in one hand, Krishna, whose wonderful behaviour
illuminates the world, spoke convincingly to the cowherd community, "Oh Mother!
Do not be in anxiety. Oh Father! Do not worry. Oh friends! Do not doubt My
ability. Giriraja will not fall from My hand.. you should collect all your property
and come under the mountain. There is no difference between en the village of
Vrndavana and this valley below Giriraja. Be happy and stay here peacefully. "...
... The elderly gopas felt completely pacified by Krishna's sweet words. Taking their wealth, sons, wives, cows, and priests, who felt measurable happiness and beamed with matchless beauty, they entered the splendid valley beneath Giri-Govardhana Taking shelter there, they all became filled with wonder and smiled with delight..
... Thus the venerable Vrajavasis relished great joy associating intimately with Krishna They no longer fell any fear or discomfort from Indra's deluge, which threatened to destroy the whole world.. Although situated in different directions, all the Vrajavasis gazed to their hearts content at the gorgeous lotus face of Giridhari, the lifter of Govardhana Hill.
- Ananda Vrndavana Campu, Chapter 15
Gopinatha's Story: 2000: The Lifting Of Govardhana Hill p.3
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Gopinatha's Story: 2000: The Lifting Of Govardhana Hill p.4
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