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[email protected] Monthly Newsletter www.shriradharaman.com August 2018 Issue No. 8 Krishn Never Leaves Vrindavan Many people think that Krishn only grew up in Vrindavan, and left to become the King of Dwarka. But in reality, Krishn never leaves Vrindavan. In the Laghu Bhagwatamritam, Shri Roop Goswami reveals that there are two forms of Krishn: Vasudev-Nandan and Nand- Nandan. Vasudev-Nandan was born to Devaki in Mathura, whilst Nand-Nandan was born to Yashoda in Gokul. When Vasudev brought Vasudev-Nandan to Gokul, Vasudev-Nandan merged with Nand-Nandan. page 1 (see Laghu Bhagwatamritam 1.5.450-488 ekamevātra gopīnām-akrūrāvasare purā with Baldev Vidyabhushan’s commentary; virahābhāsa evāsīd-uddhavena samāhitaḥ this is also mentioned by Sanatan tenaiva bhavatīnāṃ ced bhavedatra Goswami, Jeev Goswami and Vishwanath samāgamaḥ Chakravarti in their Shrimad Bhagwatam tarhi nityaṃ svakāntena virahamapi commentaries). lapsyatha In the same way, when Krishn left Braj for “When Akrur took Shri Krishn from Dwarka, it was Vasudev-Nandan who left. Nandgaon to Mathura, the separation that But Nand-Nandan never leaves Braj. the gopis experienced was not true Quoting the Yamal, Mahaprabhu says: separation, but only seemed like it [because Krishn actually stayed in Braj]. कृषोऽनो यदुसमूतो यः पूणरः सोऽसतः परः As long as they didn’t realise that, they felt वृनावनं पिरतज स किचन् नैव गचित great pain; but when Uddhav came to Braj and spoke with them, they were able kṛṣṇo‘nyo yadu-sambhūto to understand that.” (Skand Puran, Srimad yaḥ pūrṇaḥ so‘styataḥ paraḥ Bhagwatam Mahatmyam, 2.16) vṛndāvanaṁ parityajya sa kvacin naiva gacchati Mahaprabhu and his followers are “Krishn in his supreme form (as Nand- exclusively devoted to Radha and Krishn Nandan) is different than Vasudev- of Vrindavan. They teach us that the Nandan. He never leaves Vrindavan to go gopis’ love for Krishn is the highest, and if elsewhere.” (Chaitanya Charitamrit, Antya we want to offer Krishn the greatest 1.67, and Laghu Bhagwatamritam, possible happiness, we have to follow in 1.5.461) the gopis’ footsteps only. The Laghu Bhagwatamritam goes on to Mahaprabhu’s followers have sometimes say that when Vasudev-Nandan left Braj, mentioned Dwarka in their writings, but the gopis thought Krishn had left, even they have done so to show Vrindavan’s though Nand-Nandan would still appear glory. to them. It was only after Uddhav came to Braj that the gopis realised they were not hallucinating, but seeing Krishn in reality. The Skand Puran says: एकमेवात गोपीनामकूरावसरे पुरा िवरहाभास एवासीदुदवेन समािहतः तेनैव भवतीनां चेद् भवेदत समागमः तिहर िनतं सकानेन िवरहमिप लपसथ page 2 Sage Narad Searches for the Greatest Devotee In the Brihad Bhagwatamritam (Part 1), Devaki, Balram, Balram’s mother Rohini, Sanatan Goswami tells of Sage Narad’s and Krishn’s queens were gathered journey to find the greatest devotee. around too. They looked very worried. First, Narad met a sadhu in Prayag, who Uddhav started crying when Narad performed beautiful seva for Shri Bindu praised him. He said, “O great Sage! Madhav, an ancient deity of Krishn. Narad Surely I am blessed, but . was touched by his heartfelt seva and said to him: इदानी यद् वजे गता िकमपनभवं ततः महासौभागमानो मे स सदशूणरतां गतः “O great one, your seva for Krishn is so तत एव िह कृषस ततसादस चादुता beautiful! I am sure you are the greatest ततेमणोऽिप मया जाता माधुरी तदतां तथा d e v o t e e o f a l l ! ” Th e s a d h u f e l t embarassed to hear this and said, “There idānīṃ yad vraje gatvā is nothing special in what I am doing. But kimapy-anvabhavaṃ tataḥ there is a great king in South India who is mahā-saubhāgya-māno me truly blessed. You should go and meet sa sadyaś-cūrṇatāṃ gataḥ him.” tata eva hi kṛṣṇasya tatprasādasya cādbhutā Narad took the sadhu’s advice and went tatpremṇo'pi mayā jñātā to meet the South Indian king, but he also mādhurī tadvatāṃ tathā humbly denied being Krishn’s dearmost. From there, Narad travelled to the higher “I used to be proud of my extreme good worlds. He met Indra, Brahma, Shiv, fortune; but when I went to Braj, what I Prahlad, Hanuman and even Arjun, but experienced there crushed all my pride they all denied being the greatest and into dust. Only then did I truly realize the described the demerits of their own love. wonder and sweetness of Krishn’s love, Arjun asked Narad to go and meet his mercy, and his dear ones who have Uddhav. that love.” (Brihad Bhagwatamritam, 1.6.25-26) Krishn in Separation “It’s true!” said Rukmini. “Krishn always When Narad entered Krishn’s palace, thinks about Braj. Sometimes in his sleep, Uddhav was sitting at the door of Krishn’s Krishn lovingly calls out the names of his bedroom. cows. page 3 “Sometimes he asks his mother for butter A few minutes later, Balram said, “Krishn, to eat, and sometimes he cries ‘Radha! wake up! It’s very late! The cows and Radha!’ and soaks the pillow with his tears. cowherd boys are waiting for you!” Slowly He must have dreamed about Vrindavan Krishn woke up, and his lotus eyes were last night, because he has been lying in filled with wonder. He had the biggest bed all morning, crying and pretending to smile on his face as he found himself back be asleep, with the blanket pulled over his in his room in Nandgaon. head.” When he saw the statue of his father, Nand Attracted by their talks of Braj, Krishn Maharaj, Krishn bowed at his lotus feet, came out of his room. But when they thinking it was really him. Then he saw his mentioned the deep pain the Brajwasis mother Yashoda and ran to her side. felt without him, he fainted in separation. “Maiyya!” he cried, “I just had the strangest Aware of the situation, the god Brahma dream. It was so long, and it felt so real! came and said, “There is a replica That must be why I slept so late!” Krishn Vrindavan near the ocean. It was built by offered pranam to his mother and left the divine architect Vishwakarma and quickly for the forest. looks much like the real Vrindavan. Krishn should go there for some time.” Krishn Meets “Radha” The Replica Vrindavan As he wandered through the pasturelands of the replica Vrindavan, Krishn found the Garud Dev took Krishn to the replica statues of Radharani and her sakhis. Vrindavan by the sea. Uddhav and the Thinking the statues were real, Krishn said others also came, and remained hiding as to Radha: they watched Krishn. “O Goddess of my life! Now that you have The replica Vrindavan had beautiful met me, your devotee, in this private pasturelands, and a copy of Krishn’s home place, why are you being so silent? What in Nandgaon. There were even statues of have I done to offend you? O Knower of Krishn’s Brajwasi friends and family. The all! I think you must know about the dream statues looked realistic, but they could not I had last night, and that’s why you are talk or move. angry. But I only married those queens in my dream, because they were threatening Balram and Rohini had lived in Braj before, to commit suicide if I didn’t! so now they resumed their roles in Krishn’s household. Garud Dev took Krishn to his असु ताविददानी तदमते तरया वने bedroom and placed him in bed. सनोषदे पदोषेऽद मया तं मोदियषसे astu tāvad-idānīṃ tad gamyate tvarayā शी कृषचन कसािप तृिपरसु कदािप न vane भवतोऽनुगहे भकौ पेिमण चाननभाजने santoṣa-de pradoṣe’dya mayā tvaṃ modayiṣyase śrī kṛṣṇacandra kasyāpi tṛptirastu kadāpi na “I must go to the forest now. But tonight, o bhavato'nugrahe bhaktau Giver of all my joy, you shall enjoy with premṇi cānanda-bhājane me!” (Brihad Bhagwatamritam, 1.7.44) “O Ocean of bliss! Please grant me this After saying this, Krishn looked all around, blessing: may no devotee ever feel threw a handful of flowers at Radha, and satisfied with their bhakti, with your grace, kissed her. or with their love for you.” [In other words, may we always want more and more!] Seeing Krishn in his Vrindavan mood for (Brihad Bhagwatamritam, 1.7.135) the first time, Devaki was overwhelmed with a love she had never felt before. Krishn replied, “What kind of a blessing is Rukmini fainted and Satyabhama became that? That is the very nature of devotion! crazed with longing. She tried to run and You have travelled from Prayag to Dwarka grab Krishn, but Kalindi held her back. and met many devotees. All of them are great receivers of my mercy, and none of When Krishn finally reached the ocean, he them have ever become satisfied with thought it was the Yamuna river. But when their bhakti. Please choose a different he saw Dwarka on the horizon, he realised blessing.” the truth. Balram somehow comforted Krishn and gently bathed him in the sea. Narad replied, “Then grant me this: may I always wander throughout this universe Krishn Blesses Narad like a madman, drunk on the sweetness of your Holy Name. May my actions bring When Krishn returned to his palace, he bliss to all souls. smiled at Narad and said, “O great Sage, has your question been answered now?” “And I will ask another blessing: may whoever comes in contact with your “Yes, by your mercy, I now know that Shri stories, through speaking, hearing, seeing Radha and the gopis are the ones who or even touching them, attain prem love you most of all!” said Narad.
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  • CHAPTER XV EDUCATION and CULTURE Historical Background

    CHAPTER XV EDUCATION and CULTURE Historical Background

    CHAPTER XV EDUCATION AND CULTURE Historical Background Kurukshetra remained a great seat of learning during ancient period. A major part of Vedic literature, including the Brahmanas, the Aranvakas, the Upinshadas and the Canoncial Sutras , was composed on the banks of the sacred river Saraswati where Rishis lived with large number of their disciples. A detailed scrutiny of the Mahabharata leaves us in no doubt that a major portion of the great epic was also composed here. Lord Krishna recited Gita in the battlefield of Kurukshetra and Manu wrote his great smriti (Manusmriti) sitting on the banks of the Saraswati at Prithudaka (modern Pehowa). The Ashramas of ancient Rishis were the most important centres for study of subjects which formed bed rock of ancient Indian culture, namely, religion, philosophy and ethics. According to Vaman Purana , the hermitages of Vishvamitra and Vasistha, the vedic sages, were located in Kurukshetra region. These hermitages used to be the seat of learning where pupils from different parts of the country gathered together for instructions in divine knowledge.1 Mahabharta also tells about numerous hermitages where pupils from distant and different parts of the country gathered for instructions around far- famed teachers. 2 The object of ancient Gurukul system of education was three- fold; the acquisition of knowledge, the inculcation of social duties and religious rites and above all, the formation of character. The teacher was the central figure, the very pivot of the educational system. He was the sole incharge of his moral, mental and physical upbringing. The teacher was the most revered person, who was considered by the pupils to be above their parents.