Dancing on Heads

Today we did Vrindavan parikrama (circling Vrindavan on foot). The distance is 10 km (6.2 miles). Along the way are intriguing pastime places and temples. Each parikrama seems to provide a new insight into a place I have already been, or I am blessed to discover a new place altogether. Today we stopped at Kaliya Ghat, a pastime place of Krishna.
    When Krishna had pastimes in Vrindavan (5,000 years ago), he was a cowherd boy. At first, it may sound far-fetched that the Supreme, Original Personality of Godhead herds cows, but don't forget Jesus was a shepherd, so like Father, like Son. One day the cows and His cowherd friends became very thirsty, so they stopped at the Yamuna River to drink. Unbeknownst to them, there was poison in the water spewed from the black serpent, Kaliya, and they fell deathly ill. Krishna provides protection, though, to His dear cows and friends, so He took action....
    The whole area became contaminated, killing all the nearby trees and plants except one kadamba tree (a kadamba is a round yellow flower found only in the Vrindavan region) remained unharmed. This tree still stands today and is immortal, being here for at least 5,000 years so far. That's right- immortal, like vampires, the Noldor Elves of Middle Earth, and like Elvis ;) So Krishna climbed to the top of this tree and leaped into the Yamuna River, which at that time had flowed here (now she is a few hundred yards away).

Immortal kadamba tree Krishna climbed and jumped off to subdue Kaliya

     Kaliya had about 100 hoods. For about two hours Kaliya held Krishna captive, wrapped in his coils, as all the Vrajavasis watched in dismay; some weeping, others fainting, some on the verge of death watching this scene. When the Vrajavasis couldn't bear it anymore, Krishna expanded His body, causing Kaliya great strain, forcing him to release his grip. Very angrily, Kaliya expanded his hoods, exhaled poisonous fumes from His nostrils, set his eyes ablaze like fire, shot fire from his mouth, and licked his lips with his bifurcated tongue. But Krishna quickly pounced on him; it appeared as though He was dancing on Kaliya's hoods. Dancing expertly and avoiding all Kaliya's attempts at attack, Krishna dashed the serpent's head until he had spewed out all his poison.
     Seeing their husband on the verge of death, the wives of Kaliya came to offer prayers and obeisances to Krishna and begged for the life of their husband. Upon hearing their prayers, Krishna released Kaliya, who then submitted himself to Sri Krishna.

Krishna dancing on Kaliya; Kaliya's wives offering Him garland and lotus flower

     So what is the point of this story? Kaliya was full of poison, or envy, which makes him forget Sri Krishna, forget God. Because of this forgetfullness, all waters, lands, plants, animals and people became contaminated and were suffering or dying.
     Krishna, by this act, was actually showing affection to Kaliya, as evident in the prayers of the wives, who say, "...because You are the Absolute Truth, there is no difference between Your mercy and punishment. We think, therefore, that this apparent punishment to Käliya is actually some benediction. It is already clear that this creature appearing in the body of a serpent must have been overburdened with all kinds of sin."    Furthermore, in Kaliya's prayers to Sri Krishna, he says, "My dear Lord, I have been born in such a species that by nature I am angry and envious, being in the darkest region of the mode of ignorance....You are therefore the original creator of all kinds of modes of material nature by which the universe is created."
     So Krishna actually has helped free Kaliya of his acquired nature and bring him to remembrance of God, of Sri Krishna. For this reason, affection and love can be found at the root of this pastime story. For anyone who is interested, the full pastime story can be found in Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead Volume1, Chapter 17, Subduing Kaliya.

 This protruding root of the kadamba tree has a heart shape in it!!!

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I Heart Vrajavasis

As I have had the great good fortune to be in Vrindavan Dham for eight months now, engaging in bhakti-yoga at an ashram. I promise no amount of words or pictures can describe the Dham, the Vrajavasis (residents of Vrindavan), the culture and the mood here. Actually even being in the midst of it, it still remains intangible and ever-changing. Maybe that is why I have been so silent for so long. If I cannot grasp this place, this experience, and what I am hearing in hari-katha (hearing about Krishna), how can I try to share them with anyone else? Plus, to what extent do I openly share the things very near and dear to my heart? However, I pray to Guru and Gauranga that I can post something of value and let my family, friends, and well-wishers know something of my engagement here-- there are so many people back home who have supported and inspired my decision to set off on this journey, who are taking care of my doggie, storing my furnishings, receiving my mail, etc. If not for such great people in my life, I would not be in Vrindavan. So for them and others who may be interested in this topic, here goes my first blog post...

Radha Lalita Madhva

     Probably four out of five people who walk the streets of Vrindavan own a t-shirt that says, "I lost my heart in Vrindavan". That pretty much sums it up. What is the reason for losing our hearts? Simple- because of love. No matter where you are in the Dham, you can always hear "Radhe Radhe", "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna", kirtans resounding, san-kirtans, and aratis. Most buildings are actually temples, and behind every residential door, the family is serving their deities. Everywhere you look, you see spiritual paraphernalia- in shops and temples, what people are wearing, etc. All these sounds and paraphernalias are indicators of the mood here- the Vrajavasi's love for Sri Sri Radha-Krishna and reminders of Their love for us. It is hard to forget The Divine Couple, even for a moment in the land of Vrindavan.
     But Sri Krsna and Srimati Radharani only appear to us (well, those of us in the majority who have only material vision) in the deity form. We cannot interact with them. So Krsna mercifully sends His representatives, the pure devotees (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.28.55). They are living simple, saintly lives - their only aim for living and breathing is to lovingly serve the highest aim of life, Bhagavan Svyam Sri Krsna Himself. While I cannot realize the immense love that Sri Krsna has for me, I can, at least to some extent of my limited capacity, see and experience the pure love of His devotees who are trying to help guide all of us back to Him, as Srila Swami Prabhupada says, "Back home, back to Godhead". These pure devotees not only love Krsna and Radharani with all their hearts, they love each and every living entity, too, understanding that all are Krsna's parts and parcels (Bhagavad-gita, 15.7).
     Vrindavan is Rhadarani's land- She who has the topmost love for Sri Krsna. It is a place of associating with saintly people and a safe-haven for us when we are ready to start the process of reawakening love in our hearts (Caitanya-caritämåta, Madhya 22. 107) - pure love, not selfishly motivated, material lust that we experience in our Western, materially-minded relationships. And it is reawakened through the process of bhakti-yoga, mainly chanting the maha-mantra, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. In one respect it is a very inward journey, a time to heal, grow and try to discover who I really am. In another respect it is a very outward process, building friendships with other devotees and learning to treat others with utmost respect and kindness.
     So, in a nutshell, I am in Vrindavan hearing from saintly people and aspiring devotees, chanting the Holy Name, and remembering Sri Sri Radha-Krishna with the hope that one day, one life, I can follow in the footsteps of the Vrajavasis. I am also engaged in book seva, helping to publish in English (and all other languages) the spiritual books of India - of our guru-parampara - which I know will give so many people who have never before had access to these transcendental books peace of mind and open new ways of thinking.
    Those who know me best, I hope you are smiling and thinking, "Of course she is." ;)