“Anyone who enters this place during the month of Karttika achieves the supreme destination.”

Parikrama News
By Lokanatha Swami

CHAKRA (Vraja Mandala, India) - The devotees unpacked their gear at a guest house across the road from Sri Krishna Janmastan. Devotees entered the prison cell where Devaki gave birth to Lord Krishna. There was a quote written on the wall from the Hari bhakti vilas "Anyone who enters this place during the month of Karttika achieves the supreme destination." Everyone shouted Haribol, Jaya! They were delighted to get this news.

After this we took darsan of Lord Keshavdev, one the most beautiful Deities of Lord Krishna. Lord Caitanya He danced in ecstasy upon seeing this Deity. "When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu entered the city of Mathura, He took His bath at Vishrama-ghata. He then visited the birthplace of Krishna and saw the Deity named Keshavaji. He offered His respectful obeisances to this Deity. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu chanted, danced and made loud vibrations, all the people were astonished to see His ecstatic love. One brahmana fell at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and then began to dance with Him in ecstatic love. The two of them danced in ecstatic love and embraced each other. Raising their arms, they said, "Chant the holy names of Hari and Krishna!" All the people then began to chant, "Hari! Hari!" and there was a great uproar. The priest in Lord Keshava's service offered Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu a garland." (Madhya 17.156-160)

Your servant, Lokanath Swami

 © CHAKRA 22-October-2000

Mathura Parikrama
By Bhakta Damon

After mangala arati devotees proceeded to Vishram ghat, and took the customary bath. Technically, parikrama starts here with this bath and ends with a final bath at Vishram ghat. Shouts of Jaya Radheeeeeeeeeeeeeshyam could be heard along with loud splashing. When Lord Caitanya arrived in Vraj Mandal, He started His pilgrimage at Vishram ghat with a bath. The Caitanya Caritamrita describes that the Lord took bath at the 24 ghats on the bank of the Yamuna.

Then we began parikrama of Mathura dhama. Yasomatinandan prabhu spoke of the pastimes to the English speaking devotees and Lokanath Swami gave the Hindi class. When Krishna and Balarama came to Mathura They walked through different towns and now we were also following in their footsteps on the same path. We can see the difference between the town that is described in the Bhagavatam. Where are those glorious palaces surrounded by beautiful clean lakes with lotus flowers and swans? It was such a nice place that Krishna and Balarama preferred to walk instead of taking a ride in the chariot.

Krishna and Balarama wanted to dress appropriately in the town for the upcoming wrestling event, and as is said, 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do.' When a washer man was not forthcoming in donating his cloth to the Lords, he had his head chopped off by the lotus hand of the Lord. Being not far from a tailor shop, Krishna and Balarama, with the help of the tailor had some custom made cloth for Them. Of course Krishna had picked up some yellow garments, and Balarama picked up the bluish garments.

As They proceeded, They passed by a flower vendor by the name of Sudama. Sudama rushed forward with freshly made garlands and offered them to the two Lords with great pleasure. Krishna and Balarama were wearing nicely fitted cloth and were properly garlanded. What was missing? The sandal wood paste. And here she comes, Kubja. She made a statement, 'Although I am the official sandalwood maker for the King Kamsa, You deserve this, not the king.' We stopped briefly at Kubja's palace, where Krishna came after being successfully petitioned by Kubja. All her desires were fulfilled.

On the way as Krishna and Balarama proceeded towards the wrestling arena, Kamsa had organized a Danur yajna, worship of the bow that Kamsa had received from Shiva as a special boon. He was told that only the Supreme Personality of Godhead would be able to lift and break this bow. Krishna did, and when the bow broke, the sound filled up the air and Kamsa immediately understood that the eighth son of Devaki had arrived in town and was just around the corner.

Rangeshwara Mahadeva temple where Kamsa used to worship a Siva-lingam: Siva also plays the role of the protector of Mathura. After taking darsan at the Krishna Balarama temple at the foothill, devotees climbed another hill in the middle of the town called Kamsa Tila, where the wrestling arena was and heard the pastimes of the Lord killing Kamsa and Balarama killed the eight brothers of Kamsa.

Just prior to the wrestling arena is Kolia pitha where one of Kamsa's elephants, the most powerful elephant in the world, tried to kill our two Lords. But They played with the gigantic elephant, pulling his tail. Then They took a tusk each and entered the wrestling arena. Kamsa saw Them both and thought "Here is Yamaraj personified. Here they come!"

The wrestling was not considered to be very fair match, but Kamsa went ahead with his dirty fight, and when the leading wrestlers were killed by Krishna and Balarama, the smaller wrestlers fled in fear to the nearest exit they could find. The background music was creating a festive atmosphere at hte wrestling arena and after the demons were killed, all the cowherd boys who had come from Vrndavan, they stepped in and were dancing ecstatically to the music in celebration with Krishna and Balarama. Kamsa said "Stop this! Stop!" Krishna turned to Kamsa and immediately Kamsa took the fighting posture and jumped up out of his throne. He took his sword in right hand and shield in the left hand and faced the Lord. Krishna dragged Kamsa from his elevated throne and very easily killed him, almost effortlessly. Then the eight brothers of Kamsa rushed forward to take their revenge, and Balarama took good care of them.

The audience wasn't sure if Kamsa was dead or if he was just unconscious or waiting for the opportuntiy to jump up and attack Krishna. To convince them, Krishna dragged Kamsa around by the hair around the arena and through the streets of Mathura, thereby comforting His devotees that Kamsa was finished. All Kamsa's queens were mourning the loss of their husband, plus the loss of Kamsa's brothers. Krishna also comforted them, and the acaryas write that Krishna dutifully went over to them and consoled them in their time of sorrow. Krishna was found shedding tears over the death of His uncle.

We visited Dhruva ghat, the meeting place of Dhruva Maharaj and Narada muni, on a hillock where seven rsi's performed yajnas. In the Adi Varaha purana it is stated that if one performs any japa, tapasya or puja at Dhruva ghat, one will receive 100 times the benefit of performing it anywhere else. In the same purana it is said that whoever takes bath here, will go to Dhruvaloka.

Vrndavan dhama ki jaya!

Your servant, Bhakta Damon (Secretary to Lokanath Swami)

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