Shri Ranchhodraiji Mandir, Dakor
Prabodhananda Saraswati describes the various glorious activities of Lord Krishna in the song:
vasatu mano mama madana-gopāle
vasatu mano mama madana-gopāle |
nava-rati-keli-vilāsa-parāvadhi-rādhā-surata-rasāle ||1||
mada-śikhi-piñcha-mukuṭa-parilāñchita-kuñcita-kaca-nikurambe |
mukharita-veṇu-hata-trapa-dhāvita-nava-nava-yuvatī-kadambe ||2||
kalita-kalinda-sutā-pulina-ujjvala-kalpa-mahīruha-mūle |
kińkiṇī-kalarava-rañjita-kaṭi-taṭa-komala-pīta-dukūle ||3||
muralī-manohara-madhuratara-adhara-ghana-ruci-caura-kiśore |
śrī-vṛṣabhānu-kumārī-mohana-ruci-mukha-candra-cakore ||4||
The Milkmaids of Braj Are Drawn to Krishna
guñjā-hāra-makara-maṇi-kuṇḍala-kańkaṇa-nūpura-śobhe |
mṛdu-madhura-smita-cāru-vilokana-rasika-vadhū-kṛta-lobhe ||5||
matta-madhuvrata-guñjita-rañjita-gala-dolita-vanamāle |
gandha-udvarttita-suvalita-sundara-pulakita-bāhu-viśāle ||6||
ujjvala-ratna-tilaka-lalitālaka-sa-kanaka-mauktika-nāse |
śārada-koṭi-sudhā-kiraṇa-ujjvala-śrī-mukha-kamala-vikāśe ||7||
grīvā-kaṭi-pada-bhańgi-manohara-nava-sukumāra-śarīre |
vṛndāvana-nava-kūñja-gṛha-antara-rati-raṇa-rańga-sudhīre ||8||
parimala-sāra-sa-keśara-candana-carccitatara-lasad-ańge |
paramānanda-rasaika-ghanākṛti-pravahad-anańga-tarańge ||9||
pada-nakha-candra-maṇi-chhavi-lajjita-manasija-koṭi-samāje |
adbhuta-keli-vilāsa-viśārada-vrajapura-navayuva-rāje ||10||
rasika-sarasvatī-varṇita-mādhava-rūpa-sudhā-rasa-sāre |
ramayata sādhu budhā nija-hṛdayaḿ bhramatha muḍhā kim asāre ||11||
May my Mind Dwell on Cowherd Krishna
'May my mind dwell on that enchanting cowherd boy who relishes the rasa of Radha’s sublime love, which extends to the highest limit of ever-new, playful amorous pastimes.
(1)
'May my mind dwell upon His mass of curling locks, which is fully decorated with a crown of the tail-feathers of an intoxicated peacock. O mind, contemplate on Him. On account of hearing the vibration emanating from His mouth and through His bamboo flute, the multitude of young girls whose exquisite beauty is ever-new and infinitely variegated abandon all fear of social chastisement and chase after Him(2)
Krishna Plays the Flute at Vamsivata
'May my mind dwell on Him as He stands (in His three curved bending form) at the base of a wish-fulfilling tree [i.e. Vamsivata] by the brilliant sandbanks of the Yamuna, who attends to Him with her gently murmuring waters. O mind, contemplate the soft and charming yellow silken dhoti around His waist, which is enhanced by a girdle of tiny bells that ring sweetly.(3)
'May my mind dwell upon that beautiful youth whose lustre steals the glory of the thunderclouds of the rainy season, and whose lips become sweeter and more enchanting as they vibrate upon the flute. O mind! Contemplate that person who, like a cakora bird, is thirsty to drink the rays of the bewildering and lustrous moonlike face of the young daughter of Vrsabhanu Maharaja. (4)
'May my mind contemplate the beauty of His ankle-bells, bangles and bejewelled makara-shaped earrings, as well as His necklace of gunja berries. O my mind, dwell upon He who evokes greed within the hearts of the rasika milkmaids of Vraja through His lovely glances and gentle, sweet smiles.(5)
'May my mind dwell upon He who wears around His neck a swaying garland of forest flowers that charms the intoxicated, humming bees. O mind, contemplate His broad and mighty arms, which are massaged with scented oil and duly become beautifully covered with symptoms of ecstasy.(6)
'O my mind! Dwell on His nose, which is adorned with a pearl ornament inlaid in gold. Dwell upon His gracefully curling locks and His brilliant bejewelled tilaka. Dear mind, contemplate His charming face, which resembles a blossoming lotus and which is effulgent like millions of autumn moons.(7)
'May my mind dwell upon His captivating, ever-fresh, extremely youthful body, which bends at His neck, waist and feet. O my mind! Contemplate on Him who, although very sober, take delights in the battles of Cupid within the ever newer, sheltered forest-groves of Vrndavana.(8)
'O mind! Contemplate His lustrous body, which is lavishly anointed with sandalwood pulp mixed with saffron and which is itself the very essence of fragrance. Dwell upon that form from which the waves of cupid issue forth and which is solely constituted of the condensed mellows of the highest bliss. (9)
'Dear mind, dwell on the effulgence emanating from the jewel-like moons of His toenails, seeing which the assembled multitudes of Cupids become embarrassed. Contemplate this ever-new prince of Vraja who is most adept in enacting astonishing pleasure pastimes.(10)
'O mind! Dwell upon this nectarean form of Madhava as described by the rasika Prabhodhananda Sarasvati, and which is the essence of all rasa. Those who are wise delight in it within their hearts and become successful in their goal, whereas fools wander in the cycle of repeated birth and death. What exists for them but temporary illusion?(11)
(Prabodhananda Sarasvati)
While singing Shriji forgot
a line. Trying to recall the words he sang the verse repeatedly but failed.
Thakur Ranchhodraiji
Moon like Toenails of Krishna
Shriji was delighted by
this incident and on returning to Shri Dham he narrated the occurrence to us.
Bhopal
Shriji had gone to Bhopal
with Ghanshyamji in 1974. A twenty-fours kirtan had been arranged for in Shri
Hiralalji's house. The kirtan was going on with Shriji and Ghanshyamji
conducting it by turns.
“ The smell of a lion can be sensed here,” Shriji suddenly remarked to Ghansyamji
As he turned around Shriji
saw a devotee of Goddess Devi[3] sitting
there. He had already been introduced to Shriji by Hiralal as one who was
always guarded by two lions. Shriji understood that it was the effect of this
devotee. At conclusion of the kirtan that devotee insistently invited Shriji to
his house. Since Shri Maharajji belonged to the soft and sweet rasik upasana[4] of Vrindavan, he did not approve of tamoguni
upasana [5]. Next day
it was raining very heavily, therefore Shriji could not go to that devotee's
place.
However, it struck Shriji that if the Devi's devotee had lions, he too
possessed the 'Sudarshan chakra' because of being a Vaishnava.
Next day the devotee of the
Mother Goddess came to Shriji at night and revealed, “
The Sudarshan Chakra
Railway Station, Gorakhpur
On 16th January,
1975 Shriji went to Gorakhpur, a second time, with Ghanshyamji, Mangalji and
Kusumji. On reaching there Ghanshyamji's letter of 18.1.1975 was received in
Vrindavan. I am presenting the letter in verbatim:
'Shri Deviji, Jai Shri
Radha
Shriji has reached
Radhakanan (Gita Vatika) safely. In my opinion I brought Shriji very
comfortably. Everyone got sleeper berths in the train. Suryakant (son of
Bhaiji's daughter) had brought a car to Gorakhpur Station along with two other
people. They came to receive us with great warmth and respect..
Venerable Radha Baba was
waiting for us. Shriji and Radha Baba had a wonderful meeting. Both were
enchanted, quiet and silently overwhelmed with spiritual emotion. Shriji's eyes
were tearful and he managed to restrain himself with great difficulty.
Shri Radha Baba Hold Shriji's Hands
Holding
Shriji's hands with teary eyes, Shri Baba gazed fixedly at him. They mutually
asked about each other's well-being after about twenty to twenty-five minutes.
Shri Baba was overwhelmed with affection for Shriji till night and the state
was the same at this end.
Preceding the morning parikrama,
the meeting of Shri Radha Baba and Shriji was silently fascinating. The
atmosphere was so still that even the dropping of a needle could be heard.
Introversion reigned supreme even in the circumambulation.
Later on I was asked about
the kind of food Shriji would have, the arrangements which were to be made and
what was his programme. I told them that Shriji was to stay for five day and
then go back to Vrindavan. I would come back to Gorakhpur after making Shriji
reach Vrindavan.
A Dosa
Bai, Kunjbihari, Krishna
and Dubeji all came to the hut. Bai made dosa[6]
herself and sent it along with the tea. Many new blankets and sheets were also
sent. Repeatedly she urged that Shriji should not be put to any inconvenience.
“Baba, Shriji has come
after so many years!” Bai exclaimed to Baba,
Narayan, Sitaram and
Harivallabhji are attending to our needs. The ambiance is very joyous and the
cold is mild. You need not worry about Shriji. Kamalji and
Munniji had also come over to see him.
“ As an outcome of your
concern it seems that Rituraj Basant (spring), the king of seasons, has
imprisoned us in his self-willed empire, in subjection.” ' Shriji says as he writes these lines to
everyone (in which Shriji has written a couple of lines to Deviji),
Shri Dham
After a stay of ten days in
Gorakhpur, Shriji returned to Shri Dham.
Sakhi Rangadevi
Shri Radha Baba spoke about
Shri Rangadevi's svarupa and feelings. Thereafter, escorting Shriji to
Vrindavan, Shri Ghanshyamji went back to Gorakhpur. Staying here for a month he
returned to Shri Dham.
Ghanshyamji revealed that as long as Shriji had stayed in Gorakhpur,
whenever he would go to meet Shri Baba, both of them would become inarticulate
with spiritual ecstasy. Tears would stream down their cheeks as if they were
meeting for the very first time. This would be their state even while doing parikrama.
Shri Baba would daily circumambulate around Shri Giriraj, ideally established
by him at the temple premises in
Gorakhpur.
A strange incident is
related to the establishment of Shri Giriraj in Gita Vatika, which is as
follows:
Once, Bhaiji's close
associates had thought of celebrating Shri Bhaiji's birthday. Shri Baba also
co-operated in this venture. The rituals of worship were performed with extreme
simplicity and reverence, and Bhaiji accepted everything easily. Close
associates sang such padas which conformed to the taste of Shri Bhaiji
and Shri Baba that listening to them Shri Bhaiji's condition became
introverted. Unprecedented ecstasy pervaded the atmosphere. A person who had
come from outside started reciting a self-composed poem written in praise of
Shri Bhaiji , which had already been forbidden by Bhaiji. Shri Baba scolded
that person in very harsh words because he had disturbed the blissful mood of
Shri Bhaiji.
Shri Baba himself became so
upset because of this incident that he began telling Bhaiji, “ I will not live
here now. Giving up this place mentally, I shall go and reside in the lowlands
of Shri Giriraj! Although I am committed to staying with you bodily as long as
I live.”
” Your body must remain
here as we need it. We have no objection whatsoever to where you go mentally!”
replied Shri Bhaiji.
Shri Giriraj Invoked by Shri Radha Baba
Shri Baba asked Ghanshyamji the dimension of
the circumference of Shri Girirajji and getting it measured with his
ochre-coloured upper garment, decided the boundary of the parikrama,
besides determining its four resting places, Shri Giriraj, Aanyor, Jatipura and
Radha Kund. Invoking Shri Girirajji in the small quilt made of the same
ochre-coloured cloth, he began circumambulating it daily. After a few days Shri
Baba established an immovable Giriraj in front of his hut.
When for the first time
Shri Maharajji got seated in the circuit of Shri Giriraj, fashioned by Shri
Baba, he entered a bhava stithi[8]. Tears
began streaming down his cheeks and he began wiping his eyes and nose
repeatedly. Shri Ghanshyamji was there with Shri Baba in the circumambulation.
Seeing Shriji's state he carefully got him to the hut.
Shri Giriaj
Regaining normal consciousness
to some extent, Shriji said, “Shri Baba has truly established the incarnate
form of Shri Giriraj here!”
Shri Govind Kund
On Ghanshyamji's repeated
insistence Shriji revealed what he had experienced during the parikrama,”
Lord Krishna
I saw
Lord Krishna jumping from the turret of Shri Govind Kund into the pond. He was
not my Thakur (deity) but Shri Radha Baba's Thakur. When He stepped out after
having a bath, droplets of water were dripping from His locks. Since His yellow
garments were stuck to His body, bluish rays were suffusing through it. The
beauty of dark-hued Krishna was transcendental.”
Shriji was overwhelmed by
spiritual ecstasy for a very long time on narrating this incident.
So be it!
“ I avoid looking at Shriji
when he sits in the circuit because I can’t complete the parikrama if I do so,”
Shri Baba had revealed to Ghanshyamji.
” Shriji is a unique, great
soul of Vrindavan,” Shri Baba had once said to Kusumji.
Shri Maharajji's Eyes
Ever since, whenever close
associates of Shri Baba would sit with Shriji they would keep gazing intently
at his eyes.
Once it so happened that
Lakhpat Babu came to Shriji and bent down to look at his eyes.
“ What are you staring at?” Shriji asked him,
“Shri Baba has told us that
your eyes are really wonderful so I have come to see them,” replied Lakhpat Babu.
In September 1975, a letter
of Shri Bankeji, addressed to Shriji, arrived from Gorakhpur. Shriji had been
invited along with his close associates for Radhashtami which was fast
approaching.
Fogla Ashram, Vrindavan
Suryankant's phone call
also came to Fogla Ashram in Vrindavan on behalf of Shri Ramniwas Dhandaria.
Shriji was requested to go to Gorakhpur on Radhashtami but he
did not do so. The reason being that he had no intention of going unless he got
an indication from Shri Radha Baba.
Ghanshyamji went to Gorakhpur after
Janmasthami as he used to every year. When Baba got the information of his
arrival as he reached the garden, he came running to the shrine but was taken
aback to see that Ghanshyamji was alone.
“ Hasn't Maharajji come?” he asked,
“ No he hasn't!” answered Ghanshyamji.
“ Why hasn't he come?” Shri
Radha Baba inquired.
“ If you wish, he may
come.” Ghanshyamji responded.
“So Bhaiya[9], take
rest for today and go back tomorrow to get him,” Shri Baba replied instantly.
The very next day,
Ghanshyamji left for Vrindavan. Coming to Vrindavan he took Shriji to
Gorakhpur. Suryakant was there at the railway station to receive Shri
Maharajji. Shri Baba was eagerly waiting for him.
The Garden
As soon as Shriji entered the
garden Shri Baba came running to him and both of them mutually caught each
other's hands .The two of them were enraptured and inarticulate from emotion for
a span of twenty minutes. All the devotees of Gita Vatika stood stock still to
see the sweet union of these two saints. On returning to a somewhat normal
state, Shriji put the garland of Shri Bihariji's offering around Shri Baba's
neck.
Shriji & Radha Baba on Radhastami at Geeta Vatika
Shri Radhashtami was celebrated
with great fanfare under the direction of Shriji. On insistent request, Shriji
gave a speech in the functional enclosure. Close associates remarked that for
the past three years, shortcomings had crept up in the function after the
demise of Shri Bhaiji, but they had been wiped out that day. It seemed as if
Bhaiji had occupied the dais in the form of Shriji. A new zeal was apparent in
the festival.
Bhaiji's Samadhi Sthal
“The foundation stone of a
great soul's shrine should be laid out by another great soul,” Shri Baba
observed.
Shri Baba had the ' alpana
puja'[10] done
by the lotus hands of Shriji. Staying here for a month Shriji returned to Shri
Dham. Then onwards, Shriji began going to Gorakhpur for Radhashtami.
[1] RanchhodraijiDakor is
well-known for its grand
Ranchhodraiji Maharaj temple which
has a historical significance. The
main idol of Lord
Ranchhodrai is in the
form of Lord Vishnu,
bearing the conch, lotus,
discus, and mace in
his four arms. The
idol is incredibly attractive,
made of black stone
and lavishly decorated with
gold and silver ornaments.
[4] Rasika:method of
worship when a person
is moved by passionate
religious devotion especially for
Krishna
[7] Rangdevi: one
of the ashtasakhis,Shri Radha
feels that her love
for Krishna can always
expand to greater heights,
and therefore she manifests herself
as the ashtasakhis, her
replications or kaya-vyuhas. They
fulfill Krishna’s desire
for a loving relationship in
a variety of ways.Rangadevi is
the seventh of the
varistha gopis. Her complexion
is the color of
a lotus stamen, and
her dress is red
like a jaba blossom.Rangadevi's virtues
are similar to those
of Campakalata. Replete with coquetry
and gestures, she is witty
with her friend Sri
Radharani in the presence
of Lord Krishna.
[8] Bhava stithi:
awakening of spiritual
consciousness is a state
of communion with God. It
is related to the
sub-conscious mind (chitta). When
one’s spiritual emotion
is awakened, for that time
one transcends one’s usual
state of identification with
a worldly existence. The
awareness of one’s
own existence also reduces. Thus
in a state of
spiritual emotion one transcends
the little ‘i’ and
identifies with the big
‘I’. Spiritual emotion
gives us a spiritual
bhava stithi: experience
of Bliss (Ānand).
[10] Alpana puja:
Alpana refers to colourful motifs, sacred art or painting done on a horizontal
surface on auspicious occasions in Bengal like Puja, wedding or community
events . The art typically has some religious significance. Making of Alpana
patterns is a part of the rituals in the numerous vratas (fasts) kept by the
Hindu women of Bengal. They beautify the whole house and paint the floor with
Alpana art, drawing designs passed on from one generation to the other.
Bengalis also make use of the Circular Alpana as a holy pedestal while
worshipping a deity, especially at the time of Lakshmi Puja.
1 comment:
At the time of the incident happened in Dakor , of showing shri-pad-nakh by Shri Ranchhodray ji Maharaj to Shri Maharaj ji , a person that was present there with him during that Pad-singing ks alive today. He was Kamla-shankar ji's son JagdishchandRa , and told me about this incident and his exoerience too.
Dr Vrajeshkumar Khambholja
Sevak(archak of Shri Ranchhodray ji Maharaj at Dakor, son of Gopal Khambolja, grand son of Hiralal-brother of Tarabahen of Dakor.)
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