Groups of Gopis
In Goloka Shri Brahma asked Lord Krishna: “O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because of what pious deed or what benedictions they attain this position of gopis in Vraja that even the great yogis cannot attain?”
The Personified Vedas
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: “When in Shvetadvipa the personified Vedas offered prayers to Him with eloquent words, the Lord’s form who has thousands of feet became pleased.”
Shri Hari said: “Choose a benediction, whatever your heart desires. What is difficult to attain for they with whom I am pleased?”
The personified Vedas said: “Because You are beyond the material mind and material words, we cannot perfectly understand You. If You wish to give us a benediction, then please directly show us Your transcendental form, which the scholars of the Puranas say is full of bliss.”
Hearing this, the Lord showed them His own abode, where there is only bliss and there are neither decay nor death, where there is the forest named Vrindavana, which is opulent with beautiful forests of trees that fulfil all desires, and which brings happiness in every season, where there is the hill named Govardhan, which has beautiful caves and swiftly-moving streams, which is made of jewels and precious minerals, and which is filled with graceful birds, where there is the Yamuna, which is the best of rivers, which has pure and delicious water, which is filled with lotuses, swans, and other flowers and birds, and which has shores made of precious jewels, and where the infallible Lord, whose form is that of a youth, stood among many gopis intoxicated by tasting the nectar of many rasa dances.
Having revealed this, the Lord said: “What more shall I do for you? Tell Me. You have seen My realm. There is no benediction better than (seeing it).”
The personified Vedas said: “When we see You in this way, more handsome than millions of Kamadevas, our hearts become troubled with amorous desires and we yearn to become beautiful girls. We yearn to become beautiful gopis in Goloka who worship You as their lover.”
Shri Hari said: “Although your glorious desire is impossible and can never be attained, I will grant it. It will become true. When a new Brahma is born to create (the universe), and the time of Sarasvata-Kalpa arrives, you will become gopis in Vraja. On the earth, in Bharata-Varsha, in the circle of Mathura, in Vrindavana, in the rasa-dance circle, I will become your beloved. Passionately loving Me as your paramour, you will all become perfect.”
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: “Because of the previous Kalpa’s benediction they will become gopis. O Brahma now hear the description of the other gopis.”
The Women of Ayodhya
To protect the devotees and kill the demons the Lord appeared in Treta-Yuga as Dasharatha’s son, the hero Ramachandra.
Lotus-eyed Rama went to Sita’s svayamvara, broke the bow, and married Janaka’s daughter Sita.
O Brahma, when they saw Him, all the married women of Mithila were overcome with desire. In a secluded place, they all approached the Lord and said, “O descendant of Raghu, please become our husband.”
Rama, the king of the Raghavas, said to them, “O women, don’t be unhappy. At the end of Dvapara-Yuga and I will fulfil your desire. With great faith and devotion honestly go on pilgrimages, give charity, perform austerities, and follow the rules of cleanliness. Then you will become gopis in Vraja.”
After giving them this benediction, Shri Rama, who is an ocean of mercy and an expert bowman, with His great prowess defeated Parashurama and then went to the country of the Koshalas.
Seeing on the path very handsome Lord Rama, who is more charming than a host of Kamadevas, the women of Koshala in their hearts chose Him to be their husband.
In His heart, all-knowing Rama gave them this benediction: “You will become gopis in Vraja, and then I will fulfil your desire.”
When He came with Sita and with His army, the women of Ayodhya went to see the joy of the Raghus.
Seeing Him, they become bewildered and fainted, overcome with love. With a vow to attain Lord Rama they performed austerities on the Sarayu’s bank.
A voice from the sky (said) to them, “At the end of Dvapara-Yuga, in the forest by the Yamuna’s shore, (your) desire will be fulfilled.”
The Great Sages
Then, because of His father’s words, He went with Sita and the expert bowman Lakshmana to the Dandaka forest.
All the sages in the Dandaka forest were worshipers of Lord Gopala. To attain the rasa dance they always meditated on Me.
He came to their ashrama as a youth carrying bow and arrows. Then He appeared in their meditation as a sage with matted hair.
Surprised at heart by seeing this other form, they rose from their meditation and saw Lord Rama, who was like millions of Kamadevas.
They said, “He is Lord Gopala, who has come without His flute and stick.” Thinking in this way in their hearts, they bowed down and offered eloquent prayers.
Shri Rama said to them, “O sages, please choose a benediction.” They said, “As Sita is, so let us all become.”
Shri Rama said: “If you had asked this of My brother Lakshmana, I would arrange that today your wish would bear its fruit. This request, to become “as Sita is” is impossible and can never be granted. I have vowed to accept only one wife, and I am the best of they who follow the rules of religion. For this reason, by My benediction, at the end of Dvapara-Yuga, you will become (as She). Then I will fulfil your wish.”
After giving this benediction, Rama went to Panchavati. He went to a leaf-hut, and there He lived in the forest.
When they saw Him, some aborigine girls became tortured with lust. Overcome with love, they grasped the dust of His feet, intent on then giving up their lives.
Assuming the form of a brahmacari, Rama went to them and said, “O women, do not give up your lives without good reason. In Vrindavana, at the end of Dvapara-Yuga, your desire will be fulfilled.” Saying this, the brahmacari disappeared.
The Yajna-Sitas
Then, aided by the monkey-kings, Rama defeated the nocturnal demons headed by Ravana, entered Lanka and, on a flower-chariot carrying Sita, returned to His own city.
Then, because of the criticism of the ordinary people, Rama, the king of kings, abandoned Sita in the forest. Ah, this brought great pain to the saintly devotees in the world.
Whenever he performed a yajna, lotus-eyed Rama, following the rules of religion, had made a golden Deity of Sita.
In Rama’s palace, there were many of these yajna Deities of Sita. (One day) they came to life and approached Rama to enjoy (with Him).
To them, Rama, the king of the Raghu dynasty, said, O beloved wives, I cannot accept you”. Then, filled with love, they said to Rama, the son of Dasharatha, “Why do You not accept us? We are all Sita, the chaste daughter of the king of Mithila. We are half of Your body. At the time of the yajnas, we were Your assistants. You are a pious person. You know the teaching of the Vedas. Why do You speak as one who is impious? First You take our hand and then You reject us. From this, You will incur sin.”
Shri Rama said: “Your words are right. What you say to Me is true. (Still,) I am a religious king, and I have vowed to accept only Sita as My wife. Therefore, at the end of Dvapara-Yuga, you will take birth in the spiritual land of Vrindavana, and there I will fulfil your desire.”
These yajna Deities of Sita will also become gopis in Vraja. Now hear, O Brahma, of the other gopis.
The women of Rama-Vaikunoha, Shvetadvipa, Urdhva-Vaikunoha, Lokacala and the daughters of Varuna
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: The women of Rama-Vaikunöha, the women of Shvetadvipa, the women of Urdhva-Vaikunöha, the women who have taken shelter of Lord Ajita’s feet, the women of Lokacala, and the daughters of Varuna will become gopis in Vraja because of a benediction offered by Lord Narayana, the husband of Lakshmi.
Some women from the heavenly planets, some women not from the heavenly planets, and some women acting in the three modes will, because of various kinds of pious activities, become gopis on the earth.
When they saw handsome Yajna-avatara, who is the son of Ruci and the master of the heavenly planets, the demigoddesses were overcome with love for Him. On Devala Muni’s advice with great devotion to Me, they performed austerities in the Himalayas. O Brahma, they will become gopis in Vraja.
When Lord Dhanvantari disappeared from the earth, all the medicines in Bharata-Varsha became unhappy. They all became useless and ineffective. To regain their powers, they transformed themselves into beautiful women and performed austerities. When four yugas had passed Lord Hari became pleased with them.
Seeing the Lord in a great forest, they became completely enchanted by Him. Hearing Him say, “Please choose a benediction,” they said, “Please become our husband here”.
Shri Hari said: “In Vrindavana, at the end of Dvapara-Yuga, you will become flowering vines and then you will change into women in the arena of the rasa dance. I promise this to you.”
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: “In Vrindavana, they will become beautiful and very fortunate flowering-vine gopis filled with love (for Me).”
When the women of the Jalandhara country saw Lord Hari, the husband of Vrinda, they said (to themselves), “May Lord Hari be our chosen husband”.
Then a voice from the sky said to them, “Worship Lord Narayana, the husband of Rama, and in Vrindavana, you will become like Vrinda.”
When Varuna’s daughters saw Lord Hari as Shri Matsya, they became bewildered with love for Him. By Lord Matsya’s benediction, they will become gopis in Vraja.
The Women of Barhishmati City
There was a powerful king named Prithu who was a partial incarnation of Me. After defeating His enemies, He, the best of kings, milked many desirable things from the earth.
When the women of Barhishmati City saw Lord Prithu they became overwhelmed with love for Him. Approaching Atri Muni, they said: “O great sage, please tell us how powerful Prithu, the king of the kings of kings, may become our husband.”
Shri Atri Muni said: “In meditation make an offering of milk to her and the earth will give you a great and impassable ocean of fulfilled desires.”
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Using their thoughts as a milk-pail, they milked their desire from the cow-earth. In this way, they will become gopis in Vrindavana, O Brahma.
Divine Apsara Girls
To bewilder Kamadeva’s army, on Mount Gandhamadana Narayana Rishi manifested a host of the most beautiful divine Apsara girls.
When they wished Him as their husband, perfect Narayana Rishi said to them, “You will become gopis in Vraja. Then your desire will be fulfilled.”
When the women of Sutalaloka saw Lord Vamana, they fell in love with Him and (to attain Him) they performed austerities. They will become gopi in Vraja, O Brahma.
Snake princesses that, desiring Him as their husband, worshiped Lord Shesha, will take birth in Vraja (to attain) Lord Balarama’s rasa dance.
There are eight dear sakhis of Radharani, who are like expansions of Her body. Their names are Lalita, Visakha, Citra, Iindulekha, Campakalata, Rangadevi, Tungavidya, and Sudevi.
Avinash Govinda Prabhuji started English speaking course in different villages of Vraja, he came to this village to take darshan of Sri Campakalata sakhi in the temple, then local pujari said the cows in this village are struggling if you are able to do something for cows. When he noticed that every two days one cow use to die, he asked his students from this village if you are all willing to help we can start Goshala, Avinash Govinda Prabhuji use his 90% of income to maintain Goshala. All the students agreed to help and they started Goshala, first 15 days all were tired only burying the dead cows in the ground. Now the Goshala is in a stable condition but still lot of struggle, he organised this kirtan festival in Goshala so that devotees should come to Goshala and bless with Kirtan so that all evil spirit should go away. All students prepared nice feast for all of us, the sweet rice was nectar prepared from Goshala cows milk.
In the temple you can see deities of Lord Krishna and Srimati Radharani and Campakalata Sakhi. Campakalata Sakhi service was to pass love message to Lord Krishna of Srimati Radharani.
Ghamand Dev baba went and asked children’s, he bring two of the children dress them nicely as soon as he put the mukut on both the children’s, they disappeared. Ghamand Dev baba became worried how he will return the children’s to the parents ? He started doing bhajan Lord Krishna appeared, Ghamand Dev baba said, “I did as you said, as soon as I put the mukut on children’s head they disappeared, how do I return children’s to there parents?”. In the photo you can see Lord Krishna returned both the children’s to Ghamand Dev baba.
Behind the temple is kangan kund, after marriage there is procedure for fun, they put Kangan (bangle) in the water and newly wed couple have to find the bangle, it’s the competition who will find the Kangan first. This pastime of Lord Krishna and Srimati Radharani took place in Kangan Kund.
Radha, Shri, Viraja, and Bhu were the four wives of Lord Krishna. Of them Radha was most dear to Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Grieving over her separation from Krishna, she cursed her son, “Fool that separated me from Krishna, become water!”
When they had thus cursed each other they became anxious and frightened. At that moment the Lord appeared there.
In ancient times, during the Svayambhuva-manvantara, a sage named Vedashira Muni, who was a descendent of Bhrigu Muni, performed austerities in the Vindhya Hills.
Ordered by Lord Krishna in Goloka, Yamuna, the best of rivers, circumambulated the Lord and was about to go to the earth. Then the Viraja river and the spiritual Ganga river both entered the Yamuna. For this reason, the people know that the Yamuna is the greatest of rivers and the first queen of Lord Krishna.
Then she flowed through Vrindavana, beautiful Mathura, and beautiful secluded Mahavana.
Quickly traversing the seven oceans, the dark Yamuna quickly flowed through the world of seven islands. Then the Yamuna flowed to the golden land and then Mount Lokaloka where, flowing from its peaks, she broke the rocks on its slopes. Then she rose again to its peaks and, with a great stream of water, rose to Svargaloka in the heavenly worlds.
Shri Garga Muni explains the name of Lord Balarama: The yogis find their happiness (ramante) in Him, or he is the greatest enjoyer (ramati), or with His transcendental qualities He delights (ramayati) the devotees. For these reasons the sages know Him as Rama. Because He was pulled (sankarshana) from the womb He is also known as Sankarshana. Because when the universe is annihilated He alone remains (avashesha), the sages know Him as Shesha. Because He is extremely strong (bala), they know Him as Balarama.
During the Cakshusha-manvantara Prajapati Daksha gave his eleven beautiful daughters in marriage to Kashyapa Muni.
That original Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared in Navadvīpa as Lord Caitanya, and Balarāma appeared with Him as Lord Nityānanda.
Kashyapa from Goloka descend to earth as Vasudeva and exalted Aditi as Devaki.
As the Original Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna, who is the king of Goloka and the master of countless universes was about to depart in order to remove the earth’s burden, He said to Shri Radha: “O beloved, O frightened one, You should also go to the earth.”
The great mountains bowed down, circumambulated, properly worshiped, and eloquently glorified Govardhana with these words: “In Goloka, which is filled with gopas, gopis, and cows, you are the mountain of Lord Krishnacandra, the Original Supreme Personality of Godhead. You are named Govardhana. You are splendidly manifest in the world of Vrindavana and you are the king of all us mountains. Obeisances to you, who are the crown of Goloka and who sit on Vrindavana’s lap! Obeisances to Govardhana, the parasol of the Supreme Personality of Godhead!”
The great sage Pulastya saw Mount Drona’s son Govardhana, who was filled with flowering madhavi vines, heavy with abundant fruits, filled with the sounds of gushing streams, peaceful, auspicious with many caves, suitable for performing austerities, filled with jewels, charming, wonderful with many colorful minerals, beautiful with graceful slopes, filled with many birds, deer, and nectar trees, and decorated with peacock calls, and which gave liberation for they who yearn for it.
Hearing Pulastya’s words, Drona became filled with love for his son. His eyes filled with tears, he spoke to the sage.
Here Lord Hari will enjoy pastimes of paying a toll and pastimes of jealous anger. For this reason I should not leave this place where the Yamuna flows. From Goloka Shri Krishna will come here with Radha. By seeing Him I will make my life perfect.
Shri Govardhana said: “O sage, there is no fault on my part. You have put me down, and now I will never move from this place. That was the promise I made to you.”
Govardhana Hill is acknowledged throughout the Vedic scripture’s as the most sacred mountain not only in the whole of India, but in all the three worlds. The Vedas also say that Govardhana Hill is non-different from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna Himself. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited Vraja in the year 1515, He refused to climb Govardhana Hill because He saw that Govardhana was non-different from Lord Krishna. At the time of the annakuta ceremony, Krishna declared that He was non-different from Govardhana Hill:
Joshimath, the first Math established by Shri Adi Sankaracharya.
Atop the cave is the Kalpvriksha, a Mulberry tree that is said to be more than 2500 years old under which Adi Guru is believed to have attained enlightenment. It is one of the four ‘Maths’ organized by Adiguru, the other three are at Dwarka, Puri and Rameshwaram.
This is an ancient temple of Lord Vishnu in Narsimha Avtar and main temple of Joshimath. It has idol of Lord Narsimha, which is considered established by Shankaracharya. As per local belief, the right hand of this idol has become as thin as hair. On the day when it will break, the mountains Jay-Vijay (which are situated on a way to Badrinath) shall join and become one and Lord Badrinath of Badrinath temple will disappear from present temple and re-appear as black stone (Shaligram) at new place called Bhavishya Badri, which is situated at a distance of 10 km from Joshimath. When Badrinath temple remain closed during winter every year, one idol of Lord Badri is brought to Narsimha temple and worshiped for six months.
This Temple of Lord Vasudeva is situated some 30 yards away from the temple of Lord Narasimha. The presiding deity here is Vasudeva who is identified with Lord Vishnu. It is one of the most famous Vishnu temples of north India. It was considered very sacred by the ‘Alavars’, the Tamil Vaishnavite Saints. The deity’s idol here is carved out of a piece of black stone, measuring 6 feet in height. This temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, recognized by the Tamil Nadu Vaishnava saints as being very important Vishnu temples. The black carved stone Deity of Lord Vasudeva is about 2m (6 ft) tall. He stands with his associates Sri, Bhu, Nila, and Kama. This temple is about 30 m from the Narasimhadeva Temple. To the left of the main entrance is a deity of dancing Ganesh, which is said to be one of only two such deities in India. This temple is very ancient, and no one knows exactly how old it is.
Auli is the most popular skiing and paragliding spot of Uttarakhand situated at an elevation of 3050mts above sea level. Auli affords astounding and celestial views of the enchanting snow laden Himalayan range.
The conditions for skiing are perfect at Auli. A 500 m long ski-lift and an 800 m long chair-lift link the upper and lower slopes, and snow beaters and snow-packing machines maintain the smoothness of the slopes. Skiers can enjoy almost 20 km of virgin slopes, which provide excellent opportunities for cross-country, slalom and down-hill skiing events. Auli has now become a leading tourist spot. While its slopes beckon daring and gallant skiing enthusiasts, its pristine natural beauty and its alpine atmosphere lure many tourists. A haven for those who want to escape the humdrum of everyday life, conquer their fear of heights, savour nature in its purest form or just throw snowballs at each other.
Shri Garga Muni explains the meaning of the name Sri Radha – ‘R’ stands for Rama (the goddess of fortune), ‘A’ stands for Adi-gopika (the first of the gopis), ‘DH’ stands for Dhara (the earth), and ‘A’ stands for Viraja-nadi (the Viraja river).
In this regard Srila Sanatana Gosvami, in his Brhad-Bhagavatamrta, has mentioned, Maharaja Pariksit told his mother Uttara, “Oh, mother! My gurudeva, Srila Sukadeva Gosvami has not been able to mention the name of any gopis when he was describing Srimad-Bhagavatam. The reason for that is, if he would pronounce the name of any gopi then in their remembrance he would feel acute burning love and thus he would feel very much ecstasy which would make his throat choked and make him unable to recite Bhagavatam. Thus it would not be possible for him to continue recitation of Bhagavatam, Bhagavata-katha would be disrupted. That’s why during the description of different pastimes like rasa-lila, though he has explained their great mood of love, he did not mention anyone’s name. Srila Sukedeva Gosvami tried his best to not mention any gopis name but still he could not control himself as a result at one point he indirectly mentioned her name. When Sri Krishna disappeared from the rasa-lila all the gopis were searching for Him. At one point they saw the footprint of one gopi along with the foot-print of Sri Krishna. The gopis said:
In Goloka Vrindavana there is a place called the rasa mandala. On one side of the rasa-mandala there is a mountain called Satasrnga. This mountain appeared in Bhuloka as Govardhana. In Vrndavana there are nice gardens of malati and mallika flowers. The Lord of the universe, by whose mere desire everything happens, was sitting in that garden on a beautiful ratna-simhasana. He had the desire to enjoy, and as soon as this desire came to His mind, immediately from His left side appeared a very beautiful devi. She was decorated with valuable jewels and wore cloth purified by fire. She was dazzling like millions of moons, Her body the color of molten gold. She was illuminating everything with Her radiance. When She smiled, her teeth were very attractive. Her face defeated the beauty of the lotus flower in autumn. She was wearing a flower garland of malati and a diamond necklace. Her bodily effulgence was brilliant like the sun in summer season. She was sitting next to Krsna on the ratna-simhasana.
Radha and Krishna are one in truth. Radha is constitutionally the energy of Krishna. She is His svarupa-sakti or natural energy, just as heat is the natural energy of fire. One cannot separate heat from fire. In the same way one cannot separate Radha from Krishna. Energy and the energetic together is one object. There is no difference between Them. In the same way Sri Sri Radha-Krishna is one and non-different truth.