Living with a Sadhu in Vraja dhama For the time from December the 26th until January the 6th Govinda priya dd and me had the fantastic opportunity to visit the Holy Land of Vrindavana, where the Divine Couple eternally plays Their amourous pastimes. But not only that, we had been very fortunate to be able to live with Sripad Sadhu Maharaja in his beautiful temple, called Mungir Mandir. We already talked on the phone so many times and obviously we have been very eager to go there. Maharaja told us that our rooms are already booked and so the journey was about to begin…we counted the days, the hours, the minutes… Two friends of us also decided to come with us to Vrindavana: Premavati dd (a wonderful disciple of Sripad Sadhu Maharaja) and Diana. So on December 25th, we all four met in the train to Frankfurt airport and everyone was VERY excited!!! After a long journey with a stop-over in Bahrain, we safely arrived in Delhi on December 26th. There, we were greeted warmly by a Vrajavasi-taxi-driver with a sign that read: “Sadhu Maharaja welcomes you!” Yeah! Monday, December 26th Three and a half hour in the taxi, between being half-asleep and half-awake we slowly came nearer to the area of Vrindavana. Everyone knows, when you make the last turn in the left direction, Vrindavan is no more far away! And yes, soon enough we parked in front of the wonderful gate of the most beautiful Mungir Mandir. After unloading our stuff and a short darshan of the wonderful Divine Couple, Sri Sri Radha Mohan, we went to the room of Sripad Sadhu Mahara, which is situated right under the altar of Sri Sri Radha Mohan in a cave-like room, very big in size. And there was our beloved Sripad Sadhu Maharaja, in the midst of his beloved followers and some more, sitting relaxed and very fresh looking in his chair to the left side when you enter. What a wonderful “meet and greet”…immediately we made full danavat-pranams (respectful obeisances) and immediately after getting up he was also standing, hugging everybody full of love and very tightly. It is a truly wonderful thing to come to Vrindavana, but it is truly more wonderful to do so in the association of a sadhu and under his loving guidance. What a nice “meeting-again” after the wonderful US-tour. He looked so relaxed and young and full of energy and he welcomed us all in a very loving manner. Arriving shortly before us were Paramahamsa das and Hansaduta priya dd and with them were two couples, one with two young children. Mohan das and Kishori dd and Arjuna das and Yashoda dd with their kids Viola and Hannes. So we hugged each other and came to know them by name and it would not be long, and a nice friendship would develop. After some time, we went back to our room unpacking and settling in, resting for some hours. Sripad Sadhu Maharaja recommended to make a trip to the Yamuna and take part in the evening arati-ceremony there, where local devotees offer lights and flowers at Keshi Gata to the wonderful river called Yamuna (where Krishna wanders at night on the banks with the gopis). Two people would especially grow heart-close to us: our brothers Raseshvara das and Kanhai das, the fullsurrendereddisciples of Maharaja who take care of, well, EVERYTHING happening at Mungir Mandir, 24/7, all day they are truly most beloved friends and absolutely wonderful human beings. No money in the world can come close to the value of what they both did for us Westerners there at Mungir Mandir, ALL THE TIME. Unbelievable. We are eternally thankful for their warm-hearted support. So, at something like 1500h, we went by rikshaws to Kesi Ghata and there we walked around until we arrived at the place, where the local devotees already prepared a wonderful “sit-in” on the banks of the Yamuna. We chanted a little while and talked and relaxed, gazing at the mystically shining river in front of us, the beautiful Yamuna! Shortly after, the local devotees started to chant mantras and the priests began offering various prayers to the Yamuna. Some of us were invited to sit with them and each of us got a plate with flower petals to be thrown into the Yamuna at their “command”: svaha! So we did exactly that. And how nice it was. When the ceremony was over, some of us returned to Mungir Mandir and some went to some temples in Vrindavana. We went back to Mungir Mandir, ate some delicious prasadam and spent the evening in the association of Sripad Sadhu Maharaja and our wonderful friends, some old, some new. We also met Shyamali dd from Switzerland and Gopalsundara das from Germany, both we already know for quite some time. Gopalsundara das does a wonderful job as temple-gardener there and Shyamali dd is on her semester as a foreign exchange student (music and singing arts). Both are jewels and grew close to us in love. The next day, the group with Paramahamsa das and Hamsaduta priya dd were planning a trip to Agra to see the famous Taj Mahal. With a full heart and a relaxed mind by sadhu-sanga, we went to sleep our first sleep in Vrindavan. By the way, even sleeping in Vrindavana is considered devotional service, since it counts as “paying obeisances permanently”. Tuesday, December 26th The group left early with lunch-parcels to Agra and we slept a little longer to be now FULLY refreshed and relaxed for our stay here. After a hearty breakfast, we gave Sripad Sadhu Maharaja our Christmas presents, consisting of a lot of “fresh air” (wonderful Italian ground coffee) and some diabetes cookies from a good health-food store in Germany. Of course Maharaja was VERY happy and I was ordered to bring in some fresh Italian air immediately. And so I did. Soon after that pleasing exchange we went to Loi Bazaar to get some devotional clothes and paraphernalia. Govinda priya needed some women-clothes, Premavati dd and Diana too and I bought also some dhotis and a chaddar (shawl). And dumb as I am, I forgot to take off my glasses and shortly after getting of our rikshaw, a monkey stole them off my head, climbed onto a very high roof and chilled there. We tried to get them back with some bananas for him. He was not very eager to return the glasses and more so, he broke off one length-side of the frame and then threw the glasses on the roof below him. A local Vrajavasi went on that roof and brought the remains of the glasses back. The lenses still were fine, but the frame was utterly useless. Then, back to Mungir Mandir, back to the association of Sripad Sadhu Maharaja. One thing immediately we realized: How incredibly merciful Maharaja offers his time. The door to his cave-like room (with attached sleeping chamber and bathroom) is always open. Only a few times he put up the sign on the door, reading “REST”. Not very often during our stay… He always loves to receive guests and we tried to have his association as often as possible. Sripad Sadhu Maharaja just received a most wonderful book from the devotees of Sripad BV Narayana Maharaja, called “The hidden path of devotion” where Sripad BV Narayana Maharaja comments on Srila Vishvanatha Chakravartipad´s book “Raga-vartma-chandrika”. Sripad Sadhu Maharaja is extremely happy about this book, because he thinks that it conveys the true essence of Sriman Mahaprabhu´s gift to the human race: Prema-bhakti in the mood of a maidservant of Srimati Radhika. Maharaja is of the opinion that this book should be read by any sincere follower of raganuga-bhakti. So, together we checked some parts of this marvelous book and he told me that he wants to speak on this book for the next days. Awesome! Wednesday, December 28th Today Maharaja had me read after breakfast from the book “The hidden path of devotion”. He chose the part where Srila Narayana Maharaja discusses the verse 157 from Caitanya Caritamrta, Madhya-lila, chapter 22) ‘mane’ nija-siddha-deha kariyā bhāvana rātri-dine kare vraje kṛṣṇera sevana “With one´s spiritual body (siddha-deha), revealed by the mercy of Sri Guru, one serves Sri Sri Radha-Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana twenty-four hours a day, all day and night.” Maharaja strongly spoke about the necessity of coming to know one´s spiritual identity with the help of one´s Sri Gurudeva. Without knowing our own identity, how is it possible to really know Krishna? Also, Maharaja had me explain the two ways of bhakti: vaidhi-bhakti and raganuga-bhakti. In the comments by Srila Narayana Maharaja, he gives an example of this verse from the book “Jaiva-dharma”, where the two main characters receive their spiritual identity from their, and this is really VERY interesting, siksha-guru. Srila Naryana Maharaja clearly states that the siddha-deha can also be revealed by a bona-fide siksha-guru, in that stressing the importance not only on the diksha-guru, but also on the siksha-guru. Sripad Sadhu Maharaja told us that we who received diksha all just started our class, just like a student starts his school-training. When diksha is fully realized, the spiritual identity will be revealed. He told us how he entered his “classroom-training” and how he himself received diksha and the full mercy thereupon from his own Sri Gurudeva. What a nectar discourse, what amazing insights provided by Srila BV Sadhu Maharaja. Everyone present could feel the blessings we all just received. In the afternoon, our wonderful friend Svarnalata dd, the wife of Prema Prayojana das, came for a visit. They live now in a colony called “Ananda dhama” and she readily agreed to come by. We brought her some nice German and Swiss chocolate and she better appreciated the gift (smile). So she came and we had a wonderful time with her together with Maharaja and a good dose of Italian fresh air! Then something extraordinary happened: Maharaja said he would PERSONALLY drive Svarnalata dd home and we all four should visit Prema Prayojana´s new ashrama. So at about 1700h, Kanhai das prepared Maharaja´s new car and the four of us drove to Anand Dhama. Let me tell you this: this is how a gentleman drives. Absolutely perfect and very safe! We arrived there and sat in a class given by Prema Prayojana das. After the class, he invited us with Maharaja to his apartment and we had darshan of their beautiful deities. Maharaja and Prema exchanged some philosophical issues and we gladly listened humbly. Then Srila Maharaja drove us back again. For the next days, this wonderful schedule was prepared in unison: • Thursday, December 29th: bus-tour with Srila Sadhu Maharaja (Raman Reti, Govardhan, Radhakunda, Vrindavana) • Friday, December 30th: marriage of Govinda priya dd and my humble self • Saturday, December 31th: two marriages on one day (Arjuna and Yashoda, Mohan and Kishori) • Sunday, January 1st: starting the new spiritual year with puspanjali and a promise in front of Sri Sri Radha Mohan • Monday, January 2nd: group relaxing…;-D Thursday, December 29th Wow … today the tour was planned. Maharaja organized a bus for us (20 seats) and we all drove off early in the morning. First stop: RAMAN RETI “While staying in Chatikara it is said that Krishna and Balarama would come with the cowherd boys to Raman Reti daily to play. It is also said that Krishna and Radharani would meet here every night, before going to Vrindavana to enjoy Their pastimes. This area is located a few km from the main downtown area. The Krishna Balarama Temple is located in Raman Reti.“ This place was totally NOT from this world. We entered a beautiful gate and everybody had to take off their shoes. The whole spiritual area is based on sand. So, we walked barefoot through the most amazing sand of Raman Reti, where Radhika and Syam meet every night… Many of us felt that this place was utterly peaceful and the cleanliness was marvelous to behold. It was like a temple with attached huts where the sadhus lived. Everything was so neat and truly beautiful. A real place for meditation. When we arrived, a ceremony was going on for the beautiful deities of Radha and Krishna, so we entered the temple and watched in amazement. After the ceremony, we wandered around a bit, spiritually “inhaling” the nectarean atmosphere. Then we all sat down on one spot in the sand and Maharaja began a most excellent bhajan and we all sang along. Next stop: Breakfast on the road. After Raman Reti, we headed off in the direction of Govardhan (Govinda Kund). On the road, Maharaja found a restaurant with enough tables, talked with the owner and soon we all sat there, enjoying OUR food we brought along with us and sipping THEIR Indian chai. Funny. Next stop: Govardhana, better yet, Govinda Kunda, at the feet of Giriraja Govardhana. During the drive, Maharaja had me explain to the guests, who are not that much experienced in bhakti-yoga, the importance and the significance of Krishna´s beloved mountain, Sri Govardhana. I told them the story about Indra, wanting to destroy the town of Vrindavana and the inhabitants with torrents of rain, because they disobeyed him and followed Krishna´s advice. Out of sheer pride, Indra assembled large thunderclouds and started to let down rivers of rainfall. But Krishna was so eager to protect the Vrajavasis and so He put the mountain Govardhana on his little pinkie of his right hand and he stood there seven days and seven nights to protect them all. Indra saw this extraordinary thing done by Krishna and immediately felt remorse and came to apologize thereafter. I also told the guests the REAL reason why Krishna stood there holding Govardhana for seven days and seven days: To gaze upon the beauty of Radhika and so that Radhika could do the same, unhindered, no obstacles. When we arrived there, Maharaja begged us to go sit at Sri Govinda Kund, sing some bhajan and I should explain something more to the guests. He wanted to rest a little. So we went around the beautiful lake, sat very near to Govardhan hill and sang “Jaya Radhe, Jaya Krishna, Jaya Vrindavana…” I tried to explained the contents of the song. Then we sang the “Govardhanastakam” and read the translation. Arjuna das wanted a stone to worship Govardhana Hill and so he tried to get onesila (stone) from the base of the mountain. Finally, he found one. I thought: “Oh my, usually the devotee is not allowed to pick HIMSELF the stone…” When we wanted to go back to the bus, the local residents and protectors of Sri Govardhana freaked out and Arjuna das had to give them the stone back. Arriving at the bus, we told Maharaja of the pastime we experienced. He didn´t say much, but just said, that all will be fine, we shouldn´t worry… Next stop: Kusuma Sarovara On the way, Maharaja suddenly told the driver to stop. We all went outside and then we walked to a wonderful sitting place near Sri Govardhan. There, a local priest welcomed us and we sang some songs and Maharaja told us some nice stories about Sri Giriraja and the importance of worshipping the stone from Giriraja as Krishna Himself. Let us just say that Srila Sadhu Maharaja performed a very tricky miracle here and somehow, a wonderful stone came to Arjuna das from the priest´s hands over Maharaja´s hands and inside the bus. Everybody cheered and was very happy for Arjuna. Shortly after that, we arrived at beautiful Kusuma Sarovara. Kusuma-sarovara is on the right of the parikrama path, about one-and-a-half miles south- west of Radha-Kunda. A forest of flowers (kusuma) was here full of varieties of trees, creepers and flowers like bell, cameli, juhi, yuthi, mallika and campaka. Radhika used to come here on the pretext of picking flowers with her sakhis, but Her real intent was to meet rasika Shri Krishna, with whom She would have love-quarrels and sarcastic exchanges full of rasa. Krishna-bhavanamrta describes how one day Radhika ji was picking flowers here with her sakhis when Krishna arrived, and the following exchange took place: Krishna: Who is there? Radha: Nobody. Krishna: Tell Me honestly, who are You? Radha: Nobody. Krishna: You are speaking in a very crooked way. Radha: And You speak in a very straight way, don’t You? Krishna: I am asking You who You are. Radha: Don’t You know? Krishna: What are You doing? Radha: Picking flowers to worship the Sungod. Krishna: Have You received permission from anyone to do so? Radha: There is no need of anyone’s permission. Krishna: Aha, I have caught a thief today. I wondered who was stealing flowers every day and ruining this garden. Now I have caught You, and will punish You straight away. Radha: Since when have You become the master of this flower garden? Have You ever planted a single flower here Have You ever even watered one? On the contrary, You ruin this flower garden with Your hundreds and thousands of cows and Your boisterous, brazen friends. Indeed, since when have You become the protector of this garden? Krishna: Do not defame a pious, righteous person like Me. Now I shall teach You a good lesson. Radha (smiling): Aha-ha, You are a highly pious and righteous person, are You? You killed a woman right after Your birth; You lied to Your mother even in childhood; You stole butter from the houses of the neighbouring gopis; and when You became a little older, You stole the clothes of the young gopis. Only a few days ago You killed a calf. This is the extent of Your pious, saintly conduct. Hearing the retort, Krishna scratched His head and looked towards clever Madhumarigala, who advised Him, “One’s wellbeing lies in remaining quiet.” At this point, all the sakhis surrounded Shyamasundara and began to clap. Everybody wanderd around this Holy Place and at the end, we all gathered around Maharaja and he told some wonderful pastimes which happened here, similar to the one above. With our hearts already full of joy and bliss the next stop would be the most Holy Lake of the world: Sri Radhakunda. My Sri Gurdeva, Sri Srimat Ananta das Babaji Maharaja resides there as the Mahanta (spiritual mayor) of the town Radhakund. On the phone inside the bus, I called my godbrother there and asked if it would be possible to have a group-audience with my Sri Gurudeva. Everybody was very inspired and my godbrother told me that around 1500h would be a very good time. And, no wonder, we arrived at Sri Radhakund at exactly some minutes before 1500h.