Dear Mind

Just see, dear mind, your heart has indeed become as hard as a rock, and the seed of the creeper of devotion cannot possibly grow in such a barren place. So then how will you cross over this vast ocean of material existence? In this position you can only guess about the nature of the Supreme Lord, just as a clay pot maker will observe the vast creation. When the simple-minded potter guesses about the Supreme, he thinks that the entire material creation is just like a larger version of his own simple potter's wheel, and that the Lord is the potter. In other words, by seeing a clay pot, you can guess that there must have been a potter to make it in the first place. This philosophy is very crude and contains no scope for developing love for the Supreme Lord. -BVT

Written in the early 1870's.

Thakur Haridas
by Bhaktivinod


Oh born of Muslim parents Haridas!
And trained in youth in Muslim creed

Thy noble heart to Vaishnava truth did pass
Thy holy acts thy candor plead!

Is there a soul that cannot learn from thee
That man must give up sect for God

That thoughts of race and sect can never agree
With what they call Religion broad

Thy love of God and brother soul alone
Bereft thyself of early friends

Thy softer feelings oft to kindness prone
Led on thyself for higher ends!

I weep to read that Kazis and their men
Persecuted thee, alas!

But thou didst nobly pray for the wicked then!
For thou wert Vaishnava Haridas!

And God is boundless grace to thee, Oh man!
United thee to one who came

To save the fallen souls from Evils plan
Of taking human souls to shame

And He it was who led you all that came
For life eternal, holy, pure!

And gave you rest in Heaven's endearing Name
And sacred blessings ever sure!

Thy body rests upon the sacred sands
Of Svargardvar near the sea,

Oh, hundreds come to thee from distant lands
To enjoy a holy, thrilling glee!

The waters roar and storming winds assail
Thy ears in vain, ah, Vaishnava soul!

The charms of Vrindavan thy heart regale,
Unknown the wheel of time doth roll!

He reasons ill who tells that Vaishnavas die
When thou art living still in sound
The Vaishnavas die to live and living try
To spread the holy name around!

Now let the candid man that seeks to live
Follow thy way on shores of time,

Then posterity sure to him will give
Like one song in simple rhyme!

This happened 5,000 years ago

Over the eighteen-day war, Duryodhana has seen his generals and their armies fall to the Pandavas, but to the very end he refuses to surrender. He hides in the waters of a lake, which he has solidified over him by magic. When found resting, Yudhishthira tells Duryodhana that he can fight any brother he chooses, and if he wins, the kingdom will be his again. It says something of Duryodhana that he fights with Bhima rather than one of the weaker brothers. In a close battle between equals, Bhima wins only by treacherously striking Duryodhana on the legs, forbidden in the rules of war. Gandhari had put a protective spell over Duryodhana's body, but because he wore a loin cloth for modesty before his mother, his thighs were not protected.

After being beaten and on the verge of death, Duryodhana accuses Krishna of taking sides unfairly and encouraging Bhima’s treachery. Krishna responds: “Deceit in battle is acceptable against a deceitful foe. Even Indra used deceit to overcome the mighty asuras Virochana and Vritra.” An onlooker remarks, “Bhima has sacrificed dharma for the sake of material gain. This can never lead to success and happiness.” Krishna replies that Bhima was merely keeping his earlier vow, a sacred duty: “There is no unrighteousness in Bhima. He has carried out his promise and requited the debt he owed his enemy. Know that the terrible age of Kali is at hand, marked by fierce acts and the loss of dharma.” (KD 811-13)

Duryodhana responds bravely: “I am now dying a glorious death. That end which is always sought by virtuous warriors is now mine. Who is as fortunate as me? With all my brothers I will ascend to heaven, while you Pandavas will remain here, torn by grief and continuing to suffer.” (KD 816)

As Duryodhana lies dying, Ashvatthama, Drona's son, tells him how he sneaked into the camp of the victorious Pandavas at night to perpetrate a hideous massacre, killing the remaining warriors and all the children while asleep, leaving the Pandavas without any heirs. Rather than welcoming the news, Duryodhana dies disheartened that the race of the Kurus appears to have no future.

Thus all those on both sides die in the war, except the five Pandavas. When Yudhishthira learns of the massacre, he mourns: “We the conquerors have been conquered.”

When the Pandavas seek revenge, Ashvatthama launches the most fearsome celestial weapon in his arsenal. Arjuna counters with his own weapon, which Drona taught both of them; it was only to be used against divine beings, or else it could destroy the world. Ashvatthama deflects his into the wombs of the remaining Pandava women, making them sterile, but Krishna promises that Arjuna will nonetheless have descendants. As punishment, Ashvatthama is cursed to wander the earth in exile for 3000 years.

An Old Photo

Our Hero

Gopal Chandra Ghosh was a Gaudiya Vaisnava Vrndavanbasi, who served at the Vrindavan Research Institute for almost 40 years and had continuous intimate relationship with Srila Prabhupada since he arrived in the 1950's in Vrndavan as a vanaprasthi. A profound scholar, he was famous for having lucid memory of the details of his researches.

The book, “Our Srila Prabhupada, A Friend to All” by Mula Prakrti hosts his association with Srila Prabhupada in 10 pages and on the back cover.

Any devotees or scholars who came in contact with him were always happily impressed with his help in various research matters in which his advices were invaluable. If you didn’t bring your tape recorder in your head or hands then you would miss out a lot. He is also famous for being forthright if asked his opinion of any controversial matters.

Gopal Ghosh compiled five books at the VRI. He was the librarian and head cataloguer. Vrindavan Research Institute was created at a crucial time when the wealth of manuscripts in Vrindavan was in danger of ignorance, neglect and insects. About 30, 000 have been collected till now, 70% being of the Gaudiya Sampradaya.

The following interview is excerpted from Our Srila Prabhupada, A Friend to All, early contemporaries remember him, Chapter Five, “Vanaprastha Years in Vrindavana, Mathura and Delhi From 1954”, by Mulaprakrti dasi.

Sriman Gopala Chandra Ghosh of the Vrndavana Research Institute was born in 1939. He is a Vrajavasi and a disciple of 108 Paramahamsa Vaisnava Sri Pandita Advaita dasaji Maharaja of Govardhana, who is in the line of Srinivasa Acarya.

“I saw and met Srila Prabhupada at the Radha Damodara Temple when he was first living there. When he sat on the veranda by his room in the evenings doing japa there was rarely anybody there. Some small boys would come and ask for prasada. He had one plastic pot with some pera or burfi in it. He offered this to his pictures and distributed it.

“I saw he had pictures of Radha Krsna, Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu, and Jagannathaji. There was also a small photograph of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, which he daily worshipped with devotion. When he was alone he had only pictures there. Sometimes he cooked on his small stove and sometimes he took prasada from Radha Damodaraji’s temple.

“Another photograph that he kept in the early days at the Radha Damodara Temple was of Srila Sridhara Maharaja. There was his gurudeva’s photo and also this one. I asked, ‘Who is this devotee? I have not seen him before.’ He told me that this was his godbrother, a very deep scholar of Mahaprabhu’s aim, from whom he had received much knowledge. He said he was a great master, his siksa-guru. I saw that it was a black and white photo of this tridandi-svami standing on an asana. It was a miniature size that he used for his bhajana. There were also photos of Srila Gaurakisora dasa Baba, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and Sri Jagannatha dasa Baba. Sridhara Maharaja’s photo was on the left side.

“He would always offer everything first to his gurudeva and then he would take prasadam. Once I witnessed an incident when the Radha Damodara pujari put a garland from the altar around his neck. He said, ‘No, no, do not put this on my head. I shall offer it first to my guruji.’ I took note that he went and offered it to his gurudeva’s photograph in his room and then only after that would he take it on his head.

“There were several times I recall him telling me about his gurudeva. Once he had a fever and was sitting covered with a cloth and blanket, reading Srimad Bhagavatam. I bowed my head to his feet, and asked, ‘You are not feeling well?’ He said, ‘No, I have a cold, so this little medicinal cure will be helpful.’ The next day when I returned he was happy, healthy, and was writing, maybe a commentary, I did not see. I asked, ‘Today you are feeling better?’ He answered very mysteriously, ‘Oh, yes.’ I asked again and he said, ‘At night my Prabhupada came in my dream. He encouraged me saying, “You do work like Narottama Thakura, like Srinivasa Acarya and like Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura.”’ Swami Maharaja told me joyfully, ‘I have received mercy from my gurudeva. He blessed me and has given me power. I was too much anxious for the Bhagavata commentary. He said, “You just write and all Six Goswamis will help you.”’ He also mentioned then that his gurudeva had come in front of him in sannyasa dress two or three times when he had been sickly.

“During these months when I would visit him in his rooms at Radha Damodara he occasionally told me some special things that I understood as secrets in his bhajana. Once I came early in the morning in wintertime. He was chanting hari-nama very deeply and I saw tears coming from his eyes. When I inquired several times for him to tell me anything, he said that he had received a visit last night. In the courtyard by Srila Rupa Goswami’s samadhi, he saw some very beautiful persons. One was wearing only kaupina and was chanting on large tulasi mala around his neck. His eyes were large like lotus flowers and he was extremely effulgent. Also coming there was another personality, dressed similarly, but older and taller, very kindly to him. Behind them was a much younger sadhu, whose beauty and sweetness were captivating. Swami Maharaja told me they were Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Sanatana Goswami and their nephew, Srila Jiva Goswami. He said they spoke to him and gave him mercy and guidance for his writing and for his future preaching. I tried to ask more but this was all he would tell me.

“On another morning, we were speaking and he told me an amazing thing. He explained how he is often chanting in his room at midnight. He said, ‘I could hear some dogs barking. But sometimes I have also heard some very melodious flute sounds coming from near Seva Kunja. I heard this two or three times. It was not any ordinary human being because I have never heard such a beautiful sound. I am thinking this may be Lord Krsna, no doubt.’ He said that it couldn’t have been a dream or imagination because he could also hear the dogs barking in the background as usual.

“I once heard him say to one person nearby, ‘Come here. Why have you not cleaned your worshipping pots? This is your duty. First of all you do these necessary things, Lord Krsna’s service, not my service, not your godbrother’s service; this is Lord Krsna’s service. You are living in His shelter so you perform His service.’

During that time, I saw Srila Kesava Maharaja and Srila Narayana Maharaja come there to visit him. He always asked Srila Kesava Maharaja questions and consulted him about many things. He always respected Kesava Maharaja. Prabhu did not take any seat in front of Kesava Maharaja. Narayana Maharaja was his friend, in devotional friendship. Narayana Maharaja would come to visit two or three times a week and he used to listen to Prabhu practice his English.

“I saw Prabhu going to Mathura several times, although Kesava Maharaja was usually in Navadvipa. Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaja, his godbrother who was in charge of Imli Tala, told me they had a good relationship and that Swami Maharaja was a Nityananda vamsa. [Srila Prabhupada’s family was related to the Nityananda vamsa.]

“I was not there in Mathura when he took sannyasa initiation. He came one evening wearing red cloth. I said, ‘Maharaja, today you have changed your dress!’ ‘Yes,’ he said very gravely, ‘today I have accepted the sannyasa order from Srila Kesava Maharaja.’ That night he stayed with Krsna dasa Babaji Maharaja, who was a tyagi-vaisnava of Vrndavana. I often saw them consulting together. He has written about all of this in a letter I have seen that he wrote to Srila Narayana Maharaja.

“Swami Maharaja inaugurated his first canto of Srimad Bhagavatam at the Radha Damodara Temple. He organized a program that included the governor; Govinda dasa Brahmacari, a disciple of the senior Puri Maharaja from the Gaudiya Mission; and many other respectable persons. Swami Maharaja organized the program by himself, and he requested me to help. He had collected money from some devotees in Delhi to put on the festival. Then he gave me some rupees and told me to preach all through Vrndavana’s streets on a loudspeaker. We rented a rickshaw with a few boys and announced, ‘Today this Janmastami function will be going on. Our respected U.P. governor is coming and everyone is welcome. Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami will give a very nice lecture. All come to hear and see the small children dance.’ He told me in Bengali what to say and I translated and announced it in Hindi and in some English. Many people came.


“It was Janmastami day. He served just fruit, drinking curd (yogurt), and mahaprasada sweets. He encouraged me to take prasada from his own hand. Some local girls danced svagat-nrtya. I asked him, ‘You are distributing the first canto of your book to so many people, so why I cannot get one?’ At that time my English was not so good, so he replied, ‘It is hard English. You cannot understand. Afterwards this will be translated into all other languages. Then I will give you this canto in Bengali or Hindi.’

“In his speech that day he explained how much illumination will come from these translations because many people, both Eastern and Western, will chant hari-nama-sankirtana and worship this hari-nama with puja and seva. He announced to all, ‘I want daily chanting of hari-nama, daily chanting of the Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Goswami’s books. My first canto is now published and other cantos will be published. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta will also be translated gradually, and other books as well.’ He told me how he believed this would be a great work because his guru ordered him to preach all over the world. ‘I have no courage to do such a task,’ he said, ‘but now my gurudeva has shown me the light, so I am enlightened by him.’

“One day, when I visited him I was feeling very thirsty but I did not want to disturb him. We were chanting Sridhara Svami’s commentary in Bengali. Two or three old men were seated there on the veranda. He had only a small water pot and I was afraid to interrupt him in case he had to go search for water. He was a sadhu, a sannyasi, and I was not a sannyasi, so I didn’t say anything. Srila Prabhupada then spoke up, ‘Oh, you are feeling thirsty. I know this in my heart. First of all you take the water and then you listen to krsna-katha.’ He very lovingly gave me one glass of water there by his room. That is a special memory for me.

“Another incident occurred when I was walking by Kesi Ghata one day in the heat of summer. There I saw him alone on one of the islands in the middle of the Yamuna. He had prepared the sand like a small hill and had stuck his sannyasa -danda in the middle. Then he was circumambulating that hill chanting Hare Krsna and Hari bol, joyfully like a child. I could plainly see that he was absorbed in spiritual ecstacy. Another time I also saw him performing sankirtana, chanting and dancing near that same place, along with three or four persons. When I called greetings to him, he said, ‘We are wandering in great happiness on the bank of the Yamuna.’

“He always told me, ‘Depend on Lord Krsna. Love Lord Krsna, your istadeva. Chant the maha-mantra-kirtana at all times. Even when you go to sleep, chant hari-nama kirtana, and when you arise you keep offering prayers. Take shelter of Nama Prabhu, then all evil things will run away and you will get peace in your mind.’ Now since that time, when I take rest, the Hare Krsna Nama is written in candana on a leaf under my pillow. I remember how he instructed me this way and Nama Prabhu has always saved me.

“Once Srila Prabhupada recollected something of his childhood to me. ‘When I was busy in business life, I had very little extra time, but always I chanted krsna-nama. This was because my father was a great devotee of Lord Krsna, Nityananda Prabhu and Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In my childhood, he performed the Rathayatra celebration and I would play the mrdanga. Our home was set up with mrdanga playing and bhajanas daily every evening. My father always told me to daily chant and perform kirtana with the mrdanga and then Mahaprabhu would surely bless me.’

“In 1960 or ‘61, Krsna’s birth ceremony abhisekha was performed at the Radha Damodara Temple at midnight. The next day all temples celebrate Nandotsava, Nanda Baba’s festival honoring Lord Krsna’s birth. They throw rupees, offer fruits and wear new clothes in the temple. Curd and turmeric are mixed up and thrown on the visitors. They sing of how the son of Nanda appeared here in Gokula. This service is performed with kirtana, dancing, and chanting of hari-nama. Later, I learned that this was Srila Prabhupada’s own appearance anniversary day. At that time, I saw him very playfully dancing in the Radha Damodara Temple’s open courtyard. He was covered with this yellow-colored pauri, the prasada from the Dieties. He was dancing in Braja style, singing ‘Nanda ke ananda bhaiyo jai kanaiya lala ki.’ I also saw him throwing some cini (sugar candies), annas and paisas to the local small boys.

“There was an old lady who daily came from the Yamuna after taking bath. She was very old and her walking stick was beaten and broken. Once Srila Prabhupada said to her, ‘Oh Guru Ma. You please take my stick and give me your stick.’ Srila Prabhupada used a nice cane, so he told her, ‘You take this one and give me your old one. I want your blessings.’ The old lady began to weep. ‘Oh, Baba,’ she said, ‘you are joking with me. I am not able to take your cane. It will be stolen; someone will snatch it from me. You please keep it yourself.’ Srila Prabhupada then very affectionately gave her some rupees.

“Once one of his Godbrothers expired in Navadvipa, Mayapura. I saw him sitting with misery, chanting on his mala, and tears were coming down his face. He said, ‘Oh, one bhajananandi mahatma, one of my godbrothers, has left me. I am no longer able to touch his holy feet. He was a great scholar and disciple of our Srila Prabhupada. He was very nama-premi. I feel such separation and cannot follow him.’ I saw so many tears on his cheeks. A few days later one local person came with some printed books by that godbrother and said, ‘Do you want this book, Maharaja?’ And he said, ‘Oh, yes, yes!’

“One Bengali devotee, Kiran Bhalla devi, his godsister, lived in Vrndavana. She had been at Bagh Bazaar and Mayapura and had sold all her ornaments and given all she owned for their gurudeva. She had been a widow for sixteen years and lived outside of the old Gopinatha district in a small broken hut and begged on the steps of the Govindaji Temple. I noticed Srila Prabhupada would always give her some laksmi, fruits and grains. He would gently ask her, ‘You are quite well? Your bhajana is good?’ She would say, ‘Brother, you please bless me so I shall leave my body in Vrndavana.’ In May of 1978, we admitted her in the Ram Krishna Hospital and she expired, always chanting hari-nama and not dependent on any rich persons.

“When Srila Prabhupada came back to Vrndavana in 1971, many disciples came with him. They had a big kirtana procession around the town. First he gave a welcome address in Vrndavana town hall. The chairman was Ramesh Chandra, who, along with other famous people, welcomed and garlanded him. They asked him, ‘You have told us that we can get everything from chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Does that mean we do not need to worship and do puja-seva?’ Srila Prabhupada told everyone, ‘These are needed, but hari-nama is the seed. The plower gives the seeds, and then these seeds will make a big tree. By chanting hari-nama-sankirtana the heart will change. Just like the example of Hari dasa Thakura and the prostitute. Her heart changed, and she and offered everything to Hari dasa Thakura, becoming like a beggar, always chanting Hare Krsna. So the divine Name can give all things.’

“He had already been garlanded in the Sriji Mandira, the Nimbarka sampradaya’s temple, and at the Hari Nama Press with the Bihar Vaisnava Samaj. Then Srila Prabhupada went to the Radha Ramana Temple and Vishvambhar Goswami and all the Goswamis and Acaryas garlanded him and gave prasada. I noticed when he saw the samadhi of Gopala Bhatta Goswami he was experiencing deep emotions and he began to chant with bhava. He gave a lecture about Gopala Bhatta’s life, then performed parikrama. The Goswamis distributed daliya-prasada.

“During this time, he brought his disciples on hari-nama through the streets. I saw him in a beautiful dancing pose while chanting, holding his danda in the air. He stood in front of the procession while the disciples were playing mrdangas. Sometimes he gave his danda to someone else to hold and he played the kartalas very energetically. Banwari Lal Pathak, a famous person of Vrndavana, invited him and his students to his house for prasadam several times.

“That Kartika month he daily chanted Jaya Radha Madhava Kunjabihari. His lectures were from Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu (Nectar of Devotion). I complimented him that it was very nice, that which he was realizing and preaching. He responded, saying, ’No, this is not my own thinking. This is Srila Rupa Goswami’s krpa.’

“Madhava Maharaja along with some disciples met with him there at the Radha Damodara Temple and Srila Prabhupada was dancing in kirtana with them. Also Laksmi Narayana Bhattacarya was friendly with Srila Prabhupada. Laksmi Narayana Bhattacarya was a very old man who was a disciple of Sri Dinabandhu dasa Babaji, who was a servant of Srila Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji. Twice I saw them meet and talk very intimately in Bengali for a long time. They spoke about the servitorship of Srimati Radharani. I don’t know if it was taped. Sri Bhattacarya discussed how our aim is radha-dasyam, Radhika’s service and manjari-seva. Without Radha’s service we cannot get Lord Krsnacandra. I remember Srila Prabhupada laughed and said, ‘Yes, yes. All of you are Vrajavasi. This is the way and the goal.’ I saw Srila Prabhupada seated on his asana reading from many big books, but he would stand up from his seat and offer pranamas when any Vaisnava guest arrived. I saw him always give great regard to all other Vaisnavas. Particular persons criticized him, saying that his Western disciples were CIA, but he did not take offense and behaved with humility.

“When newcomers came, he advised them to go to all the temples and offer some bhoga there. ‘You can offer rupees, but don’t come empty-handed. Give respect to Vrajavasis and Vaisnavas at these places and you can get the mercy of Srimati Radharani and Vrndavana dhama.’ He told them some history how he had collected madhukari from door to door. I had seen this, and I had also given madhukari to him them. He came to my house when he was living in the Brahma-kunda area on Gwalior Temple’s backside. In-between Vamsi Gopala and Radha Damodara he lived at Brahma kunda. Living alone, he went door-to-door, saying, ‘Jaya Radhe, Radha Madhava, Jaya Gaurahari,’ and some Vrajavasis gave him one rupee, capatis, some sabji. He collected madhukari from door-to-door and then offered everything to his gurudeva and took prasada.

“One time in the early 1970’s, some of the young western chaps came here and began to snatch things from the sweetwallas (the small shopkeepers). While riding rikshaws they grabbed sweetmeats. Some local people gathered and went to Vishvambhar Goswami. ‘Maharaja, we are very poor persons and by selling we are maintaining our families. Please you tell Srila Swami Maharaja in the Radha Damodara temple that they are snatching. If they want we will give them some sweets but they should not snatch.’ Vishvambhar Goswami said to Srila Prabhupada, ‘Maharaja, you are performing a circus? You have brought with you some lions and left them in the market.’ Prabhupada said, ‘Oh, you are joking?’ He said, ‘I am joking, but they are snatching from the locals hither and thither.’

“What happened I do not know, but in the evening in public he asked, ‘Who has taken these sweets and things from the market?’ So two or three persons admitted they did it, but said, ‘Lord Krsna stole curd and butter.’ Srila Prabhupada said to them, ‘Lord Krsna has lifted Giri Govardhana on His small finger, so can you do this? Are you a yogi? Are you Yogesvara, with all mystical power? Then don’t do anything like this. If you need something and have no paisa you can request them and they will give. The Vrajavasis are so kind they will give you things to eat; but better you should purchase it. Don’t take it in your pockets like a looter.’

“I heard him say to his disciples, ‘All of you, it seems the Vrajavasis may dislike you but you should offer them pranamas. Because they are Vaisnava, if you do this you can get their mercy. If you want to get any of Radharani or Lord Krsna’s mercy, then do seva of the Vaisnavas.’

“Several times he told me, ‘You can come to my mission and preach in America and all over the world. I shall take you everywhere in India and while chanting sankirtana you can take darsana.’ But I answered, ‘I respect you so much but I cannot leave my Srinivasa Acarya’s parampara. I believe in all the things you are doing, but although today you are present, perhaps after you leave your followers might beat me.’ He said, ‘No, no, they are not demoniac persons; they are Vaisnavas. They will change.’ But still considering what I had seen then, I was afraid. I said, ‘I am sorry but my mind is not giving witness yet.’

“Srila Prabhupada was so soft and such a great person. In his final days he got Ayurvedic treatment from Banamali Kaviraja in Gopinatha Bazaar. Sri Kavirajaji told me, “Srila Prabhupada is getting happiness from my medicines, and I do not even want to sell them to him.”

“He was always so kind. Small boys could talk with him and old men could talk with him. English persons and Indian persons; he did not differentiate between anyone. When he was at the Radha Damodara Temple, a few people knew that he was great, but not many people knew about him. Nowadays so many know of him. Even rickshawallas and beggars know his glories and all over Vrndavana the houses and shops have his photo. Even small children recognize his picture. He was the hero of our Vrndavana and will always remain so in so many of our hearts.”

The Anklet

Sri Sri Lal Lali

Sri Krishna Dasa (Sri Dukhi Krishna dasa) who was a disciple of Sri Gauri Dasa Pandit’s tradition was a devotee in “sakhya rasa” (serving the Lord as a friend). After meeting Jiva Goswami, he developed a liking for Kunja-seva of Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar and insisted especially for ‘sadhan-bhajan’ education. Srila Jiva Goswami considering him a worthy aspirant, started training him in the stream of madhurya rasa (serving the Lord as a conjugal lover). This way Dukhi Krishna Dasa got the right of devotional service under the guidance of Srila Jiva Goswami, who also granted him the rare opportunity of cleaning the sacred groves of Seva-kunj. From then onwards, Dukhi Krishna Dasa started spending most of his time in the service and worship of Radha and Krishna, chanting of Holy Names, etc. in his underground cave (bhajan-kutir), in addition to cleaning of the groves. He used to rise early in the morning and with a broom and scraping instrument clean the groves. In this way he rendered service for twelve years and progressed in devotional service to Lord Krishna.

One day, while sitting in his bhajan-kutir, he was deeply immersed in remembering the sweet and nectarean pastimes of Radha and Krishna. He felt that Shyamsundar was dancing and singing with the beautiful damsels of Vraja in the grove. Srimati Radharani and the gopis had formed a circle around Shyamsundar by holding each other’s hand and it appeared like the moon encircled by the stars. Some gopis were dancing and others were singing melodious songs. At the same time Srimati Radharani started dancing attractively to give more joy and pleasure to Sri Shyamsundar and it also made Him drown in this ocean of ecstasy. During the dance, a golden anklet named Manjughosha which was studded with precious gems, slipped from the left foot of Srimati Radharani and fell in the dancing arena unnoticed. When the dance was over the divine couple went to sleep on a well decorated bed in the grove. By looking at the united couple all the gopis also became serene in their mind. In the morning the couple felt ashamed when they were awakened by all the gopis and everyone proceeded towards their respective houses.

Even Dukhi Krishna Dasa woke up and as usual left for cleaning the groves. On reaching the place of the pastime, he noticed more signs of merry making as compared to previous days. The creepers laid scattered here and there. Despite that all the trees and creepers were full of fragrance emitting flowers. On the inner side of the grove foot-prints of Radha and Krishna and the gopis could be seen. Charged with ecstasy and love of Godhead Dukhi Krishna Dasa started rolling on the sacred ground. Somehow or the other he controlled himself and started cleaning the groves. Suddenly he saw a glittering object under a pomegranate tree illuminating every nook and corner of the grove. He ran towards that spot. He became wonderstruck on finding a transcendental anklet studded with precious stones called Indraneel mani.

Immediately there was a prophecy from the sky to guard the anklet. He lifted the anklet and touched it to his forehead. A wave of high devotion passed through his head. Tears started rolling down his cheeks and symptoms of ecstasy appeared in his body and he started dancing uttering the names of Srimati Radharani. With great effort he hid the anklet under his garment and continued his work of cleaning and beautifying the dancing arena and groves of Seva-kunj.

During this time Srimati Radharani came to that place in disguise with Her associates in search of the anklet. She hid behind a creeper and asked Lalita sakhi to look for the anklet. Sri Lalita sakhi, in the disguise of a poor old Brahmin lady, approached Krishna Dasa and told him that the previous night her newly married daughter-in-law had come to that place to pluck flowers, but having seen a lion (Krishna) standing next to Her, She left the place in fear. At that time, an anklet from Her left foot had slipped and fell on the ground unnoticed in Nidhivan. She inquired from him whether he had found it. Hearing these words from Sri Lalita sakhi, Krishna Dasa felt satisfied but showered a list of questions out of anxiety such as “Who was she? And where did she live?” “Kindly give her introduction to my complete satisfaction,” he requested.

Lalita sakhi said, “She is a ‘Kanya-kubja Brahmin lady’ and belongs to a village near Yavat of Mathura and Her name is Radha Dasi.” She further said, “Since you clean the groves everyday, I have come to enquire about the anklet.

”Krishna Dasa with great humility answered, “Your guess is true. I did find a wonderful anklet studded with Indraneel mani. As soon as I touched the anklet, I was charged with divinity, felt happiness and was also over-whelmed with love for Srimati Radharani.” In a doubt he further added, “This anklet surely does not belong to an ordinary lady. There is some mystery behind this. Wise people say that wonderful things are possessed only by deserving people and not by ordinary persons.”

“Since your daughter-in-law is an inhabitant of this material world, the transcendental anklet cannot belong to her,” he said. In a view of confirming the situation he further told Lalita sakhi, “You belong to this material world, therefore my mind does not feel satisfied to part away with the anklet in your favor as you are just like the material entity and the transcendental ornament cannot belong to you.

”Pointing at her ordinary dress he said, “Your ordinary garments speak of your poverty. An anklet embedded with Indraneel mani cannot belong to the daughter-in-law of a poverty-stricken lady under any circumstances.” He thought for a while and agreed on one condition, “However if your daughter-in-law comes before me to show the similar anklet on Her right foot, I will return the anklet in the presence of the villagers.

”Srimati Radharani, the daughter of Sri Vrishabhanu who with Her companions was listening to the conversation of Sri Lalita sakhi and Sri Krishna Dasa from behind a creeper, felt that Lalita sakhi was no match to Sri Krishna Dasa as far as cleverness was concerned. Srimati Radharani came out and said, “O saintly person! You said that this transcendental anklet does not deserve to be given to any person of this material world, but don’t you know that all the objects of Vrindavan are transcendental? Does any ordinary person of this material world have the right to enter Vrindavan?

”Cleverly Sri Krishna Dasa replied, “Your words that all the objects of Sri Vrindavan Dham are transcendental are absolutely true but those objects are not visible to the materially naked eyes. This land as known by the shastras and wise people looks earthly although it has touchstones and is filled only with desire trees.

”Listening to the very clever answer of Sri Krishna Dasa, Lalita sakhi laughed mildly but keeping in mind the execution of her task, she said to Krishna Dasa, “Your observation is perfectly right. The anklet found by you is absolutely transcendental and it’s owner is also extremely transcendental in Her beauty, Her nature, Her dress, Her characteristics and above all in Her virtues.

”Krishna Dasa felt little perplexed and pointing towards the old lady who was using mysterious phrases, he said, “I am unable to understand you as I lack wisdom. Moreover how can I know what you want me to do? Kindly explain to me in plain words what can I do for you?” Then Lalita sakhi disclosed their identity and with confidence said, “This lady standing to my right is the owner of this transcendental anklet. She is Srimati Radharani, the daughter of King Vrishabhanu. She is the resident of Yavat and the sweet heart of the King of Gokula

.”This introduction of Srimati Radharani was enough for Krishna Dasa to be surprised and his body was charged with symptoms of ecstasy. He became dumbfounded and entered into a trance for some time. But after a while he regained his senses and with hesitation said: “I am afflicted with pain and fail to understand how the anklet of Srimati Radharani fell on the ground in the dancing arena. I want to know the complete event as my heart is feeling uneasy and restless.

”Sri Lalita sakhi said, “You are the right person to know about this and thus I will reveal the whole story as it is to you.” Sri Lalita sakhi then narrated as follows:

When the night approached, at that very moment the moon, the Lord of the stars, appeared in the sky displaying its most beautiful features. When the full moon rose in the east, it tinged everything with a reddish color. With the rising of the moon, the whole sky appeared smeared by red kumkuma. The forests were filled with fragrant flowers. The atmosphere was cooling and festive.

Sri Shyamsundar was immersed in performing rasa lila with the beautiful ladies of Vraja. During the dance, a golden anklet named Manjugosha slipped from Radharani’s left foot and fell in the dancing arena. A parrot, it’s female and a female monkey Samyagya uttered that the night was about to end and the sun was soon to rise. They warned that Jatila may soon come to know about the meeting between Radharani and Shyamsundar. Hearing the name Jatila from their mouths, Radha and Krishna decided to return to Their homes. Since Srimati Radharani left the place in a hurry, she did not notice the loss of Her anklet. She found the anklet missing only on Her arrival at Her home and was restless. The anklet had been gifted to Her by Her mother-in–law out of deep affection, the previous night. She expressed that either it had fallen somewhere on the way home or in the grove at the dancing arena. She advised the gopis to consult each other and decide the future course of action accordingly.

At this, one of Her sakhis guessed that the anklet could have slipped and fallen on Her way back home. The other sakhi expressed the view that the anklet could have fallen somewhere in the grove. While this discussion was going on, wise Vrinda-devi appeared and consoled Srimati Radharani telling her that she had heard from the parrot named Vichakshan that a very fortunate person had found the anklet in the dancing arena. She advised that they go to the dancing arena to bring back the anklet from that person. She further advised that they would go with Shubdha Gandharba (Radharani) for that purpose. On hearing these words of Vrinda, all the sakhis told Radharani to go to the grove to get the anklet.

Unveiling the purpose of their visit Lalita sakhi said, “Please return the anklet so that we can go back soon before the short-tempered mother-in-law of Srimati Radharani, Jatila, wakes up. You can have anything from us in exchange for this anklet.

”Hearing all this Krishna Dasa felt delighted and fell on the feet of Lalita sakhi. He took out the anklet from his upper garment, touched it to his head and gave it to Lalita sakhi. With folded hands he expressed his desire as follows:

“Can I have darshan of your divine form?

”Affectionately Lalita sakhi said, “It is difficult, rather impossible, for you to have my darshan with the help of these material eyes.” Krishna Dasa replied, “I will be definitely able to have your darshan if you are kind enough to shower your mercy on me. Again I request you to kindly fulfill this desire of mine.

”Lalita sakhi then empowered him with transcendental vision and showed to him her divine form. Having her darshan, Krishna Dasa trembled with ecstatic waves of love and fell unconscious on the ground, Sri Lalita sakhi touched him and he recovered.

Regaining his senses he requested her, “Please give me an opportunity to serve Sri Radha Shyamsundar in Goloka Vrindavana.

”But Lalita sakhi denied and said, “This can only be possible after you leave the material world. Kindly ask for something else.

”He then requested to have darshan of Srimati Radharani’s lotus feet. At this Lalita sakhi became worried but on hearing the humble request of Krishna Dasa, Srimati Radharani told Lalita sakhi as follows:

“Give him My mantra and make him take bath in Radha Kunda. He will then take the form of a ‘Manjari’ and will be able to have My darshan. Please do not delay as Krishna Dasa is extremely dear to Me.

”As per the directions of Srimati Radharani, Lalita sakhi gave him the siddha-radha mantra (a hymn specially composed for worship of a Deity) which was full of six divinities. As soon as Sri Krishna Dasa took bath in Radha Kunda after chanting the mantra, he attained the transcendental form of a ‘manjari’. Whoever saw him in that form, was perplexed. His body resembled molten gold, his waist was like that of a lion’s and his beautiful eyebrows were shaped like a bow to shake even Cupid. He wore fine silken clothes. Placing the anklet on his head, he entered the temple of Srimati Radharani. Presenting him at the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani, Sri Lalita sakhi requested, “Please place Your lotus feet on his head to consider him Your own follower.

”Srimati Radharani gravely said, “In your previous birth you were Krishna-priya and was my companion. Because of this I will show My special favor on you by placing you among My own followers.”

“Give the sign of My anklet on his forehead,” Srimati Radharani directed Lalita sakhi.

As soon as Lalita sakhi touched his forehead with the anklet, his Harimandir tilak was converted into transcendental tilak of the shape of Srimati Radharani’s foot. Srimati Radharani took kumkum, sandal and camphor adorning Her breasts, mixed them with honey and rubbed them on a stone known as chandrakant. With the help of the front part of the anklet, She drew a bright round mark in between the Noopur Tilak on the forehead of Krishna Dasa.

Lalita sakhi on seeing the round mark said to Radharani, “This new tilak adorning the forehead of Krishna Dasa will be known as ‘Shyam Mohan Tilak’. This sakhi (Krishna Dasa) upon whom Srimati Radharani has showered Her blessings has delighted Her very much. In view of this he will be known as Shyamananda from now onwards.

”Vishakha sakhi seeing his new form addressed him as ‘Kanak Manjari’.

Srimati Radharani said to Kanak Manjari, “You are very dear to Me like Lalita and Vishakha because you have pleased Lord Krishna and has given pleasure to My own eyes.

”Sri Lalita and Vishakha sakhi while deeply appreciating these words spoken by Srimati Radharani, praised him and said, “Kanak Manjari has become glorious by Your grace. Having found Your anklet under a pomegranate tree in the grove, Kanak Manjari has attained a special status among Your companions. Saci, Savitri and other godly women will always long to sit near her feet because You have recognized her among Your distinguished companions.

”Addressing Krishna Dasa Srimati Radharani said, “With all My associates you have given Me great pleasure. Now you go back to the material world to complete the assigned work and with My grace the remembrance of this event will go on giving you unlimited pleasure.”

Hearing these words Kanak Manjari started weeping in distress and with tears in his eyes said in the chocked voice to Srimati Radharani, “You had been very kind to bring me here to serve Your lotus feet. Please do not send me to the material world again. Please let me serve Your lotus feet only.” Hearing the most painful request of Kanak Manjari, Srimati Radharani felt deeply afflicted and fondling her head, She expressed, “You are My eternal companion yet you have been sent to the material world for a specific purpose. After your assignment of liberating the conditioned souls is completed, you will be called back to serve Me. Since your separation from Me is causing distress and you are experiencing unbearable pangs of separation, I am giving you a Deity which is very dear to Me. By serving Him with extreme love and devotion, you will be able to forget My separation and the desires of all the human beings will also be fulfilled by serving and seeing this Deity.

” Saying this Srimati Radharani manifested the most beautiful and unique Deity of Sri Shyamsundar from Her lotus heart and gave to Kanak Manjari through Lalita sakhi. While delivering the Deity to Shyamananda Prabhu, She said, “O Shyamananda! The living entities affected by Kali-yuga are short lived and bereft of the Lord’s devotion. I am giving this Deity as a simple means of liberation of those living entities.”

1. Whoever shall have darshan of this Deity even once with full faith, shall go to the divine abode of Lord Krishna gaining love of Godhead. Misfortunes, miseries, heinous crimes shall not enter his home.

2. Past and future ten generations of the person who shall have darshan of this Deity daily, shall go to Goloka Vrindavana. In this world that person will enjoy life with desired happiness and opulences with his son, grand-sons and kith and kin, like that of demigods.

3. Whoever engaged in the work of cleansing, brushing and brooming the temple of Shyamsundar shall go to the abode of Lord Krishna after enjoying the pleasure of heavenly life and shall reside there as a courtier of Krishna. Maternal and paternal families of that person, with paternal family of his wife who shall besmear the temple with cow dung, shall not have to go to hell for any sin.

4. The sin of a person who will mount the flag on the top of the temple of Sri Shyamsundar and shall decorate the temple with banners and flags shall cease to exist.

5. All the desires of that great man who worships this Deity, shall be fulfilled. He shall attain power of deliverance of the whole universe.

6. A fortunate person who will gift new garments to the Deity shall go to the abode of Sri Krishna after living on the moon. That person shall become rich, fortunate, disease free, beloved one of ladies and shall go to the abode of Lord Krishna after earning the fruits of having performed Ashvamedha and Rajasuya sacrifices.

7. A person who will offer precious ornaments studded with gems to the Deity shall find a place for himself in the land of Krishna after becoming the most fortunate Chakravarti ruler, sin free, beloved one of ladies, etc, earning for himself the fruits of having performed Ashvamedha and Rajasuya sacrifices. Seven generations of that person, who gets an opportunity to see the well dressed Deity of Shyamsundar with golden jewellery shall be liberated.

8. A fortunate person who will offer ornaments, canopy and bedstead made of flowers to the Deity shall go to the self-effulgent abode of Krishna, after enjoying the opulences of this world.

9. All desires of that fortunate person who shall offer best dishes and juices to the Deity shall be fulfilled. He will become rich, powerful, handsome, free from worries and diseases, and after earning the fruit of having performed Agnishtom, Atiratra, Ashvamedha and Rajasuya sacrifices, he shall attain liberation.

10. A person who will circumambulate the temple of the Deity four times, shall get the fruits of having performed ten Ashvamedha Yajnas, having seen all the holy places, having circumambulated them and bathed there. He will surely be promoted to Goloka and all his desires will be fulfilled.

11. A person who will have darshan of Shyamsundar during His arati ceremony will get full reward for the same. Despite hurdles he will be transferred to the divine home of Krishna. All his sins including murder of brahmanas, etc. shall be washed away totally.

12. The future and past lineage of that person who will construct, renovate and cleanse the temple of Sri Shyamsundar will surely go back to Godhead and all his sins will be totally erased.

”Srimati Radharani further instructed Shyamananda prabhu, “O Shyamananda! Beloved of Sri Krishna, I am giving you this Deity for the welfare of the world. You should yourself engage in His service and worship Him till your stay in the material world for the well being and liberation of the conditioned souls. After that you will come back to us for our eternal service.

”Sri Lalita sakhi advised him, “O Shyamananda!! Do not narrate this pastime to anyone except Srila Jiva Goswami. If you dare to make it public, you will have to embrace death and you will be deprived of the service to Srimati Radharani.

”Sri Lalita sakhi assured him, “Whenever you are in trouble, you will have my darshan on chanting the divine Radha Mantra given to you by me.

”Srimati Radharani then disappeared with Lalita and Vishakha sakhis after bestowing Her grace upon him.

Makhana Taskara will eat the butter if you click on the picture.