More Vrindavan pics, 2

The last round of Vraja photos...


The Hare Krishna on chanting walkabout near the MVT Guest House, viewed through my rickshaw wala's windshield




Small child doing the pump-n-fill at the local water source





Barefeet immersed in the results of the day's unexpected April downpour




Pretty nice pooch perch!




Cows and bhaktas roaming the back streets of Vrindavan

More Vrindavan pics, 1

1:25 a.m., Thursday April 9th, 2009
New Delhi, India

A few more parting shots of Vraja…


A sweeping rooftop view of the sacred Yamuna River (just to the right of the white spires) snaking through the town of Vrindavan




Me enjoying an unseasonal April downpour in the bazaar




Man selling devotional items, including some of Shyamdas' translations, in front of a temple in Jatipura




Flags waving atop the Sri Nathji Temple, Jatipura




Madhusudan ji showing Maharaji's son, Dharma Narayan, his iPhone

Leaving Vrindavan

9:25 a.m., Wednesday April 8th, 2009
Vrindavan, India



Now this is an unusual and wonderful farewell from Maha Vraja: a major thunder and lightning storm sweeping over Vrindavan right now as I write on our last morning. Not sure I’ve ever really seen anything like this here in the Jan-April months—a refreshing change of pace from the dust and swelter I’ve been slowly acclimating to.



It’s true I want to stay here in India and enjoy the incomparable devotional lusciousness that is still so alive here even in this ever-modernizing culture, but one thing I will clearly relish being home is the cool clean air that surrounds my sweet country home. No more relentless dust and diesel, that will be a boon to my lungs.

But meanwhile, it is truly amazing here! Wandering around the sacred Govardhan Hill near Jatipura over the last several afternoons with Shyamdas (and whomever else is drawn into the lila) reveals little gems every day. Two nights ago, it was a ramble along the inner path with a young and sparkling-voiced young singer from Nathdwara, Coco Pandit, who sang along much of the walk with us, including a luscious half hour within an ancient small temple on top of the Hill. The natural resonance in that small stone space enveloped our tiny satsang in reverberant rapture, while pilgrims occasionally wandered in and prostrated themselves before the resident deity.

Last night, it was Panditji (Shyamdas’ old Sanskrit pandit buddy) meeting, engaging in friendly discourse and ultimately bursting into spontaneous song with an ancient sadhu who has been living in a tiny stone room just off the Govardhan Hill for who knows how long, maybe 40-50 years. Different schools and practices, but as Shyamdas said, their respective journeys into their own sadhanas have opened their minds and allowed them to meet on a high and sweet level. A treat to witness, in the sunset gloaming of the Govardhan Hill.



And now, the morning of my last day in Vrindavan is here, and within 8 hours, I will be in car rattling my way back into Delhi. One more very full day of sourcing a few straggler items and gifts for friends will be followed by an attempt to find Neem Karoli Baba’s elusive North Delhi temple, which I’ve never been to. Then its time for the midnight flyer back to New York.

Sigh. Another journey draws to a close…

Govardhan lila

8:20 a.m., Saturday April 4th, 2009
Vrindavan, India



Yesterday we managed to miss Siddhi Ma darshan at Neem Karoli Baba’s ashram (too late; will try again today), but later we enjoyed a nice afternoon barefoot stroll around a portion of the Govardhan Hill near Jatipura, said to be the most-circumambulated sacred hill in the world. Walked with Shyamdas and Sridhar, Sara and Marjon, Mohan and Govind. Always a pleasure to feel the dust of Vraja in one’s toes.

Here’s some pics…

Radhe Radhe

11:30 p.m., Thursday April 2nd, 2009
Vrindavan, India


Maharaj ji's son, Dharma Narayan, speaking with Shyamdas at the ashram in Vrindavan


Radhe Shyam! A fine day here in Vrindavan: began with a slow morning at MVT and a quick check of e-mail at the webjoint across the way. A cycle rickshaw wala took us down the road and in for some morning shopping for textiles and wearables down at the Loi Bazaar. After an afternoon shower and freshen up, Shyamdas and Tulsi came by and picked up Shridhar and Marjon (sp?) and Sara and myself and we all went to visit the Neem Karoli Baba ashram.

Siddhi Ma is there for a couple weeks but she was laying low so we did not have darshan with her. Hung out in various sweet nooks there, and then we all had a nice group hang for a while with NKB’s son who lives over in a corner room downstairs. After a few minutes Sara was even able to set up our hi-def video scene and we captured a relaxed and extended conversation with Dharma Narayana and Shyamdas, SD offering a running translation. Mostly a conversation about Maharaj ji and various aspects of what Dharma Narayana saw and experienced being in the role of his son in that whole lila. Sweet time, and great video score. Also met another sweetheart member of the satsang, JR (Jai Ram), who got swept up in our afternoon adventures and so we got a chance to vibe in a bit.







Then we doubled back for a major celebration inside the grounds of the MVT complex, navigating hundreds of Hare Krishna devotees in the midst of a chanting frenzy, staying long enough to be ready to go.

The evening was topped off by a visit to Kesi ghat where another member of the extended satsang has been renovating a 200 year old haveli/temple trip on the banks of the sacred Yamuna River here in Vrindavan central. Amazing spot, stone steps down to the river, epic stone architecture, great restoration, with a wonderful sounding main courtyard that has fine acoustics for an evening kirtan chant. I’d heard about this project last year, it was cool to see it so far along tonight. I’d actually been to this same spot off the river on my first week in India back in 1998, it kindled an old memory…

Tomorrow, the lila continues.




The view from my mala wala's shop, looking onto the passing parade