{"id":2283,"date":"2016-01-07T01:33:35","date_gmt":"2016-01-06T20:03:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.padayatra.com\/?p=2283"},"modified":"2016-01-07T01:33:35","modified_gmt":"2016-01-06T20:03:35","slug":"sri-sri-nitai-gaurasundar-on-the-2015-vraja-mandala-parikrama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.padayatra.com\/padayatra-new\/sri-sri-nitai-gaurasundar-on-the-2015-vraja-mandala-parikrama\/","title":{"rendered":"Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar On The 2015 Vraja Mandala Parikrama"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Acarya Das <\/em><\/p>\n

The year 2015 commemorated the 500th<\/sup> anniversary of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu\u2019s Vrindavan yatra<\/em>\u00ad<\/em>. Further, Lokanatha Swami also published a wonderful book called Vraja Mandala Darsana<\/em> as an offering to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu\u2019s mission. In addition, ISKCON celebrated its 29th<\/sup> annual Vraja Mandala Parikrama. So, a lot of devotees joined p<\/em>arikrama<\/em> to honor this significant year.<\/p>\n

Since Vraja Mandala Parikrama began the utsava <\/em>deities of the All India padayatra<\/em>, Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar, have accompanied the parikrama <\/em>during the month of kartik<\/em>. They shower Their mercy upon all who see Them; leading the way at the front of the parikrama <\/em>and eager to visit the places where Lord Krsna conducted His past times. Their Lordships guide and inspire everyone participating to walk and serve the holy dhama<\/em>. During the parikrama <\/em>They are carried on the head of one of the devotees. The padayatris<\/em> offer Them bhoga <\/em>and perform all the pujari seva <\/em>with great care.<\/p>\n

The Lord is always performing wonderful past times. One such past time on parikrama <\/em>occurs when it is especially hot and the devotees are very tired \u2013at this point whichever devotee is carrying Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar suddenly becomes inspired by the Lord to turn around to face the parikrama <\/em>group. Everyone who sees the Lord calls out \u2018Haribol, haribol!\u2019and the Bengali devotees make the ulu dhwani <\/em>sound[1]<\/a> . The devotees then walk on with renewed enthusiasm. The p<\/em>adayatris<\/em> on the Vraja Mandala <\/em>P<\/em>arikrama<\/em> are blessed souls; they provide extensive seva<\/em> during the p<\/em>arikrama<\/em> like serving prasadam<\/em> to thousands of devotees. They also carry twenty liter water cans for everyone participating \u2013it is one of the most laborious services on parikrama<\/em>. The padayatra<\/em> devotees happily do the seva<\/em> and thereafter they are again ready to walk and dance and do kirtan<\/em>a<\/em>. This is how the padayatra<\/em> devotees are empowered by the holy names and the mercy of Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar. There are some padayatris<\/em> who also join the p<\/em>arikrama<\/em> kirtan<\/em>a<\/em> party and dance from beginning to the end. Sometimes the parikrama<\/em> devotees tire and sit down but when they see the kirtan<\/em>a<\/em> party approaching they become inspired again to continue the walk. This is how the p<\/em>adayatris<\/em> use the power of the holy names to inspire all the devotees in p<\/em>arikrama<\/em>. We often hear the parikrama <\/em>devotees say, \u201cOh! Let us walk with the kirtan<\/em>a<\/em> party then we will reach our destination sooner\u201d.<\/p>\n

By doing one month of parikrama<\/em> we get transcendental energy and the mercy of Srimati Radharani. We get darsan<\/em>a<\/em> of many san<\/em>n<\/em>yasis<\/em> and we get to hear the wonderful lilas<\/em> of Lord Krishna all over Vraja dhama<\/em>. One of the padayatris <\/em>Ananadambudi Dasa, shared an amazing vision: when we were leaving parikrama<\/em> he saw the utsava<\/em> deities of Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar entering the bigger v<\/em>igraha<\/em> deities of the All India Padayatra. Whenever we stop padayatra<\/em> and join a parikrama<\/em> party we leave the bigger deities which are carried on the ratha <\/em>at a temple and carry the smaller utsava vigraha<\/em> deities with us. So, the Lord makes us realize that He is always with us throughout the year.<\/p>\n

So if you want to walk with our Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar during the month of kartik<\/em> we invite you all to come and join us for the 2016 Vraja Mandala Parikrama<\/em>.<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> A vocal sound made by a group of women. It brings auspiciousness and drives away evil spirits<\/p>\n