Author Archives: H.H. Indradyumna Swami

1. He whose body was dark now has a fair complexion. Leaving Gokula He came to Nadia. Putting down His flute He sings the holy names. 2. Leaving the Yamuna He enjoys pastimes on the Ganga’s banks. Relinquishing His yellow garments He wears the saffron cloth of a sannyasi. 3. Sweet-faced Radha is no longer […]

A visit to Varsana brought our parikrama party to one of Vraja’s most special places – the home of Srimate Radharani. We prayed for Her mercy every step of the way. [ Photos by Ananta Vrindavan dasa ]

Yesterday our group walked a short distance down the Vrindavan parikrama path and climbed up a small hill to visit the temple of Madan Mohan and the samadhi of Srila Sanatana Goswami. We stayed for 5 hours chanting and discussing the pastimes of that h…

The lake of Mansarovara was formed by the tears of Radharani when She was angry with Krsna for arriving late at the Rasa Dance. The natural scenic beauty of the spot was perfect for our bhajans and discussions on the pastime. We all enjoyed a surprise …

Our parikrama party celebrated Govardhan Puja next to Radha Gokulananda temple in Vrindavan. BB Govinda Maharaja spoke and we had hours and hours of kirtan with him, Bada Haridas and Madhava. Simply sublime!

Of all the holy places in the universe, Vrindavan is most sacred. Of all sacred places in Vrindavan, Govardhan Hill is supreme. The topmost places on Govardhan Hill are Radha kunda and Syama kunda. Our great fortune was to traverse such transcendental grounds – all the while begging for mercy.

By analyzing these three aspects of God – Bhagavan, Paramatma and Brahman from different angles of vision our faith in Him becomes strong.

The waters of Prema-Sarovara are the combined tears of Radha and Krsna in feelings of intense separation from each other. Though such pastimes are far beyond our understanding, our parikrama party had kirtan, discussed the lilas and bathed in the sacre…

Vrinda-rani dasi was requested to dance for Radha Raman. No doubt, it is every Odissi dancers dream to perform personally in front of the Lord. She stunned the audience with her performance and surely Radha Raman was pleased as well.

This album gives us a glimpse into the material and spiritual opulences of India that are quickly disappearing. We were in awe visiting both Nathdwar and Udaipur, where Ananta Vrindavan das expertly captured the emotions of people and places with his c…

Pushkar, in Rajasthan, is the home of the only major temple of Lord Brahma in India. As Brahma is the head of our sampradaya [ Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya ] we visited his temple and asked his blessing’s to carry on the mission of our disciplic succession. In that spirit we held a blissful harinama […]

We created quite a stir as our party of 300 devotees visited the famous deities and holy places of Jaipur. People were impressed that so many foreigners have seriously taken up Krsna consciousness. It is all the desire of Lord Caitanya and the mercy of…

The city of Jaipur is steeped in culture and history. Most important, it is the home of several important Gaudiya Vaisnava deities, including Radha Govindaji – the beloved deities of Srila Rupa Goswami. As our parikrama party visited the various temples and historic places in the Pink City we felt enriched in devotion and enlightened […]

The town of Karoli is 3 hours south of Vrindavan. It is of special interest to ISKCON devotees because Madan Mohan, the deity of Srila Sanatan Goswami, is worshipped there, along with His beloved Radharani, in great opulence. The town itself is steeped…

Parikrama around Govardhan Hill reveals the natural beauty of Vrindavan and helps the pilgrim to awaken love for the Divine Couple, Sri Sri Radha Krsna. Our parikrama photographer, Ananta Vrindavan das, truly captures the spirit of Vraja in this album.

The superexcellent Sri Radha-kunda stands supreme, for it is overflooded with the ambrosial nectarean prema of the Lord of Gokula, Sri Krsna.

A trip across the Yamuna river to Baelvan, one of the 12 forests of Vrindavan, reveals many wonderful secrets of the holy dhama. [ Photos by Ananda Vrindavan dasa ]

On the auspicious disappearance day of Srila Narottam das Thakur our parikrama party heard his glories from Sitala dasi in a beautiful park next to the temple of Vraja Mohan. Vraja Mohan was one of 7 deities Narottam das Thakur installed in Keturi. Aft…

Yesterday we went back to Radha Gokulananda for kirtan and a talk by Sitala dasi on Lokanatha Goswami, who’s samadhi is in the courtyard of the temple. Then more kirtan in the nearby samadhi of Gopal Bhatta Goswami and yet another darsan of the ever-merciful Radha Raman. A wonderful day in the auspicious month of […]

Pundarikaksam das, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada from the USA, is terminally ill in the Bhaktivedanta Hospice in Vrindavan. The doctors have given him 2 months to live. Today our parikrama party visited the hospice to encourage him in his final days. …

Today we visited the temples of Radha Raman, Radha Gokulananda and the sacred samadhi of Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami. The devotees were deeply touched. May our prayers to all the saints and deities be answered, for such prayers were for the welfare of a…

Yesterday, by the Lord’s grace, we walked the sacred grounds from Yavat to Ter Kadamba and on to Asesavan. It’s one of the most beautiful and mystical journey’s through Sr Vrindavan Dhama.

Yesterday we visited the asrama of Subhari Muni, which is hidden deep in the Vrindavan forest, next to the Yamuna river. Devotees relished bhajans with Bada Haridas and an instructive talk on Subhari Muni’s pastimes. All glories to Sri Vrindavan dhama!

One may not be able to always physically live in Sri Vrindavana dham. But one can always remember Vrindavana and see Krsna everywhere by remembering and hearing His pastimes.

Our Kartika parikrama continues as we tread the sacred path from one holy place to another in the association of loving devotees.

On the first day of Kartika here in Vrindavan our parikrama party walked to the courtyard where the sacred samadhis of Srinivasa Acarya, Ramachandra Kaviraja and Hemalata Goswami are located. We had many hours of kirtan and katha and felt our souls greatly purified. We feel so fortunate to be here in Vrindavan – the […]

“Having retired from all my duties and being freed from all expectations, when will I enter the abode of Sri Vrindavan alone and pass my days discussing topics of Sri Krsna, the Lord of Vrindavan, and topics of Sri Radha, the goddess of Vrindavan?” [ Srila Prabhodhananda Sarasvati, Sri Vrindavan Mahimamrta, Sataka One, text 97 […]

In Vedic culture sannyasis [ monks in the renounced order ] did not conduct weddings. But our spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, did in order to encourage his young disciples and help pioneer his fledgling Krsna consciousness movement in the early day…

Sincerity means whenever you have a choice between maya and Krsna, you always choose Krsna.

Yesterday we took our harinam party into the Muslim quarter of Skopje, Macedonia. A little concerned I asked the samkirtan leader if there was any risk involved. “In our country,” he replied, “the problems are between Muslims and Christians. So far the Muslim community has not shown any hostility towards us.” Whatever apprehension I had […]

Yesterday I was invited to speak on national television. The popular talk show aired at prime time throughout Macedonia. The host was very gracious and we discussed the basics of Krsna conscious philosophy. Most important, I went into great deal about …

Every day we do the same thing; get up, shower, have a morning program and go on samkirtan. It’s been going on like that for 40 years, to be exact. But we never become bored, tired or satiated because it’s devotional service to the Lord and always new and fresh. And it always will be! […]

Yesterday after arriving in Skopje, Macedonia we drove several hundred kilometers southwest to Ohrid on the Albanian border. It is said that Ohrid is the, ‘meanest town in Macedonia.’ Local tradition says the Devil created Ohrid. The saying goes that when someone challenged that the town is so beautiful the Devil smiled and replied, “Yes, […]

“I thought, ‘If I go to all the ecstatic places of Radha and Krsna’s pastimes, perhaps that will ease my grief.’ But when I got up after bowing to Radha Kunda, I saw instead of a beautiful lake the dark open mouth of a tiger. In fear, I turned to Syama Kunda, only to see […]

Our final program in Bulgaria was the biggest and the best. When it finished I made the decision to bring my entire Festival of India program here next year. Plans are already being made. Who wants to come? We’ll drown the wonderful people of this country in an ocean of bliss! Srila Prabhupada, I’m ready […]

Just as the light of the dawn precedes the rising of sun, the mercy of a devotee precedes the mercy of the Lord.

Over the past ten days we have crisscrossed Bulgaria spreading the mercy of the holy names everywhere we go. Tonight we have one final program in Sofia. Tomorrow we head south to Macedonia for another adventure in service to Lord Caitanya. O Srila Prab…

But oh if you could see, the change you’ve made in me, That the angels in the skies, were envious and surprised, That anyone as nice as you, would chance with me. [Rodriguez]

On our way to Varna for a public program, we stopped at the historic site of Nesebar, an ancient town on a peninsula just off the Black Sea coast. Nesebar dates back to the 11th Century and at one time had over 35 churches on the small peninsula measur…

Yesterday we journeyed eastwards from Sofia to the town of Sliven for a program in a classic Bulgarian house, several hundred years old. Archeologists have found evidence of settlements in and around Sliven dating back over 6,000 years. In modern times…