Radhanath Swami ‘accidentally’ (or so, it appears to my ordinary vision) lands up at Mathura, on his way to Amarnath. Promising Gary he’d meet him a few days later, Richard (now Radhanath Swami) then goes alone to Vrindavan.
I find it somewhat amusing to read Radhanath Swami’s first experiences in Vrindavan. He meets friendly and loving people, especially a farmer, who gets desperate and insists on offering his loving service to him. I can’t help feeling humbled on reading Radhanath Swami’s description of Vrindavan and its residents. I too visited Vrindavan many years ago with my family. During this first visit, I thought I met some unfriendly men, and in some temples felt the priests aggressively soliciting for money. As the saying goes, ‘beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’. Since Radhanath Swami is very charming, humble and sweet, he feels all vrajwasis (residents of Vrindavan) are same. I am sure that’s the way they are, but my hard heart sees with a material vision. Even at other places, the sweetness of the culture and love and warmth Radhanath Swami received from the locals has left an indelible impression in his heart. Radhanath Swami writes in ‘Journey Home’ that seeing the natural beauty of Vrindavan, temple bells resounding and children singing Krishna’s names, he felt finally after more than a year of wandering, he’s found home again.
I once heard Radhesh Lal Goswami, the head priest of Radha Vallabh temple, one of the prominent temples of Vrindavan say that Radhanath Swami should have been born in Vrindavan, but somehow he took birth in Chicago. With a mischievous smile the head priest said, “Maybe God also makes a mistake sometimes, that he puts his loving devotees in a different place than He intends to.” I cautioned myself not to subscribe to his opinion about God making a mistake, but I could appreciate his sentiment. He found Radhanath Swami’s character and traits as natural as any Vrajwasi that he couldn’t fathom how such a soul as Radhanath Swami could be not born and raised in Vrindavan. At another place I chanced to see Radhanath Swami’s exchanges with other vrajwasis, some elderly and not knowing English. But Radhanath Swami is completely at home with them as they too feel at ease sharing love and laughter joyfully.
Externally Vrindavan appears no different from other North Indian villages. I guess it requires a divine vision (which I am sure Radhanath Swami has) to see Vrindavan the way he perceives it. I once heard that we see and perceive everything in this world according to our limited senses. If we have an ordinary vision, we will find the most spiritual place as ordinary, whereas one whose eyes are anointed with the salve of love will see God even in the most ordinary place. What then to speak of the holy place of Vrindavan being perceived by a holy person, Radhanath Swami. This powerful combination can be spiritually exhilarating.
That’s why the mauni sadhu, one who has taken a vow never to speak, communicated to Radhanath Swami by scratching on a slate that people of Vrindavan are crazy for Krishna and if Richard (now Radhanath Swami) stayed there, he too would soon become crazy. Holy places carry spiritual energy, and one whose consciousness is fine tuned with a prayerful attitude, quickly catches these vibrations. Richard was now all set to experience the spiritually electrifying vibrations of Vrindavan.
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Founder-acharya of the International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
“Go to India” a sweet but commanding voice; spoke up in the heart of young Richard (later Radhanath Swami) who was immersed in meditation, his search for meaning in life has brought him to the Isle of Crete. Today he was ordered to go to India. Born and raised in the middle class suburbs of Chicago, Radhanath swami grew up in the 1950’s and 60’s era when popular musicians protested war, prejudice and social injustice. Radhanath swami would listen to these songs again and again, but their lyrics referring to God stirred his soul. Peter, Paul and Mary- the folk trio from Greenswich village sang in their debut album
“Early in the morning, about the break of day
I ask the Lord, to help me find my way”
This simple prayer was to guide Radhanath swami in the coming years of his life........
The artwork of this site is special. It matches perfectly with the mood of the article. Radhanath Swami and his followers are dynamic and multi-faceted, not drab and monotonous.
View CommentSuch a natural pure devotee Radhanath Swami is. It does not matter where Radhanath Swami took birth. After all, where ever pure devotees like Radhanath Swami goes they make that place a Vrindavan and make every body remember Krishna, the all purifying and most loving God.
View CommentRadhanath Swami is truly a resident of Vrindavan- crazy for Krishna, simple at heart, exudes child-like exuberance, and never tires discussing anything related to Krishna.
View CommentPeople of Vrindavan consider Radhanath Swami a ‘Brijavasi’- resident of Vrindavan.
View Commentvrindavan dhaam ki jai,
View CommentIt’s so true..if we want to appriciate spiritual places, we need to see through vision of devotees else we are bound to mistke.
View CommentSpiritual vision is needed to see good in everything as exemplified by Maharaj.
View Commentsimply wonderful.
View Commentvrindavan dham is the most ecstatic place on earth and hopefully by seeing through the vision of radhanath swami, we too can realize the glories of vrindavan. the journey home is indeed a great blessing of radhanath swami for all of us.
View CommentOne feels very humbled on reading Radhanath Swami’s description of Vrindavan and its residents.
View CommentPure devotees create Vrindavan atmosphere whereever they go and travel. Becasue they are always carrying Krishna within their hearts and are perfectly wired up to Him in His loving service.
View CommentIt’s true that one needs to have the vision to see a holy dham
View CommentH.H Radhnath Swami is pure Devotee of Lord bestowing his mercy on us, plz provide us the same vision The Love Of God!
View CommentThank you very much for sharing this experience. Beauty lies in the eyes of Beholder. Radhanath swami is really very beautiful at heart thats why everyone gets attracted to his sweet heart. Coz in his mind he always remember Krsna and his pastimes.
View CommentMaharaj is Vrajabasi…
View CommentThankyou for sharing this article…..Radhanath Swami is a true vrajavasi
View CommentIt is amazing how vrahwasis were friendly to Maharajah, it even transcend the language barrier. Maharajah being a pure devotee of the Lord could communicate through heart.
View Commentthanks for sharing
View CommentWe always appreciate birth after birth what Maharaj has shown to us and created our mood in such a depth that we would also appreciate Dham as spiritual potency of Lord .
View CommentRadhanath Swami is from the spiritual world he has appeared to deliver unlimited fallen conditioned souls
View CommentExperience of staying in Vrindavan is heart touching.
View CommentIt is amazing how Krishna finally directed Radhanath Swami to Vrindavan.
View CommentJai! Radhanath Swami and Vrindavan go perfectly well together…
View CommentWonderful Article!!! Pure devotees like Radhanath Swami wherever they go, they create the presence of Vrindavan as they carry Krishna within their hearts and by his Holy Name.
View Commentso nice article
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s days in Vrindavan are quite beautiful and colorful.
View CommentWe can never understand the potency of a Spiritual place unless there is a Divine blessing…which usually comes in form of a exalted saint who reveals the potency of the place and we can experience!
Radhanath Swami selflessly gives this opportunity to so many of us…
View Commentprayerful attitude is very important when we are in holy place otherwise holy place appears to be as an ordinary place.
View CommentRadhanath swami emphasize each time we visit holy place with him.
For Radhanath Swami language is just a formality…..he interacts with many devotees all around the world even though they cant speak each other’s languages….simply great
View CommentRadhanath Swami knows the language of heart… thank you for sharing.
View CommentThank you for sharing this nice article
View Commentamazing!
View Commentone whose eyes are anointed with the salve of love will see God even in the most ordinary place. What then to speak of the holy place of Vrindavan being perceived by a holy person, Radhanath Swami. This powerful combination can be spiritually exhilarating.
View CommentRadhanath sami ki jai; vrindavan dham ki jai
From this title – “A natural resident of Vrndavan”, I just remebered Radhanath Swami’s simplicity that he loves naturally to live under a tree on the bank of river Yamuna; but for the service to the world at large he is tolerating all teh fame and luxury – living in palacial temples, becoming auther of a book, sites on his name, ect. ….
But everything in the mood of Vrndavan….because in his heart resides Vrindavan!!!
Radhanath swami ki Jay!!!
View Commentso nice thanks for sharing
View CommentMaharaj being a pure soul experienced the Lord’s presence in Vrindavan which is a holy place.His own inner sweetness made everything around him appear sweet.From the life of HH Radhanath Swami we can understand the attitude we must possess in approaching spiritual life and the Supreme Lord.Thank you so much for sharing.
View CommentVery nice article. Thank you very much for sharing.
View CommentRadhanath Swami is a natural devotee and belongs to Vrindavan. Wherever, Radhanath Swami goes He makes that place real Vrindavan.
View Commentwonderful article, HHRM’s heart is very pure with his love for lord krishna and his eyes full of selfless devotion, haribol, rajesh
View CommentHHRM’s carries lord krishna in his hearts and makes every place feel like Vrindavan dham wherever he goes, haribol bhakti
View CommentNice
View CommentMaharaj loves Vrndavan
View CommentRadhanath swami met the right people or he saw them in the right perspective ? I think he saw everyone with the correct perspective and thats great. I have been to vrindavan several times and find it difficult to appreciate the purity of people there.
View Commentwant to hear about Radhanath swami as to what happened next
View CommentOnly a pure devotee can see and feel the lord’s presence in his holy dham
View CommentRadhanath Swami is a BRIJVASI,as his heart dwells in that holy land. And only a pure devotee can see beyond the externals as Radhanath Swami can.
View CommentThanks for sharing.
View CommentIt is amazing to know that the residents of Vrindavan found Radhanath Swami’s character and traits as natural as any Vrajwasi.
View CommentWhether Swamiji was born in Vrindavan or not, Vrindavan will always remain his eternal home….
View CommentRadhanath Swami was sincerely looking for something higher and Krishna was simply reciprocating.
View Comment