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........
Krishna is always with pure devotees like Radhanath Swami in the form of his Holy Name
View CommentBeautiful picture to go with the article. Truly Vrindavana drives us crazy in a wonderful way. And being in Vrindavana in the association of a great saint like Radhanath Swami is most wonderful.
View Commentwonderful,thank you
View CommentWonderful!!!!!!!! Thank you very much.
View Commentthank you
View CommentVrindavan – To be there is receiving mercy and to be there under the guidance of Radhanath Swami is receiving a double dose of mercy, one’s vision of the holy Dham (place) changes and as he makes you see the real Vrindavan with a spiritual vision which makes one wonder, being there so many times never gave me this sort of blissful experience.
View CommentRadhanath Swamis ‘The Journey Home’ gives us a glimpse of our eternal home where we eternally belong.
Yes, Vrindavan is real resident of Radhanath swami and he creates it wherever he goes.
View Commentabsolutely true, radhanath swami is a resident of vrindavan but somehow came from chicago,
View Commentthank you for sharing
View CommentI have heard that Radhanath Swami and Radheshlal share a very amazing level of friendship
View CommentRadhanath Swami is a born pure devotee and He is naturally attached to Vrindavan. However, Radhanath Swami always creates a Vrindavan atmosphere wherever He goes.
View CommentBeautiful. Thanks for sharing.
View CommentRadhanath Swami Maharaj carries Vrindavan in his heart!
View Commentwe have always seen radhanath swami feeling completely at home when he is in vrindavan
View CommentKrishna personally takes care of pure devotees like Radhanath Swami
View CommentRadhnath Swami is truly a vrajawasi.
View Commentthank you for post
View CommentSrila Prabhupada spread the glories of Vrindavan all over the world.
View CommentBecause his heart is full of love for God and God’s abode, wherever he goes Radhanath Swami creates the Vrindavan atmosphere.
View CommentMaharaj from very begning was the lover of Vrindavan.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has lived his part of life in Vrindavan and that too in his youth, now, when Radhanath Swami takes his students on pilgrimage to these places, he has very deep knowledge and understanding of God’s land – Vrindavan.
View CommentLooking through the glasses of selfishness and greed, one sees everybody as greedy and selfish.
View CommentVery nice blog. Thanks for sharing
View CommentRadhanath swami has spent early days in Vrindavan and naturally his love errupted from his heart to serve and glorify Lord there
View CommentRadhanath swami has that divine vision and divine qualities that he creates everyplace as vrindavan and sees Krishna in everyplace.
View CommentThank You Radhanath Swami for sharing your great experience.
View Commentnice good article
View CommentWhat realisations and spiritual connection Radhanath Swami has with Vrndavan. I really pray that I too would get the spiritual vision which he has to see the true nature of a holy place.
View Commentthis website is amazing, such deep insite on radhanath swami
View CommentKrishna guided Radhanath Swami maharaj on his each step while his journey home.
View CommentThats why HH Radhanath swami maharaj takes us to yatras every year
View CommentRightly Said, Radhanath Swami is a true Vrajavasi and he always creates the Vrindavan atmosphere where ever he goes.
View CommentHow fortunate can one be to have personal association of such a sadhu as Radhanath Swami!
View CommentRadhanath Swami even after 40 years describes his memories & glories of Vrindavan as if it was a story of yesterdays’. Once one devotee asked him after a talk if how He could remember and describe about Vrindavan even after 40 years with so much perfect detail. At that Radhanath Swami said, “Vrindavan is my home”.
View Commentradhanath maharaj teaches us how to see vrindavan spiritually with his own example
View CommentMaharaj’s pure state of consciousness gets reflected everywhere around him hence his proximity makes everything sweet and desirable.
View CommentVery nice article – Thanks for sharing these wonderful thoughts.
View CommentThanks for sharing.
View Commentthank you
View Commenthari hari
View Commenthari hari
View Commentradhanath maharaj has so much love for God , he sees Vrindavan as his home and he could meet such saints of vrindavana during his stay which further solidified his love for God .
View CommentThis is wonderful. H.H Radhanath Swami takes Vrindavan in his heart wherever he is.
View CommentVery nice article.Thank you for sharing this article.
View CommentThe epitome of spiritual life is to become crazy for Krishna as the mauni baba very nicely shared with Radhanath Swami.
View CommentHH Radhanath Swami always carries the selfless service mood of Vrajvasis in his heart and thus he inspires in every one he meets with by his words and example.
View Commenthare krishna
View Commentwhat a beautiful post… loved it… waiting to the holy dham, all glories to HH RNS
Holy places carry spiritual energy, and one whose consciousness is fine tuned with a prayerful attitude, quickly catches these vibrations.Wonderful.
View CommentNice Article!!! Thank you very much for sharing
View CommentThe word spoken and written by Radhanath Swami about vrindavan has such potency that the conditioned soul experience the mood of vrindavan though appearanly the holy dham of vrindavan is thousands miles away from him.
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