VRINDAVAN TOUR - AN ECSTATIC EXPERIENCE

A place full of have-nots; they ask you for money on the streets and you ask for blessings in the temples. A location full of thieves; monkeys steal your belongings and you try to steal God’s mercy. A site full of traders; monkeys return your items for a packet of juice and you expect God to love you for the names you uttered of his. Such is the position of man in Vrindavan, the birthplace and the land of pastimes of the God Krsna.

Just as I got off the rickshaw, a few women came up to me enthusiastically. They wanted to put colors on my face. A metallic print of the name Radha(consort of Krsna) was on their hands. They wanted to print that name on my face. I accepted the warm welcome. When I was about to leave, it amazed me that they were asking for money for the tika I had put on. This is when I knew they were beggars.

Once in a while, a monkey stares at you. If you aren’t careful, the monkey steals your phones, glasses, purses, and even the food that you got as a blessing from the temple. This time, you are the one to beg. Surprisingly, the monkey gives your belongings only when you throw a pack of juice at him. To catch the pack, it throws away your items. Sometimes, it isn’t that easy. When you throw a pack, another monkey grabs it and by the time you buy another fruit juice, the monkey will have torn your money, broken your glasses, and scratched your phone.

We went to many temples, met respectable gurus, and walked a lot in Vrindavan. The temples hosted beautiful deities, decorated with colorful dresses. I craved to look at them again and again. In addition, the sweet songs sung in temples kept me enchanted. The rich architecture on the temple walls was a genuine piece of artwork. Everything there was made to turn you into a God-conscious person. Even when you called someone, you uttered Radhey, when you needed more food, you would ask by saying Radhey and when you needed a rickshaw, you would again shout Radhey.

A brahmachari(Hindu monk) told us that we could pray whatever we want when walking in Vrindavan and our desires would be fulfilled. I was already pleading for blessings when I saw the deities and met the gurus but after hearing him, I was asking even when I was walking.

I was asking for just one thing. The only skill that I would ever need but which I never had. That's to love God so dearly and selflessly that endless tears would flow down my cheeks. Certainly, Vrindavan wasn’t only a tourist destination, but a place that turned me into a beggar, thief, and trader for Krsna's mercy.

Hari Bol! 😉