Category:Going to Vrndavana

Theme Analysis

Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that visiting the holy dhāma of Vṛndāvana is a spiritual act that requires a specific consciousness and direction. While an ordinary person may visit out of curiosity and still receive immense benefit by seeing the Deity of Govindadeva, the actual process of "going to Vṛndāvana" involves following in the footsteps of the Six Gosvāmīs and taking shelter of their transcendental literatures. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally empowered Rūpa and Sanātana Gosvāmī to excavate the lost places of pilgrimage and establish the worship of Madana-mohana and Govindajī. A sincere pilgrim should avoid visiting the dhāma for commercial purposes or as a matter of "spiritual fashion," but should instead approach the holy land with the humility of Akrūra, always absorbed in the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa. Ultimately, Vṛndāvana is a place of voluntary retirement where one can give up material attachments and intensify their hearing and chanting to achieve the highest perfection of love of Godhead.

The Proper Etiquette: Visiting Vṛndāvana should not be done with large crowds for commercial purposes, but in a submissive mood of pilgrimage, following the example of Lord Caitanya and Akrūra.
Shelter of the Gosvāmīs: True entry into Vṛndāvana involves reading the books of the Six Gosvāmīs and following their instructions to excavate the holy places and expand bhakti literature.
Atmosphere of Spontaneous Love: The spiritual potency of the dhāma is so great that even a sinful person can feel immediate attraction for Kṛṣṇa and begin automatically chanting His names.
Retirement and Austerity: According to Vedic civilization, one should retire from family life at age fifty and go to Vṛndāvana to live a life of severe austerity and constant service.
Transcendental Vision: Unless the mind is purified and favored by Lord Caitanya and Nityananda, one cannot actually "see" the spiritual reality of Vṛndāvana even while physically present.