By Chanchalapathi Dasa
Why did Krishn leave the residents of Vrindavan? Why did he not return, even though they longed for him? Chaitanya Mahaprabhu explains this through a profound spiritual understanding. For him, the devotion of residents of Vrindavan represents the highest expression of love for Krishn.
Generally, people think of God as the all-powerful Supreme Lord, controller of the universe, maintainer of all living beings, full of majesty and opulence. Almost all religious traditions, including the Vedic tradition, describe God in terms of aishvarya, His unlimited power and greatness.
However, awareness of God’s greatness also creates a certain distance between the devotee and Lord. When devotees worship the Divine with constant awareness of His majesty, there is reverence. But in Vrindavan, the devotees do not think, ‘Krishn is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.’
Mother Yashoda does not think: ‘This is God Almighty.’ Every morning she bathes Krishn, dresses him, adorns him with ornaments, feeds him, thinking, ‘He is my dear son’. If she were conscious that he is the Supreme Lord, that spontaneous motherly affection would disappear.
For this reason, the love of residents of Vrindavan is unique. Krishn demonstrated that theirs is the highest expression of devotion; they possess the deepest love for him. Within this highest love are two experiences: the joy of meeting Krishn and the pain of separation from him. Meeting the Lord brings immense happiness, but separation intensifies that love even further. This is known as viraha , or divine separation.
According to the Lord’s divine plan, residents of Vrindavan manifested this highest mood of separation so that the world could understand the meaning of viraha-bhakti. In such separation, remembrance of Krishn becomes constant and uninterrupted. Krishn immediately becomes present within the heart of such a devotee.
This is a unique ras . Being with Krishn, being separated from Krishn, and longing for him are spiritual experiences that cannot be understood merely through intellectual discussion. One must become spiritually qualified to experience them.
It is like describing the taste of a sweet. One may explain how delicious it is, but unless a person tastes it, the experience cannot be understood. In the same way, these are truths that must be experienced. This understanding also reveals the deeper symbolism of Ratha Yatra.
During Ratha Yatra, Jagannath travels from His main temple to the Gundicha Temple. The main temple represents Dwaraka, while the Gundicha Temple represents Vrindavan. Thus, the deeper meaning of Ratha Yatra is Krishn’s return from Dwaraka to Vrindavan.
This was the very mood in which Chaitanya Mahaprabhu participated in the festival. He pulled Jagannath’s chariot, absorbed in the mood of Radharani, praying, ‘Please come back to Vrindavan.’
The writer is vice-chairman and co-mentor, Hare Krishna Movement
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
