Hare Krishna Movement, Vrindavan

Srila Prabhupada the founder acarya of the world-wide Hare Krishna Movement

Hare Krishna Movement Vrindavan, was established by devotees of ISKCON Bangalore to fulfil the vision of Srila Prabhupadathe founder and acarya of the world-wide Hare Krishna Movement, who wanted to see an all-round development of Vrindavan. He wanted that people from all over the world come to Vrindavan and gain great inspiration from Lord Krishna’s teachings and live a sublime life. Hare Krishna Movement Vrindavan (HKM-V) envisions to implement the various desires of Srila Prabhupada for Vrindavan.

Hare Krishna Movement Vrindavan (HKM-V)aims to takeup various developmental initiativesknowing the sensitivities of cultural, social and economic landscape of Vrindavan.HKM V wishes to see that this holy town sees sustainable development in this millennium and becomes seat of spiritual awakening for the entire world. HKM-V has already taken up various initiatives for the upliftment of widow mothers, residents and sadhus of Vrindavan. Hare Krishna Movement Vrindavan is also involved in rejuvenating many places of pastimes of Lord Krishna and supporting many of the existing places of worship.HKM-V is also involved in beautifying and cleaning Vrindavan and its important streets and places of pilgrimage.

Pic of Vrindavan-1

Vrindavan the revered and most holy town in India which was witness to Supreme Lord Krishna’s wonderful pastimes is in the district of Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. Eventhough Vrindavan has become synonymous with the Krishna’s abode where He appeared about 5000 years ago and displayed His pastimes, Lord Krishna appeared and performed His eternal pastimesin Braja Mandalaof which Vrindavan is but an important region. The Braja region is spread across three states of India -Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana. Braja mandala encompasses the 12 forests which are referred to various revealed scriptures documenting Lord Krishna’s pastimes. It was in this very holy place that Supreme Lord Krishna exhibited His sweet pastimes, He played with His cowherd boyfriends and herded the cows, teased His cowherd girlfriends and it was here that He vanquished many demons and enthralled His great devotees. Vrindavan was originally one these 12 forests which witnessed Lord Krishna’s wonderful pastimes.  Each of these forests had its own unique flora and fauna. Among all the forests Vrindavan itself was unique for it was largely filled with Tulasi trees. Vrinda– another name for Tulasi, Vana Sanskrit name for forest thus Vrindavan meant a forest of Tulasi trees.

After the physical departure of Lord Krishna, the place was governed by His great grandson and King Vajranabha from its capital in Mathura. Vajranabha a great devout King build wonderful temples commemorating Lord Krishna’s various pastimes in various parts of Braja including the famous temple on Lord Krishna’s birth place in Mathura which took place in the prison house of King Kamsa. In due passage of time many of the places were lost or obscured. But in the fifteenth century Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to Vrindavan and rediscovered the various pastime places of Lord Krishna and His chief disciples the Six Goswamis established temples in Braja Mandala.

 The current town of Vrindavan houses some of the most important temples established by the celebrated Six Goswamis. Great spiritual leaders from all sects have established temples and mathas in Vrindavan thus making it the place of over five thousand temples. The current landscape of Braja Mandala is vastly different from the time of Lord Krishna’s wonderful appearance, or from the times of Lord Chaitanya in many places there are temples and temple towns or just plain agricultural fields or forests with sparse vegetation.

Pic of Vrindavan-2

Vrindavan is currently home to many ashrams and temples and truly is the town of temples, where everyone be he a simple coolie or rickshaw driver or a sophisticated scholar greets one and all with the words “Jai Shri Radhe”, referring to Lord Krishna’s eternal consort Shrimathi Radha Rani. Even to this day thousands of devotees flock the temples established by Six Goswamis. A bustling town with small alleys and market places, with thousands of pilgrims rushing to have darshana of their worshipable deities in their temples is what you will come across as Vrindavan today.

Srila Prabhupada the founder and acarya of the world-wide Hare Krishna Movement stayed in this very town in the temple of Radha Damodara, which was established by Srila Jiva Goswami one of the six Goswamis of Vrindavan. Srila Prabhupada used to stay in here in early 1960s before he crossed the ocean to spread Lord Krishna’s teachings the world over. He himself said that he received the inspiration to spread the teachings worldover from Goswamis and more specifically from the Radha Damodara temple. In 1970 Srila Prabhupada on return from America established the now famous Krishna Balaram Temple in Rama Reti, Vrindavan. Srila Prabhupada envisioned that Vrindavan Dham should become the epicenter for spiritual awakening for the entire world, he wanted that Vrindavan and its surrounding places be given a special prestigious place in history and reflect the eternal glory of LordHare Krishna Movement Vrindavan, was established by devotees of ISKCON Bangalore. It is medium for fulfilling the various dreams which Srila Prabhupada had and has for Vrindavan.

Hare Krishna Movement Vrindavan imbibes the tireless spirit of Srila Prabhupada and aims to bring forth the glories of Vrindavan to fore in the mind of modern man.