VMA 2.2 :: The divine natural beauty of Vrindavan


divyāneka-vicitra-puṣpa-phalavad-vallī-tarūṇāṁ tatir
divyāneka-mayūra-kokila-śukādy-ānanda-mādyat-kalāḥ |
divyāneka-saraḥ-sarid-giri-vara-pratyagra-kuñjāvalīr
divyā kāñcana-ratna-bhūmir api māṁ vṛndāvane'mohayat ||2.2||

With divine rows of trees and vines
filled with multitude varieties of flowers and fruits,
With divine, maddening, blissful cooing
of the multitudes of peacocks, cuckoos, and parrots,
With divine groves in every spot by the mountain,
with many multitudes of lakes, and streams,
the divine golden ground in Vrindavan, 
studded with jewels, has enchanted me.
Commentary


It is morning in Vrindavan. Somewhere, not far away, arati bells are ringing. We find ourselves in the Vrindavan of Prabodhananda. It is not immediately apparent if we are in the divine Vrindavan or the worldly Vrindavan, but in either case, Prabodhananda sees it as divine.

In fact, Prabodhananda here follows the classical meditation of the Dham, which is the setting of the stage for meditations on the mantra in the Yoga Peeth and then in svārasikī meditations on the līlā. The next few verses will continue this meditation before turning to contemplation on the Divine Couple and finally a meditation on the sakhis who are the eternal associates in the Vrindavan madhura-līlā.

For the purpose of providing a template for such meditations, we here offer one that is used by Jiva Goswami in Kṛṣṇa Sandarbha and Gopāla-campū, taken from the Svāyambhuva Āgama:

"An intelligent person should remember the Kālindī River, which is dear (vallabhā) to Krishna, with creepers of nectar overhanging her, where many creatures reside, giving pleasure in all seasons, with crystal clear waters, granting happiness to all living beings; her waters appear dark blue like the blue lotus leaf, rippling in the gentle breezes and made fragrant by the Vrindavan pollen; with golden lotuses on its banks and bowers on the shores in which there are places for young damsels to enjoy.

"O Devi, the sādhaka should then meditate on Vrindavan, filled with joy and made colorful by ever new flowers blooming. That land is described by words that reveal that it is the superior happiness of Krishna’s own bliss. It is embraced by the sounds of many colorful birds and intoxicated bees that buzz about among the jeweled creepers.

"The ground is sprinkled with thought gems and covered with a net of moonlight. All the fruits and flowers from all the seasons brighten the forest, and all the vegetation trembles in the light breezes that come across the Yamunā. Vrindavan is filled with flowers, and many varieties of trees and birds. It is the one pleasure garden of the Lord, the full manifestation of the happiness of the three worlds, the place of amorous people, set and organized beautifully.

"In that Vrindavan is a beautiful throne made of various gems, pleasing, more soft than flowers, covered with a soft cloth, having the four legs of dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa, and adorned by the crest ornaments of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.

"One should then meditate on a young boy sitting on that throne. The boy is overwhelmed with love, dressed in yellow, blue like the sweet pea flower, the very embodiment of luster, submerged in the bliss of the ocean of līlā-rasa, the ocean of happiness, having the hue of a new cloud, decorated with a peacock feather in the locks of his hair."


VMA 2.1: Better a worm in Braj than a god elsewhere!
VMA 1.100 : O Mother! You will not neglect me
VMA 1.99 : Without grace, no Brajavasa.
VMA 1.98 : Cutting the chains of false affection
VMA 1.97 : Three levels of renunciation
VMA 1.96 : When will I see the Krishna bumblebee?
VMA 1.95 : Vrindavan bestows a sphurti of its internal svarupa
VMA 1.94 : Three levels of renunciation
VMA 1.93 : Mother Vrindavan take me to your bosom!
VMA 1.92 : For those making excuses


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