Devotees Should Live in Vrindavana

 
By Mahanidhi Swami 

#LivingInVrindavan #Vrindavana #HolyDhama

Devotees, who are free and contemplating purchasing a flat or shifting their residence, are often confused about which Holy Dhama to live in; Vrindavana, Navadvipa or Jagannatha Puri? Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and all the Gaudiya Vaisnava mahajanas and shastras emphatically state that one should live in Vrindavana and worship Radha-Krishna.

All Gaudiya Vaisnavas are worshipping Sri Sri Radha-Krishna with the goal of attaining prema dhama Sri Vrindavana in the spiritual sky, Goloka. And that Playful Pair, Radha-Govinda, for Whom we are aspiring, are living right here right now in this terrestrial Vrindavana; just waiting to reveal Their beautiful, sweet splendor to our love drenched eyes! 

Bhagavan Sri Krishna’s eternal residence in Bhauma Vrindavana is confirmed throughout the Vedas. In many verses of the Srimad Bhagavatam i.e. (10.90.48, 10.44.12) and in (4.8.42) it says, “Hari lives eternally in Madhuvana [Vraja Mandala], madhuvanam sannidhyaà nityada hareh.”  The Varaha & Padma Puranas, Sri Yamala-tantra and Srila Rupa Goswamipada all say, “Sri Krishna never at any time leaves Vrindavana, Vrindavanam parityajya sa kvacin naiva gacchati.” (Laghu-bhagavatamrta (1.5.461) 

Krishna is not alone however, for Sanat Kumara Samhita (v. 165) says that Krishna resides eternally with Sri Radha in Vrindavana, nivasamy anaya sardham aham atraiva sarvada.”

From these statements and those that follow, one can easily conclude that Vrindavana is the place to live now and forever in the sweet loving service of Priya Priyatama Radha-Shyama. 

Shastric Proof for Living in Vrindavana 

1. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: 
Through Ramananda Raya in (Cc. 2.8.253), Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu conclusively answered this question, saying, “’Where should the living being reside exclusively, leaving all other residential quarters?’ ‘One should live in Vrindavana, where the transcendental pastimes of rasa-lila are perpetually performed.”’ (In Search of the Ultimate Goal of Life)

Lord Gauranga ordered many of His staunch followers e.g. Srila Rupa Goswamipada, Srila Sanatana Goswamipada, Subuddhi Raya, Lokanatha Goswami, Bhugarbha Goswami and Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja to live in Vrindavana. The exact term in this regard is prabhu datta desh, “The residential place given by Mahaprabhu.” (Cc. 3.4.144). 

The six Goswamis and the major Gaudiya Vaisnava acharyas like Srila Visvanatha Cakravartipada, Srila Narottama dasa Thakura and Sri Baladeva Vidya Bhusana all stayed in Vrindavana. 

2. Sri Jagadananda Pandita:
An eternal associate of Sri Chaitanyadeva, said, “O Srila Sanatana Goswami! Vrindavana is the best place to reside. By living there you will obtain complete happiness, Vrindavana vaisa, tahan sarva sukha paiye.” (Cc. 3.4.142

3. Srila Rupa Goswamipada:
“One should always live in Vraja, vasam vraje sada.” (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.294) When giving the essence of all his instructions, Srila Rupa Goswamipada said, “One should live in Vraja, tishthan vraje.” (Upadeshamrta 8) Srila Prabhupada’s purport: “One should live in Vrajabhumi, and always think of Krishna and His pastimes.” 

Srila Rupa Goswamipada further said, “Living in Vrindavana has such inconceivable power that it will manifest bhava bhakti in the heart, acintya shakti bhavam prakashayet.” (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.244)  “Even for a moment, liberated souls cannot renounce the bliss of desiring to live in Vrindavana. What then can be said of others?” (Lalita Madhava 8.90)

4. Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswamipada:
“You should live in Vraja and worship Radha-Krishna, vraje radha Krishna bhaje. (Manah Shiksha 4) Srila Visvanatha Cakravartipada tika: “One should live physically in Vrindavana, but if you can’t, then live there mentally.”

5. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura: 
In his famous bhajana, “Sri Nama Sankirtana”, he said, anande bolo hari bhaja Vrindavana, “One should live in Vrindavana, do bhajana and blissfully chant Harinama.”

6. Srila Prabhupada:
“Vrindavana is my home” (SP Lilamrta 6), and “My rooms in Radha Damodara Mandira [aka Seva Kunja Vrindavana] are my eternal residence.” (Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta 5.41) “If we live in Vrindavana, we should know that we are living with Krishna. If You live in Vrindavan carefully without committing any offense or sinful life, then in this life you are going to Krishna.” (BBT Folio 721030ND.VRN)

“If one simply lives in Vrindavana and concentrates his mind upon Krishna, one is liberated from material bondage.” (SB 9.19.19 p.) "To live in Vrindavana and grow up there is the greatest fortune. Living even one fortnight in Vrindavana guarantees liberation.” (Transcendental Diary 1)

7. ISKCON Gurus:
Sri Bhurijana dasji: “Srila Prabhupada said that after you have been preaching for ten years, you can go and live in Vrindavana.” (My Glorious Master)

Sri Radhanatha Swami said, “Srila Prabhupada told me how he was very pleased that I was so much attached to living in Vrindavan.” (BBT Folio)

Sri Shivarama Swami: “Live in Vrindavana, and you will come to know everything about love.” (Na Paraye Aham)

We conclude our presentation about choosing Vrindavana at the best place to live for practicing bhakti bhajana, attaining Krishna prema, and realizing Sri Sri Radha and Krishna with some amazing and powerful quotes from Mahaprabhu’s nitya-parishad, Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati’s Vrindavana Mahimamrta: 

“O foolish people, why do you not live in Vrindavana? In Vrindavana even the aborigines have become filled with the nectar of love for Lord Hari. (14.27) I meditate on the most fortunate persons who, even though they commit offenses, place Sri Radha’s feet in their hearts and live in Vrindavana. (5.28) My possessiveness toward my wealth, wife and children has ruined me. Now I will renounce everything and live in Vrindavana.” (5.46)

Sri Vrindavana nitya vasa ki jai!    

Radha Govinda Yugala ki jai!

Jai Jai Sri Radhe!