Mahanidhi Madan Gopal
Das
The magnetic
enchantment of Vraja Dhama first captivated my heart in 1977, when good fortune
brought Her most rare and auspicious darshana. After lacs and lacs of births my
undeserving eyes were blessed with the vision of the mind-stealing Thakuraji’s
Radha-ramanji, Bihariji, Damodarji, Govindaji, Shyamasundaraji, and the
enchanting vanas, kunjas and lila-shalis of Yugala Kishora.
My useless hands
attained worth touching the amazing ecstasy-twisted trees of Vrindavana. My
feet found fulfillment in parikrama of Vrindavana and Giriraja Govardhana.
Hearing the joyous parrots and midnight cries of the peacocks attracted my
ears. Smelling Vraja’s exotic fragrant flowers of juhi, mogra, kadamba, kunda,
parijata and rose gave purpose to my nose. The amazing remnants of the
Goswami’s Thakurajis, and the cool Shyama-blue water of Yamunaji fully satiated
and satisfied my sense of taste.
During that visit
in 1977, I visited Radha Kunda and had a mystical experience. While gazing at
the peaceful prema-filled waters and feeling the intense spiritual ambience of
the place, a prayer spontaneously arose from my heart: “O Sri Radha! I don’t
when or how it will be possible, but please Radharani let me live on Your banks
and attain the service of Your lotus feet.”
The magic, the
sweet attraction and the indescribable enchantment of Vrindavana had somehow
captured my heart. The next ten years I spent traveling back and forth between
America and Vrindavana, where I would pass the month of Karttika feeling, “Yes,
Vrindavana is my home, now and forever!”
Finally in 1987—my
feelings, my attraction, my attachment and my enchantment with Vrindavana fused
into one sankalpa. I vowed before the Lord in my heart: “O Krishna, I want to
go to Vrindavana and never, ever return to America again!” With this sankalpa
as my only possession and a one way ticket, I came to Vrindavana.
Somehow by the
causeless mercy of Srimati Radhika, Sri Krishna, the Thakurajis of Vraja,
Giridhari Shyama, Vrnda-devi, Yogamaya Yamunaji, Gopishvara Mahadeva, Sri Guru,
the Vaisnavas, the Vrajavasis, and the sacred dust of Vrindavana I was able to
settle in Sridhama Vrindavana. By their mercy I received Indian citizenship in
1998, and have lived continuously in Vrindavana for the last twenty-seven
years.
From 1987 until
2012 I lived in various places in Vrindavana. As per my guru’s order to his
sannyasis, I lived three years (1989-1992) in Srila Prabhupada’s bhajana kutira
at the Radha Damodara Mandir in Seva Kunja. Inspired by Srila Prabhupada and
the divine presence of Srila Rupa Goswamipada and Sri Jiva Goswamipada, I
started writing spiritual books. To date we have published twenty-six books glorifying
Radha-Krishna; the most famous being Appreciating Sri Vrindavana Dhama, Art of
Chanting Hare Krishna and Gaudiya Vaisnava Samadhis. All books are available as
E-books on Amazon.
In 2002, Srimati
Radhika answered the prayer I offered to Her in 1977 while sitting on the banks
of Radha Kunda. By Radha’s mercy, I moved from Vrindavana to Radha Kunda and
remain here engaged in bhajana and writing. Our latest publication is titled
Radha-Krishna Pastimes at Radha Kunda.
Jai Jai Sri Radhe!
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