=== Govardhan – July 31, 2008 ====

Today was my next to the last day in Govardhan. As I was looking at my Silas
today I felt the intense desire to get more and more Silas, because each one
expresses a different mood of Govardhan. Of course I restrained myself.

Actually I would like to take the whole hill back with me! That can be done
practically if I enter into the proper mood of service. Govardhan is also
known as the servant of Krishna in addition to being Krishna! So, if I can
learn to always be engaged in serving the servants of Krishna, I will never
be separated from Govardhan.

This serving the servants has to be done internally as well as externally.
It is not simply some ritual but rather a consciousness than accompanies the
external action. Then the internal absorption will get deeper and deeper and
deeper.

This morning after taking care of Govardhan where I am staying (by the mercy
of Padma), I decided to walk to the place of the Ratna Simhasana (jeweled
throne), which is a wonderful quiet place in the midst of Govardhan
(Govardhan is mostly underground at this point). It is a place for
meditation on the Divine Couple.
When doing my visits to these places, I make it a point to give charity to
the Vaisnavas who are lining the path. One may see these Vaisnavas with
materialistic vision and hence be unable to enter into the spirit of the
dhama. These are all Krishna’s dear devotees, many of whom are executing
severe austerities to please the Radha and Krishna. I feel that if I can get
their mercy, then my heart will soon be awakened to Krishna consciousness.

Walking to the Ratna Simhasana area from where I am means to go in the
opposite direction from the normal pilgrims (I finished my parikrama
yesterday), passing through the town of Govardhan with all of its shops and
myriad sounds and sights. Most pilgrims do not know of this place in the
midst of Govardhan.

It is so isolated that during the rainy hot season (which it is now) one has
to pick their way through thorns, and avoid stepping in puddles and of
course avoid stepping in any of the mounds of manure! It is on a dirt road
that is some distance from the main pilgrimage site.

This road was covered with ants who are also devotees of the Lord. So, I
remembered the pastimes of Mrgrari the hunter as he hopped and skipped in
order to greet his guru Narada because he wanted to avoid stepping on the
ants. I hopped and skipped too and begged Krishna to forgive me for
inadvertently causing pain to some of His dear devotees.

In my heart I felt great love for these ants and felt that they were
extremely fortunate having been born in the dust of the holiest of the
dhams. They were rolling in the same dust that Krishna and His associates
walked through. They are certainly heading for the spiritual world.

I was in for a further surprise as I came close to the entrance to the
temple at the Ratna Simhasana. A few meters before the entrance was a stone
with Krishna’s footprint and the footprint of a calf. I had seen this many
times before, but this time Krishna’s footprint was filled with maggots! At
first I was shocked and disgusted by this, then I felt great happiness for
the maggots that had taken shelter for the night (it was early morning) in
Krishna’s foot print. Wow! I wish that I could sleep in Krishna’s footprint!

In order to enter the Ratna Simhasana area I had to pick the lock on the
gate. In India this is not a big problem. This gives the idea of how
isolated this wonderful place is. Upon entering I went immediately to the
Rasa mandala and offered obeisances. When one sees a Rasa mandala it
indicates a place where Radha and Krishna performed Their pastimes.

Then I went to the location where Govardhan was just coming out of the
ground and offered my respects to Him embracing Him (of course not allowing
my feet to touch Him). I was so grateful to get these few moments of quality
association in this secluded place.

I then headed back through the town of Govardhan chanting my rounds loudly.
When I first came here I was in the habit (due to living in the west and
going on japa walks where there are many people who don’t understand about
Krishna consciousness) of chanting softly when I went on japa walks. Now I
was able to chant with abandon! And people responded with smiles as they
heard my chanting.

Back in the house I prepared breakfast for Radha Giridhari, took their
remnants, rested a bit and then answered some emails.

One may question as to why I did not take a break from emails. My answer is
that my exchanging emails is part of my service to Govardhan, just as
writing this blog is. I am helping many people worldwide come closer to
Krishna. I look at the emails as Vaisnava seva and therefore I don’t want or
need a break. It is wonderful to associate with Vaisnavas around the world
in a service mood.

I even had to make some phone calls to different Vaisnava’s in Fiji and
Australia today. I was so happy that Govardhan was giving me the opportunity
to serve Him by serving His devotees.

All of our service should be approached like this in a joyous mood. If we
feel we need a break from our service, we should seriously contemplate our
internal mood. Maybe some change is needed.

After the correspondence, I delved into the Sri Caitanya Siksamrta by
Bhaktivinode Thakura. I am preparing a course on this literature, so I am
engaged in studying and outlining it. It is such an inspiring literature
that describes all the aspects of Krishna consciousness in a very practical
way.

Now I am preparing dinner for Radha Giridhari. After that I will study the
Vraja Mandal parikrama so that in the future I can lead devotees around the
Vraja area. Then before sleeping I read the Caitanya Bhagavat. Krishna is
very kind to me.

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