Actually Going to Vṛndāvana Involves Taking Shelter of the Six Gosvāmīs
Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the journey to Vṛndāvana is more than a physical relocation; it is a profound internal shift toward pure devotional service. While the geographic location in this material world possesses unlimited spiritual potency, one's ability to truly perceive the dhāma depends on the purification of the mind. To "actually" go to Vṛndāvana means to align one's life with the mood of the Six Gosvāmīs, who abandoned high government positions to live in severe austerity under the trees of Vraja. By submissively hearing the pastimes of the Lord and taking shelter of authorized Vaiṣṇava literatures, a sincere pilgrim transcends the materialistic vision and enters the eternal atmosphere of spiritual life.
The Exemplary Journey of Akrūra
The authorized process for visiting the holy land is demonstrated through the historical journey of Akrūra. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Akrūra did not travel as a tourist but as a dedicated devotee, constantly absorbed in thoughts of Lord Kṛṣṇa's lotus eyes and transcendental activities. By following in his footsteps, a visitor to Vṛndāvana should maintain a state of constant prayer and meditation. This internal absorption ensures that upon arrival, all inauspiciousness is removed, and the pilgrim is fit to behold the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Without such an ideal mindset, a person may physically stand in the dhāma yet remain blind to its spiritual significance.
- Akrura's journey to Vrndavana is exemplary. One who intends to visit Vrndavana should follow the ideal footsteps of Akrura and always think of the pastimes and activities of the Lord.
- Akrura himself was a great devotee of the Lord (Krsna), while going to Vrndavana he began to pray to the Lord. Devotees are always absorbed in thoughts of Krsna, and Akrura was constantly thinking of Lord Krsna's lotus eyes.
- One cannot go to Vrndavana by purchasing a ticket. The process of going to Vrndavana is shown by Akrura.
- Akrura says, "Because I am going to see Lord Krsna today, all symptoms of inauspiciousness have already been killed."
Following the Six Gosvāmīs
Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally empowered the Six Gosvāmīs to establish the foundation of Vṛndāvana as we know it today. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that actually going to Vṛndāvana involves taking shelter of these exalted personalities by reading their essential works, such as Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu and Vidagdha-mādhava. The Gosvāmīs did not go to the holy land to sleep or eat, but to perform the severest types of austerity and expand the literature of bhakti. By their efforts, the lost places of pilgrimage were excavated and the authorized service of Deities like Madana-mohana and Govindajī was initiated. Therefore, one's residence in Vṛndāvana is considered successful only when it is conducted under their direct care and divine instructions.
- Actually going to Vrndavana involves taking shelter of the Six Gosvamis by reading the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Vidagdha-madhava, Lalita-madhava and the other books that they have given.
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked Nityananda Prabhu to go to Bengal and preach, and He asked the Gosvamis, Rupa and Sanatana, to go to Vrndavana and excavate the lost places of pilgrimage.
- Our acaryas, sad-gosvami, they left their service, big service, ministership, and by the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu they went to Vrndavana. But what for? Going to Vrndavana and sleeping and eating? No, no, not for that purpose.
- My dear Raghunatha, on My order go to Vrndavana and live there under the care of Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis.
Spiritual Potency and Purification
Vṛndāvana is not a mundane geographic location but a manifestation of the spiritual world with unlimited potency. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that any person who visits the dhāma, even if they are sinful or merely inquisitive, will immediately contact a spiritual atmosphere and feel an automatic urge to chant the names of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Seeing the Deity of Govindajī is so powerful that it can free a person from the courthouse of Yamarāja and assure promotion to higher planetary systems. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda also warns that without the favor of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda, a person's vision remains obscured. True purification of the mind is necessary to actually "see" Vṛndāvana as the transcendental abode of the Lord.
- Any person may go there (in Vrndavana), and even if he is sinful he will at once contact an atmosphere of spiritual life and will automatically chant the names of Krsna and Radha.
- A devotee says there, "My dear Vasundhara, any person who goes to Vrndavana and sees the Deity of Govindadeva is free from the courthouse of Yamaraj and is allowed to enter into the highest planetary system, in which reside the demigods."
- Unless one is favored by Lord Caitanya and Nityananda, there is no need to go to Vrndavana, for unless one’s mind is purified, he cannot see Vrndavana, even if he goes there.
- Even an ordinary person who goes to Vrndavana out of inquisitiveness and by chance sees the temple, especially that of Govindadeva, even if he is not elevated to the spiritual kingdom, is still assured promotion to the higher planetary systems.
Voluntary Retirement and Spontaneous Love
According to the Vedic way of civilization, the forest of Vṛndāvana is the ideal place for voluntary retirement from family life. Śrīla Prabhupāda encourages those who have attained fifty years of age to leave their domestic attachments and devote their remaining time to hearing and chanting about Kṛṣṇa. This process of retiring to the dhāma is intended to cultivate spontaneous love for Vrajendra-nandana. However, one must be careful not to go to Vṛndāvana prematurely or for materialistic reasons such as solving economic problems. The true purpose of residing there is to achieve a purified state of mind where material sense enjoyment is completely abandoned, allowing the soul to feel the intense separation from Kṛṣṇa that characterizes the highest level of devotional consciousness.
- According to the Vedic way of civilization, one should leave his family after attaining fifty years of age and go to the forest of Vrndavana to devote the rest of his life to the service of the Lord.
- If one worships the Lord on the path of spontaneous love and goes to Vrndavana, he receives the shelter of Vrajendra-nandana, the son of Nanda Maharaja.
- Many of these people (Mayavadi sannyasis, prakrta-sahajiyas, etc.) go there to solve their economic problems by becoming beggars. Although anyone living in Vrndavana somehow or other is benefited, the real Vrndavana is appreciated only by a pure devotee.
- Srila Narottama dasa Thakura has sung in a celebrated song, visaya chadiya kabe suddha habe mana: "When my mind will be purified after leaving the contamination of material sense enjoyment, I shall be able to visit Vrndavana."
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings regarding Vṛndāvana emphasize that the holy dhāma is a transcendental sanctuary for the purification of the soul. Actually going to Vṛndāvana is not a matter of commercial tourism or purchasing a ticket, but a submissive act of surrender to the authorized disciplic succession. By taking shelter of the Six Gosvamīs and their literature, a pilgrim learns to look past the external features of the material world and behold the spiritual pastimes of Radha and Kṛṣṇa. Whether as a place of retirement at the age of fifty or as a center for spontaneous love, Vṛndāvana offers a unique atmosphere where even the most sinful can find redemption. By following the exemplary footsteps of Akrūra and maintaining a mind free from material contamination, a sincere devotee ensures that their visit to the dhāma results in the ultimate goal of life: eternal service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Going to Vrndavana. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.