God Went - The Transcendental Travels of the Supreme Lord
In the material world, living entities travel from one place to another, or from one body to another, driven by the inescapable forces of karma and material desire. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when the Supreme Personality of Godhead descends and travels upon the earth, His movements are completely transcendental. He is not forced to go anywhere. Whether He travels as a mighty warrior, a begging dwarf, or a renounced mendicant, the Lord goes to specific destinations solely to execute His divine mission, protect His devotees, and distribute His causeless mercy.
Traveling to Annihilate the Demons
The Supreme Lord is the ultimate protector of the pious. The Vedic histories describe how the Lord intentionally traveled to specific locations to confront and defeat powerful demons who were terrorizing the universe.
- Both brothers, Lord Krsna and Lord Baladeva, went to Mathura from Vrndavana and killed Their maternal uncle, who had given so much trouble to Their parents, Vasudeva and Devaki.
- The protection given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be compared to the protection given by the demigods. It is said that Ravana was a great devotee of Lord Siva, but when Lord Ramacandra went to kill him, Lord Siva could not give him protection.
- Next incarnation is Vamanadeva. This Vamanadeva, a dwarf, He went to Bali Maharaja and asked him three feet land, and his guru, Sukracarya, induced him not to promise, because He is Visnu.
- Since they considered Gajendra's prayer to be directed toward God, they felt offended, and this in itself was offensive. Consequently, when the Lord went there, they also went and offered prayers to God so that their offense might be excused.
Setting the Moral Standard
Sometimes the Lord travels not to fight, but to establish the highest principles of morality and religious duty (dharma). Śrīla Prabhupāda often highlights the travels of Lord Rāmacandra, who accepted severe hardships to uphold His father's honor.
- Lord Ramacandra went to the forest in compliance with the order of His father, Maharaja Dasaratha, but mother Sita was not so ordered. Nonetheless, she voluntarily accepted the path of her husband.
- In order to please both of them, Lord Krsna expanded Himself into two and went to the houses of each one of them; yet neither the King nor the brahmana could understand that the Lord had gone to the house of the other.
- The Lord and Ramananda Raya discussed the transcendental pastimes of Radha and Krsna throughout the night, and in the morning they separated. Ramananda left to go to his place, and the Lord went to take His bath.
- There is even a temple of Hanuman near Govindaji temple in Vrndavana. Formerly this temple was in front of the Gopalaji temple, but the Gopalaji Deity went to Orissa to remain as Saksi-gopala.
The Pilgrimages of Lord Caitanya
In the modern age of Kali-yuga, the Supreme Lord descended as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, adopting the role of a devotee. Śrīla Prabhupāda vividly describes how Lord Caitanya traveled extensively to holy places, demonstrating the proper behavior of a pilgrim and purifying the holy rivers.
- After visiting Trimalaya, Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to see Trikala-hasti. There He saw Lord Siva and offered him all respects and obeisances.
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu next went to a holy place of pilgrimage called Soro-ksetra. He took His bath in the Ganges there and started for Prayaga on the path along the banks of the Ganges.
- The next morning Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to Vrndavana and took His bath at Cira-ghata. He then went to Tentuli-tala, where He took rest.
- Eventually Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arrived at a lake known as Pampa, where He took His bath. He then went to a place called Pancavati, where He rested.
Purifying the General Populace
The true purpose of Lord Caitanya's travels was not merely to visit geographic locations, but to distribute love of Godhead to everyone He encountered. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that wherever the Lord went, He attracted immense crowds, delivering them simply by His divine presence.
- When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to take His bath in the Ganges and to see the temple of Visvesvara, people would line up on both sides to see the Lord.
- When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to the bank of the river Citrotpala to take His bath, all the queens and ladies of the palace offered their obeisances to Him.
- While the food was being offered, a large crowd of people gathered. At that time Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stopped His dancing and went to a nearby garden.
- Just then, everyone heard the blowing of the conchshell at the Jagannatha temple. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately took His bath and went to see Lord Jagannatha.
Conclusion
A careful study of the Vedic histories reveals that the Supreme Lord's movements are never dictated by material necessity. He is fully independent, yet out of His boundless compassion, He leaves His eternal abode and travels within the material universes. Śrīla Prabhupāda meticulously documents these transcendental journeys: how Lord Kṛṣṇa went to Mathurā to establish justice, how Lord Rāmacandra went to the forest to uphold perfect morality, and how Lord Vāmanadeva went to the sacrificial arena to reclaim the universe from Bali Mahārāja. The pinnacle of this traveling mercy was exhibited by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. By walking the length and breadth of India, going to the banks of the Ganges, the temples of Lord Śiva, and the holy dhāma of Jagannātha Purī, He not only taught the world the process of pilgrimage but personally delivered thousands of people simply by passing before their eyes. Understanding where the Lord went and why He went there allows the sincere soul to follow in His footsteps back to the spiritual world.
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