The Beautiful Evening At Durvasa Mandir,Mathura [10th March'08]

The Beautiful Evening At Durvasa Mandir,Mathura [10th March'08]

On the evening of 10th March...the day when we had just reached Mathura in the morning......a few hours after dawn....., mom & I had a nice boat ride on the Yamuna River.
Its Interesting To know that in the entire Vrajbhoomi.....if u want a boat ride in Mathura ....u will notice that the boats are moved through the oars.....the old form of boating. This is Because the People Of Brijbhoomi do not beleive in using MACHINED BOATS ON SRIYAMUNA MAHARANI....AS THEY HAV THIS PREMBHAVA....THAT IT WUD BE AS IF RUNNING A MACHINE OVER THE SIVIGRAHA OF YAMUNAJI........WHICH WUD BE SO PAINFUL.....DATS THE REASON THE BRIJWAASIS DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE PRIMITIVE MODE OF BOATING........isnt that touching???
So Mom & I deceided to explore & visit the opposite banks of yamuna....from Vishram Ghat....where we also wanted to visit the beautiful "SRIDURVASA MANDIR." Daddy wanted to spend time peacefully on vishram ghat.

On Our Way To SriDurvasa Mandir......mom & i first visited the samll Shiva temple & DeviMaa Temple on the side. It was an open temple with a huge Shivalinga & Just a roof on top....this temple was not attracted by the tourists but just the localites & sadhus dotted the area......which was lush green & beautiful like a nikunj. Just besides the temple under a huge treee there was a "NAGA SADHU WITH LONG MATTED HAIR,DARKSKINNED & ROBUST" who was sitting on the round platfrorm of mud made around the tree & delivering Spiritual Lectures......in short there was a small satsang going on with this Naga sadhu posed as the "VAKTA" & a few old sadhus & local villagers as "SHROTA" The naga Sadhu was OBLIVIOUS OF ME & MOM...although a few satsangis were watching me taking snaps of their "SATSANG & NAGA SADU\HU" & the temple. I was very impressed as this Naga Sadhu seemed to be totally nonchalent about the surroundings & was deeply engrossed in his spiritual speech. Also just behind this open temple there was a cowshed with two or three cows & sweet bachdaas...calves. I bowed to them all & we moved towards the "DURVASA MANDIR

On the other side of the yamuna....that is just opposite the banks of VISHRAM GHAT.......is a vast expanse of thick jungles....where hardly anybody visits......i was told that it was taken by the AMBANIS for preservation. So On these banks......there are only short n murky grasses all around....a total green patch & i just noticed a cow grazing far off.................ducks swimming in between the samll isles in the yamuna......parrots fluttering in the sky.........the sparrows freely chirping & the cuckoos were on top of their voice as if entertaining the PRINCE OF VRAJA -LORD KRISHNA!!! For a brief moment i was transported to those days of Krishnaleelas........i just cannot decribe that joy that i experienced n was oblivious of tears flowing through my eyes.......i just realised ,when the boatman who was going to take us tho the temple , was staring at me with wonder. I qucikly wiped my face n controlled my overflowing emotions & hid my ecstatic state......mom was also lost in bhakti bhava......she was walking ahead n i was slowly taking my steps coz i wanted to cherish these precious moments.........the moments of braj!!
Lord Krishna & all His pastimes were flashing through my mind & i felt as if that natkhat Krishna & the coy n extremely beautiful Radha were watching me from some hidden place............& showering me with their blessings...!!! We had to go through a small hamlet, which was the residing area of all the Naaviks.....that's the boatmen Of SriYamunamaharani. I was AWESTRUCK to encounter the extreme simplicity of the village & the village folks. .......All the houses had no electricity but old fashioned lanterns & diyas.........the children were poorly dressed yet they seemed to be much satisfied n happy in their PLAY with the little goats n calfs, who also comprised their family..........they seemed to be more innocent & satisfied than our CITY CHILDREN......!!!!
Inspite of the absence of the BLEAKEST TOUCH OF MODERN NECESSITIES......these simple folks were all smiling n cheerful n at peace.......contented & happy in their own world. I wondered how many of city people like me could live without our tv, mobiles. computers / laptops,,audiosystems, airconditions,,n all other modern contraptions,,, without which we seem to feel helpless...!!! THIS WAS A LESSON FOR ME.......I LEARNT THAT U CAN BE HAPPY IF YOU ARE CONTENTENTED .......SATISFIED.........THERE IS HAPPINESS INSIDE US ..........NOT IN HOARDING WORLDY THINGS.....NOT IN GETTING ADDICTED TO IT........BUT JUST UTILISING IT FOR OUR NEEDS.......BUT NOT TO BE DEPENDENT ON THEM IF WE DO NOT GET THEM........TO DEVELOP AN ATITUDE .....AN ATTITUDE THAT DOESNT MAKE US SLAVES TO OUR MODERN LIFESTYLE.


The Durvasa Mandir is situated on a small height........a way of pretty n clean erected staircase, takes you to the GRAND ENTRANCE OF THE HUGE TEMPLE" The Entrance Of the temple is guarded by the lovely idol of Srihanumanji with His divine gadda.....on the top of the entrance of the temple facing the yamunamaharani & the village. I learnt that this temple was erected by "GAUDIYA VAISHNAVAS....WHO FOLLOWED SRICHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU" The temple was empty & is not that frequently visited by pilgrims since its inside the village........BUT ITS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL N MAJESTIC TEMPLE S I HAVE ENCOUNTERED UNTIL NOW. The temple ground was really vast n there was a place ffor accomodations for sadhus n sadhvis ....like a kind of an accomodation. There was also a yagyashaala & small temple in a circle inside the wall....like an open winndow.....which had idols of SriDurvasa, SriRadhaKrishna,rukmini...etc ....depicting leelas relating to SriDurvasa Munni with SriKrishna. The deities Of RadhaKrishna Were dressed in yellow robes & thier eyes shone like twinking gray stars......besided them was also an idol of dauji, an antarang sakhi & SriDurvasaji. There was on;y one gaudiya vaishnav saint who was inside the temple ....& i just saw a sadhvi with her rosary & a chandan tilak....gazing at us with her warm smile. I could see the entire village through which we came from the temple, and i was SPELL BOUND TO SEE TREES AROUND THE TEMPLE FULL OF PEACOCKS FLYING FROM ONE TREE TO ANOTHER..........!!!
Mom & I sang some hymns n roamed around the temple berfore we bade a farewell to the temple. So we were back in the boat, going towards Vishram Ghat to attend the yamuna aarti at 7pm. I enjoyed the serene beauty of Sriyamunamaharani in the dusk hours...........praying to Her to always call me here time & again.

at thy lotus feet,
radhika.