My Visit To Brijbhoomi -10th March ' 08

I have been really lucky as i had the privilege to visit Brijbhoomi for the second time....this time i reached mathura on the 1oth of march....whereas when i had been to brijbhoomi for the first time it was exactly four years ago ie 9th February 04. This Time we left in the month of March in the same train "PASCHIM EXPRESS" from bandra station....i was already in euphoria......n was feeling sooo glad to visit vrajbhoomi again!!
Our Accomodation was at Mathura at "GIRIDHAR MORARI DHARAMSHAALA" I Just loved the simplicity of this dharamshala.....i didnt want tv or phone in the room........i didnt want to stay in a hotel....coz then you dont get that feeling of a PILGRIMAGE.....its more like a vacation.....& not TEERTHA. Okay so this Dharamshaala is very old n its building too....it reminds you of the homes of the ancient times.....there are verandahs in the inside & lovely jharookhas etc.....very beautiful architecture. And the best part was that as we come out of the dharamshala .....one can view SriYamuna Maharaani near the bengal ghat....and even the Vishram Ghat was very close where every evening at 7pm i used to feel oblivious of the world....as it was the aarti time of yamunaji.......you can also see the bridge across yamunaji & its such a beautiful sight when the train passes over the bridge .......especially at night......from where the passengers in the train throw flowers n coins as a token of devotion n respect to sriyamunaji.
So i was excitedd n feeling goosebumps when i stepped down from the train on MATHURA STN....early morning 7'30am........i was mentally going on thanking God for bringing me here again. I felt as if i was in a paradise....this time mathura station was more clean n there was a big board that said"WELCOME TO MATHURA....THE LAND OF KRISHNA" Itna read karke heee main toh speechless ho gayi.....mujhe ek second ke liye laga...ki kanhaiyya bhi mujhe milne aayenge daudte huve....:)
when We were in the train we had a nice company of two middleaged women...even they were gujratis like us...n had been going to brijbhoomi for almost the 10th time....but surprisingly i cudnt trace any sign of ecstasy or devotion in their eyes.......but cud feel they were more on a ritualistic pilgrimage.....than a pilgrimage full of bhakti. Yup, so they were discussing n informed us that it would be very hot in Mathura as well...since i was complaining about the heat....!!
I deeply prayed to krishna that it shud not be very hot...coz heat makes me fall ill......& i am happy to announce that during our 7days of stay ....the climate was unusually cool n cloudy.....i wished that it shud rain...& krishna fulfilled my wish...it did drizzle when mom & i were walking towards the Bankeybihari temple in Vrindavan. Krishna took us in HIS LOVING PROTECTION N BROUGHT US BACK HOME SAFELY........i just dont think one birth is enough to thank HIM...:)
More to Come on My Visit.
radhe radhe ..!
at thy lotus feet,
radhika.