(1/2) At Kuruksetra Brahma Kunda

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Sri Kuruksetra parikrama,
3 November 2019, part 1
Translated from Bengali

Continuing our parikrama, by the mercy of Sri Gurupadpadma, we have arrived at Kuruksetra today. At present we are seated at Brahma Kunda. There is a temple of Mahadev at the pond. Actually, we will not be going to all the places that are there. When we come to Kuruksetra, we only visit Brahma Kunda, the place where Lord Krishna spoke Srimad Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna, and the place where Bhismadev passed away. We will go to these four places today. In the evening we should reach Jaipur.

The glory of this Brahma Kunda is this. As you know, Kuruksetra is the highest place of guru-seva because Srimati Radharani is our beloved gurudev, and this is the place where the highest service to Her is rendered. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur said that, on the one hand, Kuruksetra is the place where the Pandavas fought against the Kauravas; but, on the other hand, for us the meaning of Kuruksetra is this: wherever we go, we must fight against Maya through preaching.

Whenever there is a solar eclipse, people flock here from all over India to bathe in this Brahma Kunda because it is said that if you bathe here during a solar eclipse, you can attain various results and much piety. But in our line, residing or staying at Kuruksetra means that we must wage war against Maya through preaching: it means bringing to this path the souls that are averse to Lord Krishna.

In Dvapar-yuga, when there was a solar eclipse, all the great kings and devotees assembled here to bathe at the auspicious time. Krishna also came here from Dvaraka, accompanied by thousands of queens, servants, soldiers, friends and ministers. He came here in full royal opulence, riding an elephant. At this time, all the gopas and gopis, including Mother Yasoda and Nanada Maharaj, also came here from Vraja. They were always anxious, 'How can we meet Krishna?' So, to see Krishna, to have His darshan, they all came to this Brahma Kunda. But when they saw Krishna, they were taken aback. They thought, 'This is not our Krishna... He has no peacock feather in His hair, He is not wearing His cowherd clothes. He is wearing a big crown and dressed as a king. He is surrounded by His elephants, horses, queens, soldiers and ministers. Where is His flute? Where is His peacock feather? This is not our Krishna... We want our Krishna, who plays the flute, who herds cows – we wanted to see that Krishna...' That kind of separation feeling came to them. This is the mood of this place. All the Vraja-basis became disturbed, 'We want our Krishna! We must take Him back from here!' So, they started pulling Krishna back to Vrindavan. This is the sacred meaning of the chariot festival in Jagannath Puri, when all the gopis pull Krishna back to Vrindavan from His royal place. The chariots are actually hearts (hridaya-ratha). Within their hearts, Vraja-gopis pulled Krishna back to Vrindavan.

Jay Brahma Kunda ki jay.
Jay Kuruksetra ki jay.
Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur said one very important thing: the most valuable service is done when the need is the highest. Many people serve their gurudev, but those who come to serve at the time of the highest need are the highest servitors. For example, suppose gurudev wants to read a newspaper; if you bring him a newspaper, that is the highest service. It is necessary to see what service is required at what time.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

— : • : —

{ 2001  |   2002  |   2003  |   2005  |   2009  |   2010  |   2011  |   2012 }
{ 2013  |   2014  |   2015  |   2016  |   2017  |   2018  |   2019  |   2020  |   2021 }

CLICK TO LISTEN TO THE RECORDING

Size: 3 Mb
Length: 6 min
Language: Bengali

READ OTHER PARTS:

1) At Kuruksetra Brahma Kunda
2) Srimad Bhagavad-gita