Vrndavan India
The sun hadn't yet met Vrndavan until late. The six of us who took that popular pilgrimage around the celebratory and sacred hill, Goverdhan, were rather okay with that. Given the time of the year (days are short) in the northen hemisphere) and the overcast that stubbournly hung for a while, it gave our treck more energy retention.
Maha Mantra and Fil, both from Canada were on this trail for the first time, Nrsinghananda and Mukunda from the U.S had hit the dust here before. I've relished the six hour trek in the past (eleven years ago was my last) but it was our New Zealander, Kala, who appeared to be the expert, knowing the trail, he became our guide.
The 6:15 AM starting point was momentous at some juncture in the road, a mere few kilometers from Vrndavan. Which got us there by cab, from there our 22 KM trek commenced with the magic of Goverdhan itself unfolding delectibly before us.
Goverdhan is more like an escarpment flounting its ancient work and trees. The rock takes on hues of orange and violet, big and small. From a birds view Goverdhan assumes the shape of a peacock. At its edge are some quaint and significant temples. It is home to hundreds of bird, monkeys and nilagava, a blue deer- like cow, famous from the time of Sri Krishna Himself. At one point we admired the various animal communities enjoying breakfast together- green parrots, pigions- pigs, monkeys and cows. Pilgrims from all over India recognized our crew. They addressed us with a Hare Krsna which goes to show that Krishna Consciousness is becoming well established in India. Interaction with fellow foot travelers was inevitable.
Our vist to Radha Kunda, a particular watery haven was also memorable, one you get beyond exception. One aggressive apparent resident guide, was a very high strung, in your face guy who was mostly rupee conscious. I asked him to sit down with me, next to the sacred water. He did. " Now let us go over the mantra together," Hare Krishna..." I would not get past the first two words with him. I figured that if the mantra could meet his pan-chewing, never-seen-a-tooth-brush for teeth that there could be some benefits. As we sat together I asked him to chill, politely, and even stroked with my hand over his back a minute long massage just to get him on his good side. To no avail did he calm and left without a coin to his keep from us.
Our pilgrim group terminated this trek where literally thousands of pilgrims were, on this trail daily. We were happily fatigued, visited numerous temple along the way, chanted mega-numbers of mantra, interacted with folks, loved each others company and admired being by a hill that once Krishna lifted to protect his devotees from torrential rains, demonstrating his affection for the spiritually-based
May The Source Be With You!
23 KM
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