Day 7 - Braja Parikrama 2019

Anjanoka and Sanket

Day 7 takes us to Anjanoka, the village of Indulekha, and to Sanket. At Sanket, midway between Varsana and Nandagram, the midnight or nighttime pastimes between Krishna and the gopis take place. When Krishna would go into the fields to herd the cows and Radharani would go to pick flowers, sometimes they would meet here. It is said that in this area Radha and Krishna would be swung on a swing.

Written by Amṛtavāṇī Devī Dāsī

Our colourful group once again boarded the bus to travel through the rural villages, the first stop being Anjanoka, the birthplace of Indulekhā, one of the aṣṭa-sakhīs who intimately serve Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

Mahārāja described Indulekhā as a left-wing gopī, who is fiery and hot-tempered. She wears garments the colour of pomegranate. In her grove, everything is white in colour, and it is here that the divine couple wear white and cannot be seen. Here we are in the realm of Gopīnātha, where parakīya-rasa is experienced in full ecstasy.

Mahārāja emphasized that in parakīya-rasa, we have to conquer Kṛṣṇa again and again. Nothing in the relationship can be taken for granted. Devotional service is śrī-kṛṣṇākarṣiṇī. It attracts Kṛṣṇa, but can we keep Him? Mahārāja made the point that spiritual wealth isn’t about what you put in your pocket, but what you put in your heart. We left Anjanoka with a prayer that the dhāma may manifest in our heart.

Our next stop was Sanket, which is between Nandagrāma and Varṣāṇā. Many pastimes occurred here. Adorning the walls of the quaint temple were beautiful pictures of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa absorbed in each other. For the pleasure of the exquisite deities, Mahārāja led a mellow kīrtana, which of course became quite explosive. Once again the waves of sonic spirituality flooded us and we were on our feet!

In his talk, Mahārāja stated that we are trying to serve Kṛṣṇa by serving Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī because She is the best servant. We try to unite Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, and this is the meeting place. Unlike mundane ‘love’, the love between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is completely pure and based on service. They are always trying to increase the love of each other, and in the same way, Kṛṣṇa is always trying to increase the love in the hearts of His devotees.
In addition to the reverberating kīrtana and transformative classes, this parikramā also showed us the simplicity of village life. We had walked past thatched huts, down winding alleys, amidst cows grazing peacefully, our voices rising in unison in glorification of the Lord. How simple and yet how profound! Here, far from computers, phones and hooting cars, these villagers seemed to have an inner contentment, greeting us happily with ‘Rādhe, Rādhe!’

But most amazing was the opportunity to tread on the holy ground that Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa and the aṣṭa-sakhīs actually walked on, those sacred spaces that we have entered by the mercy of the pure devotee. Although we are not qualified, we have been gifted the opportunity of hearing about Their inconceivably wonderful activities and of seeing through the eyes of the scriptures.

O Kṛṣṇa, may we always try to meet You! May we please You by our service, and may the pure devotees bless us with strength and purity!