In 2017, His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami took us on a boat trip on River Yamuna to Mathura, the birthplace of Krsna in this material world about 5,000 years ago. Check out Maharaja’s full kirtan along with a few photos, on the way to Mathura during Parikrama 2017.
In Chapter 13 of the Nectar of Devotion, it is mentioned about residing in Mathura dhama or Mathura mandala, which refers to the holy dhama of Vrndavana. “So this attainment of transcendental loving devotional service to the Lord is the goal of life and it can be achieved very easily for one who lives in Mathura mandala even for a few seconds.” So we have it here, even for a few seconds! Just see all the benefit we are getting by being part of the Hare Krsna movement and understand why Srila Prabhupada wanted to develop projects in these holy dhamas where we could stay.
In his commentary on the first chapter of the 10th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, Madhavacarya refers to Mathura as a state of consciousness. It is a fact that if one really wants to enter Vrndavana, they must realize it internally. Even while physically one may be in Vrndavana (North India), internally one may not have actually entered Vrndavana. To internally enter into Vrndavana, one must enter into the mood of service. Such devotional service is done under the authority of a superior vaisnava. So to really become Mathura-vasa, we must develop our internal relationship with Vrndavana by developing our relationship with Krsna, through devotional service.
During the month of Kartik, there is the chance to make special advancement. Especially whoever goes to Vrndavana is very fortunate because in Vrndavana, during Kartik, one can make many times more advancement under than under normal conditions! Therefore, being in Vrndavana during Kartik is very, very special. But not all of us have the opportunity or the time to just leave everything and go to Vrndavana for Kartik, but one can at least go in consciousness because the acaryas like Srila Jiva Gosvami have mentioned, “Mathura is not a place. It is a state of consciousness.” So the consciousness of Mathura or Vrndavana is what really transports us there! Therefore, we can also invoke that atmosphere from wherever we are and in that way, one can reside in Vrndavana by remembering Vrndavana because remembrance on the spiritual platform is as good as being there, and we simply remember the spiritual world.
