Vrajabhumi Yatra

Vrajabhumi Yatra

Being an amateur blogger, I usually try to keep my writing short and crisp. This time, there was no such effort — so please bear with me 😊

Krishnana Kolalina Kare

(Written a week before the yatra)

Our connection with Krishna goes far beyond that of God and devotee. In Him, we seek a

friend, a guide, and a guru at every moment of our lives — because within each of us resides an Arjuna — always seeking direction, without barriers.

I still remember a story narrated by my father — whom I lost when I was around thirteen years old.

During the episode of Vastrapaharana, Draupadi prays to Krishna with her eyes closed, yet her hands continue to hold her saree. As long as she holds on, the saree does not become Akshaya (endless). But the moment she becomes completely immersed in prayer —

forgetting everything except Krishna and releasing all control — the saree becomes Akshaya. The message we received was profound: true surrender begins when we let go completely.

And now, with that same faith in my heart, I move forward — seeking and longing for my most cherished week-long yatra to Vrajabhumi.

Day 1: Vrindavan Chalo Vrindavan

At 5:00 a.m., our regular driver, Kathir, dropped me at the airport. I was a bit shocked by the situation there — hundreds of IndiGo flights had been cancelled. Thankfully, I reached Delhi on time, as I was flying with Akasa.

Including me, we were five yatris. Soon, we received an update that Agrani Prabhuji would also be joining us, which made us very happy. The remaining yatris were expected to arrive later that night.

The day ended with all of us praying sincerely for their safe journey.

Day 2: Vrindavan Pyare Vrindavan Happy Morning

The sound of many people talking in the restaurant filled us with happiness and relief. The energy and enthusiasm of the yatris who had joined us early that morning remained

untouched, despite the stressful and long hours of travel.

The entire group then proceeded for darshan at various temples in Vrindavan. As Agrani Sir had rightly said,

“In Vrindavan, Radha and Krishna will steal your hearts — and monkeys will snatch your specs and mobiles.”

Very soon, the monkeys proved him right. They even introduced us to a new barter system — snatched spectacles were exchanged for juice and snacks, leaving both parties quite

satisfied!

Temples visited:

· Radha Govind Temple

· Yogamaya Temple

· Rangaji Temple

· Gopinath Temple

· Radha Raman Temple

· Gokul Govind Temple

Darshan at these temples offered us a gentle preview of how blessed the coming seven days would be. Our eyes refused to move away from Radha Raman, and in that moment, we

understood why He is called Chittachora — the stealer of hearts. Nothing in the entire

universe could compare to those tiny lotus feet, softly adorned with anklets, that stilled both time and thought.

Vanavihari

Afternoon visits to:

Madhuvan — The sacred tapasthali of Dhruva, where young Dhruva performed intense meditation.

Talavan — The place where Balarama killed Dhenukasura; today it houses a beautiful temple of Shri Krishna and Balarama.

Garud Govind Temple — A unique temple where Shri Krishna is seated on Garudaji, with Goddess Lakshmi seated on His left.

Along with bhajans, chanting, the rhythm of taal and mridangam, and the beauty of dusk — left us silent, completely lost in a wave of divinity.

Day 3: Vrindavan Mero Vrindavan

I am always all ears when Agrani Sir narrates — every time, he opens a new window of

enlightenment. Even now, I can hear and feel his words:

“In Vrindavan, bhakti is pure love.

It is not just I am Yours; it is You are mine.”

What a beautiful and rightful union of bhakti and love.

Inside the temple, local devotees entered with raised hands, calling out,

“Mera Gopal! Mera Shyama!”

Those moments touched me the most. In that sacred calling, I felt it deeply too —

He was mine as well…

The morning began with a visit to Krishna Janma Sthali.

All of us were lost — looking around, feeling, and visualising those moments and stories we had heard since childhood.

The ārati at Keshava Temple and darshan of Shri Rama and Durga temples added even more depth to the morning, quietly enriching the experience.

We also visited:

· Koyile Ghat

· Bṛhmand Ghat

· Balaram Janma Sthala

· Nanda Bhavan

· Balagopal Temple

· Pūtana Haran Temple

Each place carried its own story, its own sacred energy, leaving us immersed in devotion and wonder. Kadamb’s Sir’s narration and boatride in Yamuna made them special.

Ramana Reti: After a quick darshan at the Dauji Temple, we reached Ramana Reti — the sacred land of Vraja Raj.

It is believed that this is the place where the cows of Vraja expressed their love for Krishna, transforming the once hard ground into soft sand (reti).

At Ramana Reti, all of us yatris became like little Hanumans. Just as Hanuman smeared

sindhoor all over his body for Rama, we smeared ourselves with Vraja Raj — rolling on the ground, touching it, feeling it, and completely immersing ourselves in the love of Krishna and Vraja.

Ladli Lalji Temple: The name itself sounds so special — so sweet and affectionate, doesn’t it?

Raval was our last stop of the day, the sacred birthplace of Radha, Vraj ki Ladli. The temple here is dedicated to both Ladli and Lulla of Vraj, radiating a tender, loving energy.

Dusk once again unfolded into a divine moment — just like the previous evening. Bhajans filled the air, devotees clapped in rhythm, some dancing in pure joy, and the entire

atmosphere felt soaked in love and devotion.

Our vehicles moved towards hotel, while we sat with closed eyes pondering the moments of the day.

Day 4: Radharaniki Jai, Maharaniki Jai

Filled with excitement to visit Barsana and Nandagaon, we began our journey early in the morning. The ropeway was paused for the yatris, allowing us to enjoy a beautiful aerial view of Barsana — the cool, slightly chilly morning and the lush greenery all around made it a delightful start to the day.

Barsana:The temple was very crowded, yet Radha–Krishna, the eternal symbol of love, drew everyone in — each of us wanting to simply stand there, lost in their presence.

The slow, reluctant steps towards the exit revealed the quiet resistance of both body and soul, unwilling to leave that sacred space.

Nandagaon: A small climb led us to the temple, covered by the yatris in different ways — some walked up with chanting, while others chose a short ride on rented bikes.

Here, both Krishna and Balarama appear as Shyama Sundara, beautifully reflecting the deep bond of brotherly love between them.

Back to the Hotel

Let me introduce two gurus with exceptional and almost genetic management skills — Kailash and Ravi, the drivers of our two vans. A long wait in a traffic jam turned into an unexpected learning session.

At times, they jumped in to resolve the issue directly; sometimes a gentle request did the

trick; at other moments, an argument followed — and as a final resort, a loud yell. Somehow, one way or another, they always found a way out.

Equally striking was watching them sit like patience personified, calmly tapping the steering wheel, while the entire world seemed to be honking around and fifteen restless souls sat behind.

Day 5: Time Travellers

We had no idea that a scenic drive began in the early morning would turn into a time travelling.

Amidst forests, a serene lake, lush greenery, gentle morning mist, and the chirping of birds, the stage was already set. Sitting around Agrani Sir, listening to his narration, we didn’t just visualize the stories — we were transported back to Dwaparayuga.

We felt Yashoda’s mātru vātsalya, witnessed Krishna playing joyfully with His friends, and experienced the pure love and devotion of the Gopikas for Krishna.

We visited several sacred places associated with Krishna Leelas:

· Vatsa Vana

· Agha Vana

· Chaumuhan

· Ram Ghat

· Tapovana

The Vanbhojana at Tapovana brought all the yatris back to Kaliyuga — though a part of our hearts lingered there, walking with Krishna through forests, stories, and timeless devotion.

Cheer Ghat

This is the sacred site of the “Gopika Vastrapaharan” Leela. The ancient Kadamba tree,

gracefully bent over the flowing Yamuna below, was adorned with sarees tied by devotees — flying in the breeze. For a moment, it felt as if Krishna Himself were sitting somewhere nearby, surrounded by all those “Vastra” of the Gopikas.

These tied sarees are also wish tags of devotees, and we too added ours, completing a few

pradakshinas around the tree.

As dusk settled on the banks of the Yamuna, the golden rays of the sun reflected on the water, while birds hurried to their nests before darkness fell.

We too got into the vans with smiles on our lips and a question in our eyes for Kailash and Ravi — was there another ‘class’ waiting for us that day as well? Their smile said, it’s

“situational”

Day 6: Govardhan Parikrama

It was the most awaited day of the yatra. A drop in temperature and a rise in the morning mist made the beginning of the day especially beautiful.

Darshan of Radha–Krishna at the Ashokvana Temple, followed by steaming khichdi, made the morning even more fulfilling.

As part of the Govardhan Parikrama, we visited:

· Kusumavana

· Lakshmi Narayan Temple

· Uddhav Kunda

· Radha Kunda

· Shyam Kunda

Heartfelt moments:

Samrat, one of our yatra directors, Dinesh, our driver, and I shared an auto during the parikrama. Samrat helped me meet many elderly sadhus and matajis. The experience cannot truly be put into words, yet I will try — if only a little.

Some were blind from birth, many due to cataracts; some were in wheelchairs, others leaned on crutches. Some were offering dandavat pranams, while others sat quietly. Gentle touches, hands held with care, affectionate smiles, pain softly hidden, little hugs — eyes speaking far more than lips, and blessings flowing without limit.

Each moment carried a different emotion, yet all were deeply precious. These were not just heartfelt moments; they were heart-melting ones.

Evening at Banke Bihari: It felt as if He was playing hide and seek with His devotees — each glimpse filling us with devotion, childlike delight, and a sweet smile of

fulfillment.

Day 7: When the Child in Us Came Alive

Just reading a few names on the itinerary had already filled us with excitement and curiosity.

We visited:

· Kameshwar Mahadev Temple

· Vrindadevi Temple

· Vyamasura Caves

· Charan Shila Pahadi

· Bhojana Thali

· Fisalni Shila

We were normal yatris until we reached Vyamasura Caves. That place — and the leelas of Krishna and Balarama associated with it — brought out the child in every one of us.

Every fun-filled moment was enjoyed with childlike delight: climbing rocks, swinging from tree branches, and laughing freely. The steep climb of Charan Shila Pahadi even made me use my hands for support, showing how completely we had forgotten age, caution, and everything else — except joy.

Bhojana Thali Temple holds a special charm — it is believed that Krishna enjoyed food here, served on a stone thali along with His friends. The glow on the faces of the

yatris upon seeing “curd rice” was far brighter than a child’s expression on seeing ice cream!

Fisalni Shila topped the list of fun. Everyone was sliding and laughing endlessly. A wave of loud laughter erupted when Nagesh Sir managed to apply a timely brake to his sliding speed!

As dusk settled, I remained in my room, listening to bhajans flowing in from every direction, filling the air with peace.

Day 8: Radhe Radhe, Shyam Milade!!

With my flight scheduled earlier than the group’s drop-off time, I had initially

planned to leave early, skipping the temple visits on the final morning of the yatra. However, Kadamb Sir and Khush gently — but firmly — insisted that I should not miss them. I remain deeply grateful to both for that loving push.

We visited:

• Radha Damodar Temple

• Radha Shyamsundar Temple

• Madan Mohan Temple

• Kaaliya Daha Temple

• Nidhi Vana

These final darshans completed our yatra — leaving us fulfilled, contented, and deeply happy.

Happy Yet Heavy

As assured by Kadamb Sir and Khush, we were back at the hotel on time. Our return journey began as planned.

Our driver, Pasha, was the quiet type, and that silence gave me space — to slowly rewind, to reflect, and to introspect.

Days filled with darshan, devotion, narration, and bhajans… Countless moments of romanchana and anandabhashpa …

My long-lost, forgotten hummingbird within me had come alive — humming joyfully through every single moment of the day.

A week of silence, peace, and inner stillness…

And then, memories began rolling in, one after another, slowly making the heart heavier and heavier.

A sudden shift in thought brought an instant spark of hope and happiness — planning the next visit.

When to come, what all to do…

A visit initially thought of for next December had already moved closer — to the coming months — even as I was writing this 😊

Every part of my body, heart, and soul began singing:

“Radhe Radhe, Shyam Milade!!”

Looking back, this journey also filled me with immense gratitude — and this is what naturally flowed out:

“Jitna diya Sarkar ne mujhko Utni meri aukaat nahi

Yeh hai kripa mere Baba ki

Mujh mein aisi koyi baat nahii”

Untill Vraja calls again…

Thank you!!

Pushpa Kittali