These few peacock pictures are from the holy land of Vraj Mandal.
The peacocks are a very intimate part of the Divine ShreeKrishn and ShreeRadha leela. In some way they might belong to the generations of peacocks whose ancestors would have been a witness to Shree Radha and Shree Krishn leelas on this pavitra bhumi thousands of years ago
Peacocks are by nature very shy and hide away from intruders, I feel fortunate to have been able to catch them in the very natural surroundings. Unfortunately due to unplanned development in the holy Braj Dham and with an increase of the monkey population in the surroundings, these beautiful peacocks have dramatically reduced in number.
This is also an appeal to all, not to kill these beautiful birds for recreation or meat. They are as close to Shree RadhaKrishn as Their beloved sacred Cows!
I have selected a few dancing peacock pictures from my vast collection of peacock photos.
Hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I have been delighted to photograph and present them before you.
Madan Mohan Temple located near the Kali Ghat, Vrindavan was built by Kapur Ram Das of Multan.
This is the oldest temple in Vrindavan.
The temple is closely associated with the Saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
The original image of Shree Madan Gopal has been shifted from this mandir to Karauli in Rajasthan for safe keeping during Aurangzeb’s rule. Today, a replica of the image is worshiped at the temple.
(Information source:Wikipedia)
Some pictures from my visits:
One of the entrance to this mandir
This mandir has three structures. This is the back side entrance
This is the main mandir. You are not allowed to photograph the Deities of Shree RadhaKrishn in this mandir. The pujari is visible sitting for sewa
Side view from the Parikrama marg. The ascetic seems to be in deep thought
A beautiful structure
Shri Sanatan Goswami’s Bhajan Kutir is located in the premises
Sharing with you few pictures from my visit to the 20th Baithak of Mahaprabhuji, located at Vraj Mandal
Baithakji ShreeNathji sewa View of the Baithakji
Krishn Kund at the Baithakji The Mukhiyaji who does sewa here View from the Baithakji across the Krishn Kund. Cows grazing! In spite of irresponsible destruction of the land in various ways, they have not been able to destroy the divine vibrations
20TH BAITHAKJI AT KOKILA VAN AT Vraj Mandal
Here by the Krishn Kund, under a tree, Mahaprabhu Vallabhachayra resided for one month discussing the Shrimad Bhagavatam. Their Chaturnaga a disciple of the Nimvark Sampradays approached Mahaprabhuji and said, “we have heard that you support the path of Devotion as taught by Vshnu Svami and have debated and defeated all the Mayavadians in the south. Please shower you infinite grace on the thousand hermits living here by feeding them all rice pudding.
Mahaprabhuji then told Krishnadas to bring five kilos of milk and make the pudding for the hermits. When the pudding was prepared, Mahaprabhuji glanced over it and it became an inexhastable five kilos of pudding. The thousand hermits were feed the pudding in bowls made of leaves and even after everyone had finished, the same five kilos of pudding remained. Mahaprabhuji then told Krishnadas to distribute the rest of the pudding to all the peacocks and monkeys in the areas, but even after that the original five kilos of rice pudding remained. Only when Vasudevadas took the remains of the pudding to his home did the five kilos of pudding finally diminish.
Chaturnaga seeing this amazing pastime prayed, “you are no other than the Lord Himself. I was ignorant of your true form, but now I pray t be made you disciple.”
Shri Mahaprabhu replied, “you already have a guru, but by the grace of my grandson, Shri Gokulnathji who will appear in the future, you will enter into the path of Grace.”
Chatrunaga questioned, “what will be my condition intil then.”
“You will live for 150 years and then my grandson Shri Gokulnathji will shower his grace on you during your 110 th year.”
For many years, Chaturnaga wander about in to holy preceints of Vrindavan always absorbed in the Lord’s divine remembrance. Once, while rambling about, his hair got tangled on a branch and for three days he could not free himself. Then Shri Krishna came and untangle his hair. During that time, King Jahangir order that all Tulsi necklaces worn by the Vaishnavas not to be worn. Chaturnaga fell a victum to the order and fhad his necklace removed. Shortly later, Chaturnaga passed Shri Gokulnathji in Mathura. Shri Gokulnathji called, “Chaturnaga, although we are married people, we did not take off our tulsi necklaces. How is it that you a hermit had yours removed?”
Chaturnaga prostrated before Shri Gokulnathji and holding on to his feet said with welling eyes, “After so long a wait have net you. Kindly accept me as your disciple and give me Tulsi necklace.”
Gokulnathji knowing the promise of Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya made Chaturnaga his disciple. From that time, Chaturnaga always went about sing the glories of his guru. At the age of 150 he dropped his body at Govinda lake by the Govaradhan hill and enter into Krishna’s lila.
(A painted depiction of his place as it might 20TH BAITHAKJI AT KOKILA VAN AT Vraj Mandal
Here by the Krishn Kund, under a tree, Mahaprabhu Vallabhachayra resided for one month discussing the Shrimad Bhagavatam. Their Chaturnaga a disciple of the Nimvark Sampradays approached Mahaprabhuji and said, “we have heard that you support the path of Devotion as taught by Vshnu Svami and have debated and defeated all the Mayavadians in the south. Please shower you infinite grace on the thousand hermits living here by feeding them all rice pudding.
Mahaprabhuji then told Krishnadas to bring five kilos of milk and make the pudding for the hermits. When the pudding was prepared, Mahaprabhuji glanced over it and it became an inexhastable five kilos of pudding. The thousand hermits were feed the pudding in bowls made of leaves and even after everyone had finished, the same five kilos of pudding remained. Mahaprabhuji then told Krishnadas to distribute the rest of the pudding to all the peacocks and monkeys in the areas, but even after that the original five kilos of rice pudding remained. Only when Vasudevadas took the remains of the pudding to his home did the five kilos of pudding finally diminish.
Chaturnaga seeing this amazing pastime prayed, “you are no other than the Lord Himself. I was ignorant of your true form, but now I pray t be made you disciple.”
Shri Mahaprabhu replied, “you already have a guru, but by the grace of my grandson, Shri Gokulnathji who will appear in the future, you will enter into the path of Grace.”
Chatrunaga questioned, “what will be my condition intil then.”
“You will live for 150 years and then my grandson Shri Gokulnathji will shower his grace on you during your 110 th year.”
For many years, Chaturnaga wander about in to holy preceints of Vrindavan always absorbed in the Lord’s divine remembrance. Once, while rambling about, his hair got tangled on a branch and for three days he could not free himself. Then Shri Krishna came and untangle his hair. During that time, King Jahangir order that all Tulsi necklaces worn by the Vaishnavas not to be worn. Chaturnaga fell a victum to the order and fhad his necklace removed. Shortly later, Chaturnaga passed Shri Gokulnathji in Mathura. Shri Gokulnathji called, “Chaturnaga, although we are married people, we did not take off our tulsi necklaces. How is it that you a hermit had yours removed?”
Chaturnaga prostrated before Shri Gokulnathji and holding on to his feet said with welling eyes, “After so long a wait have net you. Kindly accept me as your disciple and give me Tulsi necklace.”
Gokulnathji knowing the promise of Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya made Chaturnaga his disciple. From that time, Chaturnaga always went about sing the glories of his guru. At the age of 150 he dropped his body at Govinda lake by the Govaradhan hill and enter into Krishna’s lila.
Baithaks in Pushtimarg religion are pavitr places where Shri Vallabhachary, the founder of Pushtimarg, narrated the Pavitr granth Shrimad Bhagvadji Katha.
It was almost always under the Chonkar vraksh of a Vat vraksh with an adjacent Kund. (water body)
They are total 84 in number and spread all over the country.
Mahaprabhuji had circled the whole of India three times and done sthapna of these various Baithaks.
Each Baithak has its own particular Charitr (description).
Baithaks are holy places where there is no Idol or Chitr (Picture); seva is done of Gaddi (Seating).
There are several Baithaks of Shri Vitthalnathji Gusaiji also. Many are in the same place as Shri Vallabh Achary. Other’s located by themselves wherever he went and rested.
Abha Shahra Shyama 