Sri Vraja-mandala Parikrama 2008
performed under the guidance of
Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja
Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha, Mathura, Tel: 0565-2502334
Sri Rupa Sanatana Gaudiya Matha, Vrindavana, Tel: 0565-2443270
Sri Giridhari Gaudiya Matha, Govardhan, Tel: 0565-2815668
E-mail:
"Today or tomorrow this worthless material body will leave me, and all the material happiness connected with it will also leave. Because material happiness is temporary, it should be understood to be only a mirage of real happiness. O my mind, please abandon this false happiness and enjoy the real, eternal happiness of devotional service within the land of Vrindavan."
(Srila Prabhodhananda Sarasvati's Sri Vrindavan-mahimamrta, Sataka 1, Text 24)
"Where do all people automatically and effortlessly obtain pure ecstatic love for Krsna? Where does the Supreme Personality of Godhead manifest His supremely wonderful pastime form? Where is the empire of the bliss of devotional service to Krsna's lotus feet manifest? O brother, listen as I will tell you a secret. All this is present here in Vrindavan."
(Srila Prabhodhananda Sarasvati's Sri Vrindavan-mahimamrta, Sataka 1, Text 47)
"Vrindavan is wonderful. The two sweet fair and dark splendors, named Radha and Krsna are wonderful. Pure love for Their lotus feet is wonderful. He who has faith in Them and rises to the spiritual world is wonderful. The rare soul who understands these truths is wonderful."
(Srila Prabhodhananda Sarasvati's Sri Vrindavan-mahimamrta, Sataka 1, Text 57)
Dear Devotees,
We would like to invite all of you to attend the festival of Sri Vraja-mandala Parikrama 2008, organized under the auspices of om visnupada Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja.
For more than half a century, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja has conducted this annual parikrama, humbly facilitating and nourishing fortunate pilgrims from all parts of India, as well as from many other countries, with his beautiful hari-katha.
Sri Vraja-mandala Parikrama 2008 will start on 14 October and end on 13 November. There will be kirtanas, lectures on Sri Damodarastakam, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta and other bhakti literatures, as well as darsanas of the famous pastime-places in Vraja-mandala.
We cordially invite everyone to come and join this beautiful festival, which is always an unforgettable, unbelievable transcendental experience, and hear the unprecedented hari-katha.
For those who are so fortunate to stay the entire month, a minimum contribution of Rs. 6500 is required, in order to help cover the basic parikrama expenses throughout this month, thus enabling you to use the simple accommodations and general facilities, travel on the buses and honor the delicious maha-prasadam.
For further information regarding facilities, hotels in Vrindavan and Govardhan, transportation from Delhi and so forth, please see website posted on www.purebhakti.com/parikrama. Please forward your attendance details, preferably by e-mail, as soon as possible to
If, by destiny, you are not able to come to Vrindavan this year:
"He who yearns to attain the sweetness of pure love in Vrindavan, but by destiny is forced to live elsewhere, laments and always remembers Vrindavan, beautiful with splendid groves where Sri Sri Radhika-Krsna enjoy pastimes. He meditates on entering Vrindavan and thinks "Now I am serving the divine couple".
(Srila Prabhodhananda Sarasvati's Sri Vrindavan-mahimamrta, Sataka 1, Text 75)
Sri Vraja-mandala Parikrama 2008 Schedule
Sri Keshavaji Gaudiya Matha, Mathura, Tel: 0565-2502334
Sri Rupa Sanatana Gaudiya Matha, Vrindavan, Tel: 0565-2443270
Sri Giridhari Gaudiya Matha, Govardhan, Tel: 0565-2815668
Oct. 12, Sunday - Darsana of Sri Durvasa Rsi Gaudiya Asrama.
Oct. 13, Monday - Hari-katha and prasadam in Vrindavan at Gopinatha Bhavana till morning of Oct. 26.
Oct. 14, Tuesday - (Vrindavan) Sri Sarad Purëima. Kartika-vrata begins. Sankalpa (vow) for the parikrama at Kesi ghata in Vrindavan. Sri Srimad Bhakti Prajnana Keshava Gosvami Maharaja disappearance festival.
Oct. 15, Wednesday - Kaliya-daha, Srila Prabhodananda Sarasvati's bhajana-kutira and samadhi, Srila Sanatana Gosvami's bhajana-kutira and samadhi, Sri Madana-mohana Temple, Dana-gali.
Oct. 16, Thursday - Seva-kunja, Sri Radha-Damodara Temple, Imlitala, Sringara-vata, etc.
Oct. 17, Friday - Baelvana.
Oct. 18, Saturday - BY BUS (from Vrindavan) to Madhuvana, Talavan, Kumudvana, Mana-sarovara, Mathavana, Bhadravana, Bhandiravana ((prasadam).
Oct. 19, Sunday - Nidhuvana, temples of Sri Radha-Ramana, Sri Radha-Gokulananda, Sri Radha Gopinatha and Sri Sri Radha-Syamasundara.
Oct. 20, Monday - Dhira-samira, Vamsi-vata, Gopesvara Mahadeva, Sri Govindadeva Temple.
Oct. 21, Tuesday - BY BUS (from Vrindavan) to Raval, Brahmanda-ghata, Mahavana-Gokula, Dauji and prasadam at Sri Dauji Gaudiya Matha. (Return to Vrindavan).
Oct. 22, Wednesday - Bhatrol, Akrura-ghata, prasadam at the place of the Yanja-patnis.
Oct. 23, Thursday - Pujyapada Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Maharaja's appearance festival. Hari-katha and rest.
Oct. 24, Friday - BY BUS (from Vrindavan) to Rama-ghata, Viharavana, Cira-ghata (prasadam),Vatsavana, Garuda-Govinda. (Return to Vrindavan).
Oct. 25, Saturday - Ekadasi. Sri Vrindavan parikrama.
Oct. 26, Sunday - Departure from Vrindavan. BY BUS to Govardhana via Bahulavana, Paitha and Candra-sarovara. Hari-katha and prasadam in Govardhana at Sri Giridhari Gaudiya Matha till afternoon of Nov. 13.
Oct. 27, Monday - Govardhana parikrama - Dana-ghati, Anyora, Govinda-kunda, Punchari, Surabhi-kunda (prasadam), Jatipura. Offering ghee lamps in the evening.
Oct. 28, Tuesday- Sri Hari-deva Temple, Brahma-kunda, Cakalesvara Mahadeva, Mukharavinda, Sri Sanatana Gosvami's bhajana-kutira, etc. Dipavali (festival of lights) in the evening.
Oct. 29, Wednesday - Govardhana Puja (worship of Govardhan Hill). Annakuta festival.
Oct. 30, Thursday - Bhaijaduja (Yamaraja's blessings on brothers and sisters). Hari-katha and rest at Sri Giridhari Gaudiya Matha.
Oct. 31, Friday - Radha-kunda parikrama. Uddhava-kunda. Kusuma-sarovara etc. Prasadam at Sri Giridhari Gaudiya Matha.
Nov. 1, Saturday - Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Maharaja's and Srila Bhaktivedanta Trivikrama Maharaja's disappearance festival. Hari-katha and rest.
Nov. 2, Sunday - Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja's disappearance festival. Hari-katha.
Nov. 3, Monday - Srila Bhakti Srirupa Siddhanti Gosvami Maharaja's appearance festival. BY BUS to Kamyavana via Gulal-kunda, Dig, Bhojana-thali (breakfast prasadam), Pichala-pahadi (slide-hill), Vyomasura's cave, temples of Govindaji, Vrinda-devi and Kamesvara Mahadeva, Vimala-kunda (lunch prasadam), Carana-pahadi. (Return to Govardhana.)
Nov. 4, Tuesday - Hari-katha and rest at Giridhari Gaudiya Matha, Govardhana.
Nov. 5, Wednesday - BY BUS to Vrindavan. Yearly festival at Ananda-dhama with prasadam and nagara-saìkirtana in the evening.
Nov. 6, Thursday - Gopastami. BY BUS to Nandagrama via Prema-sarovara, Sanket, Nandakhirak (Nanda-baba's goshala), Uddhava-kyari, Lalita-kunda, Nanda-bhavana, Ter-kadamba, Asisesvar Mahadeva (prasadam), Pavana-sarovara, Choti Carana-pahadi. (Return to Govardhana.)
Nov. 7, Friday - Killola-kunda, Gvala-pokhara (prasadam), Syama-talaiya, Ratna-vedi, Carana-cihna, Narada kunda.
Nov. 8, Saturday - BY BUS to Varsana. Cikasauli, Gahvaravana parikrama, Mana-garha, Dana- garha, Mor-kuti (breakfast prasadam), Sriji Temple. Pili-pokhara, Uchagaon (prasadam), Sakhigiri-parvata, Suryakunda. (Return to Govardhana.)
Nov. 9, Sunday - Ekadasi. Srila Gaura-kishora dasa Babaji Maharaja's disappearance. Bhisma-pancaka. Hari-katha and rest at Giridhari Gaudiya Matha, Govardhana.
Nov. 10, Monday - Hari-katha and rest at Giridhari Gaudiya Matha, Govardhana.
Nov. 11. Tuesday - BY BUS to Khadiravana, Kokilavana, Javata, Baithana, Carana-pahadi (prasadam). (Return to Govardhana.)
Nov. 12, Wednesday - Srila Bhakti Pramoda Puri Gosvami Maharaja's disappearance festival. Hari-katha and rest at Giridhari Gaudiya Matha, Govardhana. Hari-katha and rest at Giridhari Gaudiya Matha, Govardhana.
Nov. 13, Thursday - Vaisnava homa (honoring Vaisnavas). End of Kartika-vrata and Urja-vrata. End of Sri Vraja Mandala Parikrama
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For Taxi service and accomdations upon arrival please see the following links:
Taxi Service from Delhi to Vrindavana/Govardhan
Hotels and Guest Houses in New Delhi, Vrindavan, and Govardhan
Download: 2008 Kartik Schedule with grapics for printing
Download: 2008 Karitk Invitation with graphics for printing flyers or posters
