Radha Kunda Mahima Madhuri (The Sweet Glories of Radha Kunda)
Book Specification
Item Code: | NAK753 |
Author: | Mahanidhi Swami |
Publisher: | RAS BIHARI LAL AND SONS |
Language: | English |
Edition: | 2009 |
Pages: | 177 |
Cover: | Hardcover |
Other Details | 8.5 inch X 5.5 inch |
Weight | 330 gm |
Book Description
The title of this nectar-guidebook to Radha-kunda is based on this wonderful sloka from Sri Krsna Dasa Kaviraja Gosvami, The name, form, qualities, pastimes, friends, and home of Srimati Radhika are full of unlimited glories and sweetness. As everything connected with Sri Radha is full of the sweetest mellows, similarly, Her divine lake, Sri Radha-kunda is overflowing with the sweetest transcendental glories.
Although this topmost place of Radha-Madhava's intimate pastimes almost disappeared from the world, by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Radha- kunda reappeared to bless the most fallen with the rarest gift of Krsna prema. For the last five-hundred years, this secret storehouse of mercy remained hidden within the sacred writings of the Six Gosvamis. Other than a handful of Gaudiya Vaisnavas in India, no one had any knowledge or appreciation of the glories of Sri Radha-kunda.
Lord Caitanya, who came to Vrndavana and personally revealed the location of Radha-kunda, wanted people in every town and village to sing the glories of Radha and Krsna. By offenselessly chanting the Lord's glories one may have a chance to fulfil Lord Caitanya's inner desire. As Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted everyone to chant the holy names, He also wanted everyone to bathe in Sri Radha-kunda.
Bathing in Radha-kunda means to live eternally in Vraja-dhama blissfully serving the lotus feet of Radha-Madhava in the loving mood of the gopis. Although one rarely attains this spiritual perfection, Lord Caitanya and His sincere followers are broadcasting this sublime message throughout the world.
Srila Prabhupada was an intimate and empowered associate of Lord Caitanya. Therefore, to fulfil the Lord's inner desire. Srila Prabhunada translated Sri Rupa Gosvami's Sanskrit classic Sri Upadesamrta into English, calling it the Nectar oj Instruction. Nectar is a tonic that stimulates, energises, and extends one's life. This book is a nectar-tonic that stimulates prema to flow within the heart.
The Nectar of Instruction leads one out of the body, and into the nectar of bathing in Srimati Radhika's eternal service in a divine body surcharged with spiritual ecstasy. Thinking that the nectar was only for a select audience, disciples became confused when Srila Prabhupada once ordered the BBT to print 100,000 copies of Sri Upadesamrta.
One disciple said, "Srila Prabhupada, this book is not for the masses of people.
Besides, since we only have about 10,000 devotees in our movement, it seems 10,000 copies would be sufficient."
Srila Prabhupada replied, "You don't understand. This book is not just for our devotees. The Nectar of Instruction is for everyone! You should distribute it widely."
Since Srila Prabhupada's first English edition, Sri Upadesamrta has been translated into all the major languages. Millions of copies have been distributed around the world. Srila Prabhupada is fulfilling Lord Caitanya's desire to spread the glories of Radha-kunda to every town and village.
Every year thousands of fortunate devotees visit Vrndavana, We thought a nectar-guidebook to Radha-kunda would help these devotees derive the greatest benefit from their pilgrimage. Besides describing all the holy places, Radha Kunda Mahima Madhuri is full of sastric quotations about the sweet glories of Radha- kunda. In one sense, the book is a golden treasure box full of precious gems and jewel-like slokas, shining with the beauty and sweetness of Srimati Radhika.
Anywhere in the world, one can open this treasure box and swim in the nectar of remembering Radha-kunda. A fortunate soul can bring this treasure box to Vrndavana, open to the parikrama guide chapter, and wander through the nectar- filled groves of Radha-kunda.
Then with a mind purified by the dust of parikrama, and a heart humbled by submissive prayers to the acaryas, one can bathe in the immortal nectar of Radha- kunda's prema-filled waters.
We hope this book will serve the devotees as both a shower of nectar, and as a practical guidebook for visiting Sri Radha-kunda, the most sublime abode of Radha-Syamasundara. As Srila Prabhupada once said, "Radha-kunda is for relishing," similarly, we hope the devotees will also relish Radha Kunda Mahima Madhuri, the sweet glories of Radha-kunda.
Chapter 1 | The Name of Radha-kunda | 1 |
Chapter 2 | The Identity of Radha-kunda | 5 |
Why is Radha-kunda so special? | 6 | |
Chapter 3 | The Appearance of Radha-kunda | 9 |
Appearance of Radha-kunda in Goloka | 10 | |
Creation of Radha-kunda In This World | 11 | |
Sri Jiva Gosvaml's Description | 14 | |
King Vajranabha Restores Radha-kunda | 17 | |
1514 A.D. Lord Caitanya Reveals Radha-kunda | 18 | |
Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami Expands the Mercy | 19 | |
Maha-rnantra and the Appearance of Radha-kunda | 20 | |
Radhastami and the Appearance of Radha-kunda | 21 | |
Appearance of the Milk Ocean at Radha-kunda | 22 | |
Chapter 4 | Description of Radha-kunda | 25 |
The Banks of Radha-kunda | 27 | |
The Kunjas of the Asta Sakhis | 30 | |
Chapter 5 | Pastimes at Radha-kunda | 37 |
Radha-kunda Lila --- Two Krsna's in the Kunja | 39 | |
Holi Lila [festival of throwing colors] | 40 | |
Jala-keli [water pastimes in Radha-kunda] | 42 | |
Chapter 6 | Serving and Worshiping Radha-kunda | 45 |
The Dandavat Parikrama of Radha-kunda | 47 | |
Worship During Kartika Month | 50 | |
Bahulastami Bathing | 52 | |
Chapter 7 | Bathing and Living at Radha-kunda | 55 |
The Glories of Bathing | 55 | |
The Rarity of Taking Bath | 57 | |
To Bathe or Not to Bathe | 58 | |
Mood and Method of Bathing | 61 | |
Living at Radha-kunda | 64 | |
Chapter 8 | Parikrama Guide to Radha-kunda | 67 |
1 | Thakura Radha Gokulananda Temple | 67 |
We're Asking Everyone To Give a Donation | 68 | |
2 | Sri Kundesvara Mahadeva Temple | 70 |
3 | Radha-Krsna Purana Mandira | 72 |
4 | Sri Gopala Manipur Mandira | 73 |
5 | Sri Radha-Kanta Mandira | 74 |
6 | Radha Kufija Bihari Mandira | 75 |
7 | Malyahari Kunda | 76 |
8 | Siva Khari | 79 |
9 | Radha Syamasundara Mandira | 80 |
10 | Radha Darnodara Mandira | 81 |
11 | Radha Gopinatha Mandira | 82 |
12 | Ma Jahnava Baithaka [sitting place of Ma Jahnava] | 83 |
13 | Samadhi of Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami | 86 |
14 | Siva Mandira | 88 |
15 | Radharamana Mandira | 89 |
16 | Rasa Mandala Platform | 89 |
17 | Radha Govinda Mandira | 90 |
18 | Jibya Mandira [the tongue of Giriraja] | 91 |
19 | Teen Gosvami Samadhi | 92 |
20 | Bhajana Kutira of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami | 93 |
21 | Bhajana Kutira of Krsna Dasa Kaviraja | 95 |
22 | Bhajana Kutira of Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami | 96 |
23 | Bhajana Kutira of Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura | 99 |
24 | Manasa-pavana-ghata | 102 |
25 | Panca Pandavas | 102 |
Sri Krsna Kundastaka | 103 | |
26 | Caitanya Gadadhara Mandira | 105 |
27 | Bhajana Kutira of Thakura Bhaktivinoda | 106 |
28 | Sri Jagannatha Mandira | 108 |
29 | Lalita Kunda | 111 |
Sri Lalitastakam | 112 | |
30 | Bhajana Kutira of Sri Jiva Gosvami | 113 |
31 | Lalita Bihari Mandira | 114 |
32 | Radha Vinoda Bihari Mandira | 114 |
33 | Gopi-kuwa [Giriraja jihva prakata sthali] | 116 |
34 | Srila Madnavendra Purl's Baithaka [sitting place] | 116 |
Madhavendra Puri Meets Sri Nityananda Prabhu | 117 | |
35 | Asta Sakhi Mandira | 117 |
36 | Sri-Sri Nitai-Gaura Sitanatha Mandira | 118 |
37 | Radha Madhava Mandira | 118 |
38 | Tamala Tala Ghera | 118 |
39 | Bankhandi Mahadeva [Lord Siva Mandira] | 119 |
40 | Mahaprabhu's Baithaka [Tamala Tala] | 119 |
Sri Radhika-Astottara-Sata-Nama-Stotram | 120 | |
41 | Pasa Ghata [and Vallabhacarya's Baithaka] | 124 |
42 | Sri-Sri Laksmi-Narayana Mandira | 126 |
43 | Sri-Sri Radha-Madana Mohana Mandira | 126 |
44 | Sriman Mahaprabhu Temple [ Gaura-Nitar] | 126 |
45 | The Sangam [meeting place of the kundas] | 127 |
46 | Sri-Sri Radha-Gopinatha Mandira | 129 |
47 | Sri Hanuman Mandira | 131 |
Two Extra Parikramas | 132 | |
Chapter 9 | Prayers | 141 |
Radharani Ki Jai! Maharani Ki Jai! | 141 | |
Radha Krpa Kataksa (by Lord Siva) | 141 | |
Radha-kundastakam Raghunatha Dasa Gosvarni | 147 | |
Sakhi-vrnde Vijnaptih Narottama Dasa | 149 | |
Sri Vraja-dhama-mahimamrta Krsna Dasa | 150 | |
Sri Rupa Manjari Pada Narottama Dasa | 152 | |
Saparsada-bhagavad-viraha-jan' -vilapa Narottama Dasa | 153 | |
Vaisnave Vijnaptih Narottama Dasa Thakura | 154 | |
Sri-Sri Sad-gosvamy-astaka Srinivasa Acarya | 155 | |
Chapter 10 | Dates and Devotees | 159 |
References |