 |
| Shreeji´s old Mandir at Govardhan |
| |
 |
Saddu Pande´s house
at Govardhan-where Naro
lived |
| |
 |
| Dr. Sudhir Shah at Saddu Pande's house |
| |
 |
Gaumata ´Ghumar´-feeding
Shreeji-At Govardhan |
| |
|
| |
 |
| Divine Shreeji came down to embrace His bhakt Shri Vallabhacharya on Govardhan |
|
 |
|
|
The Murti (Idol) of ShreeNathji, as it is established in Nathdwara today appeared in the Holy Braj Bhumi Vrindavan Dham; from within the sacred hill of Govardhanji. It appeared to lead the divine souls to their true bhakti.
Bhavishyavani (forecast) about ShreeNathji’s Appearance has already been mentioned in the Garg Samhita.
This swarup of Shree Krishn is from His original swarup of some 5236 years ago, when He lifted this same Girirajji to protect His dear Brajwasis. This dates back to the Dwapur Yug. In that period Bhagwan Shree Krishn took birth at Mathura in Vrindavan Dham, on the Braj bhumi, along with all His Divine souls who accompanied Him in various forms; namely the Gopis, His divine parents, divine gwals (cowherd friends), who form the main characters in His life. In that period also this incarnation of Shree Krishn was to destroy the intense evils that had over taken the earth. Honoring the requests of all Devtas, Devis, the higher divine souls, He came on this earth to destroy the evils. Radha, His Eternal Divine Love came with Him also to establish bhao in Bhakti; showing us the Divinity in love and bhakti – Divine Love Consciousness. Though Krishn and Radha are eternally the same soul, they appeared here as two, in that period of Dwapur yug.
(Shree Krishn was born on the 19|20 July, 3228 BC; at 12.39 am in Mathura; in Rohini Nakshatra-Shravan Vad Aatham. (Data taken from the scriptures, Harivansh,Part-1,Chapter 52; Bhagvadji,10th skand,3rd chapter; Vishnu Puran,1st chapter,26th shlok,5th ansh)
This leela varta (story) in which Krishn lifts the Govardhan hill for 7 days on His left small finger is the form what we today know as ShreeNathji swarup. This leela describes how ShreeKrishn destroyed the ego of Indr dev and showed the world that He is the Supreme Shakti. This famous varta finds description in all Hindu holy books.(You can read it from any Krishn vaarta books)
This sacred Govardhan hill today is located at a distance of 14 miles from Mathura, in the east of Anyor village. Here the first appearance of Krishn’s lotus hand from a point on the Gowardhan hill was known only to a cow, called "Ghumar" – who was discovered to be a direct descendent of the NandRaibaba’s; (Shree Krishn’s father in the original incarnation) vansh cow herd; The legend describes how she used to perform dugdh abhishek (worship through pouring of milk) on the Shree Mukh directly.
This cow belonged to a gwal called Sadu Pande. When he discovered that his cow had begun to give less milk daily he got suspicious. So he along with Manakchand followed her to know what the reality could be. They were led to the spot where she stood and let her milk flow freely on some particular stone on the hill. This divine leela astonished both of them. They had darshans of the alokik bhuja (Divine arm) of Shree Krishn which was now visible over the ground. This divya darshan made them very joyous. They were lucky to then hear the divya vani of Shree Krishn who told them, “I live on this hill. This is my cow from the Nand Vansh and especially dear to me. Send her milk to me daily”. So Saddu Pande’s daughter Naro and wife Bhavai who looked after the cow would carry milk to the top of Girirajji for Shree Krishn twice daily, who now appeared as ShreeNathji.
Shreeji, being the mischievous little child would play with Naro. Once He changed His swarup and went to Naro’s house, “Can you give me some milk, I am hungry”. “You will have to pay if you want milk”, said Naro, not recognizing Shreeji in this swarup. “I do not have money, but if you wait I will pay you in a different way”, so saying Shreeji ran back to His Mandir and came back with His Gold Katora (cup) used for His Bhog (offering) in the Mandir. Giving it to Naro, He happily drank some milk and ran away. Later when Naro’s father came home he was surprised to see the gold katora (cup). Naro explained how a young child came in the morning and having no money to pay for the milk gave this as payment. Her father was astonished and ecstatic. “You are so lucky; Shreeji came and changed His swarup to give you this Divya Anubhuti” (divine experience). He went up to the mandir and returned Shreeji’s Katora, explaining the entire play to all present there.
Such Divine interactions and plays with His 84 and 252 divine souls are in Shreeji Vartaa books called 84 Vaishnavas and 252 Vaishnavas ki vaarta.
The date on which prakatya (appearance) of Shree Krishn’s left bhuja (hand) took place was Shravan Vad Tritiya (3rd); Vikram Samvat 1466; Sunday in Shravan Nakshatra.
The Urdhva Bhuja Darshan for the villagers was on Naag Panchmi. From this day, the villagers began worship of the ‘left bhuja’ of Thakurjee. It was Tuesday; Shravan Vad Paacham (5th);Vikram Samvat 1466.
 Shravan Vad Chat(6th) is – |
Randhan Chat |
| Shravan Vad Saatam(7th) is - |
Shitla Satam; Krishn Jayanti |
| Shravan Vad Aatam(8th) is – |
Janmashtmi; Gopal Kala |
| Shravan Vad Naum(9th) is - |
Nand Mahotsav |
This left bhuja when it appeared had all the auspicious markings of the Lord, including the Shree and Swastik. The original Shaktis - powers of Shree KrishnRadha – became visible once again after a gap of thousands of years.
The lotus face of ShreeKrishn in this new Form made an appearance once again on this sacred bhumi (earth). It was on Vaishak Vad Giyaras (11th) in Vikram Samvat 1535; in Satbhisha Nakshatra on a Thursday; during the Abhijit mahurat, 12.40-1.00 in the afternoon; when His Lotus Face appeared to give His divya Darshan to the lucky people of the village; According to Shree Krishn’s desire, on the same day but in the Abhijit mahurat, 12.40-1.00 at night, Shree Vallabhacharya also appeared at some distance in another village called Champaran in a ring of fire. Vallabhacharya completed his earth leela in Vikram Samvat 1587; in Asad Sud Tej. He was 52 years of age when he returned in the Divine leela of Krishn again.
During this period all of the original gwal bals who were there with Him earlier in His original Incarnation as KrishnRadha also took birth around this land for the leela of Krishn to be perfect.
Shree Vallabhacharya in a divine encounter was told to come and build a mandir to start sewa of Shree Krishn. Also Shree Krishn said that there were some souls left from His Original Aavtar. "They have to be searched and initiated into sewa". "I have come for them as well as to grant peace and joy to all of man kind".
Shre Vallabhacharya reached Anyor village at Govardhan hill. Because of divine will he stopped night at Saddu Pande’s house.
ShreeNathji had the habit of calling out to Naro whenever He wished for milk. He liked talking and playing with her. In sometime Shree Krishn called out from top of the Girirajji, “O Naro, bring me some milk”. As Shree Vallabhacharya heard this voice he understood it to be the same Divine Voice who had called him here. He was overwhelmed with joy and decided to climb up in the morning.
As Naro came back with the empty bowl, Vallabhacharya asked for it and licked whatever was left as a Prasad from Thakurjee.
Next morning in brahm mahurat Shree Vallabhacharya began his climb with all his disciples and the Brajwasis. The divine meeting happened here. When Shree Krishn saw His bhakt coming He came down from His Sthan and embraced Shree Vallabhacharya.
According to Shree Krishn’s desire a small shrine was erected and Vallabhacharya installed the image in it. A peacock feather crown was made and a gunja mala to adorn Shree Krishn. The form of daily worship also started. Vallabhacharya named this form of Shree Krishn Gopala, meaning the lover and protector of cows. This name was later changed to GovardhanNathji by Vitthalnathji. Later Gokulnathji renamed Him as ShreeNathji, and till today He is known to us by this name.
In Vikram Samvat 1556 ShreeNathji gave a dream to Puranmall in which he was ordered to come to Braj and build a mandir for ShreeNathji. ShreeeNathji also told the famous architect Hiramani in Agra to come and construct His mandir. The mandir foundation was laid in this year. As the funds were exhausted it then took 20 years to complete this new big mandir. Till then Shreeji stayed in the small shrine. It all happens according to the Divine will.
Shreeji was established in His new mandir in Vikram Samvat 1576; Vaishak Sud Teej; on Akha Teej.
This day is also called the Paat Utsav of ShreeNathji. The ways of sewa were Introduced and established. Some Bengali Brahmins were initiated in sewa also.
In these years, when Shreeji resided here the people of Braj were very lucky. ShreeNathji who was worshipped there, was in a very live form and interacted with His bhakts (devotees) in various leelas and plays. Shreeji showed people that God is very close and very attainable. Such divine play with God who is a Living Reality here on this earth is very rare.
All these encounters have been recorded and written by Shri Gokulnathji; in the books called “Do Sau Bavan Vaishnav ki Varta”; “Chaurasi Vaishnav Ki Varta”.
These stories are the interactions and leela play between Shreeji and His Bhakts (devotees). These kathas tell us about the identity of the bhaktas in the original, eternal KrishnRadha leela. Then the story talks about their worldly birth in the same time period as ShreeNathji and His human counter parts - Shri Vallabhacharya, Shri Gusainji. Shri Vallabhacharyaji toured all over India three times and established 84 Baithaks; These are the sacred spots where he did the Bhagvat katha for the benefit of all people and established Shree Krishn sewa in the mandir. It explains how these two divine gurus searched for the divine souls, initiated them in Shreeji’s sewa, and how they finally merged totally with KrishnRadha-ShreeNathji again – in their eternal abode. It describes how they became attached to the Divine again. Shri Vallabhacharya or Shri Gusainji established the seva in their hearts of any form of Krishn; as they became absorbed in Shreeji’s form they were given the awakening by their divine guru. This initiation mantra was given to Vallabhacharya by Shree Krishn Himself as He appeared and explained what needed to be done.
While in Gokul, Shri Vallabhacharya introspected as how to initiate the people in the path of devotion. As he worried about this, around midnight, Lord Krishn Himself appeared in the Form of ShreeNathji. He told Shri Vallabhacharya to initiate people in the ways of total surrender and sewa, through Brahma-Sambandh. The Lord promised Shri Vallabhacharya He would accept the sewa of all the devotees who were initiated with the Brahma-Sambandh. Shree Krishn gave him the Gadya Mantra*, as an explanation to the five syllable mantra and solved Shri Vallabhacharya’s concern.
Shri Mahaprabhuji then garlanded the Lord with Pavitra (cotton thread garland) and offered him misri (crystals of sugar). After this divine meeting ShreeNathji disappeared. Shri Mahaprabhuji composed "Shri Madhurashtakam" praising the form and beauty of Shri Krishn the way He appeared before him. This was on the 11th day of Shravana Shukla of Vikram Samvat 1549. This occasion is celebrated as Pavitra Ekadashi. It is also known as the day of the ’Birth of Pushti maarg – The path of Grace and Bhakti’.
|
 "Hindu God Shreeji's Mandir")
 "Saddu Pande's house")
 "Dr. Sudhir Shah")
 "God Shreeji-At Govardhan")
 "Shri Vallabhacharya on Govardhan")