"Yes, Krsna spoke His Bhagavad-gita there."
Gita Jayanti today. The first time I traveled with Srila Prabhupada was to Kurukshetra. He visited Brahmasarovar and then:
December 1st 1975
Srila Prabhupada rested for an hour, then we prepared for our return to New Delhi. After some discussion, however, Prabhupada decided to visit another, less developed area of Kuruksetra called Jyotisar. This area has not been within the focus of attention of Nandaji's Manava Dharma Trust, although it is reputed to be the actual place where the Bhagavad-gita was spoken.
We drove through the town, past the sites of the morning's tour. About seven miles on, we turned off down a narrow, dusty track to an unimpressive clutch of buildings. By the side of a modest lake with curving banks we saw several small shrines. One housed a deity of Sarasvati, and in another Krsna stood with a conch in His right hand and cakra in His left.
But the main feature was out in the open, under the spreading arms of a large banyan tree. The tree is said to have been there since the time of the battle five thousand years ago. There, encased in a metal-and-glass house, we came upon a half-life-sized, white-marble Deity of Sri Krsna and Arjuna in a chariot. Arjuna was sitting cross-legged on the back of the chariot with his palms together. And Krsna, who was painted blue, sat on the front, half-turning to Arjuna. His left hand held the reins to the four horses, and His right hand was raised, with the thumb and forefinger forming a circle in the classic mudra signifying the exchange of spiritual knowledge.
Prabhupada walked about and gave the entire area a thorough inspection. After ten minutes he asked us what we thought about it. Free from the previous constraints imposed by our status as guests, everyone expressed their enthusiasm. We unanimously concluded that it seemed as if this was the main pilgrimage site. We all sensed the spiritual vibrancy of the area. A deep sense of timeless wisdom and serenity seemed to permeate the atmosphere.
Harikesa put it very succinctly. "The other place was like the heavenly planets, but this place is Vaikuntha!"
Prabhupada smiled and said that we should build a temple of Krsna and Arjuna here. At Brahma-sarovara he suggested that another temple could be built for Krsna, Balarama, and Subhadra, because They went there to bathe during the solar eclipse.
Caitya-guru was chosen to negotiate with Nandaji for the land. Prabhupada also requested him to try to get land donated at Jyotisar.
On the way back, Prabhupada candidly remarked about the Kuruksetra development. "They call it manava-dharma [religious actions for humanity]; I call it pasu-dharma [animal life]. One-and-a-half crores of rupees spent, and they erect a big statue for birds to pass stool on. But they have installed not one single Deity."
* * *
It was about nine in the evening when we arrived at No. 9 Todar Mal Lane. As he sat in his room, Prabhupada inquired about the day's mail ...Then I joined Srila Prabhupada to give him his massage.
After a few minutes silence in the gentle darkness, as I carefully massaged his legs and feet, he softly asked me how I liked the idea of having a temple at Jyotisar.
I said, "Yes, it would be very nice."
He smiled and replied, "Yes, Krsna spoke His Bhagavad-gita there." Then he closed his eyes and went to sleep.
December 1st 1975
Srila Prabhupada rested for an hour, then we prepared for our return to New Delhi. After some discussion, however, Prabhupada decided to visit another, less developed area of Kuruksetra called Jyotisar. This area has not been within the focus of attention of Nandaji's Manava Dharma Trust, although it is reputed to be the actual place where the Bhagavad-gita was spoken.
We drove through the town, past the sites of the morning's tour. About seven miles on, we turned off down a narrow, dusty track to an unimpressive clutch of buildings. By the side of a modest lake with curving banks we saw several small shrines. One housed a deity of Sarasvati, and in another Krsna stood with a conch in His right hand and cakra in His left.
But the main feature was out in the open, under the spreading arms of a large banyan tree. The tree is said to have been there since the time of the battle five thousand years ago. There, encased in a metal-and-glass house, we came upon a half-life-sized, white-marble Deity of Sri Krsna and Arjuna in a chariot. Arjuna was sitting cross-legged on the back of the chariot with his palms together. And Krsna, who was painted blue, sat on the front, half-turning to Arjuna. His left hand held the reins to the four horses, and His right hand was raised, with the thumb and forefinger forming a circle in the classic mudra signifying the exchange of spiritual knowledge.
Prabhupada walked about and gave the entire area a thorough inspection. After ten minutes he asked us what we thought about it. Free from the previous constraints imposed by our status as guests, everyone expressed their enthusiasm. We unanimously concluded that it seemed as if this was the main pilgrimage site. We all sensed the spiritual vibrancy of the area. A deep sense of timeless wisdom and serenity seemed to permeate the atmosphere.
Harikesa put it very succinctly. "The other place was like the heavenly planets, but this place is Vaikuntha!"
Prabhupada smiled and said that we should build a temple of Krsna and Arjuna here. At Brahma-sarovara he suggested that another temple could be built for Krsna, Balarama, and Subhadra, because They went there to bathe during the solar eclipse.
Caitya-guru was chosen to negotiate with Nandaji for the land. Prabhupada also requested him to try to get land donated at Jyotisar.
On the way back, Prabhupada candidly remarked about the Kuruksetra development. "They call it manava-dharma [religious actions for humanity]; I call it pasu-dharma [animal life]. One-and-a-half crores of rupees spent, and they erect a big statue for birds to pass stool on. But they have installed not one single Deity."
* * *
It was about nine in the evening when we arrived at No. 9 Todar Mal Lane. As he sat in his room, Prabhupada inquired about the day's mail ...Then I joined Srila Prabhupada to give him his massage.
After a few minutes silence in the gentle darkness, as I carefully massaged his legs and feet, he softly asked me how I liked the idea of having a temple at Jyotisar.
I said, "Yes, it would be very nice."
He smiled and replied, "Yes, Krsna spoke His Bhagavad-gita there." Then he closed his eyes and went to sleep.
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Labels:
Bhagavad-gita
KRSNA
Kuruksetra
srila prabhupada
Comments