KÄRTIKA 2023
KARM Annual Kärtika Dhäma Yäträ…
the Trip we await…
the Trip we yearn…
the Trip we call “Complete”…
the Trip even a kid in KARM does not wish to miss…
the Trip to the Land of Love-Personified Rädhäräné (Çré Rädhäkuëòa Dhäma) under the Divine Shelter, Association and Guidance of the Love-Personified (our Revered ÇRÉ GURUDEVA)…!!
The Scriptures proclaim- Dhäma Yäträ (be it to Çré Rädhäkuëòa, Våndävana, Barsänä or Navadvépa, Mäyäpura etc.) is Auspicious any day… Given the infinite glories of Kärtika, Dhäma Yäträ becomes all the more Auspicious, when it is done during Kärtika… especially by Gauòéya Vaiñëavas, as it’s the favourite month of ‘ Kärtikéçvaré’ Rädhäräné…
and, KARM Devotees are those blessed beings, to every year get the Opportunity to perform Dhäma Yäträ together, in this month..!!
And every year– it is more Blissful, more Beautiful and more Relishable… than the previous years…!! And so was the Kärtika Dhäma Yäträ of 2023…!!
Mere 20 days had been passed of the Completion of the 1st KARM Braja Parikramä… of being in Braja– in Rädhäkuëòa, in Våndävana… but was the enthusiasm less, in any way, to be back again for a day..??
No…!! In fact, there was more enthusiasm in KARM Devotees for our ever awaited one day Väsa in Çré Våndävana Dhäma. This time it was on the 2nd of November.
Early in the morning… 4:30am, we gathered to start our journey with our Most Beloved MATAJI, and mostly Devotees came with family and kids.
Just a few days ago we were in Dhäma, and as we spoke to each other, we all had this common feeling–
Are we really this fortunate to come back so soon??
We just couldn’t believe our immense fortune, that we are going back to where we belong! The feeling that ÇRÉ MAHÄRÄJA JÉ & DHÄMA are so unlimitedly merciful upon us, left us mesmerized.
Our faces were happiest and eyes were shining because we were together..
It didn’t matter that some of us had slept for 2 hours the previous night. And for some, the sheer joy & excitement of the awaited morning led to a sleepless night..
At around 8am, we reached the Prasädam place, where a few Devotees were already present, and they joined us for the rest of the trip. After the Lavish Prasäda lovingly cooked by the Devotees, we left for Rädhäkuëòa.
The last 15 minutes on our way to Rädhäkuëòa seemed the longest, because everyone was eagerly waiting for one thing– the most purifying, soothing, captivating, heartwarming, Blissful, blessings-ful Darçana of our Revered ÇRÉ MAHÄRÄJA JÉ… even the Shadow of WHOM enlightens our hearts with Änanda..
The awaited moment came… we reached Rädhäkuëòa. All our cars were parked after MAHÄRÄJA JÉ’s Car at some distance, and all eyes in one direction, awaiting to be blessed with the Darçana of MAHÄRÄJA JÉ’S LOTUSFEET…!!
Our “Complete” Trip began with the SAMÄDHI DARÇANA OF ÇRÉ ÇRÉ BÄBÄJÉ MAHÄRÄJA (our PARAMA GURUDEVA) and ÇRÉ ÇRÉ KUÏJA BÉHÄRÉ DÄSA BÄBÄJÉ MAHÄRÄJA (our PARÄTPARA GURUDEVA) with our ÇRÉ GURUDEVA, MATAJI and Devotees… we paid obeisances there, and further purified ourselves with Darçana of BÄBÄJÉ’S Sevita Vigraha, Çré Çré Rädhä Käläcända Jé.
We also had the fortune to meet the very dear Personal Servant of ÇRÉ ÇRÉ ANANTA DÄSA BÄBÄJÉ MAHÄRÄJA — Çré Balaräma Däsa Bäbäjé Mahäräja… He recalled the sweet loving, FATHER-SON Relationship between ÇRÉ BÄBÄJÉ AND ÇRÉ GURUDEVA, and also enlightened us with the Lord’s Grace– of having attained the Highest Maïjaré Bhäva Sädhanä, Sada-Guru (ÇRÉ MAHÄRÄJA JÉ) and Param Gurudeva (ÇRÉ BÄBÄJÉ), and thus the opportunity to truly make our human life successful with Bhagavat Präpti (becoming Maïjaré of Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa), failing which we would be the most unfortunate ones.
Thereafter, we had the fortune to have the Darçana of and do Äcamana at Rädhäkuëòa taöa, participate in the Mesmerising ‘Rädhäräné’ Kértana…
then we circumambulated Çré Raghunätha Däsa Gosvamé Samädhi, Çrématé Jähnavä Mätä Baiöhaka, Çré Rädhä Gopénätha and performed Rädhäkuëòa Parikramä, participated in Rädhäkuëòa Püjä followed by Govardhana Püjä, all under the guidance of MAHÄRÄJA JÉ.
As soon as we stepped out of Rädhäkuëòa taöa, we were blessed to join the Celebrations of Narottama Öhäkura Mahäçaya Tirobhäva Utsava, where witnessed the Gaura’maya Nåtya Bhaìgimä of our MAHÄRÄJA JÉ…!!
We participated in the saìkértana, followed by the all-auspicious and all-purifying Sücaka Kértana, which glorified the lifetime of Narottama Öhäkura Mahäçaya. The Utsava ended with Bhoga Äraté followed by the most lavish Prasäda for Devotees at 1:30 pm.
It was now the time for our Real Feasting…
Harikathä from our MAHÄRÄJA JÉ…!!
Just as during Braja Maëòala Parikramä, on Govinda Kuëòa, MAHÄRÄJA JÉ Mentioned about wanting to bless us with the Explanations on ‘Govinda’… no later, we got the most Esoteric, most Profound & most Rasa’maya Discourse on the most antaraìga Mantra of the Spiritual World– the ‘Kåñëa Mantra’… with the most articulate explanations, commentaries from numerous Gauòéya Vaiñëava Granthas in the most simplified way…
All those, who attended the Session physically, as well as those who attend the Session on YouTube, ALL have unanimous feeling-
“This Session is the Boon for All Gauòéya Vaiñëavas… whether one is initiated or not yet initiated…!!”
YouTube and other Social Platforms
are full of millions and billions of Spiritual Discourses…
Millions and Trillions of Books are there
elaborating infinite commentary on endless topics…
But neither is there any Discourse nor any Book,
which Scripturally elaborates on–
Who is ‘Kåñëa’?
Why is He ‘Govinda’ and ‘Gopéjana Vallabha’?
Yes, There is no one else on this planet, besides MAHÄRÄJA JÉ, who can even start to do this. Nevertheless, understanding on this, is must for anyone and everyone desirous of attaining perfection (Siddhi).
Those 3 hours of Harikathä ended with nectar-filled Kértana & we also got to witness MAHÄRÄJA JÉ playing Karatäla, the sound of which was magic to the ears…
This was followed by performing dépa-däna, which is another highlight of the day, as we get to perform dépa-däna with our ÇRÉ GURUDEVA, as we would do eternally in Nitya Navadvépa, as a Kiçora Brähmaëa.
But this time the Blessings were manyfolds as we perfomed dépa-däna at Rädhäkuëòa & Çyämakuëòa itself.
Although we were feeling content & fulfilled after Darçanämåta, Kathämåta, but by the love-filled efforts of KARM Devotees, we got packets full of Prasädam for the night, after which we left for Delhi with hearts full of Gratitude and Blessings.
