Jhulan Yatra is a blissful festival for the followers of Lord Krishna. The devotees celebrate Radha Krishna’s pastime of swinging on a golden swing every day until Balrama-Purnima. It is observed in the month of Sawan when the monsoon clouds assemble. Finally, the rain appears after the scorching heat of summers. Sri Krishna’s special place Brajbhoomi looks spectacular.

Ecstatic Celebrations of Jhulan Yatra in Vrindavan

The temples of Vrindavan celebrate Jhulan Yatra with great joy and devotion. Many devotees follow a trail of pilgrimage from one temple to another from early morning to late evening for the darshan of Sri Krishna.

The calm winds of Sawan make the atmosphere pleasant. Worldwide, Devotees gather in thousands of temples to get the opportunity to render service to the divine couple by swinging them.

Vrindavan is the sacred place where 5000 years ago, Sri Krishna spent the most love-soaked chapter of His boyhood and raas drenched years of adulthood. This is the land about which Sri Krishna said to His friend Uddhav. For the people of Braj, Sri Krishna was supreme.

The people of this land were devoted entirely to Lord Krishna. Their love for Sri Krishna was uttermost, which cannot be expressed in words. Their life was totally centred on Shri Krishna. Raas with Gopis (cow-herding maidens) symbolizes the interplay of love and adoration between the Almighty and the human soul.

People of Braj and their eternal love for Lord Krishna

Lord Sri Krishna, along with his cow herding companions, used to roam in the jungles of Braj. Along with herding, He used to play and eat on land with His friends and spread happiness.

In every season, along with Krishna, His friends happily participated in every mesmerizing pastime of Lord Sri Krishna. With complete devotion, they used to provide service to their beloved friend whom they loved blindly.

Gopies were blind in love with Lord Krishna. Among all the gopi, Radha Rani was the consort of Lord Krishna.

Jhulan Yatra- The Beginning of Sawan

This festival is associated with the beginning of Sawan, and this month is known as Shravan or Sawan. It falls in July or August and resembles the end of the summer season and the beginning of the rainy season, which is an entirely moist climate.

Cold mesmerizing winds are blown. Showers of rain make the whole land of Vrindavan lush green. The dried land of Vrindavan is brought back to life after the dry summer.

The forests of Vrindavan get filled up with colourful flowers such as Jasmine, Champa, and Madhuri that have newly blossomed in the season. The sectarian honey is oozing from the beehives. The cuckoo sings with its melodic sound and makes the environment mesmerizing. The peacocks start dancing, spreading their wings in anticipation of dark clouds in the sky.

How is Jhulan Yatra Celebrated?

Sri Radhika Rani’s sakhis make a hanging swing on a kadamba tree decorated with flowers in the forests. They make a Divine couple of Radha Krishna seated on their swing. It starts on Shukla paksha Ekadashi of Sawan and ends on Purnima of Sawan month.

In ISKCON Temples, devotees decorate the wooden or metal swings with flowers. They placed the deities for 5 days on a swing and swung them gently with a string decorated with flowers. Usually this celebration starts in the evening when deities are seated comfortably on the swing from their throne, and then Arati is offered to them.

Later on, one by one, all the devotees come forward and take turns to go and swing the deities and get immense pleasure. This time is memorable for each devotee, filling their heart with joy and making the overall experience ethereal.

Who can participate in Jhulan Yatra?

Jhulan Yatra is not any kind of ritual only. It is the festival where Krishna devotees can take part and enjoy devotional service for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Celebration of this Festival is one of the best pastimes of Lord Sri Krishna, where He allows His devotees to do His devotional service and ponder His blessings on them. Therefore, every devotee should take the opportunity to witness Jhulan Yatra and feel blessed.

Celebration of Jhulan Yatra in ISKCON

In every temple of ISKCON worldwide, this festival is acknowledged with great joy and enthusiasm. So this year, you all can visit your nearest ISKCON temple from (16th August 2024 – 19th August 2024) to witness this spellbinding couple and make your birth worthy. 

The founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, His Divine Grace  Abhaya Charanavinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, was born on 1st September 1896 on the day of Nandotsav at Toliganj, Kolkata. His mother Rajni Devi and father Gour Mohan De named him Abhay Charan. Shri Gour Mohan De was a middle-class cloth merchant belonging to Subarna Banik Samaj.

Fortune teller Prophecy of Spreading Devotion Across the World

After the birth of Abhay Charan, his father called the astrologer at home to get the horoscope made. Whatever that astrologer said was 100% correct. He foretold that Abhay would go across the sea at the age of 70, spread devotion, and build 108 temples.

The same type of prophecy was also made by Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the founder of Yugadharma Sankirtana Yagya. He said a devotee of his commander would spread this Sankirtana movement to every town and village around the globe.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, another distinguished pure devotee of the Gaudiya Vaishnava guru-disciplic succession, also predicted that someone would soon come to propagate the voice of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to the whole world. Soon, Harinama Sankirtana will be sung in the streets of different cities of the world as a whole. And the day will also arrive when the good creatures of England, Germany, France, Russia, and several other countries will be seen dancing in Harinama Sankirtana with Gaudiya flags, Mridanga and Kartal in Sri Mayapur Dham.

Srila Prabhupada Journey to the path of devotion

Shri Gour Mohan De had taught Abhay to practice the aspects of pure bhakti since his childhood. He used to take Abhay to the nearby Sri Sri Radha Govind Temple, and on the insistence, he also organized a Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath for the children in the courtyard of his house. When Abhay was eight years old, he started going to school, and gradually he started becoming proficient in the English language. 

At the age of 16, Abhay had countered the sad demise of his mother. His mother, Rajni Devi, passed away when Abhay was just 16. Due to this, there were some hardships and ups and downs in Abhay’s life, but his father consoled him by saying that whatever Supreme Lord does, he does it for good. Therefore, Supreme Lord would have a better plan for this. So, have faith in the Supreme Lord and depend on Him only.

At that time, it was a time of significant change for the whole world. The First World War was on the flare-up. Shri Gour Mohan De was not in favour of sending his son abroad for higher education. Then at the age of twenty, Abhay enrolled in the well-known Scottish Church College in Kolkata.  He wanted to make Abhay a pure devotee, but for this, a Guru was needed in the form of a pure devotee. In college, Abhay took education in English and Sanskrit along with many other subjects.  At that time, Abhay was interested in participating in the Indian freedom struggle. He was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violence and indigenous ideas and considered him as his ideal.

Meeting of Srila Prabhupada with his Guru

Seeing Abhay’s inclination towards nationalism, Shri Gour-Mohan De was very worried about making Abhay a pure devotee.  He wanted to know the prediction of that astrologer being turned into reality. With the passage of time in this process, Abhay got married to Radharani Devi.  Abhay didn’t have any unique attraction towards his wife, but his father told it to be a sign of the Lord’s grace because, in this way, he could stay away from worldly attachments.  At the same time, his friend introduced him to Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Later, Abhay acknowledged him as his guru.

Amid the turmoil in the business and education, the death of Shri Gour Mohan De left a massive void in Abhay’s life. In 1932, he received formal Diksha (initiation) and was named Abhay Charanaravinda. Gradually, he devoted himself to obey the orders of his guru, and later the Abhay Charan became famous as Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami.

Established 108 Temples Across the World

At the age of seventy, he travelled abroad alone, even after two severe heart attacks, struggling with many personal and bodily difficulties, and proved the astrologer’s prediction to be correct, which was made in his childhood come true. He preached Krishna Bhakti while doing parikrama (circumambulating) the whole world fourteen times and established 108 temples.

Inspired by his pure and factual teachings, lakhs of young men and women gave up all kinds of distinctions and attachments and started adopting pure devotional service dedicated to Krishna.

Celebration of 125th advent anniversary of Srila Prabhupada

Today, Srila Prabhupada is the only credible and pure devotee in the entire world, whose commentaries on Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam are reaching the masses in more than eighty languages. As a result, enthusiasm and joy are sprinklings in the lives of millions of people by adopting pure Krishna Bhakti.

Devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is being promoted in every city and village through ISKCON, the organization established by him.

This year is extraordinary because this year will be the 125th advent anniversary of Srila Prabhupada. On 1st September, the 125th birth anniversary of Srila Prabhupada will be celebrated. And on this auspicious occasion, a coin of Rs.125 will be issued by the government. Various programs will be organized in the ISKCON temples established across the world to commemorate this.

All of you are also requested to go to the nearest ISKCON temple, take shelter from this great saint, and take inspiration from his life to make your life successful.

Hare Krishna!!

कार्तिक मास के अंतिम 5 दिन भीष्म पंचक या विष्णु पंचक के नाम से जाने जाते हैं। यह 5 दिवसीय व्रत उत्थान एकादशी तिथि से आरम्भ होता है और कार्तिक पूर्णिमा पर समाप्त होता है। हरि भक्ति विलास के अनुसार यदि कोई भक्त यह व्रत करने में सक्षम है, तो उसे भगवान श्रीकृष्ण की प्रसन्नता के लिए भीष्म-पंचक पर कुछ विशेष खाद्य पदार्थों से उपवास का पालन करना चाहिए। पद्म पुराण में कहा गया है कि जो भी भक्त इस ५ दिवसीय व्रत का पालन करते हैं, उन्हें इस तपस्या से आध्यात्मिक उन्नति एवं भगवान श्रीकृष्ण की शुद्ध भक्ति प्राप्त होती है।

कार्तिक मास के अंतिम पांच दिनों में यह व्रत पहले ऋषि वशिष्ठ, भृगु, गर्ग आदि द्वारा सत्ययुग में किया जाता था। अंबरीष महाराज ने यह व्रत किया और त्रेतायुग में अपने सभी राजसी सुखों का त्याग कर दिया।

भीष्म पंचक उपवास का पालन करने से व्यक्ति को चारों चतुर्मास उपवास का लाभ मिलता है यदि कोई उसका पालन करने में असमर्थ रहा हो। 

भीष्म पंचक का व्रत क्यों रखा जाता है?

भीष्म-पंचक मां गंगा एवं राजा शांतनु के पुत्र भीष्मदेव को समर्पित है। वह कुरु वंश में महान राजा भरत के वंशज पांडवों के ज्येष्ठ पितामह हैं। महाभारत एवं श्रीमद-भागवतम के अनुसार भीष्मदेव ने कुरु वंश का सिंघासन त्याग कर आजीवन ब्रह्मचारी रहने की प्रतिज्ञा की जिसका उन्होंने जीवनपर्यन्त पालन किया। गौड़ीय वैष्णव के अनुसार, भीष्मदेव कृष्णभावनामृत विज्ञान में बारह महाजन अधिकारियों में से एक के रूप में जाने जाते हैं। अपनी युवावस्था में उन्हें यह वरदान मिला था कि उनकी मृत्यु उनकी इच्छानुसार ही होगी।

महाभारत का युद्ध समाप्ति होने के जिस समय गंगा पुत्र भीष्म सूर्य के उत्तरायण होने की प्रतीक्षा में बाणों की शैया पर शयन कर रहे थे तब भगवान श्रीकृष्ण पांडवों के साथ उनके पास गए तथा युधिष्ठिर ने भीष्म पितामह से प्रार्थना की कि- हे पितामह, आप हमें राज्य चलाने संबंधी उपदेश देने की कृपा करें।

तब भीष्म ने 5 दिनों तक राजधर्म, वर्णधर्म, मोक्षधर्म आदि पर उपदेश दिया। उनका उपदेश सुनकर भगवान श्रीकृष्ण संतुष्ट हुए और बोले कि गंगा पुत्र आपने कार्तिक शुक्ल पक्ष एकादशी से पूर्णिमा तक 5 दिनों में जो धार्मिक उपदेश दिया है उससे मुझे बड़ी प्रसन्नता हुई है। इस कारण आपकी स्मृति में आपके नाम पर भीष्म पंचक व्रत का प्रारंभ होगा और इन पांच दिनों में भगवान हरि की पूजा करने और भक्ति सेवा में संलग्न भक्तों को मैं शुद्ध भक्ति का वरदान देता हूँ। पांडवों के युद्ध जीतने के बाद, भीष्मदेव ने अंततः शांति अनुभव की। वह पार्थ-सारथी के रूप में अपनी दिव्य विशेषता में भगवान श्रीकृष्ण के कमल जैसे चेहरे को देखते हुए अपना शरीर छोड़ना चाहते थे। यह भगवान श्रीकृष्ण के प्रति उनकी अटूट आस्था और भक्ति को दर्शाता है, जो जीवन की सर्वोच्च पूर्णता है।

पद्म पुराण में कहा गया है कि जो भी भक्त कार्तिक मास के अंतिम 5 दिनों में इस व्रत का पालन करते हैं, वह जीवन में आध्यात्मिक उन्नति करते हैं एवं बड़े से बड़े पापों से मुक्त हो जाते हैं।

भीष्म पंचक उपवास

हरि भक्ति विलास में भीष्म पंचक व्रत में कुछ खाद्य पदार्थों से भगवान केशव की प्रसन्नता के लिए अपनी क्षमता और समर्पण के अनुसार उपवास पालन करने के लिए कहा गया है। भीष्म पंचक उपवास की 3 श्रेणियां हैं।

उपवास श्रेणी-1

पांच दिनों में से प्रत्येक दिन गाय के पांच उत्पादों को पंचगव्य के रूप में ग्रहण किया जाता है।

1. पहला दिन: गाय का गोबर (गोमाया)
2. दूसरा दिन: गोमूत्र (गोमूत्र)
3. तीसरा दिन: गाय का दूध (क्षीरा)
4. चौथा दिन: गाय का दही (दही)
5. पांचवां दिन: गाय के सभी उत्पाद मिश्रित (पंच-गव्य)

यदि उपवास की पहली श्रेणी आपके लिए संभव नहीं है तो आप फल, मेवा और जड़ ले सकते हैं जैसा दूसरी श्रेणी में वर्णित है।

उपवास श्रेणी-2

यदि कोई भक्त उपवास की पहली श्रेणी का पालन करने में असमर्थ हैं तो वह निम्नलिखित खाद्य पदार्थ ग्रहण कर सकते हैं-

आलू, शकरकंद, मूंगफली, सादा काजू, किशमिश, खजूर, केला कच्चा, मौसम्बी, संतरा, नाशपाती, सेब, चीकू, ताजा कसा हुआ नारियल, नारियल पानी। उपर्युक्त खाद्य पदार्थों को कच्चा, उबला या बेक किया जा सकता है। स्वाद के लिए समुद्री नमक का उपयोग कर सकते हैं।

इस श्रेणी में अमरूद, अनार, ककड़ी जैसे बहुत सारे बीजों वाले फल, दुग्ध उत्पाद एवं तेल का सेवन भी वर्जित है।

उपवास श्रेणी-3

यदि कोई भक्त उपवास की दूसरी श्रेणी का पालन करने में असमर्थ हैं, तो वह “हविश्य” ले सकते हैं जैसा कि निम्नलिखित पुराणों में संदर्भित है-

सन्दर्भ: पद्म पुराण, ब्रह्म खंड, अध्याय 23; स्कंद पुराण, विष्णु खंड, कार्तिक महात्म्य, अध्याय 32; गरुड़ पुराण, पूर्वा, खंड, अध्याय 123

श्री हरि-भक्ति-विलास में वर्णित हविश्य के लिए सामग्री (13.10-13) – हविश्य बनाने में निम्नलिखित सामग्री का उपयोग किया जा सकता है, जो इन वस्तुओं से बनी खिचड़ी की तरह है।

1. चावल
2. शुद्ध गाय का घी
3. गाय का दूध और मलाई
4. समुद्री नमक
5. कच्चा केला
6. गेहूं
7. नारियल पानी
8. फल (स्कंद पुराण, नागर खंड कहते हैं कि उन्हें एक छोटे से बीज के साथ होना चाहिए या केवल कुछ बीजों के साथ)
9. जड़ें
10. गन्ने से बने उत्पाद (गुड़ के अलावा अन्य पदार्थ)
11. पालक का काला साक
12. पिपली जड़ी बूटी

कार्तिक के महीने में हविश्य के हिस्से के रूप में निम्नलिखित अवयवों से बचना चाहिए:

1. मूंग दाल
2. तिल का तेल
3. बेटा-शाका
4. शष्टिका-शाका
5. मूली
6. जीरा
7. इमली

भीष्म पंचक के लिए निर्धारित अर्पण

गरुड़ पुराण के अनुसार भीष्म पंचक व्रत के दिनों में भक्तगण द्वारा भगवान श्रीकृष्ण के समक्ष  निम्नलिखित फूल अर्पित किए जाने चाहिए।

1. पहले दिन, भगवान के चरणों में पद्म (कमल) के फूल अर्पित करने चाहिए।
2. दूसरे दिन, भगवान की जाँघ पर बिल्वपत्र अवश्य अर्पित करना चाहिए।
3. तीसरे दिन, भगवान की नाभि में गंध (सुगंध) अर्पित करना चाहिए।
4. चौथे दिन, भगवान के कन्धों पर जावा का फूल अर्पित करना चाहिए।
5. पांचवें दिन, भगवान के सिर पर मालती का फूल अर्पित करना चाहिए।

Sri Krishna is the fountainhead of all incarnations. Similarly, Radharani is the source of all goddesses such as Laxmi Ji, Rukmini Ji and Satyabhama. She is the ultimate source who serve with endearment to the Supreme Lord in both the material and spiritual world. When in someone’s heart there is a flow of Krishna’s love, devotion and rasa then it becomes a shrine. When Triveni of love, devotion and rasa flows in someone’s heart, that gesture is known as Radha Bhava. This surpassing devotion and love for Krishna are known as Radha bhava in the heart.

Story Of Radharani’s Appearance-

The story is of when Nanda Baba and mother Yashoda lived in Nandgaon, and Vrishbhanu and mother kirtida Lived in Barsana. Both families were very close and intimate friends of each other. Both the couples were not blessed with a child at that time. So, Nandbaba and Maharaj vrishbhanu decided to settle at the bank of the holy river Yamuna. Yamuna Ji is very loving and kind. So, on staying close to her at the bank of river Yamuna, we will unquestionably be blessed with the child. So, in this way, Nandbaba got settled at the sacred land of Gokul and Maharaj Vrishabhanu at Rawal.

Later, Krishna appeared on Ashtami tithi of Bhadrapada month of Shukla Paksha. We celebrate that momentous day as Janmashtami. On Ashtami tithi of Bhadrapada month Vrishabhanu Maharaj went to take a dip at the pond during dawn which is known as Arunodaya Bela he noticed a dazzling light. That gratifying light was pleasing his eyes. When Sri Vrishabhanu went near that light, he saw those golden light rays coming from a glaring lotus. When he went close by, he noticed that the sparkling light was not coming from that bright golden lotus. It was coming from the utmost beautiful girl present inside it.

On watching that girl, Vrishabhanu Maharaj’s love strings were overflowing. Brahma Ji appeared at that time, and one prophecy occurred.

Prophecy – You did severe penance in previous births to get the internal potency of Supreme Lord Krishna in the form of a daughter.

Lord Brahma’s Utterance

Srimati Radharani is appearing as your daughter. So, you take Her to your house and do Her upbringing. On hearing this, Vrishabhanu Maharaj, being pleased, took her to his house. But after reaching home, he noticed that the girl neither opened her eyes nor spoke or listened to anything. He got upset.

Narad Muni’s word

Then Narad Muni comes there disguised and asks him to celebrate the appearance of Shri Ji herself on the attainment of Kanyaratna.

So, Vrishabhanu Maharaj arranged a grand ceremony to celebrate the appearance of his daughter. In that function, Lord Sri Krishna, Balrama, Mother Yashoda and Nanda Baba appeared. In this way, Nanda Maharaj has got Sri Krishna, and Vrishabhanu Maharaj has got Shri Ji.

Celebration of Radharani’s Appearance

People were playing instruments; All the guests were welcomed with scents, butter and mishri. People were singing a song, and boon companions were dancing, wearing new dresses. Everyone appeared to get a glimpse of Vrishabhanu’s daughter. All the guests were served various delectable dishes.

How Lord Krishna Met Srimati Radharani in the house of Vrishbhanu Maharaj

Everyone was indulged in their work. That time baby Krishna crawled and came near Radha rani. With the support of the cot, he stood near Radharani and touched her. As soon as he touched Radharani with his sacred hands, Radharani opened her eyes and started crying. On hearing Radharani’s screech, everyone spurted. Vrishabhanu Maharaj and Kirtida were delighted that their daughter could speak, see, and listen.

Conversation Between Lord Sri Krishna and Srimati Radharani at Goloka

At Goloka Vrindavan Dham, Lord Sri Krishna said to Srimati Radharani :
Hey Sakhi, it’s time to appear on the earth. Radharani answered that if Sri Vrindavan Dham, Govardhan and Sri Yamuna Ji were not present, I don’t want to go there. On hearing this, Lord Krishna replied I knew it, so I already sent some part of Vrindavan Dham, Govardhan and Yamuna Ji together to the material world. So, you can stay there forever. Then Radharani replied I have one more issue to discuss. Until the time I get sight of your face, I will neither watch anything nor hear or say anything. So, she was waiting for Shri Krishna.

Real Purpose of Human Life

The main aim of our life is to surrender unto the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna’s lotus feet. Therefore, we should have dedication, concentration, determination to serve Lord Krishna and the best example is Radharani. Lord Sri Krishna himself came to this world 500 years ago to show the love and devotion of Radharani to people. To spread it, Sri Krishna appeared as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and propagate Harinam sankirtan.

According to Srimad Bhagavatam, in Kaliyuga, the best and easiest way to uplift humankind is Harinam sankirtan.

So, In this Radha Ashtami, let’s get a unique darshan of Sri Krishna and Srimati Radharani. Along with it, adopt the maha-mantra which is itself given by the lord as an essential part of our life.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

There is nothing more important and influential than this maha-mantra given by Supreme Lord Sri Krishna itself. And to spread it for the benefit of people, He came to this world.

So, let’s chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra on this Radha Ashtami to get the blessings of the most loving, tender-hearted Radharani.

• Fasting till noon