What Powers Radhanath Swami?!!
By admin on November 24, 2010 | Category: Tolerance | Tags: govardhan, parikrama, Radhanath Swami, Srimad Bhagavatam | 171 CommentsIn 2005 Radhanath Swami guided a few wealthy families of downtown Mumbai around Govardhan Hill in Vrindavan. Govardhan Parikrama, as the scriptures call it, is the circling of Govardhan Hill, and is considered one of the austere yet important limbs of bhakti yoga.
Having to shoulder management responsibilities of the parikrama, I could hardly rest the night before: went to bed at 11 and was up by 3. The lights in Radhanath Swami’s room were turned on, both when I rested and when I was up: he rested even less, or perhaps didn’t rest at all; certainly, he was preparing for the dozen lectures he was to deliver the next day.
On the day of the parikrama, devotees were ready by 6:00 a.m. at Govardhan Ashram, our starting point. We were 30 in all, 20 aristocrats—men, women, young and the old—and 10 monks. Radhanath Swami discoursed at the Ashram, elaborating on a text from the first canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam: Queen Kunti Prayed, ‘My Lord, Your Lordship can easily be approached, but only by those who are materially exhausted. One who is on the path of [material] progress, trying to improve himself with respectable parentage, great opulence, high education and bodily beauty, cannot approach You with sincere feeling.’ I wondered if any aristocrat felt flattered.
At the beginning of the 28 KM trek Radhanath Swami requested the participant who wore sports shoes, “It will be better to do the parikrama bare foot.” The shoes went out flying, and the participant, a middle-aged aristocrat, beamed. He was sincere and, as I was to discover later, reflected the sincerity of his class group.
As the day progressed, the sun beat down on us, and apparently a little more on my wealthy brothers and sisters. They puffed and panted, but never complained. I could see that they were indeed serious about spirituality, perhaps even more than I was. At noon we briefly halted for lunch at an inn, where I stole a nap. Except for lunch, we only halted at places of holy importance where Radhanath Swami discoursed denouncing the flickering happiness of the material realm and pronouncing the verdict of the scriptures—that only spirituality, and not wealth, could provide lasting happiness to the soul. His compassion amplified his voice rather than an external sound system [which we hadn’t carried anyways.]
By dusk the party was limping to keep pace with Radhanath Swami, as the destination still evaded sight. Radhanath Swami turned to the aristocrat who had earlier abandoned his jogging shoes, “There are different muscles for walking and running. Now that the walking-muscles are tired, let’s run.” The two ran for about five minutes, at the end of which the aristocrat was visibly grateful—rather than mournful—to walk the rest of the trek.
We reached back the circle’s starting point—Govardhan Ashram—at 10 p.m. That night I hoped would be an endless night. Before he rested, Radhanath Swami confessed, “I am a little tired.”
–Mr Vikram Arora, Radhanath Swami’s Secretary.
suresh
Radhanath Maharaj speech transform the heart of rich and poor.
Manish Kumar
This a good example which teaches us not to judge someone on by externals look or belongings. Thank you for sharing such a nice experience.
Sameer Shankar
Love of GOD!!!
Pooja
Maharaj indeed knows all the tactics.. whether Govardhan Parikrama or dealing with people from different walks of life.
Priyanka
Radhanath Swami’s loving heart only can give such a statement…..little tired!
vvrajdevipriya
Thank you for sharing this incident with Radhanath swami.
Jayshree Shinde
Jai thankyou for sharing such a beautiful incident with Radhanath swami
Swapnil Gaonkar
Thank you for sharing. Radhanath Swami ki jay
madhura
Amazing!
umesh
Radhanath Swami Maharaj always extends himself to the maximum to give God consciousness to others!!
bhakti karia
simply wonderful article, thanks for sharing, bhakti
rajesh karia
HHRNSM is always there to go to any extent to provide the transcendental knowledge to his devotees with a proper consciousness, haribol, rajesh karia
sandeep kaimal
wonderful quote very nice
bipin
All Glories To H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj
How fortunate these families were to have intimate association of Maharaj. And the experience would have been truly exceptional. Only this experience is more than enough t elevate them to the path of true Bhakti Yoga.
Hare Krishna
vaishali kamat
Radhanath Swami has the spiritual power.
Chandrika
Thank you for this wonderful post!
achyuta
Many thanks for sharing this nice past time of Radhanath swamiji
surekha
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story of Radhanath swami and how Radhanath swami is always preaching tirelessly for others benefit.
sunny
what can we say of those who are overflowing with love for the Lord and shower that love in form of compassion for other living entities…most fortunate to be touched with that mercy…
Kalpana Kulkarni
Those people were so lucky to have the intimate association of Radhanath Swami and his personal attention on the govardhan Parikrama. Great souls like Rahanath Swami are indefagitable!
rekha
Thank you for sharing this wonderful pastimes with Radhanath swami in Vrndavan.