We arrive in Vrindavan, the land where Shri Radha Krishna spent their childhood days, and head over to our ashram. After freshening up, we head directly over to Prem Mandir by pedal cart through the streets of Vrindavan. We finally arrive near Prem Mandir and we can see the beautiful pure white Italian marble structure erected by skilled artisans from across India. From afar, just one glimpse and one would think what is this marvelous structure that is grandeur than the Taj Mahal. It’s when you arrive at Prem Mandir, then you realize the sheer beauty and gift of divine love that is erected on the very ground that Shri Krishna and Radha Rani used as their play ground.
There are so many gates on the main road that one would get confused as to which gate to enter through. Luckily, there were security guards directing traffic and showing the way into the mandir. The first gate is the main entrance and opens to a beautifully landscaped garden thus leading to the main entry of the mandir. The second gate leads to the Jagadguru Dham and Sadhana Hall (the Sadhna Hall is under construction [for the Prem Mandir opening a temporary hall was created which would take a whole page just to describe it which would be fully air-conditioned and would seem to hold more than 1,000 people respectively. The third gate is for vehicle parking. The last two gates lead to the charity hospital which will provide free medical services to all those that need it.
Throughout the entire festival period, Maharaji has fed everyone with three excellent meals and at various times a sweet was also provided. The management was excellent as so many devotees had volunteered to assist with the kitchen and dining areas. There were separate dining quarters for women, for foreigners and disabled people, and for men. This helped alleviate the traffic in a big way and at most times there was very minimal waiting periods to receive the Prasad of Maharaji.
Sitting inside the mandir or even outside one gets a true feeling of divine love that is flowing from within the mandir. With every thought in Radha Krishna, we will be so much closer to reaching our divine destination.
Day 1 – Kalash Yatra & Start of Havan
Our day begins as per Brahma Murat at 4:30 am with Prathna, Aarti, and Sadhna. This is a daily routine which will continue for the next 3 days. Today the hall is full with over 2000 people with almost 1500 of them dressed in a Yellow Saree, Dhoti or Paijama (matching Thakorji). Everyone has wrapped a Radhe Shami around their body to show their love and appreciation of Shri Maharaji. At 5:30 am, the participants of the Kalash Yatra leave the Sadhna hall to prepare. As a dress code was mandatory, Kalash yatra participants were dressed in yellow. As each person scrambles to get their Kalash and form an orderly line, almost 2 hours pass. Now, there are over 2700 Kalash yatra participants lined up to perform Kalash Yatra. Everyone has a nicely decorated copper Kalash filled with the water of River Yamuna. What’s mind boggling is the monstorous task of decorating 3000 Kalash’s for each participant
We sit, wait, and watch in the garden for this long line of Kalash Yatra participants. The Havan has already begun with Maharaji’s immediately family sitting at the head of the Havan. We wait for Maharaji to appear. The weather is quite gloomy and foggy today, with no sun in sight. It’s also very cold outside and we feel for the Kalash Yatra participants as they are only wearing dhotis and sarees to cover themselves and have been standing in line for 3 hours now while either holding the Kalash filled with water on their head. Suddenly, a slight drizzle comes as if Yugal Sarkar is crying to wash Prem Mandir from the outside. As we sit and wait, we see a flock of birds (probably about 20 or so) fly around Prem Mandir and slowly swoop towards the entrance to get a glimpse of Yugal Sarkar. The doors are not open so they get a beautiful darshan of Yugal Sarkar and all of Shree Krishna Leelas from the various 3D plates created and attached to the walls of the mandir. The birds then swoop forward and head on their way, being enlightened by the darshan of Yugal Sarkar.
Finally, Maharaji appears and immediately heads to the Havan area.The band is ordered now to begin their march and slowly everyone proceeds to Prem Mandir. Now each participant places the Kalash on their head and move towards Prem Mandir along with the various orchestras. There is a standing order as follows: The three Didi’s, Maharajji’s Pracharaks, Foreigners – both men and women, then last come Indian Men followed by Indian women. In between each group there are bands and orchestras performing dances, playing loud music on drums, gants, etc, and a beautiful row of children dressed as peacocks. This is one sight to see as the group marches up towards Prem Mandir. The group now moves into the mandir and each participant is given an area of the mandir to wash with Yamuna Jal. Some are fortunate enough to have Maharaji stand next to them and give them clear instructions of scrubbing a little harder to clean the mandir. The mandir is now cleaned by over 2700 people and more than 2000 litres of Yamuna Jal. Surprisingly, Maharaji makes an announcement during the day that there will be another opportunity tomorrow for Kalash Yatra. This is not with new devotees but with existing participants. How lucky the participants are to be able to repeat Kalash Yatra.
The Havan continues throughout the day and all Devotees are led to the sadhna hall to perform sadhna. Sadhna continues throughout the day till evening with the occasional lunch, dinner, and tea breaks. For the next 3 days, there will be continuous sadhna by all devotees.
The evening holds a special event for all devotees.Maharaji has arranged for Vrindavan’s famous Raas Leela performing group to perform for all that have come. Maharaji starts with aarti of Yugal Sarkar, this is the Yugal Sarkar from the Raas Leela. Many devotees felt that it was the real Yugal Sarkar that had appeared for aarti. Then the entertainment begins with the live performance of Raas Leela. What a most enjoyable time everyone had on their first day of Prem Mandir inauguration.
Day 2 – Repeat Kalash Yatra and visit Rangeeli Mahal
Today we repeat the Kalash Yatra but with a different tone. After the aarti is completed, Kalash Yatra participants start the line formation process. It’s the same as the previous day but with a twist. Today, participants have increased to a total of 3,000. In addition to this, Maharaji is also participating by carrying a golden Kalash on his head along with the three Didi’s and various Pracharaks. He starts the march to the mandir with the rest of the pracharak’s and devotees following. As Maharaji and the Pracharaks enter Prem Mandir and perform the ritual, the other devotees encircle prem mandir three times while carrying the Kalash on their heads.
After the Kalash Yatra is completed, then almost 600 foreigner devotees and 400 indian devotees went to Barsana to perform Abhishek, Jagadguru Aarti, as well as Satsung with Maharaji. Fourteen buses were arranged to move devotees from Vrindavan to Barsana. As we arrive in Barsana, Maharaji just announces that Abhishek and Aarti will now commence at 4:30pm. So he says, please enjoy the wonderful lunch and we will meet in the afternoon.
After lunch, we decided that it made sense to see Barsana and Radha Rani mandir. As the ashram is only minutes from Barsana we decide to talk the path most travelled by foot. We arrive within seconds of the mandir closing the curtains and we get the last darshan of Radha Rani. As we still had time we decided that it made sense to see some of the sites like Maan Mandir and Mandir Shri Kushal Bihariji. We then return back to Rangeeli Mahal to await our meeting with Maharaji.
We arrive at Rangeeli Mahal and there is a line queued to enter the main sadhna hall. As each person enters slowly, we find a place to sit as close to Maharaji as possible. The devotees that have signed up to perform Jagadguru aarti are sitting in the front while abhishek devotees are right behind them. Men to the left and women to the right. Maharaji enters the sadhna hall and we immediately start the Jagadguru aarti. After the aarti is finished, Maharaji goes into his private chamber and we proceed to a queue for abhishek. Each devotee is allowed to wash the feet of Maharaji and then receive a gift from him. After abhishek is finished, Maharaji has also provided prashad in the form of Samosas and Soan Papdi. Then we re-enter the hall and Maharaji has now announced a special photo session where one can have his/her picture taken with Maharaji. This photo will be cherished for a life-time. After the photo session, devotees form a queue to receive the Jal of Maharaji’s charan.
We wait now to proceed back to Vrindavan. Maharaji then makes a special announcement that everyone must eat dinner at the ashram and also take part in Kirtan after dinner, afterwards the bus will take everyone back to Vrindavan. We immediately eat dinner and proceed to the small sadhna hall next to Maharaji’s living quarters. Maharaji then appears in a great mood and sings along with us his favorite Kirtan, Topiwala Barsana Wari. Afterwards, we board our respective buses and return back to Vrindavan.
Meanwhile, the entertainment continues in the evening at Prem Mandir with the Raas Leela group and their performance of Dayand avatar. Additionally, the importance of the name of Radha is explained, lucky are those that were able to attend this session.
Day 3 – Opening Day
Today is the big day and thus we again start at 4:30 am with Prathna, Aarti, and Sadhna. There will be a balloon launching, Prem Mandir aarti, as well as the official opening of Prem Mandir to the public. There are over 12,000 devotees present for the opening ceremony of which 600 are foreigner devotees that have flown in from around the world to partake in this unique celebration of divine love.
The food is extra special today with special boondi ladoo prasad being distributed to all that come. Sadhu bhog also takes place with gifts given to all Sadhu’s that have turned up for the Prem Mandir celebration. The Sadhu’s are given food, Prasad, and also gifts such as blankets from Maharaji.
In the evening, the Raas Mandri group continues their performance and plays holi with the Devotees.
The balloon launching begins with all devotees gathered around the Gowardhan sculpture in front of the main entrance of the mandir. Each is a given a balloon to launch. There is chanting of Hare Rama Hare Krishna as there is word that Yugal Sarkar is coming. Maharaji arrives and the fun begins with Maharaji launching the first balloon followed by the rest of the balloons by the devotees. The sky is filled with colorful helium balloons providing for the grand entry of Yugal Sarkar.
Surrounding Prem Mandir, are beautifully landscaped gardens, water falls, laser show water fountains and many different sculpted objects within the gardens. A Kadamb tree sits in the main garden with Radha Krishna sitting on a Jhula hanging beneath the tree. There is a great structure erected in front of the main entry of the mandir. This structure is what looks like a real life-like Govardhan hill with Shree Krishna holding it up with his pinky and the Brajwasi’s all looking for protection from their beloved. What’s amazing about this structure is that it’s Shree Krishna’s pinky that is holding the man-made Govardhan Hill, with no other supports to be seen.
The divine love that is flowing from Prem Mandir is not only captured from the outside but also within the mandir itself. All around the mandir, there are many plates created in white marble using a special 3D engraving machine depicting the various leelas of Shri Krishna. As you enter the mandir, you’ll notice large doors for the entry way and on both sides of the entryway are 3d carvings of Yugal Sarkar thus following around the mandir from birth to full age leelas of Shri Krishna. One that is very memorable is the Maha Raas Leela. There are so many doors all around the mandir giving one a feeling of Radha Krishn calling out to any and all with open arms to experience the bliss of divine love.
The first prem mandir aarti will be performed by devotees. There are so many devotees lined up to perform the aarti. They are all lead in with foreigner devotees standing on the ground floor and Indian devotees on the first floor. Maharaji appears and the Ram Sita “Vigrah” is revealed. Maharaji now start the aarti with the devotees followed by Mahraji’s parivar from the Havan. Afterwards, he heads downstairs and reveals the Yugal Sarkar “Vigrah” and immediately starts the Yugal Sarkar aarti. After the aarti is finished, then the devotees that are present inside the mandir take aarti and view the beauty of the mandir from the inside. The remaining devotees and guests will only be able to visit the inside of the mandir after 2:00 pm when the mandir will be officially open to the public.
Inside the mandir there are two levels. On the ground floor there is a Yugal Sarkar “Vigrah” and on the first floor a Ram Sita “Vigrah”. Words cannot describe the sheer beauty of both Murtis. Yugal Sarkar look as if they are really in front of us and talking to us.
The Shringhar is absolutely beautiful and looks as if it’s radiating from afar. All around the mandir there are so many decorated pillars and 3D carvings everywhere you look. These 3D carvings are once again of Shree Krishna Leela, Maharaji, the four other Jagadguru’s, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and of course the Jagadguru Parivar. There is one beautiful wax figure of Maharaji while he is creating his beautiful padhs. Just looking at this wax figure one would get the feeling that Maharaji is really right in front of you. The ceilings have beautiful chandaliers hanging to provide light and decorative beauty. The internal dome structure is delicately carved and one would have to wonder how the artisans were able to climb so high to carve the designs. Every wall inside and out is filled with Radha Krishna prem. The internal walls have couplets of Radha Govind Geet to once again remind the visitor of the divine love of Radha Krishn. Each 3D carving is so beautifully painted that it gives the feeling that this must be the real Radha or real Krishna performing leelas in front of us.
The first floor also has a structure which has not been revealed. Some say it’s a robotic structure designed by a devotee in the US. The mystery entices us to visit the mandir again to find out what Maharaji will reveal. In my opinion, there is no mandir in the world that displays the clear bliss of divine love of Yugal Sarkar.
