Not such great news from Shrivatsa Goswamiji

Hon High Court at Allahabad has (probably) vacated the stay on the construction of the elevated road in the Yamuna river at Vrindavan and has also transfered the case to other bench.

Definitely not a good news. It is good only to the point that failure brings us closure to opening up a possibility of correcting it.

I would under no circumstances doubt the integrity of the Hon Justice at the Allahabad High Court hearing the petition of one Sri Madhumangal Shukla, hence fail to imagine that the Hon. Judge acted under 'pressure' from anyone or 'siding' with Sri Shukla. An Hon Justice will side only with the just. The Alliance is proud to be serving a just cause.

Braj-Vrindavan Heritage Alliance has its vision clearly focused on the Dham Seva. BVHA meeting held at Sri Radhagovind Mandir, Vrindavan on the 28th of March 2010 re-iterated and resolved that it should continue to strive for the following:

1. Vrindavan Dham be declared and listed as a Pilgrimage-Heritage Town by the Central and State Governments.

2. Yamuna be saved from pollution and brought back to flow on the old ghats of Vrindavan.

3. Due to its its unique Heritage status, Vrindavan civic development requires a comprehensive-integrated mast plan. The local stake holders and citizens be involved in the planning process.

4. The Kumbha Mela Sthal be declared a protected area.

I also take this opportunity to remind the Vrindavan community that BVHA is regularly meeting and deliberating every Sunday at a new venue. Its very encouraging to see that each Sunday there are many different members. More are welcome. Although many are absent, but I believe that their absence does not betray their non-commitment.

Next meeting of BVHA is at Sri Gopinath Mandir, Vrindavan at 4:30 pm on Sunday 4th April 2010. All are welcome.

Radhe Radhe. Jaya Sri Yamuna, Jaya Sri Dham.

Shrivatsa Goswami

Humble spokesperson
Braj Vrindavan Heritage Alliance

Message from Chandan Goswami

Dear Devotees
Radhe Radhe!!

Today was the third hearing of Yamuna Bridge in High court. The judge who was looking after our case has given the resignation from this case. He won't be looking after our case anymore. Sources say, He was in tremendous pressure from State Government side to leave this case.

This is not a good news at all for us because he was one of the good Judge who was supporting us and was in the favour to save the Heritage of Yamuna Maharani & Shri Brij Vrindavan Dham.

Please do some favour on us, find 2 mins everyday to pray for Yamuna Maharani and for us. We are in desperate need.


Yours in the service of Dham
Chandan Goswami

yvhfoundation@gmail.com

Paramadvaiti Swami's Kumbha Mela adventures

Things have been in a bit of a lull lately, but underneath the scenes... well to tell the truth, Swami Paramadvaiti is a perpetual motion machine... In Hardwar he met with all kinds of major acharyas and religious leaders, as well as their leading grihastha disciples, and has enlisted their support and cooperation in the bridge issue. Perhaps public opinion in Vrindavan is lagging, but if people like Ravi Shankar, So'ham Baba, Dayananda Saraswati, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and so many other significant players on the Indian religious scene step up, it will not be without effect.

Pictures are given in no particular order of time. Unfortunately I don't have all the names. I will add them as I get them:

Swami Ritavan, myself and Paramadvaiti Maharaj at S.R.S.G. (More of that here)

With Swami Dayananda Saraswati, who is the head of the All-India Acharyas Conference.

With So'ham Baba, the mystery man, by the look of the photo.

This is Jagat Guru Purushotammacharya Ji Maharaj. From what Paramadvaiti Maharaj tells me, this young sannyasi was one of the most favorably disposed to his ideas, and wants to work with him on building a Chara-Sampradaya University of Theistic Vedanta in Tamil Nadu.

Hamsananda Swamiji.

This is one of the Uttara Khand public servants in the ministry that was dealing with Kumbha Mela preparations.

With Dr. Pandiya at the Gayatri Parivar (Shanti Kunj, Haridwar).

Bhakti Yoga Swami at Madhuban in Rishikesh.

Restored Ghats in Mathura (2007)

This article by Ravi Das appeared on VINA on Wednesday, 18 April 2007. Since we have been posting the riverfront situation in Rishikesh and Hardwar, I thought that this would be nice to post here also, to get an idea of how, even in Mathura, good work is being done. Why not Vrindavan? It staggers the imagination.

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I was invited to see the work that had been taking place at the Mathura Ghats a few days ago and enthusiastically went with the camera to see the results.

The Ghats in Mathura are the most mentioned tirtha in all of the shastra. The Yamuna near Mathura is a repository of the pastimes associated with Krishna. The river bank is embellished with stone steps leading to the surface of the water. Each ghat has a story associated with it. The city of Mathura is spread on the right bank of the Yamuna and the ghats, temple spires and archways provide a wonderful view from the opposite bank.

It is believed that the ghats were built at the sites of ancient ashrams, where the great sages performed their penances. Today they are crowded with pilgrims who visit these sacred sites for the ritual dip in the water. Of the 25 ghats that exist today, Vishram Ghat is the most important. It is stated in shastra that Lord Krishna rested here after killing the tyrant demon Kansa.

The 12 ghats to the north of Vishram Ghat include the Ganesh Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat with its Neelakantheshwar Temple, Saraswati Sangam Ghat, Chakratirtha Ghat, Krishnaganga Ghat, Somatirth or Swami Ghat, Ghantagharan Ghat, Dharapattan Ghat, Vaikuntha Ghat, Navtirtha or Varahkshetra Ghat, Asikunda ghat and Manikarnika Ghat.

To the south, of Vishram Ghat there are 11 ghats - the Guptatirth Ghat, Prayag Ghat marked by the Veni Madhav Temple, Shyam Ghat, Ram Ghat, Kankhal Ghat, the site of the Janmashtami and Jhula festivals, Dhruva ghat, Saptrishi Ghat, Mokshatirth Ghat, Surya Ghat, Ravan Koti Ghat and Buddha Ghat.

Some of the most elegant temples of Mathura, like the Mukut Temple, Radha-Damodar, Murli Manohar, Neelkantheshwar, Yamuna-Krishna, Langali Hanuman and Narasimha temples are situated near Vishram Ghat. The baithak of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, is also nearby.

There importance to all Vaishnavas from all sampradayas cannot be estimated. So it is wonderful that some restoration is taking place.

Restored ghats:

Restorable ghats: