Barsana Dham

Interview with Swami Nikhilanand with Sanatan Dharm Foundation. Swami Nikhilanand is a representative of JKP Barsana Dham, founded by H.D. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati. In this interview, Swami Nikhilanand is speaking about the magnificent Divali celebrations which take place at Barsana Dham, as well as the true importance and meaning of Divali. Click the green play button below to listen to the interview.

Devotees chanting Bhajo Giridhar Govind Gopala at Barsana Dham Ashram with Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj.

Barsana Dham satsangees singing "Mera Tan Man Pran". The beautiful kirtan is being led by Sushree Vishwambhari Devi. Loving meditation is always done during chanting at Barsana Dham. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati attests that loving medition is the life and soul of devotion. At Barsana Dham, the central Deity of Shree Raseshwari Radha Rani, the Deities of Radha Krishn and the Deity of Chaitanya Mahaprabhuji are established in a beautiful flowering garden (nikunj). While having darshan of the Deities, devotees at Barsana Dham meditate and try to experience love for the personal form of God as described in the scriptures and by the great Saints of Vrindaban, India. When there is love, every time the ‘name’ is chanted or repeated in the heart, it will naturally be preceded by the remembrance of the form of Radha or Krishn or Both, then this will be called the ‘chanting’ or the ‘remembrance of name’. Goswami Tulsidasji has rejected the mechanical meditation or repetition of the name and has stressed the importance of loving remembrance throughout the Ramayan. He explained that the name must be remembered not simply repeated. One shouldn’t think that mechanical chanting of the name without loving remembrance will reveal God or award spiritual experiences. All the Saints and scriptures stress that the name should always be remembered or chanted with selfless love, only then it will sprout the seed of Divine love that lies dormant in the heart of the devotee. Just repeating or counting the name is simply considered a good deed. It is not devotion. Only the selfless love for Krishn can evolve Divine love virtues in the heart of a devotee, not the mechanical chanting or repetition of the name or any other worshipping formalities. A devotee should always, every moment, remember his soul relationship with Radha Krishn and feel affinity. The more you will remember, the closer you will feel with Them. This remembrance is like the life force of all other aspects of devotion, so it is of first importance. If a person meditates on the form of Radha Krishn with the intention of receiving His vision and love, his meditation will be called remembrance, divine-love consciousness or raganuga bhakti. Meditation in raganuga bhakti is not a physical disciplinary act of concentration in the brain area. Meditation means feeling the Divine presence of Radha Krishn or your Master near you. You can also feel Their touch or the perfume of Their body or the perfume of the garland They are wearing. You should try to visualize in your imagination any leela of Braj or Vrindaban or Barsana Dham where you are either an observer or participant in that leela. You can be very close to Radha Rani or Krishn in the leela or be in the crowd, as you prefer. (Read more...) To listen, click on the green icon below.

Above - Devotees enjoying beautiful chanting meditation at Barsana Dham. Services at Barsana Dham include prayer, chanting meditation, a live or video speech on the Upnishads, Gita, Brahm Sutras by Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, Swami Prakashanand Saraswati (or one of the Barsana Dham sanyasi Teachers), Prayer and Arti. Chanting being sung is 'Gopi Jan Vallabh Shyam'.

Above - Devotees enjoying beautiful chanting meditation at Barsana Dham at Barsana Dham, led by Sushree Prabhakari Devi Coming for satsang at Barsana Dham allows an aspiring soul to participate in a satsang like those of the Ashrams of our great Saints of 500 years ago. All the chantings sung at Barsana Dham relate to the supremely loving form of God. Remembrance of the Divine names of Radha Krishn while imagining Them near to you is the direct means of experiencing Divine love. During the chanting, relax and feel the loving presence of God near you. Click on the green icon below to listen.

Sushree Diwakari Devi reciting the morning prayer at Barsana Dham. At Barsana Dham, we begin satsang with a prayer of surrender that enhances our humility and deepens our longing for God. Satsang at Barsana Dham also includes an opportunity for darshan of the Deities of God. A Deity is a statue of God or Goddess specially made and established at an altar or in a shrine for devotion and meditation with Godly feelings ascribed to it.

Janeshwari Devi of Barsana Dham speaking about Barsana Dham and Swami Prakashanand Saraswati (Shree Swamiji). To listen to this episode on Barsana Dham, click the green icon below.