Mahaprabhu murti - on parikrama path

Not sure if this is the right place to post this query, but here goes.

When I was last in Vrindavan I remember that on the parikram path, on the right hand side of the road, there was a bigger than life size murti of Mahaprabhu sitting chanting japa at the entrance to one small temple, (I use the term 'murti' as I don't think it was an installed deity), it was sited at right angles to the entrance so you could see it on your left as you entered the small compound.

The temple itself had a small altar at ground level, with a Jagannatha deity only (i.e. no Baladeva or Subhadra), and the pujari there said it was the Jagannatha deity of Murari Gupta. The pujari spoke english and was very friendly and gave us all fruit prasada. I think I recall a sign asking people to be quiet or silent whilst visiting as Mahaprabhu is considered to be chanting japa there.

Does anyone know any more about this place? Does anyone have a photo to post of the Mahaprabhu murti?

The pujari there told me that that murti of Jagganath was the deity of Murari Gupta. He also told me a story that some Shalagram Shilas mysteriously appeared on the altar overnight once. I used to stop by to visit him when I did bi-monthly parikrama and he would give me water and I would leave some donation for Jagganath.

Once I stopped by and he was in a very ecstatic mood and he told me that the area around his mandir wasn't actually how it looked with the naked eye, but that it was full of mysteries, which he didn't elaborate on.

I think I have seen a picture of this Mahaprabhu but I don't remember where. It wasn't on the web, but maybe in a parikrama guide.

This place has recently been taken over by Gaudiya Matha. The place where Mahaprabhu sits is filled with pictures of their acharyas, and a boundary has been erected around the place. In my personal opinion, the sweet mood of the place, as it once was, has become compromised by the new arrangements.

I will take a photo for you next time I go for Vrindavan town parikrama. That murti of Mahaprabhu as a sannyasi is very sweet.

Is Baba still there?

A good question. I'll have to check it out next time I go there.

And exactly where is this spot on the Parikrama. Now you've got me curious. Near what and next to what? Maybe I will recall that I have been there.

Thanks.

Hey, sadhuji!

If you look at the map attached, you'll find it at bottom right.

Hey, panditji

I know where Jaganath Mandir is and Radha Madana Mohana, but for some reason I can't picture this sitting Mahaprabhu right now. I will look in my color parikrama guidebooks that I bought from Iskcon recently and maybe I will find it.

Nice to hear from you. I'll write you soon.

Here is another Vrindavan parikrama map, plus a list of places marked on it, which I like to look at as a reminder of where things are:
[attachmentid=1379]

[map from www.vaisnava.cz , which also has map and photos of the Radha-Kunda area]

Sri Vrindavan Dham

1. Kaliya-hrada, bhajan-kutir and samadhi of Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati
2. Sri Madan-Mohan Mandir, Dvadasadiya Tila, Praskandana- ksetra, Samadhi of Sanatana Gosvami
3. Advaita-vata
4. Dana, Mana, Gumana a Kunja Gali
5. Sri Rupa Sanatana Gaudiya Math
6. Imlitala
7. Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math, Gopinath Bhavan
8. Sri Radha-Damodara Mandir
9. Jhadu Mandala
10. Sringaravata
11. Dhira-samira
12. Vamsivata
13. Gopisvara Mahadeva
14. Gyana Gudadi
15. Brahmakund
16. Davanalakunda
17. Sri Govindaji Mandir
18. Sri Gopinathaji Mandir
19. Sri Radha-ramana Mandir
20. Sri Radha-Gokulanandaji Mandir
21. Sri Syamasundar Mandir
22. Sri Banki-bihari Mandir
23. Sri Radha-Vallabha Mandir
24. Sri Lal Babu Mandira
25. Sri Ranganath Mandir
26. Bankhandi Mahadeva
27. Sri Krsna-Balaram Mandir
28. Sri Bhagavat Nivas
29. Radhakup
30. Varaha Mandir
31. Gautama Muni asram
32. Varaha-ghat
33. Kaliyadamana-ghat
34. Aditya-ghat
35. Yugala-ghat
36. Viraha-ghat
37. Imlitala-ghat
38. Sringara-ghat
39. Govinda-ghat
40. Cira-ghat
41. Bhramara-ghat
42. Kesi-ghat
43. Dhirasamira-ghat
44. Radhabaga-ghat
45. Pani-ghat

Sorry for disagreeing Madhava, nothing personal (as personally I find you to be very sweet yourself), but in my opinion the new arrangements have not affected the sweetness of the place at all. The fact that pictures of Gaudiya Math acarayas now surround the large deity form of Mahaprabhu may very well be His decision in the first place. And the fact that there are now boundaries around the place, oh well, aren't there such things around so many other sweet places in the area as well, such as an iron fence surrounding Madhan Mohan temple, etc? The acarya to whom the Jaganath temple with the large deity of Mahaprabhu in the courtyard was given charge is on visnupada 108 Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Maharaja, known to many as one of the sweetest acaryas in the history of Gaudiya Math.

I found this online about Puri Maharaj, and I have heard from many people how he was beloved by Gaudiyas of all camps because of his great humility and complete lack of propensity to criticise others:

"Since his joining, he always kept connection with so many Vaishnavas. I even saw those whom we are calling sahajiyas babaji. They also used to come, to visit and see Gurudev. Even Lalita Prasad Thakur, Prabhupada's brother, his disciples also like to keep his photo in their temple, still. After his departure they called me to their temple to arrange a festival. They wanted to make festivals in my presence. So, I went there with a group of devotees and I was there the whole night and day, the 24 hours performing Harinam Sankirtan. From 6 o'clock in the morning until next 6 o'clock in the next morning. Harinam Sankirtan, then nagar sankirtan, then a big feast with speeches about the glories of our Gurudev. But they are sahajiya! Everyone could see the qualities of Srila Gurudeva. So, you can imagine this, his divine nature. The nature of a Vaishnava is ajata satraba. Ajata satraba --- means who has no enemy. He is absolute free from enemies. Everybody was happy to know him. Absolutely he was an example of that nature. So, in this way he was honored by all Vaishnava communities."

"But they are sahajiya (?)"

I have no objection to pictures of Gaudiya Math acharyas and so forth. Whoever is taking care of the place is free to put whatever pictures he wishes.

What I'm saying is that I personally found it very sweet when there was just Mahaprabhu sitting there without any elaborate setups at all. It looked like Gaura had just come and sat down under the tree with tears in his eyes. Of course he is still sweet, but the atmosphere feels different to me. I would rather have just my Gaura sitting under the tree instead of brick boundaries and so many pictures. Now it looks too much like an establishment.

At least they haven't yet built a jewelled throne!
(This is my feeble attempt at humour - for reference see the thread on Yogapith Static Meditation where I expressed some unease around Radha-Krishna sitting in a formal setting...)

Thanks Madhava for telling more about this place.

Hey, I wouldn't have them sitting on a brick wall on a secret nocturnal rendez-vous!