Place of Gobinda - The Universal Self

Place of Gobinda - The Universal Self
Debi Prasad Choudhary
04/27/2025

(My two day "Travel Log "to Sri Krishna Birthplace on 18 April 2025)

                           ईश्वरः परमः कृष्णः सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहः। अनादिरादिर्गोविन्दः सर्वकारणकारणम्॥

Kṛiṣṇa who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes.

Brindavan, UP

Hundreds of years ago, this bustling town was a vast forest and grazing field for cattle herd. A young boy from Gokul, used bring His cow heard in the dawn along with a food packet prepared by mother Yosada and return in the dusk. Along with his friends He was wondering around this place with confidence, carefree and enjoying every moment with His magic flute. The dark colored young body was the center of attraction for all members of the community, especially women folk. His mischfies eyes, melodious sound of flute and walking style was things to treasure for all who could come across. He taught love. Love for all without boundary of any kind. No hate. He taught courage. No fear. He asked elders to abandon worshiping with fear to unknown mysterious forces  like "Indra". Rather worship the environment by taking care of Gobardhan Hill that was the grazing field of their cattle. He advocated to consume local dairy products instead of exporting to nearby city for profit. He killed evil forces who conspired to bring harm to his society. He cleaned Yamuna River by eradicating poisonous creatures and elements in the river.

He often stole food, stole clothes of women, teased them. Never went to a formal school. He dominated the consciousness and folklore of the subcontinent for centuries.

He was addressed by many names Gopal, Gobind and Kahna. He sang, he danced, He was the center of every one's life. Cows stoped grazing to listen his flute, women ran leveling all house hold duties, saints and elders longed to get a glimpse of him. Life was good. This was the place, he spend most of his growing up life. 

Today, it is like any other town. Piles of dirt from the open sewage, moulds of rubble from leftover construction material, smell of open drains and unorganized human and motor traffic. People come to see this place, perhaps experience the magic that it had one day in the past. 

Streets of Brindavan

He is the God. The Universal self. Saints and wise of all time interpret His actions, His words and His deeds in various ways. People feel blessed to come here and touch the soil that once He touched. They take home the memories with photographs with symbolic Tilak of His on their forehead.

One of my copilgremes posing for photo.

People constructed temples for him. Hundreds of thousands go to see his idol that He would have detasted. He was a realist no dogmatic. Yet, no one tries to understand Him like in his own life time. Pilgrims make Him God, which He might well be, but he was more than God. He taught mankind how to become godly.

A narrow street to one of the temples made in His honor.

Tired pilgrims eat food in air conditioned restaurants that are decorated with the picture of modern well groomed Gurus. The Gurus talk of Him, sometimes in the middle of night. They talk of His cow harding activity in wellit expansive pandals. They come in most expensive vehicles to tell about the one who wondered in bare foot. They accumulate huge wealth by telling His simple inexpensive story.

A modern saint decorated restaurant for pilgrims to eat.

Mathura, UP

He was born inside a jail, where his parents were kept for conspiring to kill his maternal uncle. A contemporary rich man Mr. Birla happened to identify the location and build a memorial. The neighbourhood is again ordinary. People sit leisurely to play cards. Kids play and cows wander. Visitors come to see this curious place that is disputed by rivalry of conflicting religious groups. The reconstructed jail cell in which Sri Krishna was born must be a symbolic one. In side the jail cell an individual can not even stand, so it is hard to imagine how a woman can give borth to a boy child!

Neighbourhood of Krishna Janam Bhumi in Mathura

Visitors proceed to see His birthplace through streets where unbothered folks play cards.

In His adulthood, he came with his brother to this town ruled by His uncle to participate in a festivity. It was the turning point in His life. He was such an attraction, people lined up to see Him. His style of walking, His eye rolling, His sweating masculine body and His kind touch was the talk of the town. He displayed valour and foiled the conspiracy to kill HIm. He became an instant celebrity.  His innocence was lost, He became adult and never returned to the village again. 

The railway station of the city is like any place else in India. A busy place where people with luggage struggle to get to train to go places. Ordinary people struggling to live like in any other city.

Mathura Railway Station, people wait for the train to their destination.

After two days of visit in hot salty environment of the place, where He was born and lived many eventful years, I was returning to Delhi airport in a air conditioned car. What a relief. I reflected, it it a special place, where he decided to incarnate, if He was all powerful, as He described Himself later in life?  It was not possible for me to find any significance of this place in comparison to my home town that looks exactly like this one. Same mounds of dirt from open sewage, leftover construction material and smell of open drain and urination. 

I thought, He is born in all cities, all localities, He is universal as He described later in life in Srimad Bhagawat Gita. We need to look for Him in all forms and beings. We shall find. The place, I visited is just a symbolic one, if he lived there was just coincidence. He can not be confined to a location, a space and time. He is timeless and all pervading. I realized the truth this time.

अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थित: | अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च || 20||

O Arjun, I am seated in the heart of all living entities. I am the beginning, middle, and end of all beings.

Jai Sri Krishna

 

मै गांधीजी को क्यों मारता |

मै गांधीजी को क्यों मारता |
देबी प्रसाद चौधरी
लॉस एंगेल्स १२/२३/२०१९

क्योंकि महात्मा गाँधी के बात सब सुनते  थे | खास कर हिन्दू सुनते थे , जिसके लिए हम चिन्तित थे | गांधीजी रामराज्य की बात करते थे , पर कभी भी राम मंदिर की बात नहीं की | बल्कि , वे भगवान राम ओर  आल्हा में कोई फरक नहीं देखा | मै ओर मेरे गुरुओ ने जानते थे की जबतक हिन्दू एकजुट नहीं होंगे , ये धर्मं लुप्त होजायेगा | पर गांधीजी सोचते थे , जो धर्म सनातन काल से जिन्दा है , जिसको बादशाहो ने खत्म नहीं करपाया , उसको क्यों डरना चाहिए | वो हिन्दू धर्म का सार को अंगीकार कर लिया था ओर  उसी तरह जीने लगे थे | सब उनके सुनते थे , हमारा कोई नहीं सुनता था ! उनकी mass फोल्लोविंग थी , हमारी नहीं | असल में , उनको फॉलो करने वाला हिन्दू  majority थे , हम तो minority में थे |

गांधीजी अपने विचार में पक्के थे | उनको पूछा के - क्या राम राज्य बिना राम मंदिर से आ सकता है? वे  कहने लगे , श्रीरामचरितमानस की अयोध्या कांड पढ़ो|  जब श्रीराम वाल्मीकि जी को "मई कहा ठहरूंगा" पूछते  , उत्तर में वाल्मीकि जी कहते है:

पूँछेहु मोहि की रहोऊ कहँ मैं पूछत सकुचउँ |
जहँ न होहू तहँ देहुं कही तुह्महि देखावौं ठाऊँ || १२७

You ask me: Where should I take up my residence? But I ask You with diffidence: tell me first the place where You are not; then alone I can show You a suitable place.

हमने कहा के बापू , जब हम strong नहीं होंगे अस्त्र सस्त्र नहीं रखेंगे , दुसमन को कैसे मरेंगे? गांधीजी  , कहने लगे , श्रीरामचरितमानस के विभिसन गीता पढ़ो |

रावनु रथी बिरथ रघुबीरा। देखि बिभीषन भयउ अधीरा॥
अधिक प्रीति मन भा संदेहा। बंदि चरन कह सहित सनेहा॥1॥
नाथ न रथ नहि तन पद त्राना। केहि बिधि जितब बीर बलवाना॥
सुनहु सखा कह कृपानिधाना। जेहिं जय होइ सो स्यंदन आना॥2॥
सौरज धीरज तेहि रथ चाका। सत्य सील दृढ़ ध्वजा पताका॥
बल बिबेक दम परहित घोरे। छमा कृपा समता रजु जोरे॥3॥
ईस भजनु सारथी सुजाना। बिरति चर्म संतोष कृपाना॥
दान परसु बुधि सक्ति प्रचंडा। बर बिग्यान कठिन कोदंडा॥4॥
अमल अचल मन त्रोन समाना। सम जम नियम सिलीमुख नाना॥
कवच अभेद बिप्र गुर पूजा। एहि सम बिजय उपाय न दूजा॥5॥
सखा धर्ममय अस रथ जाकें। जीतन कहँ न कतहुँ रिपु ताकें॥6॥
महा अजय संसार रिपु जीति सकइ सो बीर।
जाकें अस रथ होइ दृढ़ सुनहु सखा मतिधीर॥80 क॥

"Vibhasan  was disconcerted when he saw Råvan  mounted on a chariot and the Hero of Raghuís line without any. His great fondness for the Lord filled his mind with diffidence; and bowing to His feet he spoke with a tender heart: ìMy lord, You have no chariot nor any protection either for Your body (in the shape of armour) or for Your feet (in the shape of shoes). How, then, can You expect to conquer this mighty hero?î ìListen, friend:î replied the All-merciful, ìthe chariot which leads one to victory is quite another. Valour and fortitude are the wheels of that chariot, while truthfulness and good conduct are its enduring banner and standard. Even so strength, discretion, self-control and benevolence are its four horses, that have been joined to the chariot with the cords of forgiveness, compassion and evenness of mind. Adoration of God is the expert driver; dispassion, the shield and contentment, the sword. Again, charity is the axe; reason, the fierce lance and the highest wisdom, the relentless bow. A pure and steady mind is like a quiver; while quietude and the various forms of abstinence (Yamas) and religious observances (Niyamas) are a sheaf of arrows. Homage to the Bråhmaƒas and to oneís own preceptor is an impenetrable coat of mail; there is no other equipment for victory as efficacious as this. My friend, he who owns such a chariot of piety shall have no enemy
to conquer anywhere."

गांधीजी को विचार में जितना असंभव थी | हमको समझमें आगया था की हमारा कोई नहीं सुनेगा | गांधीजी भगवान राम को सच मानने लगे , पर हमको या सब में डाउट था | ये सब सच्चा नहीं है तो क्या backup plan होना चाहिए , हम उसमे धयान दिया | ना गांधीजी ना उनके फोल्लोवेर - जो मेजोरिटी में थे , उनको हम समझा पाए | हम तो चाहते थे गांधीजी भी कोई backup plan हिन्दुओं को बचाने के सोचे | पर वो ईश्वर में इतना बिस्वास करने लगे , की अपना समाज के ख्याल छोड़ के भगवत गीता ओर  रामायण में लिखा हुआ चीजों में विस्वास करने लगे | हमे डर लगा |

गांधीजी बुजूर्ग थे , उनका पैर चुने का दिल करताथा | पर, उनको समझा न पाए | लगा के व जबतक रेहगे हमको कोई नहीं सुनेगा | एक ही रास्ता है उनको मर दू |

पर ये पता नहीं था की गांधीजी सारा विश्व में मानबता के  विबेक का मुखपात्र बनचुकें | उनका सरीर को मरने से कुछ नहीं हुआ !

Nationalism of Dasrathi

Nationalism  of Dasrathi

Flight DL5720

11/12/2018

ଉତ୍କଳୀ କହେ ନୀଳାଚଳେ ଆମ ଭେଦା ଭେଦ କିଛି ନାହିଁ | ସନ୍ତାନ ଆମେ ଭାରତ ମାତାର, ସଭିଏଁ ଭଉଣୀ ଭାଇ |

“An Odiya says that in Nilachal (Puri Town), where the deity of Odiyas, Sri Jaganath is worshiped, there is no discrimination. Everybody is the son or daughter of Mother India, so we are all brothers and sisters”.

It was a powerful poetry for Dasrathi in his elementary school. The poetry described, how  ¹Odiya     people think all Indians are brothers and sisters as the children of Mother India, while ²Gujarati was boasting to own Mahatma Gandhi, ³Marathi was boasting for Chatrapati Sivaji and ⁴Rajasthai bosting for being great decedents of Maha Rana Pratap and ⁵Panjabis for a brave community with vast sacrifice for mother India.  Once he visited ⁶Puri  on the occasion of annual public bathing ceremony of Sri Jaganath and was thrilled to witness the majestic  walk of the God from a proximity and it all made sense why here all Indians are brothers and sisters. Dasrathi did not feel his poverty, even though they did not have money to eat food of their choice and lived with dry rice pallets his father carried from home. Few years later, as Dasrathi moved to a small town from his village, he realized that he is a bit inferior compared to his friends and must learn how to dress properly to claim their equals. Later, when he met some people from central part of the province, it became clear that people of his region  are lesser mortals. Still, he thought maybe one day people will recognize their siblings and embrace them. Or, maybe people elsewhere would be with broader mind to consider their brothers and sisters of Bharat Mata (Mother India). In the meantime Dasrathi became busy and moved to north for higher studies.

As he came to an university in north, the head of the department, where he wanted to study, was generous and made arrangements for joining the department and comfortable  living. While travelling by train, he met an old man from Punjab with turban, who guided him how to change the train in New Delhi Railway station. Dasrathi wanted to join M.Phil course in the same university after completing two years of MSc course. Most of the seats reserved for the students of Haryana Domicile. Head of the Sanskrit Department, who was impressed on watching Dasrathi performing Ganesh Puja with proper pronounce of ⁶Mantras, asked him to meet the district commissioner, who was his old student to get the necessary certificate.  As Dasrathi, visited Commissioners home, he was offered tea and light snakes besides getting the domicile certificate. Next day when he took another student of the native born, the commissioner was annoyed and refused to oblige.  But, Dasrathi’s faith in nationhood deepened and he was sure of the fact that all Indians are brothers and sisters and he belongs to this great community. 

Few days later while working for PhD in premium institute, it was clear to Dasrathi that he is really from an inferior breed. His friends from south actually boasted how great movies are made there. On one occasion, he even heard from them how little culturally in the form of movie making comes from Odissa. And, actually that was true. While attending a national science conference, Dasrahi over heard from a prominent leader of science, Dr. Srinivasan, that the real genius people in scientific research are from West Bangal and Tami Nadu. All others are marginal. As he analyzed, he became convenienced that his community produced very little scientist, poets, writers and leaders. He is actually a lesser breed. While, that could be true, at the same time, he was doing fine in the institute, even better than people from the states of better breed. His PhD supervisor gave an impression that Dasrathi is as good or some times better than many of his peers. In the meantime, he was exposed to international community. So, he decided to show his talent to people of other countries or other nations, who may not know that he is from a lesser breed in his home nation.

Dasrathi proudly travelled to Germany, after completing PhD to pursue Post Doctoral work. As he came across many people of his nation, it was clear that most are miserable compared to their white counter part! Most detested their native place and tried to live in the west if possible. One day, while waiting for the bus, he met a young, healthy individual from Punjab, who was seeking asylum. Dasrathi was curious to know the hardship he went through in his great native place. It was surprising to find that,  the complains were just hoax to get an opportunity to stay in this great land! Even with less pleasant experience in the home nation, Dasrathi wanted to be back to live with his parents and people of similar type. After a couple of years,  he received two letters from a colleague of his PhD advisor to join his institute to build a research group. He decided to return to motherland and if possible contribute like Jawahar Lal Nehru and many others!

Dasrathi returned to join a newly built Astronomy Center in middle of the country. He was under impression that getting trained in a western institute of repute, his native background would be overlooked and he would be accepted like others. Before joining the institute, Dasrathi was promised and independent accommodation, which he did not get. He was disgusted and decided to appeal to the dean, who was from Rajasthan – a worrier breed of superior type. The Dean told him, “being an ordinary post-doctoral fellow, who does not even have a future after couple of years, what more you want!! You should thank us for having some accommodation that many people in this nation would be fortunate to have.” Quickly, Dasrathi realized that he is talking to a worrier class, superior to his own. As another senior professor from north came to know about it, he sympathized Dasrathi and advised to appeal to the institute director. Being aware of his root, poor Dasrathi decided to leave the institute to join his parent institute, where he completed his PhD.

His parent institute, where he completed PhD belonged to Space Department of the nation, and Dasrathi was well-known to most people, including the head of organization.  He had a happy life both academically and personally for many years. Once again, he started feeling the belonging to a great nation. Once, while presenting the astronomy facilities at an conference in France, organized by United Nations, he used a digital map of his country where the western boarder was shown as disputed with dashed lines. Following him, his Pakisthani colleague Prof. Faruki showed a map in which he drew the map with a pen showing the entire Kashmir belonging to them. Dasrathi joked, “Faruki Sahab, you have taken the entire Kashmir by the stroke of a pen. At least you should have left SriNagar for us.” Faruki ⁷sahab, said, Dasrathiji, you can return to your great country, where people are broad minded, even after showing such a map. But, I cannot!”. Truly, Dasrathi was proud to have heard this. He thought how great a nation he belongs to. Few years later, as Dasrathi mingled with adult people of the society, he realized that may be he does not belong to the community, since their food habit, political views and social set up is completely different. He tried hard to prove them, that he is a  devout Hindu, but eats meet, adores, freedom fighters and finds fault with all of them. Despite his desperate effort, he could only partially integrate to the society in Rajasthan, that after all produced many brave worriers unlike his own community.

On another occasion, he travelled to Bejing, China with travel support from Third World Academy of Science and Chinese Academy of Sciences. On arriving in Beijing, he found that there is a problem with his air ticket and might cause trouble on return journey. He went to the embassy to seek help and met the science attaché.  On their first meeting the officer asked, if their trip is an government official trip. On learning the contrary, the attaché said, although it is not from the government office, he would do his best to help. The tone was somewhat uncomfortable. Dasrathi said, the president of his nation requests all people of the world to help without any reservation. Being his employ, the officer is actually duty bound to offer help. The officer laughed and they enjoyed together. Later an officer from a press organization invited them for lunch in their home and broadcast his interview on the eve of the visit of the vice president of his country! That gave a belongingness to a great nation, even though the embassy officer was less than perfect.

Few years later, Dasrathi came to United States for work and came across a community of people from his native region, who spoke same language and followed same customs. It was after about more than two and half decades he had this opportunity. He thought, now he belongs to this community of his own. But, in the meantime, he lost touch with most of the customs and even lost fluency of his own native language! His little son, did not even speak Odiya. But, he certainly enjoyed their company, even though, his son had a hard time learning the language, at least speaking part. The American colleagues, without knowing  that Dasrathi belongs to a lesser community of his nation, treated him like equals. Dasrathi started feeling comfortable here. Some years later, Dasrathi returned to his mother land to build some great facility. After spending few years, he left his beloved nation. By this time, the nationhood was of not much meaning as he hardly contributed to enrich his motherland.

Many years later,  Dasrathi approached a famous scientist, Dr. Lal, of his country to congratulate him on the occasion of being elected as a fellow of a prestigious society. After enquiring the wellbeing of Dasrathi, Dr. Lal said, there is a special pleasure to work for your own land! Dasrathi wondered, what relevant Dr. Lal’s work has to the motherland? The work will have an affiliation to a geographical location and belong to all humanity anyway.

Dasrathi has now seen east, west, Japan, China, Europe and America. Many people accept him as one of them, some don’t. When, asked a famous colleague of his field of research, they gave him all the support and accepted as one of them. Many times in his own home nation, he was rejected and felt miserable. Nationhood became an ill-defined word. If geographically confined, he only belongs to the little village or town where he spent the childhood. But, he cannot earn a livelihood living there. If he adores Bharat Mata (Mother India), what happens to his Utkal Janani (mother Odissa)? He started thinking, his forefathers got freedom from English Speaking people, not to have another royal language. If he has to adopt something else, other than what his mother understands, may be it should be more powerful and that matter in world stage. He thought, only those who cannot earn for themselves, motivate others to become territorial that might give an earning!

Lord of the Universe comes to hug people.

Recently, he visited Nilachal (Puri, Odissa) to see his God coming to millions of people to identify Him as one of them. When, his God, the Lord of the Universe (Jaganath) ascended to the chariot witnessed by millions on the grand road, he reflected, will He not listen to those, who call him in another name, for example Ala? Will he not listen to those, who happen to live in a geographically different location, say in Europe or Australia or in another planet? Dasrathi actually felt, the God he is witnessing belongs to all thing in the universe, and if there are people in a planet in a remote galaxy, they also own this God! When God was comfortable on the chariot in the evening,  Dasrathi felt, He smiling and reassuring him of the idea that He actually is the Lord of the Universe and can be geographically confined. For Him there is no such thing as nationhood. He just happened to be here at this time!

1-5: People of different provinces - Odisha, Gujarat, Maharastra, Rajasthan and Punjab.

6: Sentences in Sanskrit that can be understood by the Hindu Gods.

⁷sahab: A respected way of addressing an individual.