Day 14: First Day of Govardhan Retreat

I woke up early that morning around 4:30, it was too hard to sleep at the feet of Govardhan, and I really wanted to chant japa on the rooftop and watch the sun rise above Govardhan Hill. I took a cold shower, which helped me warm up, bundled like crazy, and went to the rooftop. It was so quiet out there, no one around, or really awake, too dark to really see anything, so I just went to the edge of the roof, sat facing Govardhan and chanted. About an hour later I was freezing cold, but totally peaceful and in content. Definately some of the best rounds I have ever chanted in my life. Finally the sky was getting lighter, and more people were coming to the rooftop, and I could just see the first beautiful rays of the sun peaking over the Hill, and lighting up the few clouds in the sky. I got really excited thinking that the sun would be coming up any minute now, but another hour went by, and it was time for the morning program, the sun still hadn't come up.

Anyway, the morning program was simple but nice. Instead of Bhagavatam, one of the seminar speakers, Madhavananda Prabhu, gave his seminar about Bhajan or worshippin in the mood of seperation. It was a really nice lecture. After the lecture it was time for breakfast, then another seminar by Bhurijana Prabhu, in this little in-closed wooded area, right beside our ashrams. It was also very nice; they had put up this big tent/pavilion, and you could just look at Govardhan hill the whole time. After his seminar, we took a break, and then it was Sacinandan Swami's seminar. That was also soo nice, it felt like it was especially what I needed to hear, because it was all about the proper and best ways to pray to the Vaisnavas and Krsna, and that was exactly what I was trying to do in Vrindavan. Everything Sacinandan Swami said was exactly what I needed to hear. I wrote down as much as I could of all the seminars to share with Kar when he got here.
After Sacinandan Swami's seminar it was time for lunch, and I was super happy to be able to help serve out the prasadam. We got to eat on banana leaf plates and bowls the whole time, so I was pretty excited about that. After prasadam, we had a few hours of break, so Lilamrta, KC, me and another girl named Christy, decided to walk a bit along the parikrama path. The first place we stopped at was this beautiful little temple right alongside the hill, where they worshiped this huge Sila of Govardhan, which was still actually part of the hill. They were continously bathing Him with milk, and the milk would run into the open gutters, making the whole surrounding area smell a little like rotting milk. But it was an incredible place to see, we gave a little donation, took some pictures, and the pujaris tied these orange sashes on our heads, and gave us some maha. Then they wanted to take us ontop of the hill to see the Madhavendra Puri temple, we kept telling them that we wouldn't go up there, but they didn't really get it. Finally one young pujari came running after us insisting that we go up with him, he said he was the head pujari of the Madhavendra Puri temple, and when we finally told him we were disciples of Prabhupada and that we wouldn't go on the hill, he left us alone.
We walked just a little ways until the path turned into the little town, and then we walked back, completely bombarded by the little street kids. Before we went into the ashram, we found a quiet, secluded place along the parikrama path, and just layed down and rolled in the wonderful dust! It was the funnest thing I have ever done! I didn't even want to get up off the ground, I can't even describe the wonderful blissful feeling I felt. It was like I wanted to run, dance, chant, laugh, cry, all at once. I have never felt happier or more satisfied in my whole entire life. It wasn't just me either, all of us where completely intoxicated from that experience. I feel so deeply grateful for that opportunity, I know that I didn't do anything to deserve being given that experience, and I know that all the bliss and joy I felt was Krsna's mercy on me, just trying to convince me that Krsna Conciousness is actually a very nice thing. How can you reciprocate with such love and mercy?

We got back to the temple in time for the evening kirtan, feeling like we were floating on air. The kirtan was lead by Sacinandan Swami, and after such an incredible day like that, the kirtan was completely overwhelming and unbelievable. After the kirtan, we listened to Jagattarini Mataji read the Vidhagada Madhava, by Rupa Goswami, and then we had a light evening snack. Although I had woken up so early in the morning, I was so excited and thrilled, that I wasn't in the least bit tired. Me and KC just went back to our rooms, and talked for a bit, and finally we went to sleep. Once again, I felt like each precious moment was going by too fast.