Hare Krsna,
This lesson is truly delightful to read and meditate upon. It is wonderful to see Kṛṣṇa taking time to marvel at the transcendental forests of Vṛndāvana and the changing seasons. His example teaches us the importance of stepping away from our busy schedules to appreciate the world around us—to marvel at the beauty of Kṛṣṇa’s creation.
I have always felt a deep connection with nature, and seeing that Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord Himself, cherishes every intricate aspect of His own creation is profoundly inspiring. This appreciation for the natural world is not unique to the Vedic tradition; many other faiths also uphold the practice of honoring creation. For instance, if I am not mistaken, the Jewish festival of Shabbat is observed as a day of rest, commemorating the story of creation in the Torah, where God rested on the seventh day after completing the universe. This sacred observance encourages Jews to pause and reflect on the beauty and miracle of the world around them, much like Kṛṣṇa’s own appreciation of Vṛndāvana.
In Śrī Vṛndāvana Mahimāmṛta, a beautiful and profound text composed by Śrīla Prabhodānanda Sarasvatī, there are many instances where the forests (vanas) of Vṛndāvana and the changing seasons are glorified in relation to the divine pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Throughout the Vṛndāvana Mahimāmṛta, Śrīla Prabhodānanda Sarasvatī repeatedly praises the forests of Vṛndāvana as places of transcendental beauty, decorated with blooming flowers, sweetly singing birds, and fragrant breezes that enhance Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.
There are many verses that express this transcendental beauty:
Vṛndāvana is naturally free of all flaws; it transforms those who are reservoirs of faults into reservoirs of virtue. May it protect me, who have been excommunicated by every religion, and may it dry up all my terrible sins.” (Vṛndāvana Mahimāmṛta 1.39)
May beautiful Vrindavana, which is filled with cuckoos celebrating a great festival of singing, peacocks happily dancing, the sweetness of the music of bumblebees humming, trees, vines, and flowering-vine pavilions, and which fulfills the desires of Radha-Krishna’s sweet maidservants, appear before me. (Vṛndāvana Mahimāmṛta 19)
Similarly, the seasons in Vṛndāvana are not just natural phenomena; they are divine orchestrations that enhance the rasa-līlā and other pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
“In the monsoon forests Kṛṣṇa saw the joyful Pulinda women, the honey pouring down the trees, the waterfalls flowing from the mountains, and far off caves, which appeared to be nearby from the echoing sound. When it rained Kṛṣṇa would run and enter the hollow of a tree or a cave and amuse Himself by eating radish. There are two types of radish: round ones and long ones.” (Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura’s Sārārtha-darśini – 27-28)
“Lord Kṛṣṇa watched the contented bulls, calves and cows sitting on the green grass and grazing with closed eyes, and He saw that the cows were tired from the burden of their heavy milk bags. Thus observing the beauty and opulence of Vṛndāvana’s rainy season, a perennial source of great happiness, the Lord offered all respect to that season, which was expanded from His own internal potency.” (SB 10.20.30-31)
In Śrī Vṛndāvana Mahimāmṛta, the forests and seasons of Vṛndāvana are not merely scenic descriptions but deeply connected to Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes. Each season brings a new mood (bhāva) that enhances the mādhurya (sweetness) of Vṛndāvana. The entire land of Vṛndāvana is depicted as a conscious being, completely dedicated to the service of Sri Sri Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 