Planning a Trip to Vrindavan or Mathura? Know These Strict Dos and Don'ts

Vrindavan: Every day, many people from all over the country and the world come to the holy land of Mathura-Vrindavan, the city of Lord Shri Krishna. This spiritual destination is home to hundreds of temples dedicated to Radha Rani and Lord Krishna. If you too are going to the city of Lord Krishna, then some rules must be followed. 

How to behave in Braj?

Many saints inform the devotees who are coming to Vrindavan or Mathura that along with visiting the temple of Lord Krishna, they must also follow some rules. When a new person comes to visit a holy place like Vrindavan or Mathura, what things should he keep in mind:

Always chant the name of god 

The first thing to do is never to omit the name of God, because this name will keep your intellect pure. We should not look for faults in anyone at the Dham (holy land), because our vision is still illusory, we look for faults in men and women, inanimate and animate objects. Even if we do see a fault, we should not describe it at all, otherwise our visit to the Dham will be meaningless and a crime.

Live a simple life 

While staying at the Dham, one should give up the luxuries of household life. Do not indulge in the same pleasures as at home. Whether you stay for a day or more, observe celibacy. Eat with your own earned money and do not accept offerings from anyone else. If money is less, be content with simple food. The Dham is meant for earning virtue, not for losing it. If possible, observe a day-long fast at the Dham, nourish the body with only water or fruits. Use every moment in remembering the name of God, chanting his name, and having darshan.

Try to provide service in any form

Maintain a spirit of service and charity at the Dham. If you have even a little money, use it to feed birds, give clothes or salt to a saint. Do all this with a divine spirit, not for show or publicity. If you have to eat food from a food distribution center, then in return, make sure to donate something according to your capacity – such as Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50, whatever is appropriate. If you cannot afford it, then do not eat there. It is the duty of a householder not to accept donations, but to be content with whatever God has given.

Always trust the saints

While visiting saints, have a divine feeling towards them, do not consider them ordinary humans. Just like when we consider a stone as God, it becomes worship able, similarly consider the saint as the form of God, only then we will get virtue and benefits. Sins are destroyed by just seeing the saint. While visiting, be humble and polite, do not have ego. Do not stay near the saints for long, because our impure mind can find some fault or the other, which can lead to crime. Listen to the satsang and then meditate on it in solitude, so that the mind gets involved in bhajan and there is no fault finding.

Do not harm any living being in Vrindavan

No living creature should be harmed in Vrindavan, be it a lizard, a Scorpio, or a snake. Even an insect here is great creature who has come here after performing some devotional service. 

Maharaj Ji concluded by saying that the divine acts of saints are beyond our understanding, and therefore, we should not view them from a human perspective. Only if we approach them with a divine spirit will we truly benefit from the saintly form of God. Devotion to saints, service to them, worship of them, and pilgrimages undertaken with a pure heart are truly virtuous and conducive to attaining God.