Introduction 17

mon man it seems very wonderful that the Goswamis could simply live under-
neath one tree one night, and the next tree another night, and have everything
they needed. But it is all possible. As we make progress in our devotional
service, we can realize this.

There is another devotee, an Acharya, who describes Vrindaban: “When
my mind becomes cleansed of all dirty hankering for material enjoyment,
then I shall be able to see Vrindaban!” So Vrindaban is actually experienced
by persons who have finished with material enjoyment. Everything is spiritual.
This becomes revealed. We cannot challenge it. As you become more Krishna
conscious, as you become more advanced, everything is revealed to you.

Actually, Vrindaban is as good as the Spiritual Vrindaban, and therefore
Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami says that underneath one of the desire trees
of Vrindaban there is a nice throne decorated with valuable jewels on which
Radharani and Krishna are seated. And His dear friends and the Gopis are
all serving Them: somebody is singing, and somebody is dancing, somebody
is offering betel nuts and refreshment, somebody is decorating with flowers.
In this way there are 108 Gopis who are the constant companions of Sri
Radha and Krishna. That scene is described in Chaitanya Charitamrita.

In India it is still a fashion of recreation to sit on a swinging throne, and,
if it is moving, it is very refreshing. In each and every home they have a hang-
ing throne, and when a man comes home from the office, if it is practical, it is
moved for some time and he becomes refreshed. So, similarly, the same system
prevails, especially in the month of Sravam, July, when there is the function
called Julun. During Julun, in all the houses—not only of Vrindaban but all
over India—the people hang thrones. In every house and village they place
Krishna and Radha and decorate them with flowers and move the throne and
offer dancing and Kirtan. If you like you can introduce that system here.
Julun goes on for one month, the temples are decorated and thousands of
visitors come as spectators. Generally, people go to Vrindaban at that time.
Krishna and Radha are seated on the throne, surrounded by His friends.

“T offer my respects to Radha and Krishna,” Krishna Das says. This Radha
and Krishna deity shows us how to serve Radha and Krishna. Madanmohan is
simply to establish that “I am Your eternal servant.” Now, in Govinda, there
is actually acceptance of service. Therefore it is the functional deity.

The next deity is Gopinath. The author offers blessings here to the audience
in the Name of Gopinath, the Master or Proprietor of the Gopis, Who attracted
all the Gopis by the sound of His flute, because He wanted to dance with them.
In the Tenth Canto of Srimad Bhagwatam this is described: Some of the Gopis
