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Braj
is located 115 Kms from
Delhi on the Delhi –
Agra national highway
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The
entire region lies well
within the Golden triangle
of
Delhi – Jaipur
– Agra |
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Braj
is not just Vrindavan
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Braj
is not just Mathura
or Vrindavan alone
as is popularly
believed by devotees
from all over the
world. |
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The
entire expanse of
84 – Kos periphery
around Vrindavan
is Braj. |
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The
region spans across
the Mathura district
of UP, Bharatpur
district of Rajasthan
and Faridabad district
of Haryana. |
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The
entire region has
over 1300 villages,
each of which are
associated with one
or the other Krishna
leelas. Their very
names refer to their
connection with Krishna. |
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| What's
special about Braj ? |
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Braj
is the land of Lord Krishna,
the propouner of world famous
Srimad Bhagvad Gita.
Krishna
appeared in Mathura some
5000 years ago and performed
his innumerable pastimes
all over the region till
the age of 11.
More
than 600 villages of Braj
are associated with His
various leelas. All this
makes the entire region
of Braj sacred for millions
of Vaishnavites all over
the world. |
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| Braj
has a 5000 year old cultural heritage
of unbroken continuity |
Since
the advent of Krishna
5000 years ago, the culture
of Braj has been sustained
despite innumerable onslaughts.
Braj offers
round the years festivity.
Every day there is a colorfull
festival in Braj.
If
Srimad Bhagvad Gita can
be summarised in one sentence
as "Nishkaam Karmayog"
(selfless work), Braj
culture can be defined
as "Simplification
of Divine".
The Supreme
personality of Godhead,
Lord Krishna is considered
to be the founder of this
culture.
The principles
of simple living and high
thinking and that of optimal
consumption have nowhere
been exemplified as that
in Braj.
Predominantly
a cow based economy, Brajwasis
have carried on their
age old cultural and spiritual
ethos. |
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| Braj
: A culture of forests & hills |
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In
the 10th chapter, 24 canto
and 24th verse of Srimad
Bhagvatam, Krishna says
to Nand Baba:
“The
cities, the cultured lands
nor the villages their
houses are ours, we are
the forest people dear
father, we always live
in the forests and on
the hills."
Braj is
predominantly a forest
culture. In Brajbhaktivilas
there is a mention of
over 137 transcidental
dense groves on both flanks
of Yamuna. |
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| Braj
is predominantly a rural society |
Braj
culture is predominantly
rural in nature. Agriculture
& animal husbandry
have been the primary
vocation of Brajwasis
since ages.
The
villages of Braj offer
a unique colourful experience.
The simple kind hearted
Brajwasis are superb hosts.
They pour their hearts
to the visitors. It was
this simplicity and soft
heartedness that they
indebted even the Supreme
personality of Godhead
- Krishna.
Mud
houses with thatched roof,
a tulsi plant in the courtyard,
women drawing water out
of the wells and carrying
their pots on heads, cooking
of chapatis on chulhas,
churning of curd are some
of the typical scenes
one would find in the
villages of Braj.
Towards
evening, the Brajwasis
have bhajans, kirtans
and dance glorifying the
innumerable pastimes of
Radha & Krishna. |
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| 50
million pilgrims & tourists
come to Braj annually |
Braj
is visited by over 5 crore
pilgrims annually. They
come to pay their obeisances
in the various temples of
Braj like Bankey Bihari
temple, Radha Vallabh temple,
Radha Raman temple, Radha
Damodar temple, Rang ji
temple at Vrindavan, Nandmahal
in Nandgaon, Shriji Mandir
in Barsana, Dauji Mandir
in Baldev, temples of Kamyvan
etc.
They
perform various parikramas
in different parts like
that of Giriraj Goverdhan;
Vrindavan etc. or of whole
Braj. |
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