Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura would say that Kurukshetra is the real place for bhajan. Why? Because service to Radharani is most needed in Kurukshetra, not in Vrindavan. When gopis go to Kurukshetra for the solar eclipse, although Krishna is so close, their Vrindavan Lila is impossible. Krishna is in a different attire, and a different place, so the hankering felt by His Vrindavan devotees is at its zenith.

Krishna’s Sacred Devotees: Vrajavasis

As we were taking darshan at Dwarkadhish temple today, while the bhoga was being offered to the Lord, devotees (not our group) were chanting “Radhe Radhe” continuously. I wondered that here, in Dwarka, they should be chanting ‘Jay Rukmini Dwarkadhish’, or ‘Jaya Shri Krishna’, or something to that effect, but this chant pleasantly surprised me.

A thought came to my mind that in Dwarka, Krishna feels the maximum separation from the Vrajavasis. Sanatana Goswami devotes quite a few chapters in the Brhad Bhagavatamrta describing the Nava Vrindavan Lila wherein Krishna, after feeling acute separation from Vrajavasis, is taken to Nava Vrindavan, where he sees the dioramas of Yashoda, Srimati Radharani and others crafted by Vishwakarma, but feels as if He is in the original Vrindavan. When Rukmini, Satyabhama, and others watch this scene from far away hiding behind a tree, they are mesmerized. How much love Krishna has for the Vrajavasis!!

So, when devotees are chanting ‘Radhe, Radhe’, they are trying to remind Krishna of Vrindavan. How pleased Krishna must be! Just as Radharani needs extensive support in Kurukshetra, Krishna needs solace in Dwarka. And one who gives solace to Krishna is very dear to Him.

Furthermore, one who glorifies His topmost devotees is the most dear to Him. In the pinnacle verse of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna mentions that one who gives up all religious dharmas and completely surrenders unto Him, Krishna fully takes care of Him. He furthermore states that one who preaches about this message is most dear to Him.

One understanding of this verse also could be that one who preaches about the devotion of gopis and Srimati Radharani, who have given up everything for Krishna’s sake, that devotee is most dear to Him.

Krishna’s Sacred Space: Vrindavan

Generally, we hear about Vrajavasis separation from Krishna. But, in Dwarka, Krishna also experiences separation from Vrajavasis. In Kurukshetra, when asked if he remembers Vrajavasis, Krishna is saying to Srimati Radharani,

”My dearest Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, please hear Me. I am speaking the truth. I cry day and night simply upon remembering all you inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. No one knows how unhappy this makes Me.” CC Madhya 13.149

Krishna even says He daily goes to Vrindavan from Dwarka.

“You are My most dear, and I know that in My absence You cannot live for a moment. Just to keep You living, I worship Lord Nārāyaṇa. By His merciful potency, I come to Vṛndāvana every day to enjoy pastimes with You. I then return to Dvārakā-dhāma. Thus You can always feel My presence there in Vṛndāvana.” CC Madhya 13.154

Thus, in Dwarka as well, the grace of devotees can help us imbibe the mood of Vrindavan.