2024.09.29 (Vrindavan Today News): The Vrindavan residents were horrified when they woke up on the morning of 19th September, and heard the news of an act of ‘environmental vandalism’ that left behind the maimed stump of 454 ancient traditional trees of Braj.
After the cutting of the trees, the devotees have expressed their deep concern over the drastic transformation of Vrindavan. Before, one could see ‘Radhe Radhe’ written on the trees and walls of Vrindavan. But now the holy words have been replaced with ‘Rooms available’. Now one can see the signboard mentioning ‘Rooms available here’
The city which was named after a forest has to witness the massacre of the trees. It is said that in Vrindavan, even the trees resonate with the name of Radha – “Each branch and leaf sings Radha’s name.” This heartless destruction has shaken the souls of the Brajvasis, the locals who revere the flora and fauna as divine.
This is the heartland of Shri Krishna’s divine pastimes, a place revered across the three worlds, and its significance cannot be easily captured in mere words.
Vrindavan is home to countless sacred ponds, hermitages, and ancient temples. Scores of saints have visited Vrindavan since the time immemorial and many permanently resided here. The beauty of Vrindavan is mentioned in several religious texts. The forests and groves of Vrindavan have been the center stage of the poetries and verses of the poets from the Bhakti movement.
Even the great poet Kalidasa, in his epic ‘Raghuvamsa’, compared Vrindavan to Kubera’s divine garden, Chaitrarath.
Jain scriptures from the 14th century also mention Vrindavan’s existence. This is no ordinary place; it is where Lord Krishna established a kingdom of love and devotion through His divine pastimes.
But now the heart of the mythical Braj has fallen prey to the curse of modernity. The glitter of modernity has overshadowed Vrindavan, and humanity, in its blind pursuit of comfort and convenience, has sought refuge in Vrindavan’s sacredness. In recent years, countless individuals have been drawn to Vrindavan, but this is a different kind of devotion, the ‘misplaced bhakti’.
These modern devotees are not here seeking spiritual awakening; they are coming after having achieved everything material life has to offer, only to feel an inner void.
They arrive in Vrindavan, hoping to escape the emptiness and mental depression that no worldly success could fill. This is a new kind of worshipper – affluent and accustomed to luxury – and they want to settle here, using their wealth to establish their presence.
As a result, land prices in Vrindavan have skyrocketed. What was once affordable land is now being sold for millions and billions. Luxury hotels are cropping up, and plots of land are being sold at astronomical rates – all in the name of devotion. This development is taking place at the cost of Vrindavan’s ancient heritage.
On one hand, devotees are flocking to the holy city, while on the other, we see the rise of high-tech townships, hotels, restaurants, food chains, colonies, and flats. This unbridled exploitation, under the guise of progress, is leading Vrindavan down a dangerous path – a blind pursuit of wealth that has disoriented everyone involved.
No true Brajvasi would want progress that comes at the cost of centuries-old forests. Here, the trees are considered sages and ascetics; they are worshipped as sacred beings.”
The recent incident at the Dalmia Farm has forced the locals to confront a harsh reality: the wheel of development is spinning at such a pace that Vrindavan has already turned into a concrete jungle.
“Are we trying to turn Vrindavan into a metropolitan?” With towering skyscrapers, traffic jams, and a city where no one knows each other – where the only goal is to make money, even if it’s in the name of devotion. Every native of the place has a responsibility to preserve Vrindavan’s original character, or else those who come from across the globe in search of peace and devotion will be left with nothing but disillusionment.
If we do not act now, what awaits future visitors to Vrindavan? Chaotic traffic jams, suffocating buildings, the relentless pursuit of money, and a cut-throat competition for resources. We must save Mother Yamuna, preserve the sacred trees and plants that are revered as saints, protect the cows that wander through the holy lanes, and ensure the survival of the ascetics meditating in the forests. We must safeguard the ancient temples and the Bhagavat traditions, passed down through generations of learned Bhagavatacharyas. Time is running out, and the need for awareness is urgent.
Vrindavan is more than just a place; it is a living symbol of divine love and devotion. It is the synonym of perfection, nature conservation and women empowerment. It is our collective duty to protect this heritage before it is too late.
