An Evening With Love

 
What a festival for the eyes it is to behold beauty personified! For the past few days, my mind has been captivated by the beautiful form of RadhaGopinath at ISKCON, Chowpatty. Then, just yesterday, I received a text announcing it was His birthday. Nothing could hold us back from visiting the Most Beautiful Blue-Boy.

After my college classes, I called my husband to arrange our meeting time and place so we could hurry to greet the "Birthday Boy."

With excitement and a bit of breathlessness, we arrived at His merciful abode. The curtains were closed, building our anticipation, while a gentle kirtan eased our eager hearts as we waited for darshan. Finally, the conch shell blew, the curtains opened, and our eyes drank in the long-awaited sight.

Sri Sri Radha Gopinath appeared resplendent in a yellow dhoti, a green waistband, and a red headpiece, captivating us with His vibrant colors. Yet it was clear His heart was enchanted by the beautiful Sri Radhe, dressed in elegant orange and red.

Spellbound, we stood, unable to move for quite some time, our hearts lifted in gratitude as we offered silent prayers, immersed in the soul-stirring kirtan.

Eventually, we decided it was time to leave, as the curtains would soon close—a moment we always prefer to avoid. After a fulfilling dinner, we chose to walk to the railway station. However, the beach called to us, and we decided to pause there for a while.

Embraced by a tranquil breeze, we sat back, choosing a spot far enough from the shore to stay undisturbed by the waters. It was low tide and, thankfully, dry. The peaceful solitude of the scene inspired me to sing the names and glories of the Lord.

With each gentle touch of the breeze, and our hearts brimming with gratitude, we felt God’s love surrounding us. We thanked the Supreme for calling us to His abode, then guiding us to experience His wonders: the playful waves, the flowing wind, the mysterious sky, and the serene silence, set against the hum of a city like Mumbai. I realized how peace can be found amidst chaos if we simply recognize God’s presence in every situation, appreciating His blessings.

What was meant to be a brief five-minute stop turned into an hour. As we finally left, hearts full of contentment, we walked in silence, each reflecting on the gift of that evening spent in love and gratitude.

















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