Radhanath Swami on Loving Exchanges

Radhanath Swami on Loving Exchanges

In Gokul, Nanda Maharaja organized a beautiful festival to celebrate the birth of his child. That festival became famous as Nandotasava. The Vrajvasis were exchanging love by throwing butter, yogurt and ghee on each other. For the Vrajvasis, these milk products were gifts of God and hence most precious. By these loving exchanges they were making each other happy and expressing their love for Krishna.

What gives any exchange its meaning is the affection or the intent behind it. 

Srila Prabhupada writes, “Krishna doesn’t accept the thing which is offered, but the purpose and the intent with which it is offered.”

Things can give some flickering pleasure to the mind and the senses, but things can never give satisfaction to the heart. 

Only love gives satisfaction to the heart. And when we share love for Krishna with each other, whatever we offer with that genuine affection is priceless – whether it is a beautiful palace or a simple leaf or flower. It is this affection that gives value and pleasure to the heart. Nandotsava was the ultimate festival of affection, where everyone was showing their love for each other by celebrating and sharing their love for Krishna.

– Radhanath Swami

Radhanath Swami on Loving Exchanges