Sri Hit Mansarovar Ji

Sri Hit Mansarovar Ji — The Nitya Vihar Leela Sthali of Shyama Shyam

Mansarovar is one of the most sacred and Nij sites for followers of the Sri Radhavallabh Sampradaya, located on the outskirts of Sri Vrindavan. This divine spot is deeply connected to the life and lilas of Sri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhuji, as it served as his nitya bhajan sthali. The devotees can deeply feel the divine presence of Sri Priya Lal Yugal Sarkar here.

Mansarovar is a powerful center for spiritual enlightenment. The lake is calm and beautiful, and it heals the mind and soul of the person who just spends a few moments calmly sitting on the stairs with a sense of gratitude to Shri Priya Lal, for their Atulniya Kripa.

Location and Sacred Surroundings

Mansarovar lies across the Yamuna River, 18 kilometers from Mathura Junction Railway Station by road, within the Mant tehsil (near the Yamuna Expressway). Set amidst a dense, peaceful forest of Pilu, Kadamb and Tamaal trees, it remains completely undisturbed by the noise of the modern town.

मान सरोवर मान तजि, मिली चाँचर खेलें

Maan sarovar maan taji, mili chachar khele

— Shri Vrindavan Das Chachaji

नमो-नमो जै मानसरोवर सुख उपजावन दंपति के मन ॥

namo-namo jai mansarovar sukh upjaavan dampati ke man

— Sri Albeli Sharan Ji

Sacred Significance & Divya Lilas: The Path to Nitya Vihar

This is the place where Swami Haridas Ji Maharaj sent Shri Kishore Das Ji (the son of Shri Hariram Vyas Ji Maharaj) to do his bhajan, so that he could get the pravesh (divine entry) into the Nitya Vihar of Priya-Lal.

It is said that on Mansarovar Lake, the divine kripa of Sri Priya-Lal can be felt by anyone who sings the Hit Chaurasi with utmost devotion and faith — just like a common shepherd (gadaria) who was singing “Bani Shri Radha Mohan Ju ki Jori” and got the darshan of Priya-Lal near Mansarovar, even without having the desire for it.

हित ध्रुव यह रस अति सरस, रसिकन कियो प्रशंस।
मुक्तन छांड़ै चुगत नहिं, मानसरोवर हंस॥

hit dhruv yeh ras ati saras, rasikan kiyo prashans.
muktan chhaande chugat nahin, mansarovar hans.

— Bayalees Leela (Bhajan Kundaliya), by Sri Hit Dhruv Das Ji

The Meaning of “Maansarovar”

The Maan leela of the Yugal in the Nitya Vihar is described by the Rasiks as a state of unique love, where Priya Ji goes silent during the leela. This “Maun” (silence) is the “Maan”, which is also known as the “Abolno — अबोलनौ” siddhant, where internally Priya Ji is so engrossed in “Prem Ras” that she completely forgets her external presence, causing the smile on her face to vanish.

This absence of a smile on her face is perceived by Lal Ji as if something is bothering Shri Ji, and he begins to feel that it is due to some fault of his that the smile has disappeared. This temporary absence of a smile on the mukhkamal of Priya Ji, and the efforts of Lal Ji to bring it back with the help of Shri Hit Sajni, is the anunay-vinay of Maan Leela. As this divine leela is associated with this place, it is rightfully called Maan-Sarovar. Mahaprabhu Shri Hit Harivansh Ji has described the Maan leela in Hit Chaurasi, pad 2:

प्यारे बोली भामिनी, आजु नीकी जामिनी; भेटि नवीन मेघ सौं दामिनी ॥
मोहन रसिक राइ री माई तासौ जु मान करे, ऐसी कौन कामिनी।
(जै श्री) हित हरिवंश श्रवन सुनत प्यारी, राधिका रमन सौं मिली गज गामिनी ॥

— Shri Hit Chaurasi Ji, pad 2

The Divine Lake and Nitya Niyam

Shri Hit Guru Parampara and the Rasiks of Vrindavan are witnesses to the fact that anyone who takes the holy dip in the Mansarovar lake with firm faith and devotion will attain sehchari-bhaav (the divine state of being a Sri Radha Sahchari — ones who are always present for the sewa of Sri Priya-Lal, living solely for the happiness of the Yugal) — a state that is rare even for Bhagwat koti Brahma Ji, Rudra Ji and other higher powers. Therefore, this spot should be served with love, affection and total dedication.

Shri Hariram Vyas Ji has described Mahaprabhuji as the “Hans” in the nitya leela of Shyama Shyam.

नमो-नमो जै श्रीहरिवंश।
रसिक अनन्य वेनुकुल मंडन, लीला मानसरोवर हंस॥

namo-namo jai sriharivansh
rasik ananya venu kul mandan, leela mansarovar hans.

— Sri Vyaas Vaani, Poorvaardh (3)

Establishment of Naam Seva

At the time when Mahaprabhu took avatar, bhakti was often limited to complex rituals, penance and formal practices. However, Sri Mahaprabhuji established the supremacy of pure love (prema-lakshana bhakti). He taught that one can attain moksha through rituals, but without selfless love one can never attain the Radha Sahchari Bhav or perform the sewa of the Yugal.

With “Naam” being the supreme sadhan in Kali Yuga, he established the worship of Sri Radha’s holy name (Naam Seva). It was at Mansarovar that the Naam sewa was established (virajman) by Sri Hit Ji Maharaj himself.

Leela Samvaran

Mansarovar is the divine sanctuary that Sri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhuji specially chose to merge directly into the eternal Nitya-Leela of Sri Priya-Lal on Sharad Purnima. Mahaprabhuji was last seen right here at Mansarovar, from where he, along with his physical body, disappeared into the eternal Nitya Leela Vihar of Shyama Shyam.

हुतौ रस रसिकनि कौ आधार।
बिनु हरिवंशहि सरस रीति कौ, कापै चलिहै भार॥
को राधा दुलरावै गावै, वचन सुनावै चार।
वृन्दावन की सहज माधुरी, कहिहै कौन उदार॥
पद रचना अब कापै ह्वै है, निरस भयो संसार।
बड़ौ अभाग अनन्य सभा कौ, उठिगौ ठाठ सिंगार॥
जिन बिनु दिन छिन सत युग बीतत, सहज रूप आगार।
‘व्यास’ एक कुल कुमुद बन्धु बिनु, उड़गन जूठौ थार॥

huto ras rasikan ko aadhaar
binu harivanshahi saras reeti ko, kaape chalihai bhaar
kau radha dulraave gaave, vachan sunaave chaar
vrindavan ki sahaj maadhuri, kahihai kaun udaar
padd rachna ab kaape hvai hai, niras bhayo sansaar
bado abhaag ananya sabha ko, uthigo thaath singaar
jin binu din chhin sat yug beetat, sahaj roop aagaar
‘vyaas’ ek kul kumud bandhu binu, uddgan jootho thaar.

— Sri Hariram Vyas Ji