Two Peacocks in Bandiravana

Hare Krsna. Two Peacocks in Bandiravana near the end of winter. They have lost their most prominent feathers during the end of the rainy season, around Radhastami, and now many have grown back.

Peacocks of course figure prominently in Krsna’s pastimes. When Krsna plays His divine flute in a valley and becomes surrounded by peacocks. Krsna’s playing makes them dance in ecstasy and stuns the animals who sit atop the hills to watch. This scene is described in Bhag. 10.21.10:

A Vraja Gopi says, “O friend, Vrndavana is spreading the glory of the earth, having obtained the treasure of the lotus feet of Krsna, the son of Devaki. The peacocks dance madly when they hear Govinda’s flute, and when other creatures see them from the hilltops, they all become stunned.”

Sweet comments from our acaryas are noted in our BBT’s Bhagavatam.

“Srila Sridhara Svami explains that because activities such as those described in this verse do not occur in any other world, the earth is unique. In fact, the earth’s glories are being spread by wonderful Vrndavana because it is the place of Krsna’s pastimes.”

“Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura explains Krsna-Lila as follows: “In Vrndavana, the peacocks request Krsna, ‘Govinda, please make us dance.’ Thus Krsna plays His flute, and they surround Him in a circle and dance in time with the rhythm of His melody. And while standing in the midst of their dancing, He also sings and dances. Then those peacocks, who are fully satisfied with His musical performance, out of gratitude offer for His pleasure their own divine feathers. In the usual manner of musical performers, Krsna gladly accepts these presentations and places a feather upon the turban atop His head. Gentle animals such as deer and doves greatly relish the transcendental entertainment presented by Krsna, and to get a good view they flock to the peaks of hills. Then, as they watch the breathtaking program, they become stunned in ecstasy.”

“Srila Sanatana Gosvami comments that because in Vrndavana Krsna goes barefoot and can thus directly mark the earth with the symbols of His lotus feet, that transcendental land is even more glorious than Vaikuntha, where Visnu wears slippers.”