Vrindaban as Locus of Mystical Experience
Keywords:
Vrindaban, mystical experience, Krishna-bhakti, Gaudiya Vaishnavism, bhakti, rasa, bhava, sacred geography, ontological thirst, nostalgia for paradise, Mircea Eliade, spiritual consciousnessAbstract
Steven J. Gelberg’s essay "Vrindaban as Locus of Mystical Experience" explores the psychological and spiritual significance of Vrindaban for Krishna-bhakti pilgrims. He argues that Vrindaban is less a physical location and more a mystical state of consciousness, shaped by inner devotion and religious experience. Through historical and theological insights, particularly from the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, Gelberg illustrates how emotions like rasa and bhava foster a deep, transformative connection with the divine. Drawing on Mircea Eliade’s concepts of “ontological thirst” and “nostalgia for paradise,” the essay positions Vrindaban as a sacred realm fulfilling universal human longings for transcendence and spiritual belonging.