Garga Bhagavatham : BriefIntro

Shrii Garga Samhita also called as Garga Bhagavatam, is the work of Shrii Garga, the great Acharya of the yaadava clan. This entire Samhita is filled the extremely sweet pastimes of Shrii Krishna. The sweet of pastimes of Shrii Radha, which are filled with maadhurya bhaava (divine loving sentiments) have been described in great detail here. Many concepts that are present in Srimad Bhagavatam as aphorisms, have been described in great detail here. In this way, Garga Samhita could be considered as the great exposition of the pastimes of Shree Krishna, mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam. For instance, in the Srimad Bhagavatam, in reference to the completeness of Shrii Krishna, the great sage Shree Veda Vyaasa says "कृष्णस्तु भगवान् स्वयं" (Krishna is God Himself). However while describing the completeness of Shrii Krishna, mahaa muni Garga says,

यस्मिन् सर्वाणि तेजांसि विलीयन्ते स्वतेजसि |

तं वदन्ति परे साक्षात् परिपूर्णतमं स्वयं ||

Here Garga Muni describes Shree KrishNa's completeness by highlighting how the brightness and effulgence of all there is, begins with Him and merges into Him. The divine sweetness of the pastimes of Shrii KrishNa is revealed in the raasa leela. In the Srimad Bhagavatam, raasa leela has been described in merely five chapters. However in Garga Samhita the same has been described in great detail and beauty in several chapters in three places - in Vrindaavan khaanDa, in ashwamedha khaanDa during the divine meeting at prabhaasa, and again in the same ashwamedha khaanDa during the return from the victorious conquests in all directions. Shrii KrishNa, who is the Lord of Mathura and who is Lord of Shree Radha came to Gokul, time and again drawn to the divine attraction of the Shrii Radha, who is the epitome of ever -lasting divine love and the inseparable divine power of Shrii KrishNa, and displayed divine pastimes of maharaas. This has been described in great detail in Garga Samhita. In the Maadhurya khaaNda, there is extremely beautiful description of the past lives of different Gopis. There are also several rare and unheard pastimes. Garga Samhita is of great reverence to the devotees of the Lord because it has the clear explanation and detailed description of many confidential principles of Srimad Bhagavatam. May all the devotees benefit from this and progress in their spiritual journey. Jai Shree Radhey!