Vrindavan (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Former President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind visited Vrindavan and was hosted by renowned Vaishnava spiritual leader and 38th Acharya of the Gaudiya lineage, Shri Pundrik Goswami Ji Maharaj, at Vaijayanti Ashram in Gyan Gudri. The visit brought together India’s constitutional legacy and the living spiritual traditions of Braj, with Shri Kovind participating in prayers and receiving the blessings of the Acharya.
Welcoming the former President, Shri Pundrik Goswami Ji Maharaj presented him with a special Vrindavan-inspired gift representing the five sacred bhavas of Vraj — Venu, Renu, Dhenu, Nand-Sunu and Vrishabhanu-Suta — symbolising the flute of Krishna, the dust of Vraj, the cows of Braj, Nanda’s beloved son Krishna and Shri Radha, the daughter of Vrishabhanu. Shri Kovind subsequently offered prayers at the historic Shri Radha Raman Ji Temple and received prasadam.
A significant part of the visit was a tree plantation initiative, with Shri Kovind planting a sapling as a symbolic contribution towards preserving the ecological and spiritual character of Vrindavan. Shri Pundrik Goswami Ji Maharaj emphasised that Vrindavan is not only a land of temples but also of its sacred trees, groves and kunjas. The initiative carried the message that visitors to the holy town should not only seek darshan but also contribute towards protecting its natural heritage.
Every year Shri Pundrik Goswami Maharaj celebrates his birthday as a Tree Day, an initiative to plant more trees and contribute to nature. Both in India and devotees abroad together plant lakhs of trees on this day. Not only the event encourages planting saplings, but all the saplings planted upto this year are well taken care of, contributing to the greenery in the environment.
Shri Pundrik Goswami Ji Maharaj is a prominent spiritual teacher, Katha orator and motivational speaker from Vrindavan. He is the 38th Acharya in the Gaudiya tradition and belongs to the lineage associated with Shri Gopal Bhatta Goswami, one of the six principal Goswamis of Vrindavan and the founder of the historic Radha Raman Temple. He is also associated with the service tradition of Shri Radha Raman Ji and has been widely recognised for presenting the teachings of the Shrimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad Gita, Ram Katha and Chaitanya Charitamrita to contemporary audiences.
What distinguishes Acharya Pundrik Goswami’s work is his effort to make Sanatan Dharma relevant and accessible to the younger generation. He has taken discussions on spirituality, ethics, Vedic wisdom and the balance between material and spiritual life to contemporary platforms, including educational institutions. Through initiatives such as Gopal Clubs and Nimai Pathshala, he works towards creating avenues through which young people can engage with Krishna consciousness, Indian cultural traditions and the wisdom of the scriptures in a language and format suited to modern life.
His engagement with public and national institutions has also included representing the Gaudiya Sampradaya at governmental programmes and interfaith forums. He has also been associated with social-service initiatives including gaushalas, medical camps, Sanskrit education and welfare activities through the Vaijayanti Sewa Sansthan Trust.
The former President’s visit to Vaijayanti Ashram thus became an occasion that brought together spiritual heritage, cultural preservation and contemporary social responsibility, with Acharya Pundrik Goswami Ji Maharaj at the centre of the Vrindavan engagement. The tree plantation initiative further underlined the message that preserving Braj is not limited to protecting its temples and monuments, but also its sacred groves, trees and natural environment.
