What is a Brijwasi?
Long story short – someone who is native i.e. born inside the Vraja Mandala.
They even have a very distinct accent
And some of their own words. It’s kind of like the difference between, say a standard “California” (NOT valley girl) accent and a heavy Southern drawl.
Sri Vraja Mandala Poster
Vraja Mandala Poster
According to the Hindu epic Varaha Puran, the entire circumference of the Vraja Mandala is 140 miles, the distance traveled by pilgrims and devotees while performing the sacred (circumambulation) of Vraja Mandala. This perambulation includes almost all the most popular shrines and holy places of Vraja Mandala.
This is the sacred land of Krishna who spent his pastimes in the forest of Vrindavan. Within this 140 miles circumference circle are about 133 forests.
During Kartik (October-November) pilgrims flock to Mandala to walk the 140 miles around the holy land.
Surrounded on three sides by the sacred waters of the Yamuna River, Vrindavan is one of the most revered 12 forests of Vraja Mandala.
Vrinda means sacred Tulsi and Van means forest. So the name Vrindavan signifies the land full of groves of Tulsi plants.