Will dying with Gopi Chandan & Kanthi mala take us to Vaikunta?
Rashmi asked like this:
“Hare Krishna prabhuji, Dandvat pranam- We have heard from the devotees that if someone is wearing a gopi chandan tilak and a kanthi mala at the time of leaving the body; Yamdoots can’t touch that soul and that soul is carried by Vishnu doots. If this is true then does it mean that only by wearing kanthi mala and tilak one can go to Vaikuntha even if the karma balance is not zero?”
REPLY:
Wearing Gopi Chandan & Kanthi mala IS NOT JUST A SYMBOL
Ordinary People eat the food without any respect for the food;
But, a devotee sees Krishna Himself in His Prasadam.
Ordinary people buy the flowers and wear them on the hairs of their wives and enjoy her love;
(WEAPONS TO BEAT MAYA – TILAKA, TULASI BEADS AND PRASADAM! READ HERE!)
But, the devotees make garlands with care and love for Krishna and get satisfaction by offering that garland to the deities of Krishna.
Ordinary people feel proud seeing their fastest moving bikes.
But the devotees feel unlimited bliss seeing the slowest moving car of Jagannath Ratha Yathra.
Ordinary people enjoy reading and watching the sense inducing contents;
But, the devotees feel bliss in reading and watching the contents that enhance the detachment and Krishna Prema.
Ordinary people are interested in counting the rupee notes;
But, the devotees are interested in counting the chanting beads.
(KANTHI MALA (TULASI MALA) – PROCEDURE & RULES TO WEAR THEM! READ HERE!)
Similarly,
Ordinary people feel satisfaction in wearing plenty of gold ornaments for their ears, nose, neck, etc.
But, the devotees feel satisfaction in wearing Gopi Chandan & Kanthi mala.
Thus, OUR BHAWA, ie, MINDSET WITH WHICH WE PERFORM OUR ACTIVITIES IS VERY IMPORTANT.
One may chant from lips, but, unless he chants from the heart with taste, he is not chanting with the right bhawa.
One may offer food to Krishna; But, unless he cooks what is the best for Krishna and not what is the best for himself, his offering is not proper one.
(What if my company objects Vaishnava Symbols like Tilak, Sikha and Kanthi mala (Tualsi mala)? READ HERE!)
Thus, Bhawa is very important.
Why these examples in support of bhawa?
Dying wearing Gopi Chandan & Kanthi mala, will take him to Vaikunta if he had worn the Gopi Chandan and Kanthi mala and also was following the discipline and material detachment that would have given him Krishna Prema.
Or, in case he had worn them “just as a show” and he was not following the discipline and devotion from heart, then, he will get next birth.
So, bhawa and discipline is very important while following any sadhana or religious custom.
Now, you know the reply for your question.
Just wearing is insufficient. He should have remained a pure devotee in thoughts and actions.
However, by wearing Gopi Chandan & Kanthi mala regularly, a devotee will grow in devotion stage by stage that will take him to Krishna.
This is the meaning for the belief you mentioned.
(What to do if Kanthi mala or Japa mala are damaged? READ HERE!)