Radha
Madana-Mohana Temple -
This famous temple was established
by Srila Sanatana Gosvami and was the first temple to
be built in Vrindavan, which at that time was just a
forest. The original Deity of Madana-mohana was taken
to Karauli in Rajasthan for safety during the attack
on Vrindavan by the soldiers of the fanatical Muslim
Emperor, Aurangzeb.
Jaipur Temple
-
One of Vrindavan's most opulent temples,
it was built by the Maharaja of Jaipur, Sawai Madhav,
in 1917 after 30 years of labour. The fine hand-carved
sandstone is of unparalleled workmanship, the huge pillars
that hold up the roof are each carved from one solid
rock, and the intricately fashioned marble on the altar
is reminiscent of the Mughal period. The Maharaja financed
the railway line that connects Vrindavana with Mathura,
just for the purpose of hauling the huge pieces of sandstone
used in the temple construction. The deities worshipped
here are Sri Sri Radha-Madhava, Ananda-bihari and Hansa-gopala.
Radha Vallabha
Temple -
Another very popular temple of Vrindavan
whih was founded by Harivamsa Gosvami, who started the
Radha Vallabha sect emphasizing devotion to Radharani.
In this temple, there is no deity of Radharani, but
a crown has been placed next to Krishna to signify her
presence. The original temple of Radha Vallabha was
destroyed by the Muslims in 1670 and a new temple was
built beside the old one.
Seva Kunja -
The Seva Kunj is where Lord Krishna
once performed the Raaslila with Radha-Rani decorating
her hair with flowers and her lotus feet. Radha and
Krishna would sometimes spend the night here, dancing
with the gopis and enjoying transcendental pastimes.
There is also a small temple dedicated to Radha and
Krishna's pastimes called Rang Mahal.
Radha Damodara
Temple -
This is one of the most important
temples in Vrindavan. The original deity was hand carved
by Rupa Gosvami and given as a gift to his beloved disciple,
Jiva Gosvami, who later built a temple here. Formerly
this spot was in the middle of Seva-kunja and it was
the bhajana ( where he sang devotional songs ) place
of Rupa Gosvami.
Radharamana Temple
-
This is the famous temple of Gopala
Bhatta Gosvami. Radharamana means "one who gives
pleasure to Radha", and is one of the many names
of Lord Krishna. The wooden sitting place (hoki) and
shawl (chaddar) or Lord Chaitanya, that He gave as a
gift to Gopala Bhatta Gosvami is kept in this temple.
Jugal Kisore Temple
-
This is one of the oldest temple
of Vrindavana and was completed in 1627. After Emperor
Akbar's visit to Vridavan in the year 1570, he gave
permission for four temples to be built by the Gaudya
Vaisnavas, which were Madana-mohana, Govindaji, Gopinatha
and Jugal Kisore. It is sometimes called the Kesi ghata
temple, as it is located next to this ghata.
Kesi Ghata -
This is the place where Lord Krishna
killed the Kesi demon who appeared in the form of a
gigantic horse and then took His bath in this very same
ghata. This is also very famous bathing place in Vrindavan.
An arati (prayer with lamps) to Yamuna Devi is held
here every evening.
Rangji Temple
-
This South Indian style temple was
built by the wealthy Seth family of Mathura in the year
1851, and is dedicated to Lord Ranganatha or Rangaji,
a form of Lord Vishnu lying down on the Sesa Naga (celestial
serpent). This temple has a traditional South Indian
gateway and is surrounded by high walls. It is one of
Vrindavan's largest temples. Once a year a grand car
festival (Ratha Yatra) is held known as Brahmotsava,
during the month of Chait (March - April), a festival
that lasts for 10 days.
Shahji Temple
-
Another popular temple at Vrindavan,
was designed and built in 1876 by a wealthy jeweller,
Shah Kundan Lal of Lucknow. The deities at the temple
are popularly known as the Chhote Radha Raman. Noted
for its magnificent architecture and beautiful marble
sculpture, the temple has twelve spiral columns each
15 feet high. The `Basanti Kamra' - the darbar hall
is famed for its Belgian glass chandeliers and fine
paintings.
Jain Tirth -
Nearly 30 cms. long, light - almond
- colored, wooden sandals of Jambuswamaji. Tirth is
at a distance of four kilometers from Mathura. This
tirth (pilgrimage) belongs to the times of Bhagawan
Suparshvanth.
NEW TEMPLES
Among the new temples springing up
along the Mathura-Vrindavan road is the Gita Mandir
which houses the Gita Stambh, a pillar with the entire
Bhagavad Gita carved on its surface. The imposing temple,
built by one of the country's leading industrial families,
the Birlas, is overshadowed by the outrageous multistoreyed,
spaceship-like edifice known as the Pagal Baba Mandir
just down the road.
MOSQUES
Jami Masjid, on a plinth raised above
street level a little way north, was completed in 1661
by Aurangzeb's governor Abd-un-Nabi. It has long since
lost its original vivid glazed tiles, but remains surrounded
by four minarets and assorted outer pavilions. Around
500m west, stands another of Aurangzeb's mosques, the
impressive red sandstone Katra Masjid. This was erected
on the foundations of the once-famous Kesava Deo temple,
destroyed by the Moghul emperor, which had itself been
built on the ruins of a Buddhist monastery. Some traces
of the Hindu temple can be seen around the back, where
the Shri Krishna Janamsthan or Janambhoomi complex now
stands. Directly behind the mosque, approached through
a corridor, a shrine marks Krishna's exact birthplace
(janamsthan); its cage-like surround signifies that
he was born in captivity, when his parents were prisoners
of the tyrant king Kamsa.
Inside The Adjacent Bhagwat
Bhavan - a modern, towering, flamboyant great hulk also
known as Gita Mandir - a garishly painted ceiling depicts
scenes from Krishna's life. No cameras are allowed into
the complex, where although the shops and shrines combine
to produce a park-like atmosphere,
Monuments Of
Mathura-Vrindavan
Kusuma Sarovara -
Kusuma Sarovara is a 460-feet-long
lake with the platforms going out 60 feet into the water.
A 25-minute walk from Radha Kunda, it is the best swimming
spot in Braja. Legend has it that the gopis would pick
flowers from here for Krishna. After going to Radha
Kunda one can spend a relaxing hour here. It is a peaceful
place, which not many people visit.The ghatas at this
kunda were built by Jawahir Singh around 1764.
Manasi Ganga Kunda
-
Manasi Ganga Kunda is traditionally
the starting and the end point of the circumambulation
of Govardhana Hill. In the Mathura-Mahatmya it is recommended
that one bathe in Manasi Ganga and then take darshan
of Hrideva. This kunda is considered a million times
more potent than the Ganges River, because by bathing
in the Ganges River one gets liberation and by bathing
here one achieves "Krishna prema," love of
Krishna.
25 Tirthas (Ghats)
-
There are 25 holy tirthas (bathing
places or ghatas) in Mathura. Visram Ghata is in the
middle and there are 12 more south of Visrama Ghata
and 12 ghatas north. Those in the south extend to Moksa
Ghata. Some pilgrims take bath in all 25 tirthas before
beginning Braja Mandala parikrama. Asi Ghata, Prayaga
Ghata, Chakra Tirtha Ghata, Krishna Ganga, Dhruva Ghata
and Visrama Ghata are still known by the same names.
Forest
Vrindavan Forest -
It is the 12th forest of Braja Mandala
and is considered the most auspicious. Covering an area
of extends 57 km, It extends from the present city of
Vrindavana to Nandagram and Varsana on one side and
to Govardhana on the other. The favourite forest of
Lord Krishna, was here that He would play His transcendental
flute, thus calling all the beautiful gopis to come
and enjoy the wonderful rasa-lila, the divine dance
of love. The rasa-mandala (place of the rasa dance)
has a parameter of 16 km (9 miles). It is a semicircle,
with the Yamuna flowing on one side. Within this forest
is Radha Kunda.
"In Braja the land
is divided into various vanas (forests). The forests
total twelve, and their extension is estimated to be
84 krosas (168 miles). Of these, the special forest
known as Vrindavana is located from the present municipal
city of Vrindavana to the village called Nandagram."
(Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya 21.29 purport)
Lake Of Tears
Or Mansarovar -
Lake Of Tears Or Mansarovar is a
rare wetland grove and bird sanctuary, roughly 5 acres
in size, a few miles across the Yamuna River from Vrindavan.
Local tradition has it that the lake was formed from
the tears of Radha when she feared she had lost Krishna.
A solitary image of her is worshipped in a small shrine
beside the lake. An atmosphere of desolation among the
surrounding aged bowers heightens the remote beauty
of this place. Pilgrims throng here throughout the spring
and autumn seasons. But the real visitors to Manasarovar
are the birds. Crowds of waterfowl and heron, the Sarus
Crane, a bird revered in Braj, visit this place.
Museum
Government Museum -
The rich treasure of antiquarian
values unearthed by Cunnigham, Growse, Fuhrer and others
formed the nucleus of this museum.
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