PLACES OF WORSHIP MATHURA - VRINDAVAN
Altitude: 3,133 mt. Above Sea-Level
Dedicated To: Lord Vishnu
Built In: 8th Century A.D
TEMPLES
Dwarkadish
Temple - Built in 1814 in the center of the town, it is the most
visited temple in Mathura. This temple is managed by followers of
Vallabhacharya. Located in the eastern part of Mathura, not far from the
Yamuna River, it is architecturally interesting: the temple carving and
paintings are major attractions. The temple is a hub of activity during
the festive days of Holi, Janmashtami and Diwali.
Banke-Bihari Temple - Built in 1864, it is one of Vrindavana's
most popular temples and famous all over India. The Deity of Banke-bihari
was discovered in Nidhuvana by Swami Haridasa. A contemporary of the six
Gosvamis, Swami Haridasa known for his devotional bhajanas, was the guru
of the famous musician Tansen.
Mathura Krishna Balrama Mandir - built by the International
Society for Shri Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), it is one of the most
beautiful temples in Vrindavan. The principal deities of this temple are
Krishna, his brother Balram and Radha (Krishna's consort.) Adjoining the
temple is the samadhi of Shri Prabhupada, the founder of the ISKCON sect,
built in pure white marble. Hare Krishna devotees from all around the
world flock here, bringing a truly international flavour to this ancient
holy city.
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,
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