A temple that was destroyed five times

by Anjana Prasad - March 27, 2019

Sri Krishna Janmasthan Mandir

The nostalgia of Holi festival lingers in my mind and soul even after a week as I write this post. The hangover of bhang thandai persists with gorging on gujhiyas, sweets and traces of smeared colours on my face and ears.

The fervour of Holi grips the city of Mathura and Vrindavan a week before the actual day of Holi. Tourists from all over world and different parts of India visit to have a glimpse of crazy Holi and to witness the unexceptional Holi madness amongst the locals.

Mathura and Vrindavan together houses more than 5,000 temples. Today, let me walk you all through some of the important temples of the twin holy city of Mathura and Vrindavan. It is said that Lord Krishna still lives here. I was fortunate to visit these magical places of divine love of Lord Radha-Krishna a fortnight before the Holi festival. We began our tour from the janmbhoomi of Bhagwan Krishna temple at Mathura.

Sri Krishna Janmasthan Temple (Mathura)

This temple stands on the place where Lord Krishna was born as the eighth son of Devki and Vasudev in the prison cell known as 'Garbha Grih.' This is a scared place and pilgrimage of Hindus.The stone slab present in the temple, symbolizes the original birth place of the deity.

History of Sri Krishna Janmasthan Mandir

The story is very interesting. The temple was destroyed and constructed five times. According to epic the temple was first built by the great- grandson Vajranabha of Lord Krishna about 5,000 years ago.at the place of prison where God was born, to honour the birth place of Krishna.

Second time temple was built in 400 AD, by the Gupta Emperor Chandragupta Vikramaditya . It was destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1017 AD.

Third time the temple was constructed in the reign of Raja Dhrupet Dev Januja, the king of Mathura by a person named Jajja in 1150 AD. Sri Chaitnya Mahaprabhu had visited this temple in 16th century .It was again destroyed in 16th century by the Sultan of Delhi-Sikandar Lodi.

125 years later, the temple was reconstructed by Raja Veer Singh Dev Bundella of Orchha (Madhya Pradesh). The Keshavdev Temple was built during the reign of Jhangir, the Mughal Emperor of India in 1618. The temple was destroyed again for the fourth time by Aurangzeb in 1669 AD, and a mosque was built on the temple's place known as Jami Masijid with the materials of the temple.

When East India Company invaded India and Mathura came under the British rule in 1803. The East India company auctioned the temple area in 1815. Raja Patnimal of Banaras bought the temple land and tried to build the temple but his wish remained unfulfilled.Later, Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya took initiatives to rebuild the temple with financial help from late Seth Jugal Kishoreji Birla. Sethji, started "Sri Krishna Janm Bhoomi Trust" on 21st February 1951.

With the utmost efforts of the shradhalus and people the construction of the temple began from 15th October 1953. It took 29 years to build the massive temple. The Krishna temple was completed in February,1982.

We went inside the grand and magnificent Sri Krishna temple for darshan which was constructed five times in its history. Camera, mobile phones and leather objects are not allowed inside temple premises. One has to submit their belongings in the cloak room.

Vrindavan

From janmbhoomi of Lord Krishna, we proceeded towards Vrindavan, a city of temples. It takes about 40 minutes from Mathura by cab. The place where the Divine Love of Radha-Krishna exist in trees twining wines and every corner of the city. It is said that Lord Krishna still lives here.

Lord Krishna spent his childhood days in Vrindavan. It is a significant Hindu pilgrimage place. The land of Radha-Rani echoes with the chant of Radhe-Radhe in the air of the brijwasis. There is a belief that one cannot enter Vrindavan without her permission.

Vrindavan is the ancient Sanskrit name of the city. Vrinda (meaning holy tulsi) and vana (meaning groves or forest). This is the place where Krishna did "Divine Dance" (raas leela) with Radha Rani and gopis to spread the message of his Divine love.

We visited the four most famous temples in Vrindavan.

Prem-Mandir,Vrindavan

Prem Mandir -The temple of Divine love

This temple of Divine love is dedicated to Radha-Krishna and Lord Sita-Ram. It is built on 54 acres of land and is made up of white marble, with intricate carvings. Visitors are awed by the beauty of the temple. The main temple is surrounded by the statues depicting life events of Krishna's childhood (jhanki).

It took 12 years to build and was opened to public on February 17,2012.

ISKON Temple, Vrindavan

Sri Krishna Balaram Temple (ISKON Temple)

This grand temple was constructed by Srila Prabhupada a founder acharya of ISKON to worship brothers Balram and Krishna.This temple has special significance for the devotees of International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

The 24 hours of kirtans and chanting of Maha Mantra.

Hare Krishna,Hare Krishna,

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

fills the heart, soul and mind with love for Lord Krishna. People with raised hands and closed eyes dance on the beats of mridang, harmonium and dhol.

Banke Bihari Temple

It is the most famous of the Krishna temples.The black idol of Krishna emerged in the Nidhivan which was asthapit (established) in this temple. Here Lord Krishna is in his transcendental form as Banke bihari,which means Supreme enjoyer (Bihari).

Radha Vallabh Mandir

It is situated near Banke Bihari temple. This temple was constructed in 16th century during Mughal Emperor Akbar's rule. The temple has the architecture of Hinduism and Islam both. It is one of its kind in the history of temples. The curtain of the temple of the Lord is pulled every few minutes to give him rest. After aarti the priest flung gulal on the devotees inside the temple.usually during Holi month.

Try not to visit temples in your best dress at the time of holi. But in pavitra clothes and soul, so that you drench yourself in the blessings and love of Krishan-Kanahiya without regretting for your clothes.

Beware of the monkeys around the temple premises. The smart stealers outside likes to steal spectacles and sunglasses from the spectators eyes. So, better to keep your pair of glasses in your pocket to have a safe journey ahead. Vrindavan is crowded with tourists and shradhalus during the festival of Janamashtami, Radha-ashtmi and Holi. After darshan in morning, we went to the nearby road side shop to indulge famous kachories, jalebies and lassi. If you are milk lover don't forget to drink thickened kesar milk in kulhar.

Vrindavan is also known as the 'City of Widows'. Widows from West Bengal, Assam, Odisha come here after losing their husband.

Tourists and devotees from all over world flock to witness one of its kind the wildest, craziest laathmar holi of Mathura in which women beat men with sticks (lath). The sky fills with vibrant colours .

No doubt, Mathura and Vrindavan are the great holy places that makes life sublime.

You can also join me in my journey of Deekshabhoomi (Nagpur)
https://flavours-of-life-blog.blogspot.com/2019/02/deekshabhoomi.html