2. Sri Radha Govinda Mandir
Vrindavan is now very popular
Outside the Krishna Balarama Temple [where I stay on visits] tooting cars jam the roadways as crowds of pilgrims pour into the temple.
Thirty three years have passed since my first visit, and with them so much has changed. Our Krishna Balarama temple was then a lonely construction site in the far outskirts of town, whereas now it is surrounded by noise, people, houses, shops, guest houses and temples.
Let's go back in time to the 1800s.
In 1882 a British civil servant, F S Growse whilst posted as collector for the Mathura District, near Delhi, published an extraordinary book. The book named Mathura - a district Memoir is the only known historical work written about Vrindavana. Growse, a keen historian, learnt the local languages and tried to enter into the culture and spiritual heritage of the places he visited.
He also tried to oversee restoration of Vrindavan’s famous temples, such as the [then very dilapidated] Radha Govindaji Temple.
Growse marvelled at the workmanship of this Radha Govindaji temple and considered it one of the foremost the architectural masterpieces of Northern India.
Now let’s go back even further to the 1500's.
Around 1535 Srila Rupa Goswami found Govindaji for whom he had been earnestly searching. A small boy directed his attention to a cow utop a hill who regularly let down her milk into a hole in the ground.
Excavation began. Soon it was clear that Srila Rupa Goswami had discovered the whereabouts of the ancient Govindaji deity.
Worship began at that very spot.
Fifty years went by and the worship continued. During that time Maharaja Mana Singh became a disciple of Srila Raghunath das Goswami who was also involved in serving Govindaji.
At this time the ruler in this tract of land was Emperor Akbar.
Maharaja Man Singh from Amber in Rajasthan was acting out of political necessity as his general. It was he who built this mighty temple, of seven stories, over a period of many years. Thousands and thousands of craftsmen, and lacs and lacs of rupees went into the massive construction. It is said that the red stone was donated by the generous Emperor Akbar himself.
The temple is built on the floor plan like a Greek cross. Both Hindu and Muslim craftsmen worked together on this amazingly detailed structure. The temple was completed in 1590. What happened next?
Eighty years passed.
In 1670 the Mogul Emperor was Aurangzeb, grandson of Akbar. Unlike his Grandfather who was liberal, he was ruthlessly antagonistic towards other religions.
Once, seeing the illumination from the ghee lamps atop the seventh story of the Govindaji temple in Vrindavana all the way from his palace in Agra, Aurangzeb became determined to send his soldiers to destroy this temple and smash the deities.
Warnings of danger were sent to Vrindavan, and thus the principle deities from the main temples were secretly smuggled out of the town on bullock carts. Eventually these deities were brought to Rajasthan.
Seeing the once glorious Govindaji temple now desecrated, the devotees in Vrindavana constructed a new temple [behind the old one] and installed new Radha Govindaji deities there.
Now back to 2006……..
We wandered around the old Govindaji temple, watching for monkeys at every step. The craftsmanship still astonishes us despite neglect, damage and vandalism.
Then I entered the new temple and stood for some moments in front of new Govindaji. I also recognized the pujari who has been serving here for so many years. Like myself his hair has now greyed.
But you may ask where is the origonal Govindaji now?
Where is Govindaji, who was carved 5000 years ago? Maharaja Vajranabha ,the great grandson of Sri Krishna Himself, arranged the carving of this deity so how exceptional is He!! Where is Govindaji now?
Oh that is easy to answer.
In 1728 Maharaja Jai Singh descendant of Maharaja Mana Singh [who built the beautiful Vrindavana temple] built not only a special temple for Govindaji but also a town known today as Jaipura .
Govindaji resides now in Rajasthan where hundreds of devotees eagerly visit His temple everyday.
But does He really reside in Rajasthan?
NO!!
Srila Prabhupad tells:
"Govindaji resides eternally in Vrindavan."
"When Krishna descends to the material world, this same Vrindavan descends just as an entourage accompanies an important person. Because when Krishna comes, His land also comes, Vrindavan is not considered to exist in the material world. Therefore devotees take shelter of the Vrindavan in India, for it is considered to be a replica of the original Vrindavan"
Sri Vrindavan dhama Ki jaya
