3. Sri Radha Damodar Temple
We are now entering another important place in Vrindavana.
Many great transcendental personalities have resided in this temple. Although the samadhis of both Srila Rupa Goswami and Sri Jiva Goswami are here, we like to first take darsan of Srila Prabupada's bhajan kutir.
Srila Prabhupada's rooms
It was in these rooms that Srila Prabhupada lived while preparing himself to take the message of Srimad Bhagavatam and the chanting of the Holy Names to the West. These rooms are therefore are particularly sacred.
Pisima cooks an offering [in these rooms] for Srila Prabhupada in 1990
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Sri Sri Radha Damodara
Although many different deities can now be seen in this temple, originally Sri Sri Radha Damodara, were worshiped here by Srila Jiva Goswami.
In 1690, when the moguls came to destroy temples, this deity was taken to Rajasthan along with all the other main deities of Vrindavan.
New Radha Damodara deities were then established here.
Radha Damodara are popular because They are particularly merciful. Damodara is the name given to Krishna when He was tied around His waist by His mother Yasoda. This pastime however begins with the blessing/curse of the sage Narada.
When Narada Muni angrily cursed wealthy Kuvera's two sons, he did so to turn them towards devotion. Taking away their temptations of wealth he ordered them to stand long as trees in Gokula.
He did this to show particular mercy to them. After their release they would see Krishna and revive their dormant bhakti.
Many years passed...
One day, punished by His mother and tied to themortar for grinding grains, baby Krishna crawled towards those two trees dragging the morter behind Him. When the morter hit the trees, they crashed down and the two demigods were released from their punishment of confinement as trees.
Both then fell to the ground, offering prayers of immense gratitude first to Narada and then to Krishna, who was still tied around His waist by the ropes of His mother.
Therefore another name for Krishna is Damodara.
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Srila Jiva Goswami
Srila Jiva Goswami lived and wrote many important Vaisnava literatures here. He taught many students and was the most respected Acharya-teacher after the departure of Srila Rupa and Sanatana Goswami.
Above..Sri Jiva Goswami's Samadhi is in the Samadhi courtyard of the temple.
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Srila Rupa Goswami
Sri Rupa Goswamis Samadhi is part of a circumnambulation for many pilgrims who visit the temple daily.
Sometimes devotees stop at the small pit[seen below] to take some of the dust. Hundreds of years ago when this compound was still simply forest it was here that Srila Jiva Goswami washed the feet of visiting Vaisnavas.
Sri Rupa Goswami wrote many of his important devotional works here. Srila Prabhupad in 1974 stayed here and everyday sat beside this samadhi and spoke on Nectar of Devotion.
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The special significance of Sri Radha Damodara
Although the two sons of Kuvera, Nalakuvera and Manigriva, had nothing to do with devotional service nor did they have any interest in seeing the Lord face to face, Narada Muni desired that they become eligable to see Him. Because of Narada, Krishna was obliged to accept the two brothers now residing in the form of trees...
Therefore it is said:
"If one seeks the favor of a devotee instead of directly asking favors of the Supreme Lord, one is very easily successful"
With every visit to this temple we can walk around the whole courtyard in circumnambulation stopping at each samadhi to beg for the mercy of the Vaisnava's and pray that one day by their grace we may also be accepted as their servant for the eternal service of Sri Sri Radha Damodara.
Jaya Srila Prabhupada
Jaya Sri Jiva Goswami and Srila Rupa Goswami
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SRI SRI RADHA DAMODAR KI JAYA
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