MATHURA AND VRINDAVAN TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

ANISHA 2012UAR1740

KRISTI VERMA 2012UAR1634

Mathura Temple

ANISHA

The basic structure of temples in India is

a room or

garbhagriha where the image of the main

Deity is kept. The temple is

approached by a flight of steps and is

often built on a

platform. A porch covers the entrance to

the temple,

which is supported by carved pillars.

Temple architecture

Temple architecture in India is

broadly divided into northern

and southern styles,

classified by the form and shape of

the shikhara and the

distinctiveness of its

decoration. Some temples from

South India also have tall

shikharas

over the elaborate gateways or

gopurams to add to the overall

symmetry to the temple

complex.

The shikhara of the temples in

North and Central India, in

contrast,

resembles an upturned cone that

is decorated with miniature

conical shikharas.

Some temples developed their

own local flavor apart from

adhering to their basic

native style.

Dvarkadhish Temple

The Dvarkadhish Temple, built in

1814, is a popular

temple in the center of Mathura town.

This is the most

visited temple in the center of

Mathura and is

managed by followers of

Vallabhacarya. Once you enter

this temple from the street, it is

fairly interesting architecturally.

Main Temples and Holy

Places of Mathura

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.

Jami and Katra Masjids

(mosques)

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 Sri

Krishna Janmasthan or

Janmabhumi complex now

stands.

Kesavadeva Temple

VRINDAVAN

KRISTI VERMA

Vrindavan is also the center for various Vaishava groups. In a

centuries-old tradition Hindu widows have been coming to live out the

rest of their lives in Vrindavan. They are expected to shed all physical

adornments, including long hair, wear only white cotton saris and

lead an austere lifestyle.

Vrindavan - The City Of

Temples

• Vrindavan, around 15 km from Mathura, is a little

town and a major place of pilgrimage on the banks

of Yamuna. Attracting about 500 000 pilgrims every

year, mainly during major festivals like

Janmashtami, Holi and Radhashtami, it is noted for

its numerous temples, both old and modern, big and

small (allegedly 5000 altogether). Vrindavan is

synonymous with the childhood pastimes of Sri

Krishna.

• This is the wood where he frolicked with the gopis and

tenderly wooed Radha.

• In Vrindavan there are thousands of widows coming

mostly from Bengal. They begin their day by bathing in

the Yamuna and congregate at ashrams to sing bhajans

(devotional songs). In return, they get a daily ration of

rice and pulses and some cash. Subsisting on charitable

donations made by wealthy traders, the widows pass

their life in devotion to Krishna, the Supreme Lord.

WIDOWS

KRISHNA PAINTING

PILGRIMS

VRINDAVAN

• The name 'Vrindavan' is derived from 'Vrinda', another name for the sacred tulsi (basil) plant.

It is said that the entire place was a tulsi grove at one time. According to another tradition, it

was named after Vrinda Devi, one of Krishna's consorts.

• The earliest known shrine in Vrindavan is said to have been built by the local Goswamis in a

large garden called Nidhiban. According to tradition, Mughal Emperor Akbar was taken

blindfolded inside the grove where he had some kind of a spiritual experience. As a result,

he acknowledged the spot as being holy ground.

• The four temples that were built in honor of his visit are Madan Mohan, Govinda Deva,

Gopinath, and Jugal Kishore.

HISTORY

Madan

Mohan

Govinda

Deva

Gopinath

Jugal

Kishore

Madan Mohan Temple located near the

Kali Ghat was built by Kapur Ram Das

of Multan. This is the oldest temple in

Vrindavan.

FAMOUS TEMPLES

The temple is closely associated with the

saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu . The

original image of Lord Madan Gopal was

shifted from the shrine to Karauli in

Rajasthan for safe keeping

during Aurangzeb's rule. Today, a replica

of the image is worshiped at the temple.PLAN

DETAILS

THE

ENTRANCE

STORY OF MADAN MOHAN

TEMPLE Sometimes in the morning, Shri Sanatan Goswami walked the 16 miles from

Vrindavan to Govardhan to perform the fourteen-mile long parikrama of Govardhan.

From there, he would walk another sixteen miles to Mathura to collect alms

(madhukari) and then again walk back to his bhajana-kuti in Vrindavan.

Nowdays, Madan Mohanji resides in Karauli. In 1748 AD, a Pratibhu Vigraha of Madan

Mohan was established here. Then, in 1819 AD, Shri Nand Lal Vasu constructed the

present temple.

One day, he came to the house of a Chaube brahmana in Mathura for alms. In the

house of the Chaube, two beautiful boys were playing the game gulli-danda. Madan,

the restless, fidgety boy with a dark-bluish complexion defeated the son of the

Chaube. Madan climbed upon the shoulders of the defeated boy and enjoyed a `horse

ride'. But when the Chaube's son defeated Madan the second time they played, and it

was his turn to enjoy a ride on Madan's shoulders, Madan ran into the temple room.

Seeing this, the son of the Chaube angrily abused and pursued Him. He wanted to

enter the temple, but the priest scolded him and chased him away. Pointing his

forefinger at Madan, who had turned into the deity, the son of the Chaube said, "You

just wait, I will see You tomorrow.“

This scene amazed Shri Sanatan Goswami. The next day, he arrived a little earlier, at

breakfast time, desiring to again have darshan. Although she had not yet taken bath,

the Chaubain was making khichri for both boys, who were sitting waiting for their

breakfast. Maiya was brushing her teeth with one end of a stick and was stirring the

khichri with the other end. When she had finished cooking, she served the boys the hot

khichri in bowls, cooling it down by blowing on it with her mouth. The boys were

relishing this khichhri with great love.

Sanatan Goswami could not tolerate her improper conduct. "Maiya, it is not proper to

The Chaubain realized her mistake, and replied, "Baba, from tomorrow, I will be clean

when I cook and serve the boys their breakfast.“

Shri Sanatan Goswami wanted to see some more pastimes of the deity of Shri

Madan-mohan, so on the third day he went there again. Breakfast was delayed that

day because Maiya was taking bath. She then had to clean the pots. The hungry boys

were demanding breakfast. Maiya pacified them, and after completing her morning

chores, she started cooking khichri. The two boys were pulling on her cloth and

insisting on eating at once. Sanatan Goswami was unable to tolerate this. He

approached her and said,

"Maiya, there is no need for you to be clean by bathing. If this Madan is pleased with

your unclean and impure breakfast, then you should do as such. I have committed an

offence at your feet. From tomorrow, you should do whatever you think is proper to

satisfy them." Just as Sanatan Goswami was about to leave, the boy Madan came out

of the temple room and said, "Baba, I will come with you.“

But Shri Sanatan Goswami replied, "I am a completely renounced person. I have

neither a place to live, nor any arrangement to cook palatable food. If even Yashoda-

maiya could not completely satisfy You, how can I take care of You?" The child Madan

nonetheless insisted on coming with him. Sanatan Goswami said, "If You really want

to come, then You will have to follow me on foot. I cannot carry You on my shoulders."

The boy said, "I will walk behind you, but do not turn around along the way to look at

Me. You can look at Me only at your bhajana-kuti."

When Sanatan Goswami had reached his bhajana-kuti, he turned around and saw the

boy Madan smile and change into His deity form. Sanatan Goswami constructed an

altar by putting a board on top of a few stones and seated Him there.

STORY OF MADAN MOHAN

TEMPLE

The meaning is that Sri Krishna is 'Ban ke Bihari' ~ One

who moves or dwells in the forests. 'Ban' or 'Van' meaning

Forest and 'Bihari' or 'Vihari' meaning 'One who dwells' or

'One who moves' or 'One who roams‘.

Another popular name of Krishna is 'Kunj Vihari' ~ One

who moves among the groves. Most of Sri Krishna's

pastimes were around the forests adjoining the banks of

river Yamuna. Therefore he is also known as Yamunakunj

vihari

Banke Bihari Temple, built in 1862 is the

most popular shrine at Vrindavan. The image

of Banke-Bihari was discovered in Nidhi Vana

by Swami Haridas, the great Krishna

devotee, belonging to

the Nimbarka sampradaya.

FAMOUS TEMPLES

THE

STATUE

INTERIORS

THE ENTRANCE

•Prem Mandir is the most beautiful and clean,

religious and spiritual complex situated on a 54-

acre site on the outskirts of Vrindavan, is one of

the newest temples dedicated to Divine Love. The

temple structure was established by spiritual

guru Kripalu Maharaj.

FAMOUS TEMPLES

•The main structure built in marble looks

incredibly beautiful and is an educational

monument that reflects the true history of

Sanatana Dharma. Figures of Shri Krishna and

his followers depicting important events

surrounding the Lord’s existence cover the

main temple.

INTERIORS

ENTRY

GATE

FRONT

VIEW

Rangaji Temple, built in 1851 is dedicated to

Lord Ranganatha or Rangaji depicted as

Lord Vishnu in his sheshashayi pose, resting on

the coils of the sacred Sesha Naga. The temple

built in the Dravidian style (as a replica

of Srivilliputhur) has a tall gopuram (gateway), of

six storeys and a gold-plated Dhwaja stambha,

50 feet high.

FAMOUS TEMPLES

•A water tank and a picturesque garden lie within

the temple enclosure. The annual festival of Jal

Vihar of the presiding deity is performed with

great pomp and splendour at the tank. The

temple is also famous for its 'Brahmotsdav'

celebration in March–April, more popularly

known as the 'Rath ka Mela'. The ten-day-long

celebrations are marked by the pulling of the

rath (the chariot car) by the devotees from the

temple to the adjoining gardens. PLAN OF

SURROUNDINGS

3D VIEW

Govind Dev (Govindaji) Temple was once a

magnificent seven storeyed structure built in the

form of a Greek cross. It is said that the

Emperor Akbar donated some of the red

sandstone that had been brought for the Red

Fort at Agra, for the construction of this temple.

FAMOUS TEMPLES

Built at the astronomical cost of one crore rupees

in 1590 by his general Raja Man Singh, the

temple combines western, Hindu and Muslim

architectural elements in its structure. It was

destroyed by Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.

3D VIEW

INTERIORS

FRONT

FACADE

THE

STATUE

The temple is called Shree Radha Ras Bihari Ashta

Sakhi Mandir and it is home to the divine Rasa Lila of

Lord Krishna and Radharani. It is located in close

proximity to the Shri Banke Behari Mandir. Legend has it

that the Shree Radha Rasa Behari Ashta Sakhi Mandir

is one of the two places in Mathura, Vrindavan where

the Lord Krishna actually indulges in the Rasa Lila with

his beloved Radha and her sakhis. On these nights,

devotees have reported hearing the sound of the

anklets, beating in tune to a divine melody.

FAMOUS TEMPLES

Shree Radha Ras Bihari Ashta Sakhi Temple: The temple is

centuries old and is the first Indian temple that is dedicated to the

divine couple and their Ashta Sakhi’s - the eight "companions" of

Radha who were intimately involved in her love play with the Lord

Krishna. The Ashta Sakhis are mentioned in the ancient texts

of Puranas and the Bhagavata Purana.

PAINTINGS TELLING

STORIES OF LIFETIME

ENTRANCE

Braj Parikrama - The Rainy month of Bhadon, the month when the Lord Krishna was born.

The famous Braj Parikrama - a pilgrimage of all the places in Braj that associated with Shri

Krishna, is undertaken. Traditionally, the Chaurasi kos (84 kos) pilgrimage of Braj Mandal,

with its 12 vanas (forests). 24 upvanas (groves), sacred hill Govardhan, divine River Yamuna

and numerous holy places along its banks, is undertaken annually by lakhs of devotees from

all over the country.

Gokul - The most celebrated of Shri Krishna's abode, Gokul lies to the west of Sadabad, 1.6

km from Mahavan and 15 km south-east of Mathura, on the Mathura - Etah metalled road. It

was here that Lord Krishna was brought up in secrecy by Yashoda, in the pastoral beauty of

this village on the banks of the Yamuna.

The celebration of Janmashtami in August is unparalleled for its gaiety and melas are

constant attraction here.

Govardhan - Govardhan is situated west of Mathura on the state highway to Deeg. A famous

place of Hindu pilgrimage, Govardhan is located on a narrow sandstone hill known as Giriraj

which is about 8 km in length. The young Lord Krishna is said to have held Giriraj up on the

tip of a finger for 7 days and nights to shield the people of Braj from the deluge of rain sent

down by Lord Indra.

SIGHT SEEING &

EXCURSION

Barsana - Barsana, is situated at the foot of a

hill named after Brahma. Barsana was once

the home of Radha-Rani, Krishna's beloved.

The birth anniversary of Radha-Rani is

celebrated on the ninth day of the bright half of

Bhadrapad (July-August) at the Mor-Kutir

Temple which was built about 300 years ago.

Women celebrate the occasion by giving

laddus to the peacocks - to symbolize the

serving of sweets by Radha to Lord Krishna.

Barsana is also famous for its 'Latthmar' Holi-

celebration of the festival of colour.

Nandgoan - Nadgaon lies 8.5 km north of

Barsana on the metalled road to Mathura (56

km). According to tradition, it was the home of

Shri Krishna's foster father, Nand.

A little beyond is the Pan Sarovar, a large lake

with masonry ghats along its sides. Legend

has it, that this was the place where Shri

Krishna used to take his cows for water.

Radhakund - Just 5 km north of Govardhan

and 26 km west of Mathura, Radhakund is a

large lake, where Shri Krishna is said to have

killed Arista - the bull demon. To commemorate

this event, every year on the 8th day of the

dark half of the month of Kartik (Oct./Nov.), a

large fair is held here.

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