Shri Radha Damodar Temple is a
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
temple dedicated to
Hindu deities
Hindu deities are the gods and goddesses in Hinduism. The terms and epithets for deities within the diverse traditions of Hinduism vary, and include Deva, Devi, Ishvara, Ishvari, Bhagavān and Bhagavati.
The deities of Hinduism have evolved ...
Radha
Radha ( sa, राधा, ), also called Radhika, is a Hindu goddess and the chief consort of the god Krishna. She is worshiped as the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion, and devotion. She is the avatar of goddess Lakshmi and is also de ...
and
Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
. The temple is situated in
Vrindavan
Vrindavan (; ), also spelt Vrindaban and Brindaban, is a historical city in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located in the Braj Bhoomi region and holds religious importance in Hinduism as Krishna spent most of his childho ...
of
Indian state
India is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories, with a total of 36 entities. The states and union territories are further subdivided into districts and smaller administrative divisions.
History
Pre-indepen ...
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 1950 ...
. In the temple, Krishna is worshiped in the form of ''Damodar'' with his consort Radha. It is one of the main seven Goswami temples of Vrindavan.
History
Shri Radha Damodar Temple was first established by Jiva Goswami in the year 1542 C.E and was located at Seva Kunj of Vrindavan. Later, In 1670, when the Muslim emperor
Aurangazeb invaded Vrindavana, the original deities Radha Damodar were shifted to Jaipur for sometime and when the social conditions became favorable, deities were brought back to Vrindavan in the year 1739 C.E. The deities Radha Damodar have been served in Vrindavan since then. Before the disappearance of Jiva Goswami in 1596, he left the deities in the care of his successor Krishna Dasa, the head priest. Presently, the descendants of Krishna Dasa are serving the deities.
Significance
![Banke bihari (456)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Banke_bihari_%28456%29.JPG)
The temple is one of the ancient temple of Vrindavan. It is among the seven significant temples of Vrindavan which includes
Radha Madan Mohan temple, Radha Gokulnanda temple,
Radha Raman temple
Sri Radha Raman Temple, is a Hindu temple situated in Vrindavan, India. It is dedicated to Krishna who is worshiped as Radha Ramana. This temple is counted as one of the Seven most revered ancient temples of Vrindavan along with Radha Vallabh ...
, Radha Govinda temple, Radha Gopinath temple and Radha Shyamsundar temple. The temple also houses the ''Giriraj Shila'' having the footprints of Krishna which was believed to be given to
Sanatana Goswami
Sanatana Goswami ( sa, सनातन गोस्वामी, ; bn, সনাতন গোস্বামী; 1488–1558) was a principal follower of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Sanatana wrote a number of important works in the bhakti tradition ...
by
Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
himself.
According to popular belief, four ''parikramas'' (circumambulation) of the Radha Damodar Temple is equal to one circumambulation of
Govardhana Hill
Govardhan also called Giriraj, is a key pilgrimage centre in India and a municipal town; a nagar panchayat; seat of a MLA Member of Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh; a Tehsil, in Mathura district in the India in state of Uttar Pradesh. Ab ...
.
There are also samadhis of many Gaudiya saints including Rupa Goswami Samadhi and Jiva Goswami Samadhi inside the premises of the temple. Founder of
ISKCON
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), known colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement or Hare Krishnas, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu religious organization. ISKCON was founded in 1966 in New York City by A. C. Bhaktive ...
,
Srila Prabhpada also stayed in this temple for six years before heading to United States of America for preaching about Krishna.
Temple deities
Deities of Radha Damodar Temple
Along with Shri
Radha Damodar ji and
Giriraj Shila, the other deities worshiped in the temple are - Shri
Radha Vrindavanchandra Ji, Shri
Radha Madhav Ji, Shri
Gaur
The gaur (''Bos gaurus''; ), also known as the Indian bison, is a bovine native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, and has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986. The global population was estimated at a maximum of 21,000 m ...
Nitai and Shri
Jagannath Dev Ji.
Temple timings
The time zone (
UTC+05:30) observed through India by the priest
-
Morning - 4:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Evening - 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM
See also
*
Radha Kund
Radha Kund (, en, Radha’s Pond) is a town and ''nagar panchayat'' in Vrindavan in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is also one of the pilgrimage sites dedicated to Hindu goddess Radha.
Legend
Following the '' Upadesamrta'' (''Nectar o ...
*
Radha Krishna
Radha-Krishna (IAST , sa, राधा कृष्ण) are collectively known within Hinduism as the combined forms of feminine as well as the masculine realities of God. Krishna and Radha are the primeval forms of God and his pleasure potenc ...
*
Kusum Sarovar
Kusum Sarovar is a sacred water reservoir with a historic sand monument in its backdrop. It is situated on the holy Govardhan Hill between Manasi Ganga and Radha Kund in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Kusum Sarovar is considered ...
*
Govardhan Shila
*
Radha Rani Temple
Shri Radha Rani Temple, also called Shriji (Shreeji) Temple and Shri Laadli Lal Temple, is a Hindu temple, located in Barsana in Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Radha. Barsana is believed to be h ...
*
Nidhivan, Vrindavan
Nidhivan which means "''Forest of Tulsi'' " is one of the sacred forest sites of Vrindavan. It is situated in the Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh, India. Nidhivan is considered as the most prominent site dedicated to the pastimes of Hindu deities ...
*
Radha Raman Temple
Sri Radha Raman Temple, is a Hindu temple situated in Vrindavan, India. It is dedicated to Krishna who is worshiped as Radha Ramana. This temple is counted as one of the Seven most revered ancient temples of Vrindavan along with Radha Vallabh ...
*
Radha Damodar Temple, Junagadh
Shri Radha Damodar Temple is a Hindu temple, situated in the Junagadh district of Gujarat, India. The temple is dedicated to the Damodar Hari, another name of Hindu god Krishna. In this temple, Damodar ji is worshiped in his four arms form of Lord ...
*
Radha Vallabh Temple, Vrindavan
Shri Radha Vallabh Temple, also called Shri Radha Vallabhlal ji Temple is a historic temple in the city of Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to Hindu deities Radha Krishna. The central deity of the temple i ...
*
Radha Madan Mohan Temple, Vrindavan
Shri Radha Madan Mohan Temple, is a Hindu temple situated in Vrindavan of Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the oldest and highly revered temple of Vrindavan. The presiding deity of the temple is Madan Mohan, a form of the god Krishna wh ...
References
{{Reflist
External Links
* https://www.radhadamodarmandir.com/
Radha Krishna temples
Tourist attractions in Mathura district
Hindu temples in Mathura district
Gaudiya Vaishnavism
Mathura district
Krishna temples
Vrindavan
16th-century Hindu temples