10/10/2019 Vrindavan - Wikipedia Coordinates: 27.58°N 77.7°E Vrindavan Vrindavan ( pronunciation ), also known as Brindaban,[2] is a historical city in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It Vrindavan KrishnaDham is one of the most sacred places in Vaishnavism[3]. It is located in the Braj Bhoomi region, and is where, according to Hinduism, City Lord Shree Krishna spent most of his childhood days. [4] The City is about 11 km away from Mathura, Krishna's birthplace on the Agra-Delhi National Highway as NH-44.[5][6] The town hosts many temples dedicated to the worship of Radha and Krishna [3] Contents Etymology Geography Demographics Religious heritage History Temples City of Widows Transportation Road Rail See also References External links Etymology Top to bottom: Krishna Balaram Mandir, Kusum The ancient Sanskrit name of the city, Vṛndāvana, comes from its Sarovar, and Prem Mandir (Love temple) in Vrindavan groves of vṛndā (Holy basil) and vana (a grove or forest).[2] Nicknames: City of Widows Geography Vrindavan is located at 27.58°N 77.7°E.[7] It has an average elevation of 170 metres (557 feet). Demographics Vrindavan As of 2011 India census,[8] Vrindavan had a population of 63,005. Males constitute 56% of the population and females 44%. Vrindavan has an average literacy rate of 65%, lower than the national average of 74.04%.[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vrindavan 1/7 10/10/2019 Vrindavan - Wikipedia Location in Uttar Pradesh, India Religious heritage Show map of Uttar Pradesh Vrindavan is considered to be a holy place for Vaisnavism Show map of India tradition of Hinduism. It is a center of Krishna worship and the Show all area includes places like Govardhana and Gokul that are Coordinates: 27.58°N 77.7°E associated with Krishna. Millions of devotees of Radha Krishna Country India visit these places of pilgrimage every year and participate in a State Uttar Pradesh number of festivals.[10] District Mathura Government History • Type Municipal Council • Body Vrindavan Municipal Vrindavan has an ancient past, associated with Hindu culture and Council history, and is an important Hindu pilgrimage site since long. Elevation 170 m (560 ft) [1] Of the contemporary times, Vallabhacharya, aged eleven visited Population (2011) Vrindavan. Later on, he performed three pilgrimages of India, • Total 63,005 barefoot giving discourses on Bhagavad Gita at 84 places. These Demonym(s) Vrindavan wasi 84 places are known as Chaurāsi Baithak and since then are the Languages places of pilgrimage. Yet, he stayed in Vrindavan for four months • Official Hindi each year. Vrindavan thus heavily influenced his formation of • Native Braj Bhasha dialect Pushtimarg Time zone UTC+05:30 (IST) The essence of Vrindavan was lost over time until the 16th PIN 281121 century, when it was rediscovered by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In Telephone 0565 code the year 1515, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Vrindavana, with the Vehicle UP-85 purpose of locating the lost holy places associated with Lord Sri registration Krishna's transcendental pastimes. Chaitanya wandered through the different sacred forests of Vrindavan in a spiritual trance of divine love. It was believed that by His divine spiritual power, He was able to locate all the important places of Krishna's pastimes in and around Vrindavan.[11] Mira Bai left the kingdom of Mewar and went on pilgrimages. In her last 14 years, Meera lived in a temple called Pracheen Meerabai in Vrindavan. Meera Bai is the most famous female Hindu spiritual poet, whose compositions are still popular throughout North India. Kesi Ghat on banks of the Yamuna In the last 250 years, the extensive forests of Vrindavan have been river subjected to urbanization, first by local Rajas and in recent decades by apartment developers. The forest cover has been whittled away to only a few remaining spots, and the local wildlife, including peacocks, cows, monkeys and a variety of bird species has been virtually eliminated. Only a few peacocks are left in the city but monkeys and cows can be seen almost everywhere. Temples Vrindavan, the land of Radha Rani, the City of Temples has more than 1000 temples to showcase the pastimes of Radha and Krishna.[12] Some of the important pilgrim sites are Madan Mohan Temple, located near the Kalidah Ghat was built by Kapur Ram Das of Multan. One of the oldest temples in Vrindavan, it is closely associated with the Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The original deity of Lord Madan Gopal was shifted from the shrine to Karauli in Rajasthan for safekeeping during Aurangzeb's rule. Today, a replica of the original (deity) is worshipped at the temple Govind Dev Temple (Sri Radha Govinda Temple) was a seven storeyed structure built by Raja Man Singh with red sandstone donated by Akbar in 1590.[13] It was destroyed by Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.[14]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vrindavan 2/7 10/10/2019 Vrindavan - Wikipedia New Radha Govinda Temple was built by Sri Krishna Balaram Swamiji and was completed in 2004 is based on a historic temple built about 500 years ago by Srila Rupa Goswami, a direct Sanyasi disciple of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.[15] Sri Radha Raman Mandir, constructed at the request of Gopala Bhatta Goswami and houses a saligram deity of Krishna as Radha Ramana, alongside Radha.[16] Radha Damodar Mandir, located at Seva Kunj was established in 1542 by Six Gosvamis of Vrindavan. The main deities are Radha– Damodar. Radha Vallabh Temple, set up by Hith Harivansh Mahaprabhu has a crown of Radharani placed next to the Krishna in the sanctum.[17] Shahji Temple, designed and built in 1876 by Shah Kundan Lal of Lucknow. Noted for its magnificent architecture and beautiful marble sculptures, the temple has twelve spiral columns each 15 feet high and a hall with Belgian glass chandeliers and paintings. Meera Bai Temple, located at the southern side of Shahji temple near Nidhivan and is dedicated to Meera. Some hagiography state she miraculously disappeared by merging into a deity of Krishna at Dwarika in 1547.[18] While miracles are contested by scholars for the lack of historical evidence, it is widely acknowledged that Meera dedicated her life to Hindu deity Krishna, composing songs of devotion Rangaji Temple of Vrindavan and was one of the most important poet-Sant of the Bhakti movement period.[19][20] Banke Bihari Temple, built in 1862[21] after the image of Banke-Bihari was discovered in Nidhi Vana by Swami Haridas. Prem Mandir is a spiritual complex situated on a 54-acre site on the outskirts of Vrindavan dedicated to divine love. The temple structure was established by spiritual guru [22] The 17th century Madan Mohan Kripalu Maharaj. The main structure built in marble and Temple was built by Raja Gopal figures of Krishna cover the Singhji of Karauli dynasty main temple.[23] Sri Krishna-Balarama Temple was built by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Raman-Reti.[24] The principal deities of this temple are Krishna and Balaram, with Radha–Shyamasundar and Gaura-Nitai alongside. Adjoining the temple is the samadhi of A. C. Bhaktivedanta ISKCON devotee singing bhajan in Swami Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, built in pure white Vrindavan marble. 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 has a gopuram of six storeys and a gold-plated Dhwaja stambha, 50 feet high. The 'Brahmotsdav' celebration in March–April is marked by the pulling of the Temple car by the devotees from the temple to the adjoining gardens. Sneh Bihari Mandir, Vrindavan - This temple located in the heart of Vrindavan is based on Haridasiya Sampradhay. About 250 years ago there existed a small temple established by Shri Snehi Lal Goswami, the 10th generation Goswami of Swami Shri Haridas. This complex was well expanded and renovated in 2003 by Bhagwat Mission under the leadership Guru Ji Goswami Shri Mridul Krishna ji Maharaj. Built across 1000 square yards, it is the result of the dedication of over Prem Mandir in Vrindavan 1500 workers. Made up of exclusive white and red marble, it is elegantly designed with traditional carvings. There are over 80 beautifully designed columns that give the temple a touch of royalty.[25] Jaipur Temple, built by Sawai Madho Singh II, the Maharaja of Jaipur in 1917 dedicated to Radha–Madhava.[26] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vrindavan 3/7 10/10/2019 Vrindavan - Wikipedia Pagal Baba Temple, Liladham, Vrindavan - Temple is beautifully designed with white marble stone. There are seven temples, one on top of another. All temples have beautiful deities. Presently this is the tallest temple in Vrindavan. The temple is famous for its puppet exhibition. Liland Thakur was a Justice in the High court of Calcutta, and after resigning from the post he came to Vrindavan in search of truth and Lord Krishna. He was wandering here like a madman so people were calling him Pagal Baba only to later realise his powers.[27] Neeb (Neem) Karori Baba Samadhi Temple, Gaushala Nagar - Maharajji's beautiful Vrindavan ashram is the likely the most propitious of the ashrams and temples of Maharajji Neem Karoli Baba who is renowned world over with ashrams and temples built in over one hundred places in his name. The first temple was inaugurated in 1967. Krishna Balaram Mandir It was in Vrindaban that Maharajji chose to leave His body in 1973. The temple at the cremation place of Maharajji's last known body is called Samadhi Sthal. This is the site of Maharaj Ji's Mahasamadhi Bhandara in September each year.[28] Vrinda Kunja, Goda Vihar - this 200-year-old ashram and temple originally built by the queen of Manipur, renovated in 1989 by Paramadvaiti Swamiji is now a majestic building.[29] Mandir Sri Dham Goda Vihar, Goda Vihar is located close to Vrinda kunja.[30] Jagannatha Mandir, Goda Vihar, Vrindavana - Shri Haridas Ji Maharaj, a Vaishnav saint of Vrindavan brought idols of Shri Jagannath Ji, Shri Balram ji and Subhadra Devi from Puri Jagannath Mandir and installed here.