Temples

This newly constructed Radha Govinda Temple, is based on a famous historic temple built about 500 years ago by Srila Rupa Goswami, a direct Sanyasi disciple of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (the devotee incarnation of Lord Krsna). Rupa Goswami was instructed by Lord Chaitanya to travel to Vrindaban from Bengal, and excavate the locations of Lord Sri Krsna’s Lila (pastimes). While there and chanting his daily japa (a silent chant on beads), Lord Krsna manifested before him and instructed him to construct a temple, install His deity, and worship Him. The next day, while contemplating Lord Krsna’s statement, he saw a cow atop a hillock freely pouring milk from her udders, unattended.

Seeing this, Srila Rupa Goswami invited the leading Vrjavasis (local residents) there, and requested them to dig that spot where the cow had poured her milk. While digging, the Vrjavasis found a Govinda deity (a favorite name of Lord Krsna). This is the exact deity originally worshipped 5000 years ago by Lord Krsna’s grandson, Vajranabha. Engaging help by the then enthroned King Mansingh, Rupa Goswami erected a 7 storey red stone temple, adorned with intricate beautiful carvings. Since then, several generations in Srila Rupa Goswami’s lineage worshipped Lord Govinda, until the Mogul Emperor Aurangajeb, came and dismantled 4 of the 7 stories. But luckily as fate would have it, just before Aurangajeb’s arrival, the Govinda deity was taken to Jaipur (the capital city of a neighboring state) so Govindaji’s worship would not be interrupted. Since the time that temple was damaged 300 years ago, no one has built such a temple. Swamiji’s Guru was desirous to build such a temple, but it did not materialize.

The Lord has now inspired our Swamiji (Sri Krsna Balaram Swami), to erect a temple of the same intricately carved red stone, as did Srila Rupa Goswami, so that Lord Govinda can again be worshipped in Vrindaban Dham, India. The foundation of currently completed temple is 51 feet x 51 feet x 33 feet deep, and is filled with large carved stones, as is Rupa Goswami’s temple.

The worship adopted in the temple is as per strict Vedic rules and performed by traditional Brahmana born devotees. Only such uncompromised pure performances in the right environment carry the divine blessing that fulfill one’s desires.