According to the legends, the Deity of Radha Govinda deva is considered one of the three exquisitely carved Krishna Deities by Vajranabha, great grandson of Krishna, under the watchful guidance of Uttara. The striking feature of this Deity is its uncanny resemblance to the beautiful face of Lord Krishna. It is believed that if one is fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the three Deities – Sri Madana-mohana, Sri Gopinatha, and Sri Govinda Deva – within a single day, before sunset, they receive the divine blessings equivalent to having the sacred vision of Lord Krishna Himself. Such a rare opportunity is considered to be a great spiritual boon in the eyes of devotees. In his writings, Srila Rupa Gosvami poetically describes Mathura-mandala, recalling the mesmerizing image of Lord Krishna (Govinda) standing by the picturesque banks of the Yamuna River, amidst the serene surroundings of blooming kadamba trees and melodious chirping of birds in the lush gardens. These vivid impressions have left an indelible mark on his consciousness, leading to a continuous state of transcendental realization, where the sublime beauty and bliss of the Lord are constantly felt and experienced. Srila Rupa Gosvami’s evocative depiction of Mathura-mandala and Lord Krishna’s enchanting presence therein, inspires devotees to seek a deeper connection with the divine and revel in the spiritual ecstasy of the Lord’s sublime presence.
Madan-Mohan, Govindadev, and Gopinath are three distinct forms of Krishna, the Supreme Lord, that represent important philosophical principles in the practice of devotional service. Madan Mohan embodies the concept of sambandha tattva, which pertains to establishing and nurturing our relationship with the Supreme Lord, who is the ultimate object of our love and devotion.
For beginners on the spiritual path, it is essential to worship Madan-Mohan in order to awaken our dormant love for God and overcome our attachment to material pleasures. Through this process of devotion, we gradually rediscover our innate connection with the divine and develop a deeper understanding of our purpose in life.
As we progress in our spiritual practice and develop a stronger attachment to serving the Lord, we begin to worship Govinda Dev, who represents the principle of abhidheya tattva. This involves dedicating ourselves fully to the service of the Lord and striving to please Him in all aspects of our life. By offering our thoughts, words, and actions as a loving offering to Govindadev, we gradually purify our consciousness and become fully absorbed in the Lord’s divine will.
Finally, when we attain the pinnacle of devotion and achieve perfection in our spiritual practice, we are able to appreciate the supreme bliss of Gopinath, who embodies the principle of prayojana tattva. Gopinath is the beloved deity of the gopis, the cowherd damsels of Vrindavan, who are renowned for their intense love and devotion for Lord Krishna. By worshiping Gopinath, we enter into the realm of pure love and experience the highest levels of spiritual ecstasy and bliss.
Thus, the worship of Madan-Mohan, Govindadev, and Gopinath represents a gradual progression in our spiritual journey, from establishing our relationship with the Lord, to dedicating ourselves to His service, and ultimately attaining the highest goal of pure love and devotion.
History of Radha Govinda temple, Vrindavan
Just a short stroll away from Vrinda Kunda, lies the awe-inspiring Sri Radha Govindaji temple, which was erected by Maharaja Man Singh, a valiant general in the army of King Akbar. The revered king was a devotee of Lord Krishna and he, under the guidance and instructions of the Goswamis of Vrindavan, constructed the temple around 1590 AD as a grand seven-story edifice with a resplendent altar made of marble, silver, and gold. It stands as a magnificent architectural masterpiece of North India, adorned with a magnificent sculptured lotus flower, weighing several tons, which embellishes the ceiling of the main hall. The temple’s construction was a monumental undertaking and reportedly cost ten million rupees and took several thousand workers a grueling five years to complete. King Akbar himself had generously donated the red sandstone utilized for its construction. However, in 1670, during the rule of the later Mughal king, Aurangzeb, the temple was ruthlessly pillaged and destroyed, reducing it to only three stories of its original glory. Interestingly, during this unfortunate attack, when only a few stories of the temple remained, the ground suddenly began to shake violently, instilling fear in the hearts of Aurangzeb’s men, who fled for their lives, never to return. Today, a replica of the revered Govindaji is worshiped in the new Govindaji Mandir, which is located behind the original temple. The original Govindaji Deity is currently worshiped in Jaipur.
How Rupa Goswami discovered the Deity of Govinda jiu
Under the instructions of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Rupa Gosvami established this sacred temple as part of his divine mission to excavate all the lost holy places of Vrindavan. Five millennia ago, Lord Krishna’s grandson, Vajranaba, enshrined several vital Deities in the holy land of Vrindavan, and among them was Govindaji. Rupa Gosvami embarked on an extensive quest across Vrindavan to locate the Yogapith, the original resting place of Govindaji’s Deity, but despite months of searching, the Deity remained elusive.
Frustrated and disheartened, Rupa Gosvami sat by the Yamuna riverbank and began to chant the name of Lord Chaitanya in tears. Suddenly, a beautiful Vrajavasi boy appeared before him, who was none other than Lord Krishna in disguise. The boy revealed to Rupa Gosvami that a cow came every day to a nearby hillock and poured her milk into a hole on the hilltop. The boy asked Rupa Gosvami to accompany him to the site to witness what might be hidden in the hole. Rupa Gosvami followed the boy, and upon arriving at the spot, the boy vanished.
Upon gazing into the milk-soaked hole, Rupa Gosvami was overcome with ecstatic emotions and fell unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he summoned the locals who then excavated the hole and discovered the awe-inspiring Deity of Lord Govinda. The loud chants of “Hey Govinda, He Krishna” echoed throughout the heavens, filling the skies with celestial vibrations.
Deity of Radha Rani
According to legend, Radha Rani’s deity was initially located in Vrindavan and revered as one of the incarnations of the divine goddess Shakti. Due to the growing threat from the Yavanas, a Brahmin named Brihadbhanu moved the deity to Radhanagar in Orissa for security reasons. After Brihadbhanu’s death, the king of Orissa, Prataprudra, relocated the deity to a place called Chakravedha in Puri, where it gained fame as “Laxmi Thakurani.”
When Purushottam, Prataprudra’s son and the king of Orissa, learned about the deity’s origins, he sent Radha Rani’s deity, which was actually the one from Vrindavan, to the holy city of Vrindavan. He arranged a grand wedding ceremony between Radha Rani and Lord Govind Devji and placed Radha Rani’s deity to the left of Lord Govind Devji.
Kashishwar Pandita and the deity of Gaura Govinda
The article would be incomplete if we do not mention how Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu utilized Sri Kashishwar Pandita, one of His dear god-brothers, to introduce His own deities in the western provinces of India. After the discovery of Sri Radha Govinda Dev Jiu in Vrindavana, Lord Chaitanya instructed Sri Kashishwar to travel to Vrindavana and help Sri Rupa Goswami in serving these deities. However, Kashishwar Pandita felt deep agony in his heart and did not want to leave Lord Chaitanya’s personal association. He expressed his grief and said that he would not be able to bear the separation. Understanding his emotions, Lord Chaitanya gifted him a beautiful deity that looked exactly like Him and explained that the deity was not-different from Him.
Upon reaching Vrindavana, Kashishwar Pandita placed the Deity of Lord Chaitanya (subsequently known as Gaura-Govinda) on the right side of Sri Govinda Dev Jiu and dedicated the rest of his life to serving them. This was the first deity of Lord Chaitanya to arrive in Vrindavana. The reason behind this event was the intense love that Sri Kashishwar possessed for Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, which made it possible for him to play a significant role in spreading Lord Caitanya’s mission.
What to See at Radha Govinda temple
The central figure of worship at this temple is the venerable Govinda jiu, flanked on His left by the resplendent form of Lord Caitanya, and on His right by the magnanimous figure of Lord Nityananda. Small but exquisite Deities of Radha and Krishna rest just below Them, and a majestic Lord Jagannath and a sacred Govardhan sila find their abode below Them. The Deities are beautifully adorned with shimmering garments and ornate jewelry, exuding an aura of divinity that fills the air with an otherworldly atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Worshipers offer their heartfelt prayers and devotions, beseeching the blessings of the Deities, and bask in the divine radiance of these enchanting forms of the Supreme Lord.
At the Govinda Jiu temple in Vrindavan, the deity that receives the ardent worship of the devotees is the Pratibhu deity of Lord Govinda. Although the original deities have been shifted to Jaipur, where they are still revered with utmost devotion, the Pratibhu deities here hold the same divine potency as the original ones. The Pratibhu form, which is an exact replica of the original deity, is believed to hold the same spiritual significance and blessing potential for the devotees who come to seek the Lord’s darshan.
How to Reach
The enchanting Radha Govinda temple is situated in a serene location called YogaPith, which is in close proximity to the scenic Gopinath bagh, in the holy city of Vrindavan. This divine abode of Radha Govinda is also conveniently located in the vicinity of the revered Rangaji Temple, adding to the spiritual significance of the area. The peaceful atmosphere and the sacred surroundings of the temple make it a perfect place for devotees to immerse themselves in the devotion and experience a sense of divine bliss.