Radha Damodhar Temple

Overview

This temple is in Sevakunj near Loi Bazaar (Market). The deity of Radha Damodar was first worshipped and established by Shrila Jiva Goswami who was the disciple and also the nephew of Shrila Rupa Goswami in 1542 A.D.

About the Temple

Inside the temple courtyard on the right side of the sanctum sanctorum, there is a Bhajan Kutir (prayer room) and samadhi (Cenotaph) of Rupa Goswami. Bhajan Kutir (prayer room) of Shrila Prabhupada, where he lived for many years translating Srimad Bhagvatam during his visit to Vrindavan lies to the right within temple courtyard. Apart from the presiding deity of Sri Radha Damodar, the other deities that are worshipped within are those of the deities of Sri Madhav Radharani worshipped by Sri Jayadev Goswami, deities of Sri Vrindavan-Chandra Radharani that were worshipped by Krisnadas Kaviraj Goswami and the deities of Sri Chailchikanji Radharani worshipped by Sri Bhugarbha Goswami. In this temple there are situated the samadhis of Srila Jiva Goswami, Srila Rupa Goswami, Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami and Bhugarbha Goswami. Apart from these samadhis the Bhajan Kutir of Srila Rupa Goswami is also here. Near the Samadhi of Srila Rupa Goswami is the place where Srila Jiva Goswami used to wash his feet. It is a well known fact that by having the dust of this place everyday even the incurable diseases are cured and we get the mercy of Sri Radha Damodar Ji Maharaj and the Goswami's. The Bhajan Kutir of the founder acharya of ISKCON - Srila B. V. Swami Srila Prabhupada is also situated here. It is here only that he translated Srimad Bhagvatam in English. He used to indulge in Bhagwad discussion with Acharya Gorachand Goswami. The Samadhi of the founder acharya of Gaudiya Maths all over India Srila Bhakti Sidhant Saraswati Thakur Prabhupaad is also situated here.

About the Deity

This deity of Lord Damodar is carved out of a piece of black marble brought from Vindhya Ranges and is 8 inches high. Damodar is a Sanskrit word where ‘Dama’ signifies rope and ‘Udara’ means belly. Thus Damodar is the other name given to lord Krishna when his foster mother Yashoda tied him to an urn with a rope around his belly because he broke the curd and milk pots. The original deities of Radha Damodar were moved to Jaipur like other deities for safekeeping during the attack of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. The original deity is now worshipped in a temple in Jaipur and the Pratibhu Vigraha (replica) of that deity is worshipped in this temple in Vrindavan.

History of the Temple

Sri Sri Radha Damodar Mandir is an ancient temple established by Madhav Gaudiya Sampradaya. It was established by Srila Jiva Goswami in the year 1542 C.E. The deities here were served by Srila Jiva Goswami. Sri Radha Damodar deities were manifested by Srila Rupa Goswami, who gave them to his dear disciple and nephew-Jiva Goswami for service and worship. Later due to the terror of the muslim king Aurengzeb, Sri Radha Damodar were sifted to Jaipur for some time and when the social conditions became favorable were brought back to Sri Dham Vrindavan in the year 1739 C.E. These deities have been served here since then. In Jaipur however a counterpart (pratibhu) of the deity was installed.

Some devotees are under the impression that the Deities of Radhadamodar in the Radhadamodar Temple in Vrndavan are not the original Deities of Srila Jiva Goswami. Some think that the original Deities now reside in Jaipur. However, this is not a fact.

In 1670, when the Muslim fanatic Aurangazeb invaded Sri Vrndavana, he planned to destroy many temples and deface the Deities there. For this reason the principle Deities of Vraja were moved to the safe confines of the city of Jaipur in Rajasthan under the auspices of the Rajput kings. Most of the Deities remained there, such as Govindadeva, Gopinatha and Madana-mohana.

The Radhadamodar Deities however returned to Vrndavana and have been worshipped there ever since. The Deities that replaced the originals in the temples of Govinda, Gopinatha and Madana-mohana are known as pratibhu-murtis which were installed and worshipped as substitute Deities by the Goswamis of those temples. All pratibhu-murtis are smaller in size than the original Deities installed by the acaryas, but it is worth noting that the Deity of Damodarji in Jaipur is smaller than the Deity in Vrndavana, thus further confirming that the original Deity of Sri Damodarji is in Vrndavana, whereas the pratibhu-murti is being worshipped in Jaipur today.

Before Sri Jiva’s disappearance in 1596, he left his Deities and library in the care of his successor Sri Krishna Dasa, the head pujari. The present sevaites are directly coming in line from his descendants.

Festivals

• Kartik Festival
• Sharad Purnima
• Govardhan Puja
• Srila Prabhupada Tirobhava
• Devotthan Ekadasi
• Kartik Maharaas Purnima
• Srila Jiva Goswami Tirobhav
• Srila Rupa Goswami Tirobhav
• Acharya Sri Gaurchand Goswami Tirobhav
• Shree Krishna Janmaastami Mahotsav
• Srila Prabhuapad Avirbhav
• Shree Radha Astami
• Sri Radhaastami
• Rath Yaatraa
• Chandan Yaatraa
• Shree Narsingh Chaturdashi
• Snaan Yaatraa
• Shree Guru Purnimaa
• Jhulan Mahotsav
• Shyaama Sakhi Darshan

Accessibility

Vrindavan does not have an airport. The nearest international airport to Mathura is located in Delhi, at a distance of 147 km while the closest domestic airport is Kheria airport, Agra, located at a distance of 49 km. Taxis are available to the holy city from both these airports. Instead of Vrindavan you can a get a train to Mathura Cantt. on regular basis. Vrindavan is 10 km away from Mathura Cantt. (MRT) and 10 km away from Mathura Junction. Mathura railway junction connects the city to the major cities of the country like Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. Railways is the most convenient and cost-effective way of reaching Mathura. Pre-paid taxis are available to travel to the nearby locations. Frequent rail services are available for all the major cities from this junction. There are no bus routes from other major cities to Vrindavan. Nearest bus stand is Mathura.

Temple Address

Sri Radha Damodar Mandir
Vrindavan,
Mathura,
Uttar Pradesh,
India,
Pincode – 281 121.