Krishna is worshipped in hundreds of temples across the world. Some of them hold special significance as they are associated with the life of the Lord and some others are important because of their historicity and the aura of spirituality associated with them. Let us travel through those sanctified lanes and feel their hidden aura…….
A few temples stand out conspicuously above other places of Krishna worship as they are directly associated with the events of the Lord’s life. They are generally located at Mathura, the place of Krishna’s birth, Vrindavana, where he spent most of his childhood days and Dwarka where he spent most of his adult life.
Radharaman Temple:
The most amazing thing about this temple is that though it is named “Radharaman” which means-“one who gives pleasure to Radha”, there is actually no image of Radha! She is represented by a crown placed next to Krishna. This temple was made in 1542 by Gopala Bhatta Goswami. A shawl and a wooden sitting of Lord Chaitanya is also kept in the temple.
Jugal Kishore Temple:
Completed in 1627, it is one of the oldest temples of Vrindavana. As it is located next to Kesi Ghat, the place where Krishna killed Kesi, the horse demon, it is also called the Kesi Ghat Temple. Akbar is said to have visited this temple in 1570.
Rangji Temple:
Built in 1851 in South Indian style, the temple is dedicated to Lord Sri Ranganath or Rangji – a form of Vishnu laying on Seshnaga, the thousand headed serpent. During the month of Chaitra a rathayatra is held here called Brahmotsava.
Bankey Bihari Temple:
Bankey Bihari is yet another name of Lord Krishna. The temple is said to have been constructed in 1864 by Swami Haridas who incidentally chanced upon Bankey Bihari in Nidhivana. The special thing about this temple is that here the curtain before the deities is not left open like in other temples. The curtain is opened and shut every few minutes. The deity here is a late riser and does not wake up before 9 am! The Mangal Aarti here is performed only once a year. But the temple is famous for Jhoolan and Janamastami celebrations.
Madana Mohan Temple:
The temple was constructed in 1580 at the foot of a hill called Aditya tila, next to river Yamuna. The original temple of Madan Mohan was discovered at the base of an old Vata tree by Aditya Acharya.
Nikunjavana:
Though not a temple yet the vana is as sacred as any other temple of the area. Legend goes that Krishna spent time here with his consort Radha. It is said that once Krishna created a small pond here by merely thrusting his flute into the ground, to quench Lalita’s thirst. Soon after it gets dark the Nikunjavana wears a deserted look as no one is allowed to stay after the sun sets. It is believed that the numerous trees here, standing in weird forms, turn into Gopis at night and they perform dalliance with Krishna.
Dwarkadhish Temple:
Is the temple situated on the coast of Gujarat, an area where the kingdom of Yadavas existed. While the original Dwarka was submerged in the sea after Lord Krishna left for his heavenly abode, the temple was reconstructed in the 15-16 Century by Vajranbha. It is now managed by Dwarkadheesh Devasthan Samiti.
Jagannath Temple:
Constructed in 12th century by the great Raja Ananta Varman Chodaganga of the Eastern Ganga dynasty, the Jagannath temple at Puri is one of the most sacred places of Hindu worship. The most peculiar thing about the temple is the wooden image of Krishna. Its appearance is very much different from the usually handsome featured Lord. Krishna here is worshipped along with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. The temple is famous for the Ratha Yarta or Car festival for which lakhs of people come from across the world.
Guruvayur Temple:
Located in Kerala, Guruvayur, aptly called the Dwarka of the South, is one of the most famous pilgrimage centers in India. The idol of the famous Sri Krishna Temple here is said to have been worshipped by Lord Brahma himself. The Guruvayur Temple is not built in the typical South Indian style of temple architecture. Its four gateways lead to the main gopuram (where the idol is installed), protected by a slopping terracotta roof made of Mangalore tiles. Again, in true Kerala style, the temple owns 36 mighty elephants that live at Punnathur Fort, 4 km north of the temple. Besides thousands of pilgrims and tourists, brides and grooms with hundreds of guests flock here daily to get their weddings solemnized.
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