ANCIENT KRISHNA TEMPLES IN INDIA

ANCIENT KRISHNA TEMPLES IN INDIA

There are a number of temples dedicated to Lord Krishna, spread all over India. Vrindavan alone has over 5000 temples. There are a chosen few temples which are quite famous and significant. Lakhs of devotees visit these temples every year for darshan.

Krishna Janma Bhoomi Mandir, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh (UP)

Banke Bihari Mandir, Vrindavan, UP

Gokula Temples, Gokul, UP

Madan Mohan Temple, Vrindavan, UP

Srinathji Temple, Nathadwar, Rajasthan

Dwarkadhish Temple, Gujarat

Sakshi Gopal Temple, Puri, Odisha

Guruvayur Temple, Trissur, Kerala

Udupi Sri Krishna Temple, Karnataka

Rajagopala Temple, Mannargudi, Thanjavur, Tamilnadu

Krishna Janma Bhoomi Mandir, Mathura, UP

Mathura, the birth place of Lord Krishna is situated on the banks of river Yamuna and is approximately 145 kms from Delhi. The town is renowned for being host to the most revered temple of Shri Krishna - the famous Krishna Janma Bhoomi Mandir. The temple is the place where the Lord was born five thousand years ago. Along with neighboring towns of Nandgaon, Gokul, Barsana and Vrindavan, the area is a major pilgrimage site for Hindus. 

According to historians, the prison cell, popularly known as 'Garbha Griha', in the temple premises is the exact place where Lord Krishna was born. The stone walled cell is reminiscent of the cruelty of King Kansa. Many statues and sculptures of the bygone era were found on excavating the site. The prison cell was gradually turned into the present beautiful temple. 

Banke Bihari Mandir, Vrindavan, UP 

One of the most important and vibrant temples in Vrindavan is the Banke Bihari Temple. The Banke Bihari Temple houses a Deity of Lord Krishna. Devotees enter the temple carrying garlands of flower petals and offer them to the Lord. The main hall and the sanctum sanctorum of this temple are decorated with floral carvings.

Gokula Temples, Gokul, UP

Gokula is where the pastime of Damodar, the stealing of butter, and other childhood pastimes took place. There are small mud and straw temples on the side of the hill that mark the places where Krishna killed the demons Putana, Trinavarta, and Sakatasura. 

Utkhal (grinding stone) to which Krishna was tied by mother Yashoda is in a small hut, a km from the town of Mahavana. Nanda Maharaja's well is across the road from here.

Nearby, at Brahmanda Ghat, on the bank of the Yamuna river, is the place where Krishna ate dirt. When forced by mother Yashoda to open His mouth, He revealed to her the entire cosmic manifestation.

Madan Mohan Temple, Vrindavan, UP

The Madan Mohan Temple located near the Kali Ghat is the oldest existing temple in Vrindavan today. The temple is closely associated with Lord Chaitanya. The original Deity of Lord Madan Gopal was shifted from the shrine to Karauli in Rajasthan, during the Mughal invasion.

Srinathji Temple, Nathdwara, Rajasthan

Srinathji is a beautiful black marble Deity of Lord Krishna, standing with His hand lifting the Govardhana Hill. Many devotees who visit Nathdwara do service for the Deity, such as carry wood, cut vegetables, sweep the temple, or make garlands.

There is a story that Srinathji once tore His garment while rushing back to the temple to be on time for darshan. From that day on it has been a custom to blow the conch and then wait several minutes before opening the altar doors. In that way Srinathji can return leisurely to His temple from wherever He may be sporting.

The temple owns a lot of cows. One of the cows is called the "Sri Nathji's cow" and comes from a lineage that has served the Deity for generations. The milk from this cow goes only for Srinathji to drink. Milk from the other cows is made into various sweets for the Deity.

Sakshi Gopal Temple, Puri, Odisha

About 25 kms from Puri is an impressive temple, Sakshi Gopal, with a charming life size Deity of Krishna or Gopal. History relates that once Gopal came down from Vrindavan to give evidence in a dispute between two Brahmins. 

Guruvayur Temple, Kerala

Situated approximately 33 kms from Thrissur, Guruvayur temple is one of the most famous temples of Lord Krishna in South India. It is also considered to be the Dwarka of Southern region. It is said that Lord Brahma worshipped this Deity. After Lord Krishna left for the heavenly abode, and the city of Dwarka was submerged, Vayu the god of wind and Guru were entrusted with the work of finding a suitable place to install the Deity. After a long search, it is said that both Guru and Vayu installed the Deity at the temple at the insistence of sage Parshuram. 

The place got its name Guruvayur because both Guru and Vayu installed the Deity. Guruvayur temple is linked with Melpattur Narayana Bhattathiri, the author of Narayaneeyam (16th century) a Sanskrit work comprising 1000 slokas of inimitable beauty which was composed in front of the Deity here. 

Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple. Maximum number of weddings and first feeding ceremony of children takes place in this most sacred temple of Kerala. This is done to seek the blessings of Lord Krishna for a happy future ahead. The temple is also famous for its healing powers.

Udupi Sri Krishna Temple, Karnataka 

Situated approximately 60 kms from Mangalore, the Udupi Sri Krishna temple also known as Krishna Math, is one of the most popular shrines dedicated to Lord Krishna in the southern region of India. Built in the thirteenth century, the alluring Krishna Deity is adorned with beautiful jewels. The Deity was installed by the great saint Madhvacharya. 

The temple has an interesting history; it is said the Deity of Lord Krishna got covered with Gopichandan in the city of Dwarka. The Deity was carried by a mariner and in the middle of the journey, the ship was caught in a storm on the western coast of Malpe near Udupi. Sri Madhvacharya guided the ship out of the storm with his divine powers. Madhvacharya asked for the Gopichandan lump and as a gesture of gratitude, the mariner gifted it to him. He found the Deity inside and installed Him in the temple.

Kanakadasa, a staunch follower of Lord Krishna visited the temple in the late 16th century but was forbidden to enter as he belonged to a lower caste. Pleased with the devotion of Kanakadasa, Lord Krishna created a hole in the back wall of the temple so that he could see the Deity. The hole is now famously known as the Kanakana-kindi.

Rajagopala Temple, Mannargudi, Thanjavur, Tamilnadu

This shrine dedicated to Rajagopala, is a vast temple complex with a 1000 year old history. Referred to as Dakshina Dwaraka, this temple is located in the town of Mannargudi in Thanjavur district.

The sanctum of this vast temple enshrines a seven feet high Deity of Lord Krishna. There is another Deity of Santana-gopalakrishna. Popular belief has it that cradling the Deity of Santana-gopalakrishna in one’s lap, would bless barren couple with progeny.

This is a massive temple with as many as seven prakarams or circumambulatory paths surrounding the central sanctum. A 154 feet high Rajagopuram adorns the entrance to the outermost prakaram. There are several beautiful pillared halls in the temple - such as the thousand pillared hall, the Vallala Maharaja Mandapam, etc.