The ancient Vedic scriptures inform us that the beautiful land of Vrndavana is non-different from the spititual world. Elsewhere in the Vedas Lord Sri Krishna has also declared that He never leaves Vrndavana and is eternally present there in His transcendental spiritual form. Therefore to reside in Vrndavana is exactly the same as residing within the spiritual world, and thereby directly associating with the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna.
It was certainly my great fortune that when I first came to India from London in January 1975, my first destination was the holy city of Vrndavana, about which I had heard so much since joining the Hare Krishna movement in 1972. Little did I realize at that time, that I would be spending the next twenty five years of my life travelling and teaching Krishna consciousness throughout the Indian sub-continent.
It is only by the divine grace of our beloved spiritual master Srila Prabhupada, that it has been possible to appreciate the transcendental beauty of Vrndavana. I have also found that by his mercy, this appreciation simply goes on increasing day by day, year after year.
It had been my desire for some time to write a comprehensive guide to Vrndavana for the benefit of the thousands of pilgrims, especially from the west, who now flock in large numbers to this most sacred of holy places. While I was rendering service at Srila Prabhupada's rooms at Vrndavana's historic Radha Damodar a temple, many visitors who came there asked directions to various holy shrines around Vr ndavana. It was then that I decided to prepare this guide book along with an accurate map, to enable them to easily locate the most important places of Vrndavana.
Even though I have done extensive research for this edition, new shrines of importance continue to be discovered along with their relevant histories. It is my intention to continue researching Vrndavana's holy places for the benefit of all the devotees of Lord Sri Krishna who relish visiting Vrndavana dhama, and going on pilgrimage to all the sacred places connected to the transcendental pastimes of the Lord.
Introduction | 1 |
The Glories of Vrndavana Dhama | 2 |
The History of Vrndavana Dhama | 4 |
The Lord Descends to Earth | 6 |
The Discovery of Vrndavana by Lord Chaitanya | 8 |
The Six Gosvamis of Vrndavana | 10 |
The Six Gosvami's Chronology | 10 |
Srila Prabhupada Reveals Vrndavana to the World | 12 |
Srila Prabhupada's Chronology | 13 |
The Sacred River Yamuna | 15 |
List of Riverside Ghatas | 17 |
Vrndavana Parikrama | 20 |
Ten Offences to be Avoided in the Holy Dhama | 21 |
Sacred Places of Interest | 22 |
Krishna Brahma Mandir | 26 |
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Samadhi | 34 |
Bhaktivedanta Swami International Gurukula | 36 |
Bhaktivedanta Swami Mueseum | 36 |
Bhaktivedanta Swami Gate | 36 |
Vrndavana Research Institute | 37 |
Krishna Balarana Pastime Tree | 37 |
Varaha Ghata | 37 |
Gautam Rsi Ashram | 37 |
Cowherd Boy's Trail | 37 |
Mohana Ter Ghata | 37 |
Bhaktivedanta Swami Go-sala | 40 |
Go Ghata | 40 |
Kaliya Ghata | 40 |
Prabhodanda Sarasvati Samadhi | 41 |
Kaliya-Mordan Temple | 42 |
Prashkandana Ghata | 42 |
Suraj Ghata | 42 |
Advaita Vata | 42 |
Dvadasaditya Teela | 42 |
Madana-mohana Temple | 43 |
Sanatana Gosvami Bhajana Kutira | 47 |
Sanatana Gosvami Samadhi | 47 |
Tapan Misra and Condrasekhara Pushpa Samadhi | 50 |
Grantha Samadhi | 50 |
New Modana-Mohana Temple | 50 |
Asta Sakhi Temple | 52 |
Davanala Kunda | 52 |
Davanala Bihari Temple | 53 |
Vishram Kunda | 53 |
Jaipur Temple | 53 |
Banke-bihari Temple | 54 |
Narasimhadeva Temple | 54 |
Radha Vallabha Temple | 54 |
Bhattaji Mandir | 54 |
Jugal Ghata | 56 |
Seva Kunja | 56 |
Pumamasi Temple | 61 |
Sita-natha Temple | 61 |
Imli Tala | 62 |
Radha Damodara Temple | 63 |
Jiva Gosvami Samadhi | 66 |
Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami Smadhi | 68 |
Srila Bhaktisddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Puspa Samadhi | 69 |
King Birhambir Puspa Samadhi | 70 |
Rupa Gosvami Bhajana Kutira | 70 |
Rupa Gosvami Samadhi | 71 |
Bhugarbhu Gosvami Samadhi | 75 |
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Bhajana Kutira | 77 |
Sringara Vata | 80 |
Govinda Ghata | 80 |
Jaru Mandala | 81 |
Andha Ghata | 81 |
Syamananda Pandita Samadhi | 81 |
Syamananda Tilak Sthana | 83 |
Radha Syamasundara Temple | 83 |
Ban-Khandi Mahadeva Temple | 86 |
Murari Gupta Gaura Nitai Temple | 86 |
Mirabhai Temple | 87 |
Shahji Temple | 87 |
Sriji Temple | 88 |
Nidhwana | 88 |
Chir Ghata | 88 |
Sad-bhuj Mahaprabhu Temple (Gopala Mandir) | 91 |
Radharamana Temple | 91 |
Radharamana Appearance Place | 93 |
Gopala Bhatta Gosvami Samadhi | 93 |
Radha Gokulananda Temple | 95 |
Lokanatha Gosvami Samadhi | 95 |
Narattama Dasa Thakura Samadhi | 99 |
Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura Samadhi | 100 |
Ganganarayana Cakravarti Samadhi | 102 |
Vamsi-gopala Temple | 103 |
Gadadhara Pandita Dant Samadhi | 103 |
Jugal Kisore Temple | 104 |
Kesi Ghata | 105 |
Bhramar Ghata | 108 |
Radha Gopinatha Temple | 108 |
Madhu Pandita Samadhi | 110 |
Sona-gauranga Temple | 110 |
Bilvamangala Thakura Samadhi | 111 |
Amiya-nimai Mahaprabhu Mandira | 111 |
Jula Thakura ( Srinivasa Acarya Kunja) | 111 |
Srinivasa Acarya Samadhi | 111 |
Ramacandra Kaviraja Samadhi | 113 |
Hemlata Thakurani Samadhi | 113 |
Radha-kanta Temple | 114 |
Gopala Guru Samadhi | 114 |
Radha Syamaraya Temple | 115 |
Gauridasa Pandita Samadhi | 115 |
Dhira Samira Ghata | 116 |
Gopisvara Mahadeva Temple | 116 |
Radha Gopala Temple | 117 |
Vamsi Vata | 117 |
Tekari Rani Temple | 118 |
Jagannatha Ghata | 118 |
Jnana Gudri | 119 |
Radha Braja-mahana Temple | 120 |
Mirror Mandira | 120 |
Lal Babu Temple | 120 |
Brahma Kunda | 121 |
Rangaji Temple | 122 |
Govindaji Temple | 128 |
Yogapitha | 132 |
New Govindaji Temple | 132 |
64 Samadhis | 134 |
Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami Samadhi | 134 |
Kasisvara Pandita Samadhi | 135 |
Subuddhi Raya Samadhi | 136 |
Katyayani Devi Temple | 136 |
Govinda Kunda | 137 |
Pani Ghata | 137 |
Adi-badri Ghata | 137 |
Raj Ghata | 138 |
Chaitanya Visram Sthali | 138 |
Batharan-bihari Temple | 139 |
Akura Ghata | 141 |
Chronology Of Important Events In The Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya | 144 |
Glossary | 146 |
Bibliography | 148 |
Index 149 | |
Map Of Temple Compounds | 151 |
Complete Map Of Vrndavana | 153 |
The ancient Vedic scriptures inform us that the beautiful land of Vrndavana is non-different from the spititual world. Elsewhere in the Vedas Lord Sri Krishna has also declared that He never leaves Vrndavana and is eternally present there in His transcendental spiritual form. Therefore to reside in Vrndavana is exactly the same as residing within the spiritual world, and thereby directly associating with the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna.
It was certainly my great fortune that when I first came to India from London in January 1975, my first destination was the holy city of Vrndavana, about which I had heard so much since joining the Hare Krishna movement in 1972. Little did I realize at that time, that I would be spending the next twenty five years of my life travelling and teaching Krishna consciousness throughout the Indian sub-continent.
It is only by the divine grace of our beloved spiritual master Srila Prabhupada, that it has been possible to appreciate the transcendental beauty of Vrndavana. I have also found that by his mercy, this appreciation simply goes on increasing day by day, year after year.
It had been my desire for some time to write a comprehensive guide to Vrndavana for the benefit of the thousands of pilgrims, especially from the west, who now flock in large numbers to this most sacred of holy places. While I was rendering service at Srila Prabhupada's rooms at Vrndavana's historic Radha Damodar a temple, many visitors who came there asked directions to various holy shrines around Vr ndavana. It was then that I decided to prepare this guide book along with an accurate map, to enable them to easily locate the most important places of Vrndavana.
Even though I have done extensive research for this edition, new shrines of importance continue to be discovered along with their relevant histories. It is my intention to continue researching Vrndavana's holy places for the benefit of all the devotees of Lord Sri Krishna who relish visiting Vrndavana dhama, and going on pilgrimage to all the sacred places connected to the transcendental pastimes of the Lord.
Introduction | 1 |
The Glories of Vrndavana Dhama | 2 |
The History of Vrndavana Dhama | 4 |
The Lord Descends to Earth | 6 |
The Discovery of Vrndavana by Lord Chaitanya | 8 |
The Six Gosvamis of Vrndavana | 10 |
The Six Gosvami's Chronology | 10 |
Srila Prabhupada Reveals Vrndavana to the World | 12 |
Srila Prabhupada's Chronology | 13 |
The Sacred River Yamuna | 15 |
List of Riverside Ghatas | 17 |
Vrndavana Parikrama | 20 |
Ten Offences to be Avoided in the Holy Dhama | 21 |
Sacred Places of Interest | 22 |
Krishna Brahma Mandir | 26 |
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Samadhi | 34 |
Bhaktivedanta Swami International Gurukula | 36 |
Bhaktivedanta Swami Mueseum | 36 |
Bhaktivedanta Swami Gate | 36 |
Vrndavana Research Institute | 37 |
Krishna Balarana Pastime Tree | 37 |
Varaha Ghata | 37 |
Gautam Rsi Ashram | 37 |
Cowherd Boy's Trail | 37 |
Mohana Ter Ghata | 37 |
Bhaktivedanta Swami Go-sala | 40 |
Go Ghata | 40 |
Kaliya Ghata | 40 |
Prabhodanda Sarasvati Samadhi | 41 |
Kaliya-Mordan Temple | 42 |
Prashkandana Ghata | 42 |
Suraj Ghata | 42 |
Advaita Vata | 42 |
Dvadasaditya Teela | 42 |
Madana-mohana Temple | 43 |
Sanatana Gosvami Bhajana Kutira | 47 |
Sanatana Gosvami Samadhi | 47 |
Tapan Misra and Condrasekhara Pushpa Samadhi | 50 |
Grantha Samadhi | 50 |
New Modana-Mohana Temple | 50 |
Asta Sakhi Temple | 52 |
Davanala Kunda | 52 |
Davanala Bihari Temple | 53 |
Vishram Kunda | 53 |
Jaipur Temple | 53 |
Banke-bihari Temple | 54 |
Narasimhadeva Temple | 54 |
Radha Vallabha Temple | 54 |
Bhattaji Mandir | 54 |
Jugal Ghata | 56 |
Seva Kunja | 56 |
Pumamasi Temple | 61 |
Sita-natha Temple | 61 |
Imli Tala | 62 |
Radha Damodara Temple | 63 |
Jiva Gosvami Samadhi | 66 |
Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami Smadhi | 68 |
Srila Bhaktisddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Puspa Samadhi | 69 |
King Birhambir Puspa Samadhi | 70 |
Rupa Gosvami Bhajana Kutira | 70 |
Rupa Gosvami Samadhi | 71 |
Bhugarbhu Gosvami Samadhi | 75 |
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Bhajana Kutira | 77 |
Sringara Vata | 80 |
Govinda Ghata | 80 |
Jaru Mandala | 81 |
Andha Ghata | 81 |
Syamananda Pandita Samadhi | 81 |
Syamananda Tilak Sthana | 83 |
Radha Syamasundara Temple | 83 |
Ban-Khandi Mahadeva Temple | 86 |
Murari Gupta Gaura Nitai Temple | 86 |
Mirabhai Temple | 87 |
Shahji Temple | 87 |
Sriji Temple | 88 |
Nidhwana | 88 |
Chir Ghata | 88 |
Sad-bhuj Mahaprabhu Temple (Gopala Mandir) | 91 |
Radharamana Temple | 91 |
Radharamana Appearance Place | 93 |
Gopala Bhatta Gosvami Samadhi | 93 |
Radha Gokulananda Temple | 95 |
Lokanatha Gosvami Samadhi | 95 |
Narattama Dasa Thakura Samadhi | 99 |
Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura Samadhi | 100 |
Ganganarayana Cakravarti Samadhi | 102 |
Vamsi-gopala Temple | 103 |
Gadadhara Pandita Dant Samadhi | 103 |
Jugal Kisore Temple | 104 |
Kesi Ghata | 105 |
Bhramar Ghata | 108 |
Radha Gopinatha Temple | 108 |
Madhu Pandita Samadhi | 110 |
Sona-gauranga Temple | 110 |
Bilvamangala Thakura Samadhi | 111 |
Amiya-nimai Mahaprabhu Mandira | 111 |
Jula Thakura ( Srinivasa Acarya Kunja) | 111 |
Srinivasa Acarya Samadhi | 111 |
Ramacandra Kaviraja Samadhi | 113 |
Hemlata Thakurani Samadhi | 113 |
Radha-kanta Temple | 114 |
Gopala Guru Samadhi | 114 |
Radha Syamaraya Temple | 115 |
Gauridasa Pandita Samadhi | 115 |
Dhira Samira Ghata | 116 |
Gopisvara Mahadeva Temple | 116 |
Radha Gopala Temple | 117 |
Vamsi Vata | 117 |
Tekari Rani Temple | 118 |
Jagannatha Ghata | 118 |
Jnana Gudri | 119 |
Radha Braja-mahana Temple | 120 |
Mirror Mandira | 120 |
Lal Babu Temple | 120 |
Brahma Kunda | 121 |
Rangaji Temple | 122 |
Govindaji Temple | 128 |
Yogapitha | 132 |
New Govindaji Temple | 132 |
64 Samadhis | 134 |
Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami Samadhi | 134 |
Kasisvara Pandita Samadhi | 135 |
Subuddhi Raya Samadhi | 136 |
Katyayani Devi Temple | 136 |
Govinda Kunda | 137 |
Pani Ghata | 137 |
Adi-badri Ghata | 137 |
Raj Ghata | 138 |
Chaitanya Visram Sthali | 138 |
Batharan-bihari Temple | 139 |
Akura Ghata | 141 |
Chronology Of Important Events In The Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya | 144 |
Glossary | 146 |
Bibliography | 148 |
Index 149 | |
Map Of Temple Compounds | 151 |
Complete Map Of Vrndavana | 153 |