Radha Madan Mohan Temple, Vrindavan

The Radha Madan Mohan Temple, also known as the Madan Mohan Temple, is a historically significant Hindu temple located in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India. Dating back to the 16th century, it is recognized as one of the oldest and most revered temples in the holy city of Vrindavan.

History and Construction

Popular folklore attributes the temple's origin to approximately 5,000 years ago, with its initial construction credited to Vajranabh, the great-grandson of Lord Krishna. However, historical records indicate that the temple was rebuilt in 1580 AD under the spiritual guidance of Sri Sanatana Goswami, with the support of a trader from Multan named Kapur Ram Das. The temple's original idol of Madan Mohan was cherished by saint Mira Bai during her stay in Vrindavan.

During the invasion by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1670 AD, the original idol of Madan Mohan was secretly transported to Jaipur by King Jai Singh of Jaipur overnight to protect it from the impending attack on Vrindavan and Mathura temples. Subsequently, the deities were moved to Karauli by King Gopal Singh. The original deities of the Radha Madan Mohan Temple are presently enshrined in the Madan Mohan temple in Karauli, Rajasthan.

In 1748 AD, a replica of the original Madan Mohan deity was established in the Vrindavan temple. Later, in 1819 AD, the temple was rebuilt at its current location atop a hill near the Yamuna River by Nanda Kumar Basu, a zamindar from Baharu. The Radha Madan Mohan Temple in Vrindavan today houses this replica of the original deities.

Architecture and Location

The temple is constructed in the Nagara style of architecture, characterized by its ascending tower. It is built in an oval shape using red sandstone and stands at a height of approximately 20 meters (50 feet). Its prominent location on the bank of the Yamuna River, near Kaliya Ghat, adds to its scenic and spiritual importance. The temple is also noted as one of the most popular shrines associated with the Goswamis in Uttar Pradesh.

Worship and Timings

The presiding deity of the temple is Madan Mohan, a form of Lord Krishna, who is positioned on the central altar. He is flanked by his consort, Goddess Radha, and Lalita gopi on either side. The temple observes specific timings for darshan, which vary between winter and summer months. Winter timings are typically from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm in the morning and 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the evening. Summer timings usually extend from 6:00 am to 11:00 am in the morning and 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm in the evening, adhering to the Indian Standard Time (UTC+05:30).