Place Details:
Located in Vrindavan, the Radha Govindaji Temple lies in the middle of the Yogapitha, considered the meeting point of the Hindu god Krishna and his consort Radha. The original deity here was found in 1535 by Rupa Goswami, but was removed when the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb attempted to destroy it. You can find the deity in a temple of the same name in Jaipur, right outside the City Palace. Surprisingly, the temple itself was built thanks to the patronage of another Mughal Emperor: Akbar. Built by his general and ruler of Amber, Maharaja Man Singh, much of the stone and other material for the temple was donated by Akbar himself. ALSO READ: 10 best places to visit during Janmashtami in India
The temple, once completed, was a grand spectacle. It was seven stories high and had a marble, gold and silver altar, with a massive sculpted lotus flower in the main hall. Aurangzeb, in his infamous raids, destroyed parts of the temple but remained unsuccessfully in removing it entirely. Some say that the gods themselves intervened and prevented its destruction. The temple certainly has a lot of divinity attached to it. It is said that Rupa Goswami was once sitting by the banks of the Yamunar River when a young boy told him of a hole up a hill where a cow poured milk every day. Upon digging up the site, he found the deity and consecrated it for worship. Around 50 years later, the temple as we see it today was built. CHECK OUT: Here’s how Gokulashtami is celebrated in Shri Krishna’s birthplace
This is said to be the first Radharani deity consecrated by the Vrindavan Goswamis in the region. You can find a deity of an eight-armed Yogamaya in the temple, once hidden away for safety from invaders. There is also a stone slab that contains the footprint of Krishna. With its beautiful architecture and divine connections, this temple is not to be missed.
BEST TIME TO VISIT VRINDAVAN
The average minimum and maximum temperature of Vrindavan is as given below. The best time to visit Vrindavan is also specified.