Nandagam Temples. Mathura.

1. Nandha Bhavan:
   
   
   
   
   Nandha Bhavan is about 50kms from Gokulam. This is the place where Krishna spent his childhood days from fifth year onwards, when Nandhagopar shifted to Nandhagam from Gokulam.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Here on the top of a hillock there is a temple. In the sanctum we see Nandhagopar, Yasodha Matha, Balaraman, Krishna, and his friends.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Few Paintings of inner hall sanctum.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   We see beautiful paintings, to main hall roof, related to Krishna’s Bala Leela here.
   
   
   
   They do parikrama here in Nandhagam. We did not do that. From top of the building we can have darshan of all the places in Nandhagam. Places we can see from here, Krishna Kund, Akrura gaman, Soorya Kund, and Yasodha Kund.
   
   
   
   
2. Barsana :
   
   
   
   
   The place Barsana is about 10 kms from Nandhagam, also known as Bruhathsanu. Radha was born in Raval, to Sri. Vrushabanu.Barsana is the place where Radha lived.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Srijee mandir :
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Krishna’s great grand son Vajranabhan installed Thayar. We see Radha Krishna idol here in the sanctum.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   The picture is from the back of temple.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   This is the painting of Srijee mandir inner main hall entrance.
   
   
   
   
   The roof of the hall is beautifully painted relating to Lord Krishna’s leela. Here photography is not allowed.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Jaipur palace temple:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   The construction of the temple is in Rajasthan style. In the main sanctum, we see Radha Krishna.
   
   
   
   
5. Moorekuteer:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   This is the place where Lord Krishna used to dress up like peacock and enjoy with Gopikas.

Gokulam Temples. Mathura.

1. Gokulam:
   
   
   
   The place Gokulam is in Mahavanam.
   
   
   
   Gokulam is also known as Thiruvaipaadi which is one of 108 Divya Desa kshetram.
   
   Govardhan, Nandagramam, Brundvanam and Kamyavanm belong to Divya Desam
   
   
   
   Lord Krishna was brought to this place Gokulam by Vasudevar on the day he was born. He was guided by Lord to leave him in Gokulam, near Yasodha at Nandagopar’s house, who gave birth to a female child on that day. It is believed the female child is Maya sakthi. Vasudevar took the female child and went back to jail.
   
   
   
   It is believed Lord Krishna stayed here in this place from that day until he was five. King Kamsa attempted to kill the child many a time so, Nandagopar shifted to Nandagam with Lord Krishna.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   We see the arch of oldNandabhavan.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Here there is a sanctum where we see Nandgopar, Balaram, Yasodha, Yoga Maya (Durgai), and
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Bala Krishna is seen in crawling posture.Since the hall is a small, they allow few members in a batch. Everyone is supposed to crawl and reach the sanctum.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   In front of these main deities, there is a cradle to which a rope is tied, and Lord Krishna is seen in it. They ask us to swing the cradle.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   As we come out from the sanctum nearby, we see Poothana sculpture with Lord Krishna to her breast, relating to Poothana vadam by Lord Krishna. She attained Moksha.
   
   
   
2. Ramanreti:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   This is the place where Lord Krishna as a child, played and enjoyed his childhood days upto five years.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Here we were asked to roll on the ground, which is the holy place where Lord Krishna rolled on the ground and played.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   There is a Radha Krishna sanctum seen with a huge hall.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Inside the Hall there is a sanctum for Hanuman.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Main sanctum is Radha Krishna.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   There is a small sanctum for Lord Siva and Nandi.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   In the sanctum of “Lord Siva” we see idols of Lord Ganesha, Lakshmi and Brahma.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   There is a separate sanctum for Navagraha is seen.
   
   
   
   
3. Brahamanda Ghat:
   
   
   
   This place is about a kilometer distance from Nandabhavan.
   
   
   
   River Yamuna is flowing nearby.
   
   
   This is the place where Lord Krishna was asked to open his mouth by Yasodha Matha, and she saw the complete universe there.
   
   
   
   Inside we see Lord Krishna’s idol in a small mandap, and few Saligrama also.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   There is a small sanctum for Yamuna Matha here on the banks
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Another small sanctum of Lord Krishna and Balaram.
   
   
   
   
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4. Ukal Bandhanam :
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Here we see the stone roll to which Krishna was tied with rope, by Yasodha Matha.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Near by there is the piece of Arjuna Vruksham.Nalakuparan and Manikreevan are sons of Kuberan who are in the form of Arjuna Vruksham due to curse.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Here we see wall pictures related to the story of Lord Krishna.
   
   

Mathura.

1. Mathura:
   
   
   
   Mathura is one of 108 Divya Desam place. Here we do not find any old temple or deity of those olden days. This is the place where Lord Krishna spent his childhood life. We visited this place on sarad Poornima day.(full-moon day.
   
   I would like to share about some of the places which we visited. We were not allowed to take camera.
   
   
   
2. Pothra Kund:
   
   
   This is a pond close to Janma Bhoomi. Vasudevar and Devaki used this pond for washing their clothes when they were in prison.
   
   
   
3. Kesavji Mandir:
   
   
   Kesavji Mandir is one of the old temples in Mathura, near Janmasthan.
   
   
   
   
4. Sri Krishna Janma Bhoomi:
   
   
   This prison is the place where Lord Krishna was born for Sri Vasudevar and Yasodha Matha. There is a temple built later dates. Inside we see Lord Krishna. There is a photograph of Lord Krishna here, which looks very much alive. The whole place is under security. There is a big hall in which we see huge sculptures of Lord Krishna and Radha.
   
   
   There are small sanctums for Durga, Navagraha etc. As we go around inside from a window we see huge wall of a mosque near to the temple. Here they point to a place and say that was supposed to be original place of jail.
   
   
   
   
5. Adi Varaha Swamy Temple:
   
   
   
   The place Mathura was known as Adi Varaha Kshetram. In Krutha Yugam Kapila muni gave this idol of Adi Varaha perumal to Lord Indra. Later Sathrugna brought this idol of Varaha perumal from Ayodha and installed it, in Mathura.
   Swetha Varaha Perumal:
   
   
   Here Varaha perumal is seen in white marble stone and known as Swetha Varaha perumal.
   
   
   
6. Samyamana Ghat:
   
   
   This ghat is on the bank of River yamuna. This is the ghat from where Vasudevar shifted Lord Krishna to Brindavanam.
   
   
   
7. Visram Ghat:
   
   
   This is the ghat where Lord Krishna had bath after Kamsa vadham and took rest.

Temples of Brindavan, Mathura.

1. Brindavan:
   
   
   There are many temples in Brindavan. We were able to visit only few important temples. Here main deity is Radha Krishna in all temples. Some places Lord Krishna is known by different name other than Krishna.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Purana Kaliya Ghat:This is the place where Lord Krishna took control of Kaliyan (poisonous snake) which was troubling living being around.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   There is a small sanctum we see here for kaliya and Krishna.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   There is the tree known as Kadamba Vrukshamin this place. They say Krishna jumped on the head of Kaliya from this tree.
   
   
   
   
   We see a small pond with Kaliya idol with Lord Krishna on its head.









3. Bankay Bihari Mandir:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   








4. Imlithala:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   The place is popularly known as “Siddha peet ImliThala”
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Main Deity here is Sree Radha and Krishna.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   There is a Tamarind tree here in this place. We see a board which says the tree is 5500 years old. Lord Krishna sat under the tree alone and used to think of Radha, and used to repeat her name as japa. Hence the place is popularly known as “Siddha peet ImliThala”








5. Seva kunj:
   
   
   
   This is the place where Lord Krishna used to play with Gopika’s in the evenings. They believe Lord Krishna comes here in the evening daily. They do not allow anyone in the evening.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Here we see Krishna Chitanya mission Ashram and a mandir for Lord Krishna and Radha.









6. Radha Ramana Mandir:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Deity in this temple is Swayambu Radha Ramanar.








7. Vamsivatam
   
   
   
   On full moon-day Lord Krishna played his flute and enjoyed with Gopika’s. This is one of the places of Krishna Rasaleela.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   This is the main entrance of the place.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   We see a big tree and a small sanctum in which Radha Krishna is seen.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Near the tree we see a small sanctum in which, padam is seen with gurus sitting around.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   We see a small sanctum for Vyasar. Sukar is seen worshiping him.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   There is a small sanctum seen for Atri muni.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   We seeGopeshwar,in separate to another corner.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Padha darshan of Sree Lalitha, Sree Visaka, Sree Chitra, Sree Indurekha, Sree Champakalatha, Sree Rangadevi, SreeThunga Vidya, and Sree Sudevi is seen in front, opposite to main deity under the tree as we go around.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   There is a separate sanctum forLord Hanuman.








8. Sri Rangaji Mandir
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Sri Rangaji temple of south Indian tradition was built by Sri Govardhan Rangachariyar of Kancheepuram, in the year 1845-1851.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Main Deity is Rangamannar and Andal. We see Garudazwar also, to a side in the main sanctum.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   There is separate sanctum for Venkatachalapathy and Azwars.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   As we enter in we see 16 pillar mandapam.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   We see a pushkarani near the mandapam.