RADHA DAMODAR TEMPLE
This is one of the most important of the ‘Seven Goswami Temples’ and was established by Srila jiva Goswami, who was both the nephew and the disciple of Srila Rupa Goswami. The original deity of Radha Damodara was personally hand carved by Rupa Goswami and given to Jiva as a gift. This deity is now being worshiped in jaipur, where all the deities of the Gaudiya Goswamis were taken for safety due to the fear they would be desecrated by nija-nikata-nivasam dehi govardhana tvam 45 the tyrant Aurangzeb’s soldiers. The replica deity known as the pratibhu-murti, which has exactly the same potency as the original, is presently being worshiped here at the Radha Damodara Mandira. (Ref VMP) The contemporary Gosvämés and devotees assembled here for iñöagoñöhés and, in those gatherings of Vaiñëavas, Çré Raghunätha Bhaööa would elucidate on Çrémad-Bhägavatam in his melodious voice. Çré Rüpa Gosvämé compiled Çré Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu, Ujjvala-nélamaëi and other sacred texts on bhakti at this place.(Ref VMP). Between the two buildings and just next to the parikrama path is a well that represents the one commissioned by Rupa Gosvami and used to serve Radha-Damodara until Srila Prabhupada’s time.(Ref NVM)
RADHA GOKULANANDA TEMPLE
This temple was established by Lokanatha Goswami, who in the later years of his life performed bhajana at this place. Although he was not one of the Six Goswamis, he was one of the renowned Gaudiya Goswamis and his temple is included amongst the famous ‘Seven Goswami Temples’. Lokanatha is often referred to as being the ‘Seventh Goswami’ of Vrindavana.
Although the temple he founded was known as Radha Gokulananda, he himself worshiped the deity named Shri Shri Radha Vinoda, which he discovered in Kishori-kunda at Umraya.
This temple is on the banks of radhakunda near Mother Jahnav‖s sitting place. These Radha-Gopinatha deities were installed after jahnava-devi had received darshan of Gopinatha standing under a tamal tree on the bank of Radha-Kunda.
The deity of Lord Gopinatha was originally established by Vajranabha Maharaja at Vamsi Vata five thousand years earlier. Then during the period of the Six Goswamis the deity of Lord Gopinatha was rediscovered at Vamsi Vata lying buried in the ground near the famous banyan tree. Madhu Pandita Goswami came to Vrindavana and was searching everywhere for the deity of Lord Gopinatha. Not finding the deity anywhere, and feeling great sorrow, Madhu Pandita gave up eating food and sat at Vamsi Vata while shedding a constant stream of tears. As it was the monsoon season there was a great flood in Vrindavana and the River Yamuna overflowed her banks. The force of the flood waters apparently swept away the old banyan tree that stood at Vamsi Vata and when the flood waters receded, the deity was seen halfburied in the ground by Madhu Pandita’s close friend and companion named Paramananda Bhattacharya, just beneath where the old banyan tree had once stood. Paramananda immediately called his friend Madhu Pandita who retrieved the deity. The deity was then moved to the spot where the present Gopinatha temple now stands
RADHA GOPINATH TEMPLE
RADHA SHYAMSUNDAR TEMPLE
RADHA RAMAN TEMPLE
Significance of worshiping Shalagrama-shila: This is one of the ‘Seven Goswarni Temples’ and was established by Gopala Bhatta Goswami, one of the famous Six Goswamis of Vrindavana. The deity of Radharamana suddenly self-manifested one day from a shalagrama-shila just for the pleasure of Gopala Bhatta. All shalagrama-shilas are considered to be a natural manifestation of Lord Vishnu and are therefore immediately worshipable and do not need to be installed. The shalagrama-shila is a sacred black stone that is worshiped specifically by brahmanas and must be worshiped in all Vedic sacrifices as the yajna-pati, or principle enjoyer of the sacrifice. The shalagram-shila is also an essential part of deity worship being the principle recipient of the seva-puja, and no worship is considered complete without the shaligrama-shila being worshiped as the seva-pati
Temple construction: Radha Ramana is only a short walk, on route to Kesi Ghat. We enter the temple compound through an archway leading in from the street. The new temple building for Radha Ramana was completed in 1826 by Shah Kundan Lal, the same architect who built Shahji Temple.
Temple Architecture: Two-story buildings enclose the first courtyard, shutting out direct sunlight. We enter a second courtyard and behold the Radha Ramana Temple wedged in between a couple of buildings. The facade is built of light brown sandstone, and the main archway is decorated with spiraling lotus designs.
RADHA GOVINDADEVA TEMPLE
While reading the following description of the beauty of Radha-Govinda’s Yoga-pitha, one should not forget the goal of completely dedicating himself to the loving service of the lotus feet of Sri Guru, Sri Gauranga and Sri-Sri Radha-Govinda. Actually, the Yoga-pitha means service; for the service attitude permeates everything there. The ground, the trees, the flowers, the vines, the fruits, the deer, the birds, the jewel-cottages, the wind, the Yamuna, the manjaris, the gopis and Sri Radhika everything and everyone within the Yoga-pitha exists only for the service and pleasure of Sri Govinda.
Madanmohan means Krishna who is so indescribably beautiful that He even attracts Cupid, Kamadeva. Sanatana Goswami is the sambandha acarya who gives us knowledge of our proper relationship with Krishna, And his Deity, Madanmohan, helps us overcome our attraction for material sense gratification (Cupid) and fix our minds on devotional service.
