Temples Around Govardhan Ecovillage
RADHA DAMODAR TEMPLE
RADHA GOKULANANDA TEMPLE
This temple was established by Lokanatha Goswami, who in the later years of his life performed bhajan 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.
RADHA GOPINATH TEMPLE
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 SHYAMSUNDAR TEMPLE
RADHA RAMAN TEMPLE
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.
