Prem Mandir

The story

Prem Mandir is a new temple, but it carries the old devotion of Braj. Its founder, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu ji Maharaj, was a saint and teacher of bhakti whose main ashram was in Vrindavan. He laid the foundation stone on 14 January 2001 before a large gathering of devotees. About a thousand artisans worked for nearly twelve years to carve it. It was inaugurated in a three-day celebration from 15 to 17 February 2012 and opened to everyone on 17 February. The temple is about 125 feet high. Its outer walls show Krishna's leelas of Mathura and Dwarka in order: the freeing of Devaki and Vasudev from prison, Krishna and Balaram's studies at Sandipani muni's ashram, the washing of Sudama's feet, the meeting with the gopis again at Kurukshetra and, at the end, the last teaching to Uddhav. Next to the temple is a large pillar-less satsang hall where about 25,000 people can sit together. Here devotees experience the love of Radha Krishna through story, art and kirtan, all in one place.