Radha Vallabh Temple

Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh

Devta dhams

About

The Radha Vallabh temple is one of the oldest and most respected temples of Vrindavan. It is the main shrine of the Radha Vallabh Sampradaya, the bhakti tradition started in the 16th century by the saint Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu. Krishna is worshipped here as Shri Radha Vallabh Lal, 'the beloved of Radha'. There is no separate murti of Radha ji. Instead, a crown placed beside Krishna shows her presence, because in this tradition Radha ji is honoured above all. The temple is known for its colourful festivals and stands very close to the Banke Bihari temple.

The story

Tradition says the murti of Radha Vallabh ji was never made by any sculptor. It is believed that Shiv ji gave it to a devotee named Atmadev, pleased by his hard tapasya. When Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu set out for Vrindavan, the story goes that Shri Radha herself told him to marry the daughters of Atmadev and take the murti with him. At the wedding, Atmadev gave the murti to his daughters and to Harivansh ji. In Vrindavan, Harivansh ji placed Radha Vallabh ji on a high spot near the Yamuna, in a simple bower made of creepers; no solid temple was built in his time. Around 1585, Sundardas Bhatnagar of Deoband, a follower of the tradition, built a grand temple of red sandstone. In those days this stone was used mostly for royal buildings and forts, so special royal permission was taken for it. Its walls are about 10 feet thick. This old building, now called Hit Mandir, is a protected monument. Later Shri Radha Vallabh Lal ji was moved to the newer temple just behind it, where his seva goes on today.

Visiting

October to March is pleasant; Holi and Radhashtami are very crowded. The temple is in the lanes of old Vrindavan, so it is easiest to walk. The old red sandstone Hit Mandir stands right beside it. Nearby are the Banke Bihari temple, Nidhivan, the Radha Raman temple and the Radha Damodar temple.

Festivals

Hitotsav: an 11-day festival in memory of Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu
Radhashtami: a grand 9-day festival
Byahula Utsav: the festival of Radha Krishna's wedding
Krishna Janmashtami
Holi, Sharad Purnima, Jhulan Utsav, Phool Bangla and Sanjhi Utsav

Devta dhams

Sources