History, Importance, Timings, Festival Celebration, Architecture, Interesting Facts and Travel Guide of Radha Raman Mandir, Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
Radha Raman Mandir, one of the most popular shrine of Vrindavan is dedicated to Lord Krishna as Radha Ramana which litterlly means that Lord Krishna who gives pleasure to Radharani. 500 years old temple was established by Shri Gopal Bhatta Goswami who is one of the six Goswamis of Vrindavan who followed the principles of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Radha Raman Mandir is one of the most important sevan Devalayas or seven temples of Thakur of Vrindavan, the other six are Radh Madan Mohan Temple, Radha Govindadev Temple, Radha Gopinath Temple, Radha Golukanand Temple, Radha Damodar Temple and Radha Shyam Sundar Temple. The extra orndinary beautiful idol of Radha Raman placed in temple premise is self-manifested from a saligram sila and has a mystic smile on the face. It is said that once you look at the idol, you will just forgot everything and immidietly feel the eternal peace. Radha Raman temple is one of the most finely crafted and revered Hindu temples of Vrindavan where millions of devotee visits through out the year and mainly during festival like Holi, Janmashtami and Diwali.
Interesting history of appearance of Shri Radha Raman and Shri Gopal Bhatt Goswami, the Founding Acharya of the Radharaman Temple Lineage
Shri Gopal Bhatt Goswami was born in Vaishnava Family in Sri Rangam in year of 1503 and son of Shri Venkatta Bhatt. From the early age Shri Gopal Bhatt Goswami was spiritually inclined same like his father. Once, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at his home at Sri Rangam during pilgrimage visit of South India. Shri Gopal Bhatt dedicated himself completely to Mahaprabhu’s service and caring for his each need. Also carefully listen the teachings which was full of love for Krishn from the Mahaprabhuji. From that time Mahaprabhuji had identified the capability and personality of Shri Gopal Bhatt and told his father Shru Venkat Bhatt that Gopal is not normal human being. He is an incarnation of a gopi, a personal associate of Radha and Krishn. Over the period, he willl help millions of afflicted souls in their spiritual jorney. Then Venkat Bhatt had put donw his son in the lotus feet of Mahaprabhuji. Then Gopal Bhatt travelled to the holy city of Vrindavan on foot and started living with the saints Roop and Sanatan Goswami. They had rediscovered the hidden places of Radha and Krishna’s pastimes and wrote the devotional texts, such as Hari Bhakti Vilas, Tattva, Paramatma, Bhagavat, Krishn, Bhakti, Priti Sandarbhas, Krishn Vallabh’s commentary on Krishn Karnamrit, which now define Gaudiya Vaishnav philosophy.
One night, Mahaprabhuji came in dream of Shri Roop and Sanatan before he left for his eternal abode, he told them, “Roop and Sanatan are my personal associates and they should serve Govind Dev and Madan-Mohan. Shri Gopal Bhatt should preach the path of Bhakti and go to Gandaki River in Nepal, where he will receive twelve shaligram shilas. Of these shilas, I will always reside in the Damodar shaligram shila. He shall worship me by worshipping that shila which later became the beautiful form of Shri Radharaman. My wooden seat, which I have given to Gopal Bhatt, is the throne upon which he will sit as the next guru of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, and preach devotion for Radha and Krishn. This seat is symbolic of my authority, and will be handed down from generation to generation of Goswamis who are eligible to become gurus within the lineage.
As per the instruction of Mahaprabhuji, Gopal Bhatt Goswami went to the Gandaki River in Nepal on foot, where Mahaprabhuji would appear again in a new form. Gopal Bhatt had searched for Mahaprabhu, everywhere, but Gopal Bhatt was unable to find him. Then Gopal Bhatt fasted and prayed till he fell down unconscious. He regained consciousness with blessing of water of Gandaki river, and placed his cupped palms in the river to collect water to make an offering to the sun. Much to his surprise, the water he collected in his palms contained a Damodar shila. Then After receiving eleven more shaligram shilas by the blessings of the Lord, Gopal Bhatt returned to Vrindavan with full of joy and devotion.
After some time, on the Purnima day, in the evening after offering naivedhya to his Shaligrama shilas, Gopala Bhatta put them to rest covering them with a wicker basket. Late in the night, Gopala Bhatta took a little rest but yet awating for the idol form of Shaligram Shila. In the early morning he went to take bath in the Yamuna River. Returning from his bath, he uncovered the Shaligramas in order to render puja, and saw amongst them a Deity of Krishna playing the flute. There were now only eleven shilas and a Deity. The “Damodara shila” had manifested as the beautiful three-fold bending form of tri-bhangananda-krishna. In this way Radha Raman emerged in a perfectly shaped deity form from a sacred shaligrama shila. Devotees consider this image to be alive and that he grants a chosen family the privilege of assisting him in his daily schedule. The fires for cooking in the temple kitchen have been burning continuously since the Deity was installed over 460 years ago and the cooking still follows cookbooks from that time.
The deity was placed on the full moon day in the month of Vaishaka in the year 1542. This event is celebrated every year by bathing the deity with milk and various other items. Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s other shalagram-shilas are also worshiped in the temple.
As per the guidance of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhuji, Shri Gopal Bhatt sat on the wooden seat and honoured with the title of Goswami, and the lineage of acharyas established by him use Goswami as their surname. Gopal Bhatt chose his disciple Damodar Das Goswami as his successor, and by his blessings, Damodar Das Goswami and his descendants would serve the deity of Shri Radharaman, guiding devotees as scholars and spiritual teachers for all generations. Over the last 500 years until the present day, the Goswamis of the Shri Radharaman Temple have been following Mahaprabhu’s order and Gopal Bhatt Goswami’s instructions, dedicating their lives for the purpose of preaching devotion in the world and worshipping Shri Radharaman.
This is how, Radha Raman Temple holds high importance in Vaishnav of all across the world and mainly in Gaudiya Vaishnavism devotees.
The best time to visit Banke Radha Raman Mandir is between October and March when weather is pleasant and during festival like Holi, Janmashtami, Ram Navami, Chandan Yatra, Jhulan Yatra etc. which are celebrated with great zeal.
Darshan and Aarti timing of Radha Raman Temple is as below.
During Winter season, Mangala Aarti time is 5.30 AM
During Sumer season, Mangala Aarti time is 4 AM
Mllions of devotee across the world visits Vrindavan across the year, thus to facilitate them lots of Ashram, Dharmshala, Hotels, Guest House, Yatri Bhavan, Restaurants are built. Also you can easily find the public and private transport, auto rickshaw for the local sightseen and visit nearby Yatradham like Mathura, Barsana, Gokul, Jatipura, Govardhan Hill, Nandgaon etc.
How to Reach Radha Raman Mandir, Vrindavan, The Abode of Lord Krishna, Uttar Pradesh, India
Bankey Bihari Mandir is one the most popular pilgrimage site of Vrindavan where thousands of devotee and tourist reaches here around the year. Vrindavan being one of the major pilgrimage center and tourist destination, of Uttar Pradesh where people across the world visits around the year. It is very well connected with all major cities of India via road, rail and air network. Mathura has major railway junction just at 14 km from Vrindavan from where you can get train to almost all region of India. Agra Airport and Delhi Airport are the nearest airport at distance of 69 and 140 respectively from Vrindavan. From where you can get flight to all major cities of India and across the globe. You can find private taxi and public transport as well from both airport to reach to Vrindavan. Vrindavan is located at just 14 km from Mathura, 26 km from Gokul, 42 km from Barsana, 30 km from Jatipura, 23 km from Govardhanhill, 70 km from Agra, 180 km from Delhi. You can get direct buses from Mathura, Agra, Delhi etc. to reach Vrindavan.
