History, Timing, Baal Leela of Lord Krishna, Shri Balram Yogmaya Janmasthan, Festival Celebration, Architecture, Interesting Facts and Travel Guide of Chaurasi Khambha Temple or Nand Bhavan, Old Gokul, Mahaban, One of Most Famous Pilgrimage Site of Gokul, Uttar Pradesh, India
Nand Bhawan, also well known as Chaurasi Khambha Temple is one of the most famous pilgrimage attraction of Gokul, at just 16 km from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. This is the home of Nand Baba where Shri Krishna and Balram had spent his childhood time and did lots of attractive pastimes. Lord Krishan had stolen lots hearts with full of love and devotion here in Gokul with his devine activities. As Nand Bhavan is rested on 84 Pillars it is famed as Chaurasi Khambha, one of the most attractive and notable structure of Old Gukul Mahaban. It is believed that Nand Bhavan is the birth place of Lord Balramji and Goddess Yogmaya and also the naming ceremony for Sri Krishna and Balram took place here. Nand Bhavan or Chaurasi Khambha is located on small hill where you have to climb few steps and walk on narrow Gali of Gokul.
The Temple walls are adorned with paintings of Lord Krishna representing various pastimes of childhood. There are exquisite carvings on the stone pillars which serve to enhance their beauty. There is interesting topic to discussed here why temple built up of exactly 84 pillar. As per the holy scripture of Sanatan Dharma, there are 8400000 species of Life in this world or also sometime called 84 Lakh yoni in which the soul has to travel based on Karma. Here, the number 84 signifies the 84,00,000 different kind of life in the material world. Temple premise has huge courtyard and wide open spaces along with huge Gaushala where hundreds of cow are served. In the courtyard of the temple, there is huge banyan tree where devotees tiee up colorful ribbons on its branches for good luck and prosperity. Under the banyan tree, there is a temple of Kali Maa also. In temple you can blessed with the beautiful darshan of Goddess Yogmaya.
There are lots of pastimes of Lord Krishna and Balramji here in Gokul, one of the inetersting event happened when Lord Shiva wanted to see Bal Krishna, the eight incarnation of supreme lord Vishnu and and for this reason went to Gokul. But Yashoda Maiya did not recognize him and refused to show Krishna. Lord Shiva did not want to miss the chance to see the Bal roop of lord and told Yashoda maiya that he would take a Samadhi there if he was not allowed to see Krishna. Once Krishna came to know that Lord Shiva himself reach here at Nand Bhavan so he started crying a lot. Then at last Yashoda mata agree with lord Shiva and brought baal Krishna outside. This is how the milan of Hari and Har happened at Gokul, the meeting of protector and destroyer of world. Just imagine how the seen was while Hari meets Har at Nand Bhavan Gokul.
It is believed that the original Nand Bhawan was built by architect of the Gods Shri Vishwakarma more than 5000 years ago. But it was invaded by Mughal king Aurangzeb during his reign as a part of temple destruction activities across the nation. Then Nand Mahal was re-built later on using the same pillars from the original. Even today you can see the ash on wall and slab of Mahal as it is believed that Yashoda maiya prepare the food and Makhan for Kanha here. The pillars are so smooth and oily like you can fee the Makhan and small hands of Krishna which were touched on pillar.
The pradakshina marg or the circumambulation path of the Chaurasi Khamba temple leads you several important places where Bal Krishna did famous pastimes. The Brahmand Ghat is the place where baby Krishna showed the entire Universe in his mouth to Yashoda Mata. Yamala-Arjuna kunda is the place where Krishna uprooted the two ashoka trees on which he was tied for his mischief. Also there are place where Krishna had killed the demons Putana and Trinavarta.
Several other popular places with similar kind of history and name are located in Gokul (believed as newly developed Gokul) where Lord Krishna was brought up along with his brother Balram. There may be some confusion or difference for the exact site of Nand Bhavan but let’s not get into that other side and complete visit fo as many place with full of devotion towards Lord Krishna, during your visit to Gokul.
The best time to visit Nand Bhavan is between October and March when weather is pleasant and during festival like Holi and Janmashtami which are celebrated with great zeal.
Thousands of devotee across the world visits Gokul across the year, thus to facilitate them there are several 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, Vrindavan, Jatipura, Govardhan Hill, Nandgaon etc.
Gokul, the small town of Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India is the place where Sri Krishna had spent his childhood. Thus, even after more than 5200 years, Gokul is one of the most popular pilgrimage center of India where millions of Devotee visits throughout the year. Gokul is located just at 15 km away from Mathura where Lord Krishna brought up by Yashoda Maiya and Nandbaba. As per the legend, Lord Krishna was born to Devaki and King Vasudev in prison of Mathura when demon king Kans ruled here. Kans was the maternal uncle of Sri Krishna thus to protect child from Kans, Vasudevji took him to Gokul to the house of his friend Nandababa. This is how Nandbaba and his wife Yashoda Maiya became foster parents of Lord Krishna.
It is said that every street of Gokul has been witness the mischief and played of Bal Krishan and his friend which makes city live today even after 5000 years. You can find Krishna temple in every street of Gokul, few most famous one is Nanda Bhavan also called Chaurasi Khamba Temple. It is believed the Lord Krishna spent his childhood in this house thus believed as very holy in follower of Vaishnava Sect. Other important place in Gokul are Raman Reti, the holy sand, which is located at a distance of 2-3 km from Gokul. Where Krishna played in his childhood here thus you can see the devotees playing, running, and lying in this sand. Saint Gyanadas Ji, had revealed the importance of this place in the 18th century and developed it as we can see today.
Brahmand Ghat is another holy place located on bank of River Yamuna and near Reti Raman. Interesting legend is associated with this place, while playing, the child Krishna ate mud. Then Yashoda Mata asked to open his mouth to let the soil come out. But while child Krishna opened up his mouth, all with surprised, Yashoda Maiya had seen the picture of the whole universe, the Brahmand in Hindi, thus this place named Brahmand Ghat. Sri ThakurRani Ghat, Gokulnathiji Temple, Rang Bihari Temple etc. are located here in Gokul.
This is how Braj Bhoomi which mainly includes the Mathura, Vrindavan, Govardhan, Barsana, Gokul, Jatipura and Nandgaon are the places where Lord Shri Krishna, the eight incarnation of Lord Vishnu and most beloved God in India did lots and lots of Lila here. Even after more than 5250 years, here Lord Krishna lives in every person and animal and every life of Braj Bhoomi. Thus in entire region you can see Krishna everywhere which showcase the highly spiritual significant of Lord Krishna here in Braj Bhoomi.
How to Reach Chaurasi Khambha or Nand Bhawan, Old Gokul Mahaban, The Childhood Place of Lord Krishna, Uttar Pradesh, India
Gokul being one of the major pilgrimage cente and tourist destination, of Uttar Pradesh located just 10 km from Mathura 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 10 km from Gokul from where you can get train to almost all region of India. Agra Airport and Delhi Airport are the nearest airport at distance of 65 and 170 respectively from Gokul. 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 Gokul. It is located at just 24 km from Vrindava, 10 km from Mathura, 58 km from Barsana, 35 km from Jatipura, 36 km from Govardhan hill, 53 km from Agra, 187 km from Delhi. You can get direct buses from Agra, Delhi etc. to reach Gokul.
