Shri Radha Rani Temple, is a historical

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

temple, located in

Barsana Barsana is a historical town and ''nagar panchayat'' in the Mathura district of the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The town holds cultural and religious significance as the birthplace of Hindu goddess Radha, the chief consort of Krishna. Barsa ...

Mathura district Mathura district () is situated along the banks of the river Yamuna is a district of Uttar Pradesh States and Territories of India, state of north-central India. The historic city of Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, Mathura is the district headquarters. ...

Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. The temple is dedicated to the goddess

Radha Radha (, ), also called Radhika, is a Hindu goddess and the chief consort of the god Krishna. She is the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion, and devotion. In scriptures, Radha is mentioned as the avatar of Lakshmi and also as the Prak� ...

. The main deities of the temple are

Radha Krishna Radha-Krishna (IAST , ) is the combined form of the Hindu god Krishna with his chief consort and ''shakti'' Radha. They are regarded as the feminine as well as the masculine realities of God and gender in Hinduism, God, in several Krishnaism, Kr ...

who are worshiped together in the form of ''Shri Laadli Lal'', which means the beloved daughter and son of the town. The temple is stretched on the top of Bhanugarh hills, which is about 250 meters in height. It attracts huge crowd of devotees and tourists visiting temple from across the world for its most popular festivals -

Radhashtami Radhashtami () is a Hindu religious day commemorating the birth anniversary of the goddess Radha, the chief consort of the god Krishna. It is celebrated in her birthplace Barsana and the entire Braj region on the eighth day ('' ashtami'') of ...

and

Lathmar Holi Lathmar Holi (Holi of sticks) is a Hindu festival celebrated in the twin towns of Barsana and Nandgaon, also known as the towns of Radha and Krishna respectively. Every year, during the period of Holi, thousands of devotees and tourists visit ...

History

Radha Rani Temple is originally believed to be established by King Vajranabh (great-grandson of

Krishna Krishna (; Sanskrit language, Sanskrit: कृष्ण, ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God (Hinduism), Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, c ...

) around 5000 years ago. The temple is said to be in ruins; the icons were rediscovered by Narayan Bhatt (a disciple of

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (; ), born Vishvambhara Mishra () (18 February 1486 – 14 June 1534), was an Indian Hindus, Hindu saint from Bengal and the founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's mode of worshipping Krishna with bha ...

) and a temple was built in 1675 AD by Raja Bir Singh Deo. Later, the present structure of temple was built by Narayan Bhatt with the help of Raja Todarmal, one of the governors in the Akbar's court. Radha Rani Mandir

There is also a popular legend associated with the temple. According to it, Krishna's father

Nanda Nanda, including Nanda (南大), may refer to: Education * Nanchang University (南昌大学), a public university in Nanchang, Jiangxi, China * Nanhua University (南华大学), a public university in Hengyang, Hunan, China * Nanjing Universi ...

and Radha's father Vrishbhanu were close friends. While Nanda was head of

Gokul Gokul is a town in the Mathura district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located south-east of Mathura. History In the ''Viṣṇu Purāṇa'' and '' Bhāgavata Purāṇa'', the term "gokula" does not refer to any specifi ...

a, Vrishbhanu was head of Rawal. However, fed up with the atrocities of

Mathura Mathura () is a city and the administrative headquarters of Mathura district in the states and union territories of India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located south-east of Delhi; and about from the town of Vrindavan. In ancient ti ...

's king

Kamsa Kamsa (, ) was the tyrant ruler of the Vrishni kingdom, with its capital at Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, Mathura. He is variously described in Hindu texts, Hindu literature as either a human or an asura; The Puranas describe him as an asura, while ...

, both of them with their people shifted to Nandgaon and

. Nanda made Nandishvar hill his home and Vrishbhanu made Bhanugarh hill his permanent abode, which also ultimately became the abode of Radha. Presently, in both the twin towns of Barsana and Nandgaon, there stands the historical temples dedicated to Radha and Krishna on the peak of Nandishvar and Bhanugarh hills respectively. While Nandgaon temple is called the Nand Bhawan, Barsana temple is named after Radha, called Radha Rani temple or Shriji (Shreeji temple).

Architecture

Shreeji Temple, with its arches, pillars and red sandstone, looks like a structure dating back to the Mughal era. This popular temple in Barsana is a classic example of the

Rajput architecture Rajput architecture is an architectural style associated with the forts and palaces of the many Rajput rulers. Many of the Rajput forts are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and popular tourist attractions. Rajput architecture represents differen ...

prevailing during that time. The temple looks like a magnificent palace which is made up of red sandstone and adorned with intricate hand carvings, beautiful arches, domes and exquisite paintings on its inner walls and ceilings. Red and white stones have been used for the construction of the temple, which are considered to symbolize the love of Radha and Krishna. There are more than 200 stairs which leads to the main temple from ground. At the foot of the steps that lead to this temple is the palace of

Vrishabhanu Vrishabhanu (; IAST: ), also spelled as Brushabhanu, is a Yadava chieftain featured in Hindu scriptures. He is described as the father of the goddess Radha, who is the chief consort of god Krishna and also regarded as the incarnation of the go ...

Maharaj where there are idols of Vrishabhanu Maharaj, Kirtida, Shridama (Sibling of Radha) and Shri Radhika. Near this palace is the temple of

Brahma Brahma (, ) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the triple deity, trinity of Para Brahman, supreme divinity that includes Vishnu and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity, Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 212– ...

. Also, close by, there is Ashtasakhi temple where Radha along with her principal sakhis (friends) are worshiped. As the temple is on the peak of hill, the whole Barsana can be seen from the temple's premises.

Festivals

and

Krishna Janmashtami Krishna Janmashtami (), also known simply as Krishnashtami, Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. In certain Hindu texts, such as the '' Gita Govinda ...

, birthdays of Radha and Krishna, are the chief festivals of the Radha Rani temple. On both of these days, the temple is decorated with flowers, balloons and lights. The deities are dressed in new dresses and jewellery sets. After performing "

Aarti ''Arti'' () or ''Aarati'' () is a Hindu ritual employed in worship, part of a ''Puja (Hinduism), puja'', in which light from a flame (fuelled by camphor, ghee, or oil) is ritually waved to venerate Hindu deities, deities. ''Arti'' also refers t ...

", 56 types of dishes, also called "''Chappan Bhog''" is offered to

which later gets distributed to the devotees as "

Prasada 200px, ''Naivedya'' offered to Sri Maya Chandrodaya Mandir in Mayapur, India">Mayapur.html" ;"title="Sri Maya Chandrodaya Mandir, Mayapur">Sri Maya Chandrodaya Mandir in Mayapur">Sri Maya Chandrodaya Mandir, Mayapur">Sri Maya Chandrodaya Mandi ...

Besides Radhastami and Janmashtami,

is also one of the significant festivals of the temple. To celebrate Lathmar Holi, devotees and tourists visit the temple. The

Holi Holi () is a major Hindu festival celebrated as the Festival of Colours, Love and Spring.The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) p. 874 "Holi /'həʊli:/ noun a Hindu spring festival ...".Yudit Greenberg, Encyclopedia of Love in World ...

in Barsana starts a week before the actual day of the festival and lasts till Rang Panchami.

Timings

The time zone ( UTC+05:30) observed through India by the priest. Summer Timings - Morning 05:00 am to 02:00 pm and Evening 05:00 pm to 09:00 pm. Winter Timings - Morning 05:30 am to 02:00 pm and Evening 05:00 pm to 08:30 pm.

Gallery

File:Chhatris of Barsana 03.jpg, Front view of temple File:Radharani Temple Barsana.jpg, Inside premises of Radha Rani Temple File:Barsana View from Shriji Temple.jpg, Top View of Barsana from Radha Rani Temple File:Radharani Temple Barsana 3.jpg, Side view of Temple File:Chhatris of Barsana 10.jpg,

celebration inside the Temple File:Chhatris of Barsana 01.jpg, Gathering of devotees on the occasion of

in Temple premises

Nearby attractions

Rangeeli Mahal Barsana Rangeeli Mahal, founded in 1996, is one of the main centers of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, is located at Shri Radharani's eternal abode, Barsana. In describing the glory of Barsana dham, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj had said that within ...

, also called Kirti Temple, named after Radha's mother Kirtida and dedicated to Goddess Radha. *Maan Mandir, temple dedicated to

. *Mor Kutir, temple dedicated to peacock forms of Radha and Krishna. *Khadri Van. *Sankari Khor Barsana. *Pili Pokhar, also called Priya Kund dedicated to Goddess Radha. *Radha Bagh. *Shri Kushal Bihari, Jaipur Temple, Barsana. *Shri Chitra Sakhi Temple.

References

Hindu temples in Mathura district Radha Krishna temples Vrindavan 17th-century Hindu temples Tourist attractions in Mathura district Rajput architecture

External links

*{{url, https://radharanimandir.com, Official site