Vrindavan
—  city  —
Main gate of Banke Bihari temple, Vrindavan
Vrindavan Location of Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh and India
Coordinates	27°35′N 77°42′E / 27.58°N 77.7°E / 27.58; 77.7Coordinates: 27°35′N 77°42′E / 27.58°N 77.7°E / 27.58; 77.7
Country	India
State	Uttar Pradesh
District(s)	Mathura
Population	56,618 (2001[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 170 metres (560 ft)

Vrindavan (Hindi: वृन्दावन)( pronunciation (help·info)) (alternatively spelled Vrindaban, Brindavan, Brindavana, or Brundavan) also known as Vraj (as it lies in the Braj region) is a town in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is the site of an ancient forest which is the region where according to the Mahabharata, a grand Epic of Sanskrit literature dating back to the 3000BC, the deity Krishna spent his childhood days.

The town is about 10 km away from Mathura, the city of Lord Krishna's birthplace, near the Agra-Delhi highway. The town hosts hundreds of temples dedicated to the worship of Radha and Krishna and is considered sacred by a number of religious traditions such as Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Vaishnavism, and Hinduism in general.

Etymology[link]

Kesi Ghat on the Yamuna river.

The ancient name of the city, Brindavana, comes from its groves of 'Brinda' Ocimum tenuiflorum (Holy Basil or tulsi) with vana (Sanskrit: वन) meaning a grove or a forest.^[1] Two small groves still exist at Nidhivan and Seva Kunj

History[link]

Vrindavan has an ancient past, associated with Hindu history, and is an important Hindu pilgrimage site. One of its oldest surviving temples is the Govinda Deo temple, built in 1590, with the town founded earlier in the same century.^[2]

It is believed that the essence of Vrindavan was lost over time until the 16th century, when it was rediscovered by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In the year 1515, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Vrindavana, with purpose of locating the lost holy places associated with Lord Sri Krishna's transcendent pastimes. Chaitanya wandered through the different sacred forests of Vrindavana in a spiritual trance of divine love. It was believed that by His divine spiritual power, He was able locate all the important places of Krishna's pastimes in and around Vrindavana.^[3]

In the last 250 years, the extensive forests of Vrindavan have been subjected to urbanization, first by local Rajas and in recent decades by apartment developers. The forest cover has been whittled away to only a few remaining spots, and the local wildlife, including peacocks, cows, monkeys and a variety of bird species has been eliminated or are close to it. A few peacocks and monkeys can be seen found but cows are now only found in the goshalas of the Major Ashrams of Vrindavan.

Religious heritage[link]

Madan Mohan temple

Sevakunja in Vrindavan.

ISKCON Krishna Balaram Temple at Vrindavan

Vrindavan is considered to be a holy place by all traditions of Hinduism. The major tradition followed in the area is Vaisnavism, and it is a center of learning with many Vrindavan Ashrams operating. Its a center of Krishna worship and the area includes places like Govardhana and Gokul that are associated with Krishna. Many millions of bhaktas or devotees of Radha Krishna visit these places of pilgrimage every year and participate in a number of festivals that relate to the scenes from Krishna's life on Earth.^[4]

According to tradition and recorded evidence (please site a source), Krishna was raised in the cowherding village of Gokul by his foster parents Nanda Maharaj and Yasoda. The Bhagavata Purana describes Krishna's early childhood pastimes in the Vrindavan forest where he, his brother Balarama, and his cowherd friends stole butter, engaged in childhood pranks and fought with demons. Along with these activities, Krishna is also described as meeting and dancing with the local girls of Vrindavan village, especially Radharani, who were known as gopis. These pastimes were the source of inspiration for the famous Sanskrit poem, Gita Govinda, by the Sanskrit poet, Jayadeva (c. 1200 AD).

The most popular temples include:

Madan Mohan Temple located near the Kali Ghat was built by Kapur Ram Das of Multan. This is the oldest temple in Vrindavan. The temple is closely associated with the saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu . The original image of Lord Madan Gopal was shifted from the shrine to Karauli in Rajasthan for safe keeping during Aurangzeb's rule. Today, a replica of the image is worshiped at the temple.

Garud Govind Temple located on the turn of NH-2 to Vrindavan in Chhatikara village. This temple is one of the ancient most temple of the Brij and according to purans,main idol was incarnated by great grand son of lord Krishna, shri Bajranabh ji after the order of his Kulguru shri Gargachary. This is also one of the rarest temple of Garud ji, which is famous for 'Kalsarp Anushthan'.

Banke Bihari Temple, built in 1862^[5] is the most popular shrine at Vrindavan. The image of Banke-Bihari was discovered in Nidhi Vana by Swami Haridas, the great Krishna devotee, belonging to the Nimbarka sampradaya.

Radha Vallabh Temple, set up by the Radha-Vallabh sampradaya, through Sri Hith Harivansh Mahaprabhu,^[6] has the crown of Radharani placed next to the Shri Krishna image in the sanctum.

Jaipur Temple which was built by Sawai Madho Singh II, the Maharaja of Jaipur in 1917, is a richly embellished and opulent temple. The fine hand - carved sandstone is of unparalleled workmanship. The temple is dedicated to Shri Radha Madhava.

Sri Radha Raman Mandir, constructed at the request of Gopala Bhatta Goswami around 1542 is one most exquisitely crafted and revered temples of Vrindavan, especially by the Goswamis. It still houses the original saligram deity of Krishna as Radha Ramana, alongside Radharani.^[7]

Shahji Temple, another popular temple at Vrindavan, was designed and built in 1876 by a wealthy jeweller, Shah Kundan Lal of Lucknow. The deities (images) at the temple are popularly known as the Chhote Radha Raman. Noted for its magnificent architecture and beautiful marble sculpture, the temple has twelve spiral columns each 15 feet high. The `Basanti Kamra' - the darbar hall is famed for its Belgian glass chandeliers and fine paintings.

Rangaji Temple, built in 1851 is dedicated to Lord Ranganatha or Rangaji depicted as Lord Vishnu in his sheshashayi pose, resting on the coils of the sacred Sesha Naga. The temple built in the Dravidian style (as a replica of Srivilliputhur) has a tall gopuram (gateway), of six storeys and a gold - plated Dhwaja stambha, 50 feet high. A water tank and a picturesque garden lie within the temple enclosure. The annual festival of Jal Vihar of the presiding deity is performed with great pomp and splendour at the tank. The temple is also famous for its `Brahmotsdav' celebration in March–April, more popularly known as the `Rath ka Mela'. The ten day long celebrations are marked by the pulling of the rath (the chariot car) by the devotees from the temple to the adjoining gardens. The prayers within the temple are performed, following in the style of Andal, one of the twelve Vaishnava Saints of South India.

Govind Deo (Govindaji) Temple was once a magnificent seven storeyed structure built in the form of a Greek cross. It is said that the Emperor Akbar donated some of the red sandstone that had been brought for the Red Fort at Agra, for the construction of this temple. Built at the astronomical cost of one crore rupees in 1590 by his general Raja Man Singh, the temple combines western, Hindu and Muslim architectural elements in its structure. It was destroyed by Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.

Sri Krishna-Balarama Temple built by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in a location known as 'Raman-Reti', is one of the most beautiful temples in Vrindavan today. The principal deities of this temple are Krishna & Balaram, with Radha-Shyamasundar and Gaura-Nitai alongside. Adjoining the temple is the samadhi of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, built in pure white marble.

Radha Damodar Mandir Located at Seva Kunj, the Mandir was established in 1542 by Srila Jiva Goswami. The deities Sri Sri Radha Damodar are here. The bhajan kutir of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is also situated at the Mandir.

Shri Maa Katyayani Mandir, the temple is situated in Radha Bagh, near Rangnath mandir. This is one of suddh Shakti Peetha of Shakti.

Chintaharan Hanuman Mandir, temple of Lord Hanuman is situated near Atalvan.

Shree Radha Ras Bihari Ashta Sakhi Temple: In Vrindavan, the “Lila Sthan” (the place of the divine passion play) of Lord Krishna, lies the temple that is a must visit destination for devotees completing the 84 kosh Vraj Parikrama Yatra. The temple is centuries old and is the first Indian temple that is dedicated to the divine couple and their Ashta Sakhi’s - the eight “companions” of Radha who were intimately involved in her love play with the Lord Krishna. The Ashta Sakhis are mentioned in the ancient texts of Puranas and the Bhagavata Purana. The temple is called Shree Radha Ras Bihari Ashta Sakhi Mandir and it is home to the divine Rasa Lila of Lord Krishna and Radharani. It is located in close proximity to the Shri Banke Behari Mandir. Legend has it that the Shree Radha Rasa Behari Ashta Sakhi Mandir is one of the two places in Mathura, Vrindavan where the Lord Krishna actually indulges in the Rasa Lila with his beloved Radha and her sakhis. On these nights, devotees have reported hearing the sound of the anklets, beating in tune to a divine melody.

Sri Kathia Baba Ka Sthan at Gurukul Road, the mahanta of which is entitled as "brajobidehi mahanta" and the acharya of Swabhuram Dwara of Nimbarka sect, Sri Swami Rash Behari Das Kathia Babaji Maharaj.

Sri Sri Radha Govinda Temple^[8] - was built by Mahamandaleshwar Mahant Sri Krsna Balaram Swamiji from Vrindavan. This newly constructed Radha Govinda Temple, completed in 2004 is based on a famous historic temple built about 500 years ago by Srila Rupa Goswami, a direct Sanyasi disciple of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Sri Vrindavan-Chandra Mandir (HKM Vrindavan), located some ninety miles southeast of Delhi, is a replica of that supreme Goloka Vrindavana in the spiritual sky. It was inaugurated in 2006 on the most auspicious day of Sri Rama Navami day. The temple is housed in an ultra-modern geodesic structure with a traditional gopuram based on khajuraho style of architecture, greeting pilgrims at the entrance. The major festivals of the temple are Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Sri Radhashtami, Kartik Fest (7 day festival during Govardhan Puja time) and Gaura Purnima. Grand abhishekas are performed for Sri Sri Radha Vrindavan-chandra during festivals such as Radhashtami and Janmashtami.

Other sacred sites[link]

Kusuma Sarovar bathing ghat, in the Goverdhan area

Akbar and Tansen visit Swami Haridas.

Other places of interest include Seva Kunj, Kesi Ghat, Sriji Temple, Jugal Kishore Temple, Lal Babu Temple, Raj Ghat, Kusuma Sarovar, Meera-Bai Temple, Imli Tal, Kaliya Ghat, Raman Reti, Varaha Ghat and Chira Ghat, and across the river, a short boat-ride away is the samadhi shrine of Devraha Baba, a revered saint of the last century.

The Seva Kunj is where Lord Krishna once performed the Raaslila with Radha-Rani and the gopis and Nidhi Van where the divine couple rested. The samadhi of Swami Haridas, the guru of Tansen, is situated here. Every year, in his honour, Swami Haridas Sammelan is organized, in which all renowned musicians of India take part. After hundreds of year a historic effort to restore the ancient Seva Kunj is being carried out by The Braj Foundation, a NGO committed for the all-round development of Braj.

Geography[link]

Vrindavan is located at 27°35′N 77°42′E / 27.58°N 77.7°E / 27.58; 77.7.^[9] It has an average elevation of 170 metres (557 feet).

Demographics[link]

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[10] Vrindavan had a population of 56,618. Males constitute 56% of the population and females 44%. Vrindavan has an average literacy rate of 65%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 73%, and female literacy is 55%. In Vrindavan, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. The number of females is 24,200 including 13% who are under 6 years of age.

Vrindavan is also known as the City of Widows^[11] due to the large number of widows who move into the town and surrounding area after losing their husbands. According to some Hindu traditions, upper-caste widows may not remarry, so many of those abandoned by their families on the death of their husband make their way here. There are an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 widows living on the streets,^[12][13] many of whom have spent over 30 years there. In exchange for singing bhajan hymns for 7–8 hours in bhajanashrams, women are given a cup of rice and a pittance of money (around Rs.10),^[11] which they try to supplement by begging on the streets. An organization called Guild of Service was formed to assist these deprived women and children.^[13] In 2000 the organization opened Amar Bari (My Home), a refuge for 120 Vrindavan widows, and a second shelter for 500 widows is expected to open.

Industry[link]

These days Vrindavan is becoming a major source of earnings for real estate companies. Many people from Delhi are purchasing houses in Vrindavan for its relative peace and quiet, and to live in a Holy place. As a result of this demand, many notable real estate and property development companies have launched many new housing projects in Vrindavan.

See also[link]

	India portal
	Hinduism portal

References[link]

• Keene, Henry George (1899, Sixth ed.). "Bindrabun". A Handbook for Visitors to Agra and Its Neighbourhood. Thacker, Spink & Co.. pp. 98–106. http://www.archive.org/stream/ahandbookforvis00keengoog#page/n113/mode/1up. 

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Vrindavan

• Vrindavan travel guide from Wikitravel
• vrindavan.brajwasi.in Connect To Vrindavan
• Sri Vrindavan-dham
• Food for Life Vrindavan
• Friends of Vrindavan
• Mathura & Vrindavan
• Guide tour to Vrindavan and its allied temples
• Vrindavan map Also shows parikrama marg
• [1]
• Usefull information about Vrindavan
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Devraha Baba (claimed 1477 - 1989^[1] or June 19, 1990^{[citation needed]}) was an Indian Siddha Yogi saint who lived beside the Yamuna river in Mathura. He lived on a 12-foot-high (3.7 m) wooden platform and wore no clothes. A barricade of wooden planks hid his naked body from his devotees.^[1] He came down only to bathe in the river.^[2] His followers claimed that he was more than 250 years old when he died in 1989.^[1]

Devraha was described as a "fully God realized master" and "an ageless saint of legendary repute". One legend has it that Devraha blessed Tulsidas (1532–1623), which would make him over 500 years old.^[3] A rough estimate is that around the world, his devotees may number in hundreds of thousands to millions of people.^{[citation needed]} Devraha Baba's birth date has been claimed as 1477;^{[citation needed]} his death in 1989 would give a lifespan of 512 or 513 years, one of the longest modern longevity myths.^[3]

Description[link]

According to Devraha, he wasn't born from a woman's womb, but emerged from water.^[4] According to legend, Devraha Baba never ate any food. He is described as a major attraction in the Kumbh Mela.^[3] The Baba used to bless his devotees by touching their heads with his foot.^[2]

The first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, stated that his father had sat at the feet of Devraha Baba as a child in the middle of the nineteenth century, and Devraha Baba was already elderly at that time.^{[citation needed][5]} Another notable devotee was Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.^[2]

Another attributed miracle was his ability to stay underwater for 30 minutes at a time, without resurfacing for air. He could also allegedly understand the language of animals, control wild animals, heal people by his look or word, and tell the future.^[6]

His samadhi shrine is located across the Yamuna River from the Hindu pilgrimage city of Vrindavan.

Notes[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Website about Devraha Baba
• Story about Devraha Baba

Pandit Jasraj
Pandit Jasraj at Govind Dev Ji Temple, Jaipur 2011
Background information
Born	(1930-01-28) 28 January 1930 (age 82)
Origin	Hisar, Haryana, India, Shimla
Genres	Hindustani classical music
Occupations	singer
Years active	1945–present
Website	Official site

Pandit Jasraj (Hindi: पण्डित जसराज; born 28 January 1930) is an Indian classical vocalist. He belongs to the Mewati gharana of Hindustani classical music.^[1]

Early life[link]

Jasraj was born in Hisar, Haryana in an orthodox Brahmin family to Motiram, a classical singer.^[2] His family performed the Mewati gharana style. Motiram died when Jasraj was four, on the day he was to be appointed as the state musician in the court of Osman Ali Khan.^[3]

Jasraj was initiated into vocal music by his father. He also received training from his elder brother, Maniram, and later from Maharaja Jaywant Singhji Waghela. In addition, he trained under Swami Vallabhdas of the Agra Gharana. In 1960, when Jasraj went to visit Bade Ghulam Ali Khan in hospital, Khan asked him to become his disciple, but Jasraj declined saying that he could not accept Khan's tutelage since he was already Maniram's disciple.

As a means of livelihood, Maniram took Jasraj as an accompanying tabla player. However, at the time, like sarangi players, tabla players were considered minor artists. At the age of 14, unhappy with his treatment as an accompanying artist, Jasraj left and vowed not to cut his hair until he learned to sing. He finally cut his hair after garnering his first AIR Radio performance, where he sang Raga Kaunsi Kanada (a combination of Malkauns and Darbari Kanada).^{[citation needed]}

Performing career[link]

Jasraj at the Pandit Motiram Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroh, Hyderabad, in 2007

Jasraj's vocal range extends three-and-a-half octaves and is uses precise diction, a trademark of the Mewati gharana's style of khayal. He has also done extensive research in Haveli Sangeet under Baba Shyam Manohar Goswami Maharaj to create numerous innovative bandish (composition).^[3]

Jasraj created a novel form of jugalbandi, styled on the ancient system of Moorchana, between a male and a female vocalist, who each sing different ragas at the same time. In his honor, this legendary jugalbandi is known as The Jasrangi.^[3] This name was coined by music connoisseurs in Pune.

Jasraj has many students, including Rattan Mohan Sharma, Sanjeev Abhyankar, Ramesh Narayan, Suman Ghosh, Tripti Mukherjee, Radharaman Kirtane, Girish Wazalwar, Chandrashekhar Swamy, Hemang Mehta, Pritam Bhattacharjee, Gargi Siddhant and Kala Ramnath. Sadhana Sargam, a Bollywood singer, is one of his disciples.

In memory of his father, Jasraj organises a musical festival every year called the Pandit Motiram Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroh in Hyderabad, India.^[3] It ran for 36 years as of 2008. Jasraj participated at the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival. He is also recognized as a master of the Bhairav family of Raags, along with the legendary Raags Darbari Kanada, Miya ki Malhar, and Jog. He is also known for presenting a wide variety of Rare Raags including Gyankali, Abiri Todi, Dhanashree, Patdeepki, Purba, Bhavsakh, Devsakh, Gunji Kanada and Charju Ki Malhar.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life[link]

Pandit Jasraj with his wife Madhura

In 1962, Jasraj married Madhura, the daughter of film director V. Shantaram, who he had first met in 1955 during the filming of Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje. After their marriage the couple lived in Kolkata for some time.^[4] They have a son, Shaarangdev Pandit, and a daughter, Durga Jasraj, a television anchor and presenter. Madhura has directed documentaries and children's plays, and directed and produced ballets, Geeta-Govinda, Kaan Kahaani and Surdas, and the TV series, Faster Phene. Durga made a film, Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj in 2009^[5] and directed her first Marathi film, Aai Tuzha Aashirwad, in 2010, in which her husband and Lata Mangeshkar sang in Marathi.^[6]

Music composers Jatin-Lalit are Jasraj's nephews, and Sulakshana Pandit is his niece.

Awards[link]

• Padma Vibhushan, (art-classical music-vocal) in 2000
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987
• Sangeet Kala Ratna
• Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Award
• Lata Mangeshkar Puraskar
• Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar
• Surer Guru
• Swathi Sangeetha Puraskaram in 2008
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship^[7] (2010)
• Marwar Sangeet Ratna Award

Discography[link]

• Raga Symphony (2009)
• Baiju Bawra (2008)
• Upasana (2007)
• Tapasya Vol. 1 (2005)
• Darbar (2003)
• Maheshwara Mantra (2002)
• Soul Food (2005)
• Jasraj, Pandit Vol. 2 - Haveli Sangeet
• Inspiration (2000)
• Ragas Triveni and Multani Live
• Ragas Bihada and Gaud Giri Malhar
• Worship By Music/Live Stuggart '88
• Ornamental Voice

Filmography

• Ladki Sahyadri Ki (1966, music by Vasant Desai)
• Birbal My Brother (1973, music by Shyam Prabhakar)
• 1920 (2008, music by Adnan Sami)

Gallery[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Site
• Pandit Jasraj Institute of Music, New York