SRI RADHA GOVINDAJI TEMPLE
Sri Radha Govindaji temple was a grand seven-story structure, with an altar of marble, silver and gold. Akbar contributed in building it & Aurangzeb destroyed it.
THE TEMPLE
The temple was built by
Raja Man Singh a general from the army of King Akbar sometimes after 1570. Raja
Man Singh was a disciple of Raghunath Bhatta Goswami. Architecturally this
temple is one of the finest in North India. A sculptured lotus flower weighing
several tons decorates the main hall ceiling. It was said to have cost ten
million rupees, and several thousand men were working for five full years to
complete it. Akbar himself had donated the red sandstone for its construction.
In 1670, during the rule
of a later Mughal king, Aurangzeb, it was plundered and destroyed leaving
only three stories of the original temple. During this attack, when few stories remained, all of a
sudden the ground began to shake violently and Aurangzeb’s men were terrified
and ran for their lives, never to return.
STORY OF THE DEITY: GOVINDAJI
According to historical
writings, Rupa Goswami was mystically guided by boy Krishna himself to the spot
where he uncovered the magnificent ancient deity that Krishna’s great grandson
Vajranabha had created 4,500 years previously.
In the year AD 1669
Rajah Jai Singh, who was at the Mughal court, send a messenger to the
temple priests at Vrindavan with some chilling news. The emperor Aurangzeb has
turned his vengeful gaze towards Vrindavan. In short order, his army will
invade the temples and destroy everything inside, including the precious murtis
of Krishna.
It was advised to take
the murtis and flee, via adjoining Bharatpur. The hardy Jat king, Surajmal,
will give safe passage. Once they get to Jaipur, the murtis will be safe.
Aurangzeb’s army dares not invade Rajputana.
Soon thereafter,
Aurangzeb’s soldiers horribly mutilated the Govind dev Temple in Vrindavan.
The original Govindaji thus reached Jaipur and is worshiped there since
then.
Govind
Dev Ji Ka Mandir is Jaipur’s most famous temple. It lies behind the City
Palace, within the old city, near the Hawa Mahal.
Pratibahu Deities or replica of Govindaji is worshiped in the new
Govindaji Mandir (located behind the original temple).
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