Mathura - Krishna Mandir

It is this punyabhumi about which puranas expound that any type of sin committed in Mathura is destroyed in Mathura itself whereas any sin committed at any place gets purged off in a thirtha, but one committed in a thirtha sticks hard, subjecting the sinner to the horrors of divine punishment. Sure, there can't be any residue clinging to body to be accumulated with age due to interest growing to enormous proportions. What a boon! And how sacred!! It is this kshetra and its presiding deity that Vaishnava cult raised them to Himalayan heights with statements such as: "There is one scripture, that is Bhagavadgita; there is one Acharya that is Sri Krishna; there is one mantra that is Krishna matra; the most sacred chant of all; there is one kshetra that is Mathura; there is one God, that is Krishna Paramatma; and finally there is one duty, that is seva worshipping of HIM". Furthermore, there is a belief that the word Mathura, whose principal letters, M, U & A, represent the three components of the mystic syllable, A U M, the chief cause of creation, and as such, it is holding out another attraction for the orthodox Hindus; for, they interpret that the three letters stand for the divinities of the Hindu Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswar. With such deification by every school of Vaishnavism, the place became the Bhooloka Vaikunta for all devout Hindus, and so, an unending stream of pilgrims found visiting round the year.

An infinite number of divyalilas imbued with inexplicable mystery said to have occurred in this thirtha kshetra are enshrined in several genres of literatures of all languages in India and abroad, and in fact each felt honoured in eulogizing the glorious anecdotes of Sri Krishna, from childhood days to the historic day of that greatest exodus to Dwaraka, built in the midst of sea to be screened from the nefarious maneuvers of Jarasandha, the arch enemy of the Yadava community.

The Temple

After bath at any one of the ghats of Gomati river, pilgrims proceed straight to Krishna temple first. It is the principal shrine and it was built in 1814, by Seth Gokul Das, who served the prince of Gwalior as cashier. The idol of Sri Krishna about 3 feet in height is installed on a raised dais. It is quite alluring. The North Indian adornment, adding colour and grace, cast a spell on the devotees. One peculiar feature observed here is that bhaktas, in addition to uttering the Lord's name loudly, throw coins of all denominations into the enclosure, where priests stand. The priests are Goswamis of Kakrauli and are enjoying hereditary rights. They conduct prayer services with a zeal and sincerity that deserves emulation. Vallabha sampradaya is followed in all the activities. The festivals, like the Jhoola and Janmastami are celebrated every year with great pomp and show, and they attract lakhs of bhaktas who participate in them with great gusto.

It lies on the bank of Gomati in Mathura, accessible by walk from bus stand.

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