"Bhaktivedanta Swami Goshala and garden"

Located on eight acres of land on the Vrindavan Parikram Path near the Yamuna river, the Bhaktivedanta Swami Goshala has been protecting cows and bulls since 1976.

The cows and bulls live peacefully the full duration of their lives.

Bulls are trained to work at an early age and assist in agricultural production by plowing fields and pulling carts.

The calves drink milk from their mothers till they reach the age of seven to ten months to ensure good health.

The cows are always milked by hand.

The cows and bulls eat only natural grasses, grains and suitable vegetables.

The Goshala supplies milk to the temple Deity Department and the Bhaktivedanta Gurukula and International School.

Our website: www.goshala.com

"Distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books"

The Vedic treasure-house

The books written by Srila Prabhupada give the essence of the entire Vedic knowledge in an easy to understand and practical form. These books are highly respected by the academic community for their authority, depth and serve as standard textbooks in numerous college courses. They have been translated into over sixty languages.

The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust

The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT), established in 1972 to publish Srila Prabhupada’s books, is the world’s largest publisher in the field of Indian religion and philosophy. It has its main centers in Los Angeles, Stockholm, Sydney, London and Mumbai.

ISKCON Vrindavan has about 500 books available on the philosophy of Krishna consciousness and Vedic culture. These books are available from the book stall at the front of the temple.

Distribution of the treasure – Sankirtan Department

The Sankirtan Department at ISKCON Vrindavan has five buses that go all over India to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books.

Devotees go out in severe cold, intense heat and monsoon, just to give out the treasure-house of Vedic knowledge to the suffering souls.

Millions of people have been given a progressive spiritual direction in life by reading Srila Prabhupada’s books.

Gita Jayanti Mahayajna – the entire month of December is dedicated to distributing Bhagavad-gita As It Is throughout India. Thousands of Bhagavad-gitas are sponsored by donors for free or concessional distribution to students, libraries, prisons, etc.

"Public Preaching Programs"

By the mercy of our most beloved Sri Sri Krishna Balarama, Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai our preaching programs took off with an amazing start for 2006. We have a team of ten bramacharis who are assisting with Nama Hatta, College, Braj Village Congregation programs and Harinams.

Nama Hatta

We have weekly programs in homes of devotees and guests. The areas we are covering are Vrindavan, Mathura, Agra, Delhi, Aligarh and Bharatpur. Senior devotees generally give the lectures. After arati we have a japa session, ecstatic kirtan and then sumptuous prasadam is distributed. We also distribute books during these programs.

Braj Village Congregation program

This is a very special program and the first ever for our Krishna Balaram Temple. In most of these villages Krsna enacted His sweet pastimes with His cowherd friends and sometimes the villagers tell us of these pastimes. Weekly programs are held in Chatta, Nagala Jangali and Ral. Villagers anxiously wait for our jeep to pull up and they automatically chant the “Hare Krsna” maha-mantra. Nectar of the Holy name together with prasadam is drawing more and more people to our programs. Some of the villagers also visit our Temple for festivals.

College preaching

There is a growing awareness amongst college students of a more holistic and non-competitive lifestyle. Thus our theme is “Back to Your Roots.”

We are having weekly programs in BMS College – Agra and Gyana Deep Inter College. Over 150 students attend lectures, kirtans, and japa sessions and partake of wonderful prasdam feast. Interested students stay at our temple on the weekends and participate in the temple programs. Students receive a free set of Srila Prabhupada’s books at our college programs.

7 Day Krsna Katha

We were invited to Shiv Puri and Etawa to have a special discourse on Krsna Katha for 7 days. We had a steady audience of between 300 to 500 people attending the lectures every night. After the lecture we had arati, ecstatic kirtans and a prasadam feast which is generally sponsored by persons of that area. Japa beads and books are profusely distributed during these programs.

These programs are becoming popular in other areas as well.

Contact us

"Vraja Mandala Parikrama"

Since 1986, the Vraja Mandala Parikrama has been a major highlight in Sri Vrindavan Dhama. This one-month tour offers a special opportunity to visit many holy tirthas of Vraja. Accompanied by expert guides, devotees walk along the same route taken by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu when He visited Sri Vrindavan Dhama. They achieve full experience of twelve forests of Vraja.

With many many years of involvement in Parikrama, the directors of pilgrimage ensure that the greatest amount of time is used in pursuit of spiritual inspiration. Devotees have a choice of either camping with the parikrama group or taking one of the jeeps that leave from Krishna Balaram Mandir every morning to meet up with the procession. A nice morning program beginning with Mangal arati at 4:30 A.M. marks the beginning of an auspicious day. Twenty expert cooks from Mayapur come to ensure that the prasadam meals at 9:30 A.M. and 3:30 P.M. are delicious and nutritious. Volunteers set up camp ahead of time and there is also an incamp doctor to see to the good health of everyone.

Vraja Mandala Parikrama is an experience that benefits all devotees. To quote Sri Vrindavan Mahimamrita, “In this beginningless world of repeated birth and death how many times have you not suffered in hell and how many times have you not relished pleasures that eclipse the happiness of Brahma, Indra and other demigods? My friend, in this one body do not consider happiness or distress, but simply worship the supreme transcendental abode, Sri Vrindavan.”

The lotus of Braja Mandala resembles the planet Goloka Vrindavan in the spiritual sky. There are twelve forests, known as vans, and twenty-four groves, known as upavans. The twelve forests are Madhuvan, Talavan, Kumudvan, Bahulavan, Kamavan, Khadiravan, Vrindavan, Bhadravan, Bhandiravan, Belvan, Lohavan, and Mahavan. The twenty-four groves are Gokul, Govardhan, Barsana, Nandagram, Sanket, Paramadra, Aring, Sessai, Mat, Uchagram, Kelvan, Sri Kund, Gandharvavan, Parsoli, Bilchhu, Bacchavan, Adibadri, Karahla, Ajnokh, Pisaya, Kokilavan, Dadhigram, Kotvan, and Raval.

All of these places share in Lord Krishna’s absolute nature. If the pilgrim can visit at least one of them in the proper spirit, he receives the benefit of visiting them all. In fact, the whole Mathura-Vrindavan region is so spiritually powerful that the mere desire to go there is liberating. “If a man decides in his mind, ‘I will go live in Mathura’, he will be freed from the wheel of samsara simply by having such thoughts.” (Mathura Mahatmya)

With a pure heart let me worship Vrajabhumi, which is the form of sweetness of meditation on Sri Krishna, which is eternal, transcendental, blissfull, and peerless, and which, although it cannot be understood by ordinary people, is easily understood by its residents. (Vraja-rita-cintamani)

If you want to find out more about Sri Vrindavan Dhama please visit Vrindavan-Dham.com

"Vraja Darshan tours"

Vraja Darshan tours have been organised to assist and enhance the experience of pilgrims who have come to visit the most important holy places in Vraja. For further information about the tours, please contact the Information Centre, located near Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi Mandir in the temple premises.

Vraja Darshan is a guided tour for devotees, with following routes. The guided tours offer devotional visits to the following places:

• GOVERDHAN: Radha Kunda & Shyama Kunda, Goverdhan, Kusum Sarovara.
• VARSANA, NANDAGRAM, VRINDA KUNDA
• MATHURA, GOKUL: Sri Krishna Janmasthan, Raval, Dauji, Brahmanda Ghat (Mahavan), Gokula.

Please contact the Information Centre well in advance.

NandagramThe home of Nanda Maharaja and Mother Yasoda where Krishna and Balaram reside.
Vrinda KundaThe eternal residence of Srimati Vrindadevi. By her mercy alone can one truly enter Vrindavan.
VarsanaThe kingdom of King Vrishabhanu, and home of his daughter, Srimati Radharani.
Govardhana“Of all the devotees, this Govardhana is the best. Being touched by the lotus feet of Krishna and Balaram, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant.” (SB 10.21.18)
Kusum SarovarA beautiful lake built as a majestic expression of love for Krishna, Kusum Sarovar provides a pleasing environment to swim or relax while appreciating the spiritual atmosphere.
Radha Kunda“Of the many objects of favoured delight, and of all the loveable damsels of Vrajabhumi, Srimati Radharani is certainly the most treasured object of Krishna’s love. And, in every respect, Her divine Kunda is described by great sages as similarly dear to Him. If one simply bathes once within those holy waters one’s pure love of Krishna is fully aroused. (NOI.11)
Krsna JanmasthanA beautiful temple constructed at the place where Devaki and Vasudeva were imprisoned in the dungeon of King Kamsa’s palace. Sri Krishna appeared within their prison cell and instructed His father Vasudeva to carry Him to the home of Nanda Maharaja in Gokula.
GokulaThe palace of 84 pillars where Nanda Maharaja originally lived. Here Vasudeva exchanged his son, Krishna, with the newborn daughter of Mother Yasoda. All the childhood pastimes such as the killing of Putana, Trinavarta and Sakatasura took place here. The pastime of Damodara, tying Krishna to the grinding mortar, also happened here.
Brahmand GhatThe place where Krishna revealed the entire cosmic manifestation to Mother Yasoda as she looked into His mouth searching for the dirt He had eaten.
RavalThe birthplace of Srimati Radharani.
DaujiDauji means “older brother”. Here resides the largest deity of Lord Balaram in all of Vraja Mandala. This deity was installed 4,900 years ago by Maharaja Vajranabha.
Vishram GhatKrishna and Balaram rested here after killing Kamsa and his eight brothers. Every evening there is a wonderful aratika with a mullti-tiered lamp.

"Vrindavan Parikrama"

Vrindavan and Mathura are the most important places of pilgrimage for devotees of Krishna. Krishna was born in Mathura and spent His childhood in Vrindavan. There are over 5000 temples in Vrindavan, and it is not possible to visit all of them, but there are seven major temples that Gaudiya Vaishnavas visit when they come to Vrindavan.

If you want to find out more about Sri Vrindavan Dhama please visit Vrindavan-Dham.com

With a pure heart let me worship Vrajabhumi, which is the form of sweetness of meditation on Sri Krishna, which is eternal, transcendental, blissfull, and peerless, and which, although it cannot be understood by ordinary people, is easily understood by its residents. (Vraja-rita-cintamani)

Vrindavan is iluminated by numberless moons of spiritual bliss. It is cooled by the sweet nectar of spiritual love, and it is filled with desire trees and many hosts of madly cooing birds. Whoose heart will not run to Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, who enjoy eternal transcendental pastimes in that Vrindavan? (Sri Vrindavan Mahimamrita)

The Seven Major Gaudiya Vaishnava Temples

Radha Madana Mohan Sanatana Goswami discovered the Deity of Madan. Mohan. Ram das Kapoor, a merchant who became his disciple, donated the funds for this mandir in 1580. When the Muslims attacked in 1670, the original Deities were moved to Jaipur. and later to Karoli.
Radha Damodara This temple includes the Deities of Radha Damodara, worshipped by Srila Jiva Goswami, the Deities of Radha Vrindavan Chandra of Krishna Dasa Kavirja Goswami, Radha Madhava of Jayadeva Goswami and Radha Chalcikana of Bhugarbha Goswami.
Radha Syamasundara This temple was established by Syamananda Pandita. The original Deity given to Syamananda by Srimati Radharani can be seen to the right of the altar. The large Deity on the central altar was worshipped by Baladvea Vidyabhusana while he was in Vrindavan.
Radha Ramana The Deity of Radha Raman (one of the few original Deities still left in Vrindavan) was worshipped by Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami. The Deity self-manifested from one of the Goswami’s saligram silas in 1542.
Radha Gokulananda Here are the Radha Vinod Deiteis of Lokanatha Goswami, the Gokulananda Deity of Vishvanatha Chakravati, the Caitanya Mahaprabhu Deity of Narottama Dasa Thakur, the Radha Vijaya Govinda Deities of Baladeva Vidyabhusana and the Govardhan sila given to Raghnatha Dasa Goswami by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Radha Gopinatha This Deity was worshipped by Madhu Pandita, one of the close associates of Lord Caitanya. The Gopinatha Deity was originally installed by Vajranaba, Lord Krishna’s grandson, 5,000 years ago. The Deity was rediscovered at Vamsi-vata by Paramananda Goswami, and worshipped there by Paramananda Bhattacarya, who gave the Deity to Madhu Pandita.
Radha Govinda This temple was built in1590 by Maharaja Man Singh for the original Govinda Deity discovered by Srila Rupa Goswami. Govindaji was removed from this temple and reinstalled in Jaipur when the Muslim Emperor Aurangzeb destryoed part of the temple in 1670.
Other Places of Interest in Vrindavan
Yamuna River and Kesi Ghata The Yamuna river flows through Vrindavan and Mathura. It is the most sacred river in India as it is so intimately connected with Krishna’s pastimes. Situated on the bank of the Yamuna is Kesi Ghata, where Krishna killed the Kesi demon.
Seva Kunja This is the sacred place of the Rasa dance and also where Lord Krishna would offer service to Radharani by decorating Her hair with flowers, and by massaging and painting Her lotus feet.
Nidhuvana Here Krishna would decorate Radharani with different kinds of cosmetics before performing the Rasa dance. Sometimes Radha and Krishna would come here to rest after the Rasa dance, at the far end of the garden is a small temple call Rang Mahal, where a bed is still kept for the divine couple to rest.
Imli Tala The sacred Imli Tala tree where Srila Sanatana Goswami established the worship of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to sit regularly under the Imli Tala. A Deity of Caitanya Mahaprabhu is installed under that tree.
Gopisvara Mahadeva This is the oldest temple in Vrindavan. Gopisvara Mahadeva is Lord Siva who came to Vrindavan to become a gopi of Krishna. Vrinda Devi blessed Lord Siva and allowed him to enter the Rasa dance of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna then offered Lord Siva the guardianship of the Rasa Lila, and placed him at the entrance of the Mandir.
Banke Bihari Mandir Established in 1864 by Swami Haridas, this temple is one of the most popular temples in Vrindavan, especially during Jhulan Yatra, the swing festival in the month of Shravan (July/August).

Hare Krishna

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