Vrindavan (pronunciationⓘ; IAST: Vṛndāvana), also spelt Vrindaban and Brindaban,[3] is a historical city in the Mathura districtofUttar Pradesh, India. It is located in the Braj Bhoomi region and holds religious importance for Hindus who believe that Krishna, one of the main deities in Hinduism, spent most of his childhood in this city.[4][5][6][7] Vrindavan has about 5,500 temples dedicated to the worship of Krishna and his chief consort, Radha.[8] It is one of the most sacred places for Vaishnava traditions.[4][8]
Situated on the west bank of the Yamuna River, about 15 kilometres north of Mathura[11] and 125 km from Delhi, Vrindavan has an average elevation of 170 metres (557 feet).[citation needed] The Yamuna river flows through the city.
As of 2011 Indian Census, Vrindavan had a total population of 63,005, of which 34,769 were males and 28,236 were females. The population within the age group of 0 to 6 years was 7,818. The total number of literates in Vrindavan was 42,917, which constituted 68.11% of the population with male literacy of 73.7% and female literacy of 61.2%. The effective literacy rate of the 7+ population of Vrindavan was 77.8%, of which the male literacy rate was 83.7% and the female literacy rate was 70.3%. The sex ratio is 812 females per 1000 males. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes population was 6,294 and 18, respectively. Vrindavan had 11,637 households in 2011.[2][12]
Vrindavan lies in the cultural region of Braj.[13]
Vrindavan is also known as the "city of widows"[14][15][16] due to the large number of widows who move into the town and surrounding area after losing their husbands. There are an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 widows.[17][18] Many live in extreme poverty and spend time singing bhajan hymns at bhajanashrams, as documented in historian William Dalrymple's The Age of Kali (1998). An organisation called Guild of Service was formed to assist these deprived women and children.[14][18] According to a survey report prepared by the government, several homes run by the government and different NGOs for widows.[19]
Vrindavan is considered to be a sacred place for Vaisnavism tradition of Hinduism.[20] It is believed that Krishna spent part of his childhood in this city.[21] The other prominent areas surrounding Vrindavan are Govardhana, Gokul, Nandgaon, Barsana, Mathura and Bhandirvan. Along with Vrindavan, all these places are considered to be the center of Radha and Krishna worship. Millions of devotees of Radha Krishna visit Vrindavan and its nearby areas every year to participate in a number of festivals.[22] The common salutation or greetings used in Braj region by its residents is Radhe Radhe which is associated with the Goddess Radha[23]orHare Krishna which is associated with Krishna. Devotees of Krishna believe that he visits the town each night to adore Radha.[24]
Vrindavan has an ancient past, associated with Hindu culture and history, and was established in the 16th and 17th centuries as a result of an explicit treaty between Muslims and Hindu Emperors,[25] and is an important Hindu pilgrimage site since long.
In contemporary times, Vallabha Charya, aged eleven visited Vrindavan. Later on, he performed three pilgrimages of India, barefoot giving discourses on Bhagavad Gita at 84 places. These 84 places are known as Pushtimarg Baithak and since then have the places of pilgrimage. Yet, he stayed in Vrindavan for four months each year. Vrindavan thus heavily influenced his formation of Pushtimarg.
Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan
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 Vrindavan, with the purpose of locating the lost holy places associated with Krishna's life.[26]
In the last 250 years, the extensive forests of Vrindavan have been subjected to urbanisation, 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 virtually eliminated.
Vrindavan, the land of Radha Krishna has about 5500 temples dedicated to them to showcase their divine pastimes.[27][28] Some of the important pilgrimage sites are[29] -
Shri Radha Madan Mohan Temple, located near the Kalidah Ghat was built by Kapur Ram Das of Multan. One of the oldest temples in Vrindavan, it is closely associated with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The original deity of Madan Gopal was shifted from the shrine to Karauli in Rajasthan for safekeeping during Aurangzeb's rule. Today, a replica of the original (deity) is worshipped at the temple
Prem Mandir is a spiritual complex situated on a 54-acre site on the outskirts of Vrindavan dedicated to divine love. The temple structure was established by spiritual guru Kripalu Maharaj.[35] The main structure built in marble and figures of Krishna cover the main temple.[36]
Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir is housed in a modern geodesic structure with a traditional gopuram based on Khajuraho style of architecture. It is being built by one of the ISKCON factions based in Bangalore.[37] At cost of ₹300 crore (US$36 million) it will be the tallest temple in world on completion.
Shri Rambag Mandir, Vrindavan Shri Rambag Mandir is a Ramanandi Sampradaya temple, which is the first and oldest Shri Ram Mandir. Made up of white sandstones and dedicated to Shri Ram Darbara, the temple was constructed in 1930.[citation needed]
^ abHawley, John Stratton (2020). Krishna's Playground: Vrindavan in the 21st Century. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0-19-012398-7.
^ ab"NHAI". Archived from the original on 4 December 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
^Keene, Henry George (1899). "Bindrabun". A Handbook for Visitors to Agra and Its Neighbourhood. Thacker, Spink & Co. pp. 98–106.
^ abGopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 176.
^Klaus Klostermaier (2007). A Survey of Hinduism. State University of New York Press; 3 edition. p. 204. ISBN978-0-7914-7081-7. The center of Krishna-worship has been for a long time Brajbhumi, the district of Mathura that embraces also Vrindavana, Govardhana, and Gokula, associated with Krishna from the time immemorial. Many millions of Krishna bhaktas visit these places every year and participate in the numerous festivals that re-enact divine scenes from Krishna's life on Earth, of which were spent in those very places Vrinda means Tulsi (A sacred species of flora) and van as forest, therefore Vrindavan is a holy forest of Tulsi. Vijaypal Baghel, known as GreenMan is promoting, planting, and farming Tulsi in mass around the Vrindavan.
India
Vrindavan travel guide from Wikivoyage
