Vrindavan (pronounced[ʋɾɪnˈdɑːʋən]ⓘ;IAST:Vṛndāvana), also speltVrindaban andBrindaban,[3] is a historical city in theMathura district ofUttar Pradesh,India. It is located in theBraj Bhoomi region and holds religious importance for Hindus, who believe thatKrishna, one of the main Gods inHinduism, 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 mostsacred places forVaishnava traditions.[4][8]
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,[11] and is an importantHindu pilgrimage site since long.
In contemporary times,Vallabha Charya (an Indian saint from 15th century), aged eleven visited Vrindavan. Later on, he performed three pilgrimages ofIndia, barefoot giving discourses onBhagavad Gita at 84 places. These 84 places are known asPushtimarg 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 ofPushtimarg.
Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan
The essence of Vrindavan was lost over time until the 16th century when it was rediscovered byChaitanya Mahaprabhu. In the year 1515,Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Vrindavan, with the purpose of locating the lost holy places associated with Krishna's life.[12]
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, includingpeacocks,cows,monkeys and a variety of bird species has been virtually eliminated.
In 1909,Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh established India’s first polytechnic college, Prem Mahavidyalaya in Vrindavan, with the dual vision of promoting education and nurturing nationalist thought.[13] During the inauguration of Prem Mahavidyalaya,Madan Mohan Malviya was also present. Over time, it evolved into an intellectual centre for revolutionary ideas and a meeting place for freedom fighters andCongress leaders.[14]
Situated on the west bank of theYamuna River, about 15 kilometres north ofMathura[16] and 125 km fromDelhi, Vrindavan has an average elevation of 170 metres (557 feet).[citation needed] TheYamuna river flows through the city.
As of2011 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. TheScheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes population was 6,294 and 18, respectively. Vrindavan had 11,637 households in 2011.[2][19]
Vrindavan is considered to be a sacred place forVaisnavism tradition ofHinduism.[21] It is believed that Krishna spent part of his childhood in this city.[22] The other prominent areas surrounding Vrindavan areGovardhana,Gokul,Nandgaon,Barsana,Mathura andBhandirvan. Along with Vrindavan, all these places are considered to be the center ofRadha andKrishna worship. Millions of devotees ofRadha Krishna visit Vrindavan and its nearby areas every year to participate in a number of festivals.[23] The common salutation or greetings used inBraj region by its residents isRadhe Radhe which is associated with the Goddess Radha[24] orHare Krishna which is associated with Krishna. Devotees of Krishna believe that he visits the town each night to adore Radha.[25]
Vrindavan, the land ofRadha Krishna has about 5500 temples dedicated to them to showcase their divine pastimes.[26][27] Some of the important pilgrimage sites are[28] -
Shri Radha Madan Mohan Temple, located near the Kalidah Ghat was built by Kapur Ram Das ofMultan. One of the oldest temples in Vrindavan, it is closely associated withChaitanya Mahaprabhu. The original deity of Madan Gopal was shifted from the shrine toKarauli in Rajasthan for safekeeping duringAurangzeb's rule. Today, a replica of the original (deity) is worshipped at the temple
Prem Mandir, one of the ten largest Hindu temples in the world,[34] 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 guruJagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji 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 onKhajuraho style of architecture. It is being built by one of theISKCON factions based inBangalore.[37] At cost of₹300 crore (US$35 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]
Vrindavan is also known as the "city of widows"[38][39][40] due to the large number ofwidows who move into the town and surrounding area after losing their husbands. There are an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 widows.[41][42] Many live in extreme poverty and spend time singingbhajan hymns atbhajanashrams, as documented in historianWilliam Dalrymple'sThe Age of Kali (1998). An organisation called Guild of Service was formed to assist these deprived women and children.[38][42] According to a survey report prepared by the government, several homes run by the government and different NGOs for widows.[43]
Vrindavan andMathura, the twin cities which are associated with Krishna are main centers ofBraj Cuisine.[44] VrindavanPeda, Vrindavan Dahi Arbi jhor, Vrindavan khichdi,[45] Bedmipuri, Dubki Aloo jhor, Moong Dal cheela, HeengKachori are some of the famous cuisines popular in this religious city.
^ab"NHAI". Archived fromthe original on 4 December 2016. Retrieved14 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 Krishnabhaktas 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.
^"Braj Cuisine Echoes The Legends Of Lord Krishna, Radha And Holi".Slurrp. Retrieved17 August 2024.Even now, Krishna is an integrated part of the Braj community and diet, influencing the culture in indelible ways. The essential elements of Braj cuisine are based on a few beliefs and traditions
^"Budget bites".The Times of India. 1 July 2010.ISSN0971-8257. Retrieved23 August 2024.There's even a dry fruit khichdi, which we didn't have the stomach to try and a Vrindavan khichdi, which comes with a side of Gatte ka saag and papad
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