Dwarkadhish Mandir, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, IN

Deities: Krishna, Balaram, Radha
Location: Eastern part of Mathura
Built by: Seth Gokul Das Parikh
Built in: 1814
Significance: One of the most visited temples of Mathura
Known as: Brajbhoomi, The birth place of Lord Krishna
Best time to visit: October to March

The land of love and Bhajans, Mathura is the birth place of Lord Krishna replete with imposing temples.

Mathura is as old as the Himalayas that was born two millions years ago out of the Tethys Sea. The main shrine embraces the images of Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha. Apart from the image of Radha-Krishna, the shrine has images of other Gods of the Hindu Pantheon.

Dwarkadhish Temple is not only an important temple of Mathura but also of India. Built in 1814, Dwarkadhish Temple is situated in the heart of the city of Mathura. Dwarkadhish Temple that is currently managed by the followers of the Vallabhacharya sect is the most visited temple in Mathura. Located in the eastern part of Mathura, not far from the Yamuna River, the temple is architecturally very interesting.Lakhs of tourists and devotees visit the holy state of Mathura each year from various parts of the world.

History:
The origin of Mathura is ancient. It is said to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna, the popular incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Mathura and the area around it, including Vrindavan, are linked with the childhood exploits of Lord Krishna. It is mentioned in the ancient Indian epic of Mahabharata. It later became a part of the Mauryan Empire. King Ashok, the great Mauryan ruler, built a number of Buddhist monuments in and around Mathura in the third century. Between first century BC and first century AD, Mathura was the center for arts. The sculpture making and stone carving styles of this period are referred to as belonging to the Mathura School of Art. The main theme of these sculptures was inspired by the life of Lord Buddha.

The decline of Buddhism in this region following the decline of the Mauryan Empire saw the rise of Hindu influence. However, in the 11th century AD, Mahmud Ghazni destroyed a large number of Buddhist and Hindu shrines. In the 15th century, Sikandar Lodhi, one of the Sultans from Delhi, continued the pillage of this city. The last great Mughal ruler and a fanatic Muslim, Aurangzeb flattened the Kesava Deo temple and a built a mosque here. The Afghani marauder Ahmed Shah Abdali dealt the final blow in 1757, when he torched the city. It came under British rule in 1804.

Janmashtami in Mathura:
The main Janmashtami celebrations in Mathura take place at the birth place that is now converted into a big temple known as Krishna Janma Bhoomi Mandir. On this day, devotees keep a day long fast and break it at midnight after the birth time of Lord Krishna. At midnight the idol of Lord Krishna is bathed with milk and curd and then rocked in a cradle. A popular belief is that if inhabitants make any wish while rocking the cradle then the wish will come true. Along with Rasleela, Jhanki the most important feature of the Mathura Janmashtami celebrations are the Jhulanotsav and Ghatas. This can only be seen in Mathura City. During Jhulanotsav, Swings are put in courtyard of temples and houses to welcome Lord Krishna's birth. It symbolizes cradling of Lord Krishna. Ropes of swings are decorated with flowers to give a festive look.

Major Attractions:
Katra Keshav Dev
Gita Mandir
Dwarkadhish Temple
The Vishram Ghat
Government Museum
Kusum Sarovar
Lake of Tears

How to reach:
by Air: The nearest airport is situated at Kheria in Agra at a distance of 62 km. The nearest international airport is in Delhi which is connected to almost every important city.
by Rail: Mathura is on the main lines of the Central and Western Railways and is connected with all the important cities of the state and country such as Delhi, Agra, Mumbai, Jaipur and Gwalior.
by Road: Mathura is connected to all the major cities by National Highways. It is linked by the regular state bus services of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana.

Visit www.eTirth.com for more information on Temples, Ashrams, Gurus, Festival and Daily Panchangam (Hindu ephemeris).

If you love to read visit www.KathaVarta.org for Religious stories.

Last but not least, if you want to visit above Holy Pilgrimage, please contact and visit our associate partner www.YatraKhoj.com and e-mail at yatrakhoj@yahoo.com.