Glories of the Dhāma, the Arrival of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s Stay in Mathurā
The magnificent reconstruction of Śrī Keśavajī Gauḍīya Maṭha
It was the strong desire of our supremely worshipful Śrīla Gurudeva, nitya-līlā-praviṣṭa oṁ viṣṇupāda aṣṭottara-śata-śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja, for Śrī Keśavajī Gauḍīya Maṭha in Mathurā to be magnificently reconstructed. During his manifest presence, he consulted a few prominent engineers and architects in Mathurā city, but work could not commence during his lifetime.
With the blessings of Śrīla Gurudeva, the current president of the Gauḍīya Vedānta Samiti Trust, Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Mādhava Mahārāja, undertook responsibility for the reconstruction. Through the efforts of other trust members and with the generosity of Śrīla Gurudeva’s disciples, grand-disciples and followers residing in Mathurā and elsewhere, this work was successfully completed within three years.
On 2 December, 2021, before the demolition began, the presiding deities, Śrī Śrī Rādhā Vinoda-vihārījī, established and served by Paramagurudeva, Śrīla Bhakti Prajñāna Keśava Gosvāmī Mahārāja, along with the other deities, were temporarily shifted to a nearby building owned by the Trust, and the regular service of the deities such as worship, offerings, festivals, and other ceremonies continued smoothly there.
On the auspicious occasion of Akṣaya Tṛtīyā, 2022, in the presence of the Vaiṣṇavas, the foundation stone for the new building was laid in accordance with Vedic ritual. Thereafter, the construction work of the maṭha continued uninterruptedly. Since the maṭha is located in the heart of the bustling markets of Mathurā city, the construction work was highly complex and challenging. The new maṭha is a multistoried structure, with a beautiful altar, nāṭya-mandira, accommodation for devotees, a prasādam hall, pilgrims’ quarters, and other facilities.
Adjacent to the nāṭya-maṇḍira, on the parikramā path around the deity sanctum, is a newly built room dedicated to Śrīla Gurudeva, nitya-līlā-praviṣṭa oṁ viṣṇupāda aṣṭottara- śata-śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja, in memory of him. While he never stayed in that room, his presence in it is palpable. This gives a glimpse of how very firmly established he is in Mathurā, the preaching field given to him by his Gurudeva. The books he authored, edited, and wrote commentaries on are displayed there. This commemorative bhajana-kuṭīra also preserves various items used by him during his manifest pastimes, such as cloth, utensils and footwear.
Inauguration of the newly constructed maṭha
In the month of August 2024, a day before the auspicious occasion of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Janmāṣṭamī, the magnificent new temple-building and sanctum were inaugurated by ceremoniously bringing the maṭha’s deities from Their temporary residence and enshrining Them in the new altar. To the right and left of Śrī Rādhā-Vinoda-bihārī and Mahāprabhu, mūrtis of Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Vāmana Gosvāmī Mahārāja and Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja, respectively, were installed.
Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Vinoda-bihārījiu in the new sanctum
Many devotees gathered from across the country and abroad to participate in a wonderful four-day celebration: nagara-saṅkīrtana was performed two days before Janmāṣṭamī, there was a grand installation ceremony of the deities on Janmāṣṭamī eve, and then there was the festival of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Janmāṣṭamī and Nandotsava, the following day.
By the mercy of our guru-varga, all these events were successfully concluded. Our sincere hope is that our most worshipful Śrīla Gurudeva, our revered Paramagurudeva and Śrīla Prabhupāda Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura, along with Śrī Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu and His associates, are pleased.
The glorious history of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism in Mathurā
The extraordinary glory of the land of Śrī Mathurā is described in various scriptures. In every yuga, numerous devotees come here to perform sādhana-bhajana and attain perfection. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His intimate associates, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī, visited Mathurā and took darśana of various holy places there. This is described in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata and other scriptures.
Later, in 1932 and also in 1934, the foremost of śrī rūpānuga-ācāryas, the world-renowned founder of the Gauḍīya Maṭha, jagad-guru Śrīla Prabhupāda Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, also resided in Śrī Mathurā, along with his associates, while performing Śrī Vraja- maṇḍala parikramā. During Vraja-maṇḍala parikramā in 1932, he clearly expressed some heartfelt sentiments in regard to his desire to establish the practice of the conceptions of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism in Mathurā-maṇḍala. This is described in Part 2 of this article. Śrī Vinoda Bihārī Brahmacārī (Śrīla Bhakti Prajñāna Keśava Gosvāmī Mahārāja) had accompanied Śrīla Prabhupāda at that time. Having preserved Śrīla Prabhupāda’s deep sentiments in his heart, he later served to manifest them in a very special manner. It was solely to fulfil the heartfelt desires (mano’bhīṣṭa) of Śrīla Prabhupāda that he established Śrī Keśavajī Gauḍīya Maṭha in Mathurā. This is described in Part 3 of this article. He then graciously entrusted the responsibility of serving this maṭha to our most worshipful Śrīla Gurudeva, Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja.
Our Śrīla Gurudeva exquisitely executed that service, not only by attending to all concomitant responsibilities but by understanding and fulfilling the mano’bhīṣṭa of his beloved Gurudeva: to serve the mano’bhīṣṭa of Śrīla Prabhupāda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura. He presented Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava siddhānta to the people of Mathurā, thus demonstrating an unparalleled ideal of service to his Gurudeva and to the Gauḍīya guru-varga. This, also, will be described further on, in Part 4 and 5. Śrī Keśavajī Gauḍīya Maṭha is therefore not merely an edifice, but a centre within Mathurā- maṇḍala for preserving the line of thought of our Sārasvata Gauḍīya guru-varga and propagating that tradition throughout the world.
The glories of Mathurā
Among the seven holy cities on the earth that award liberation—Ayodhyā, Mathurā, Māyā (Haridvāra), Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), Kāñcī, Avantī (Ujjain), and Dvāravatī (Dvārakā)—Mathurā, the birthplace of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is foremost. It not only grants liberation but also bestows pure love for the Supreme Lord. Protected by the sudarśana cakra, it remains unaffected by cosmic disturbances, including the mahā- pralaya (total devastation at the end of Brahmā’s life). It not only surpasses Vaikuṇṭha in glory but Dvārakā, which is adorned by the Lord’s principal queens. Mathurā is held in the highest esteem.
This city of Mathurā is never annihilated. At the beginning of Satya-yuga, the child Dhruva met Devarṣi Nārada here. At this very place, after bathing in one of Yamunā’s ghāṭas, young Dhruva received the bhāgavata-mantra from Nāradajī and attained perfection by worshipping the Supreme Lord in the nearby Madhuvana-Maholī.
Also in Satya-yuga, Durvāsā Ṛṣi arrived here on Dvādaśī just as the devotee king Ambarīṣa was breaking his Ekādaśī-vrata.Dhruva-ṭīlā Durvāsā Ṛṣi realized the glory of devotees here, particularly that of King Ambarīṣa. Even today, Cakratīrtha and Ambarīṣa-ṭīlā stand as witness to the Sudarśana cakra protecting King Ambarīṣa.
In Tretā-yuga, Śrī Śatrughna, following the order of Lord Rāmacandra, killed Lavaṇāsura, the son of demon Madhu, here. This incident is well-known to all. In Dvāpara-yuga, Kṛṣṇa appeared in Mathurā and performed pastimes in the Mathurā-maṇḍala, further enhancing its glory. Śrī Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vedavyāsa took birth on an island in the Yamunā here. This story is famous.
In Kali-yuga, Śrī Śacīnandana Gaurahari, imbued with the mood and complexion of Śrī Rādhā, came for darśana of Vraja-dhāma. He arrived in Mathurā where He took bath at Viśrāma-ghāṭa, and after that, He beheld the līlā-sthalīs (pastime places) within the eighty- four kosas of Vraja-maṇḍala. Gauḍīya literature describes that before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to Vraja, Śrī Advaita Ācārya, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, Śrī Lokanātha Gosvāmī, and Bhūgarbha Gosvāmī also visited Mathurā- maṇḍala. After Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, His intimate associates like Śrī Rūpa, Śrī Sanātana and other Gosvāmīs extensively wandered Mathurā and Vraja. The accounts of our Gauḍīya ācāryas’ visits to Mathurā and Vraja- maṇḍala is recorded in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Bhakti-ratnākara, and other scriptures.
Śrī Keśavadevajī
The abundant glories of Mathurā are described in the Purāṇas. Bhagavān Śrī Keśavadeva is present in the heart of this abode, which is likened to the whorl of a lotus. On the northern petal, in Vṛndāvana, is Śrī Govinda-deva, by whose darśana a person is forever liberated from the cycle of birth and death. On the eastern petal, at Viśrāma-ghāṭa, is a divine form of the Lord known as Viśrānti, and on the southern petal is Ādi-varāhadeva, who bestows all-perfection. The guardian deity (Kṣetrapāla) of Śrī Hari’s beloved abode, Mathurā, is Bhūteśvara Mahādeva. Bathing at any place in Mathurā’s sacred waters removes all the living beings’ sins, and with each and every step taken in Mathurā, one attains the merit of performing an Aśvamedha yajña. The Lord Himself declares: “O Vasundharā*
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Vasundharā is a name for Mother Earth. It means “she whose soil is extremely fertile and who possesses boundless opulence.”
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whether in the hellish regions, the realm of humans, or the celestial realm, there is certainly no place as dear to Me as Mathurā. O Vasundharā, during My resting period (Cāturmāsya), all the sacred places on Earth and all oceans and lakes reside in Mathurā.” It is mentioned in the Skanda Purāṇa that the spiritual merit obtained by residing in any other part of Bhāratavarṣa (India) for millions of years is attained merely by remembering the city of Mathurā once. In Śrī Mathurā, those who engage in chanting and fasting become free from all sins by taking darśana of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s birthplace. Even sinners, such as one who has killed a brāhmaṇa or one who is a drunkard, a cow-killer, or who has violated celibacy, are liberated from all these sins merely by circumambulating Mathurā. Those who come from distant lands to circumambulate Mathurā become free of all kinds of sins merely by having darśana of the pastime places here. Even if a person resolves to reside in Mathurā, he becomes free from all forms of bondage.
The Padma Purāṇa even states that if anyone from anywhere simply desires to have darśana of Mathurā but leaves his body before getting the opportunity to go there, he will certainly take birth in Mathurā in a future life. There is not the slightest doubt about this. Those people who have unwavering devotion to Śrī Kṛṣṇa and who are the recipients of His abundant grace develop attachment to this transcendental city of Mathurā.
Viśrāma-ghāṭa
In the Vāyu Purāṇa, it is stated that Mathurā- maṇḍala is spread across eighty-four kosas. The Supreme Lord Śrī Hari eternally resides here. Aho! Blessed is this Mathurā-dhāma, which is even superior to Śrī Nārāyaṇa’s abode, Vaikuṇṭha. Simply by residing in Mathurā for a single day, one attains devotion to Śrī Hari. By residing here for three nights, one attains supremely rare bhāgavata-prema, which is extremely difficult to attain even for great liberated souls.
Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has mentioned in Śrī Mathurā Māhātmya: “O Avantī, be ready! Hold a spittoon in your hands. O Māyāpurī (Haridvāra), prepare to fan with a cāmara. O Kāñci, take up an umbrella. O Kāśī, get ready to hold footwear in your hands. O Ayodhyā, do not be afraid anymore. O Dvārakā, do not offer prayers and praises today. This Mathurā- devī, who has now become the chief queen of the King of kings, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is pleased with the services of all of you maidservants.”
Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s arrival in Mathurā
mathurā-nikaṭe āilā — mathurā dekhiyā
daṇḍavat haĩyā paḓe premāviṣṭa haĩyā
mathurā āsiyā kailā ‘viśrānti-tīrthe’ snāna
‘janma-sthāne’ ‘keśava’ dekhi’ karilā praṇāma
premānande nāce, gāya, saghana huṅkāra
prabhur premāveśa dekhi’ loke camatkāra
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta
(Madhya-līlā 17.155–157)
As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu neared Mathurā and beheld the city, He immediately fell to the ground and offered obeisances, being absorbed in prema. Upon entering the city, He bathed at Viśrāma-ghāṭa and then visited Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s janma-sthāna (birthplace). There, He took darśana of the Deity of Keśavajī, offering Him His most respectful praṇāma. In the bliss of prema, He sang, danced, and repeatedly roared with ecstasy. Those observing this became utterly astonished.
yamunāra ‘cabbiśa ghāṭe’ prabhu kailo snāna
sei vipra prabhuke dekhāya tīrtha-sthāna
svayambhu, viśrāma, dīrgha-viṣṇu, bhūteśvara
mahāvidyā, gokarṇādi dekhilā vistara
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta
(Madhya-līlā 17.190–191)
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bathed at the twenty-four ghāṭas situated along the banks of the Yamunā, while the brāhmaṇa guided Him to all the sacred places of pilgrimage. He visited every holy site along the Yamunā’s banks, including Svayambhu, Viśrāma-ghāṭa, Dīrgha Viṣṇu, Bhūteśvara, Mahāvidyā, and Gokarṇa.
Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s one-month stay in Mathurā
vṛddha-kāle rūpa-gosāĩ nā pāre ĵāite
vāñchā hailo gopālera saundarya dekhite
mleccha-bhaye āilā gopāl mathurā-nagare
eka-māsa rahilo viṭṭhaleśvara-ghare
tabe rūpa gosāĩ saba nija-gaṇa laĩyā
ek-māsa darśana kailā mathurāy rahiyā
saṅge gopāla-bhaṭṭa, dāsa-raghunātha
raghunātha-bhaṭṭa-gosāĩ, āra lokanātha
bhūgarbha-gosāĩ, āra śrī-jīva-gosāĩ
śrī-yādava-ācārya, āra govinda gosāĩ
śrī-uddhava-dāsa, āra mādhava — dui-jana
śrī-gopāla-dāsa, āra dāsa-nārāyaṇa
‘govinda’ bhakta, āra vāṇī-kṛṣṇadāsa
puṇḍarīkākṣa, īśāna, ār laghu-haridāsa
ei saba mukhya-bhakta laĩyā nija-saṅge
śrī-gopāla daraśana kailā bahu-raṅge
eka-māsa rahi’ gopāl gelā nija-sthāne
śrī-rūpa-gosāĩ āilā śrī-vṛndāvane
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta
(Madhya-līlā 18.46–54)
Śrī GopālajīIn his old age, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī could not go to Govardhana for darśana of Gopāla, but he had a desire to see the beauty of Gopāla. On the pretext of fearing the Muslims, Gopāla came to Mathurā, where He remained in the house of Viṭṭhaleśvara for one month. At that time Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī came, along with his associates, and stayed in Mathurā for one month, taking regular darśana of the Gopāla Deity. When Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī came to stay in Mathurā, he was accompanied by Śrīla Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Śrīla Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrīla Lokanātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Śrīla Bhūgarbha Gosvāmī and Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī. He was also accompanied by Śrī Yādava Ācārya, Śrī Govinda Gosvāmī, Śrī Uddhava dāsa, Śrī Mādhava, Śrī Gopāla dāsa and Śrī Nārāyaṇa dāsa. The great devotees Śrī Govinda, Śrī Vāṇī Kṛṣṇadāsa, Śrī Puṇḍarīkākṣa, Śrī Īśāna and Laghu (junior) Haridāsa also accompanied him. It was with great jubilation that Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī had darśana of Śrī Gopāla, accompanied by all these devotees. After staying at Mathurā for one month, Śrī Gopāla returned to His own place, and Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī returned to Vṛndāvana.
All glories to Śrī Mathurā-dhāma!
All glories to Śrī Keśavajī Gauḍīya Maṭha!
All glories to the Gauḍīya-Rūpānuga-Sārasvata Guru Paramparā!
All glories to nitya-līlā-praviṣṭa oṁ viṣṇupāda aṣṭottara-śata-śrī
Śrīmad Bhakti Prajñāna Keśava Gosvāmī Mahārāja!
All glories to nitya-līlā-praviṣṭa
oṁ viṣṇupāda aṣṭottara-śata-śrī
Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja!
All glories to their dedicated servants!
Gaura premānande!
Presented by: Mādhava-priya dāsa and Amala-kṛṣṇa dāsa
Source: Śrī Vraja-maṇḍala Parikramā
compiled and edited by Śrīla Bhaktivedānta
Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja.
Acknowledgements: Pūjā Dāsī and Śacīnandana Dāsa.
Translated from Śrī Śrī Bhāgavata Patrikā,Year-20 Issue 5-12
by the Rays of The Harmonist team
