Sri Sri Radha Gopinath, Ananga Manjari (to the left
of Gopinath) with Lalita and Visakha
The Deity of Gopinatha was discovered at Vamsivata by Paramananda Bhattacarya, who entrusted the Deity’s worship to Madhu Pandita. On the altar in this temple are Deities of Gopinatha, Srimati Radharani and Her sister, Ananga Manjari.
Madhu Pandita arranged to have this temple built. Paramananda Bhattacarya and Madhu Pandita were disciples of Gadadhara Pandita, one of the most intimate devotees of Lord Caitanya. Madhu Pandita would read Srimad Bhagavatam every day.
Temple Courtyard
Rear of the Old Temple
Vajranabha, the great-grandson of Krishna, originally installed Gopinathji in Vrindavana. When the Muslims raided Vrindavana in 1670, the original Gopinatha Deity was taken to Jaipur. The Gopinatha Deity in Jaipur is said to exactly resemble Lord Krishna, from the shoulders down to the waist.
Old Temple in need of extensive external renovation
There is a story about this temple that Srimati Jahnava Devi, the wife of Nityananda, came to Vrindavana, and she came to the evening aratis at the Radha Gopinatha Temple. Suddenly, Gopinatha jumped off the altar and took Jahnava Devi onto the altar and closed the curtains. When the assembled Vaishnavas opened the curtain, Jahnava Devi was gone and Gopinatha was standing on the altar.
Entrance to Gopinath Mandir from the street
Later the deity of Ananga Manjari, the younger sister of Radharani was installed on the altar here. Jahnava Devi is Ananga Manjari in Krishna’s pastimes. Normally Radharani is to the left of Sri Krishna. In this temple Radharani is to the right of Krishna, and Ananga Manjari is placed on the left. Deities of Lalita and Visakha are also on the altar, along with a Deity of Lord Caitanya.
Sri Rayasila Shekhavata, who was given a large amount of land by Akbar for defeating the Afghans, built the original Gopinatha temple. It is believed that this temple may have been built before the Govindaji and Madana-Mohan temples. This temple was broken and defiled by Aurangzeb’s soldiers. SriNanda
Kumar Bose of Bengal constructed a new temple for Gopinatha.
Gouranga with Radha Krishna on the Altar
of the Old Temple
"Sri Srila Gopinatha, who originated the transcendental mellow of the rasa dance, stands on the shore in Vamsivata and attracts the attention of the cowherd damsels with the sound of His celebrated flute. May They all confer upon us Their benediction" (Caitanya Caritamrita Adi 1.17).
Some special festivals at this temple are Jahnava Utsava, which celebrates the appearance of Jahnava Devi, and Ban Behar Besh. Ban Behar Besh iscelebrated on the next day of Jhulan Utsava. Jhulan Utsava continues from the third day of the bright moon, till the full moon Purnima in the month of Sravana (July-Aug).
The Samadhi of Manu Pandit
