About

Sri Radhavallabh Temple is located in Vrindavan in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh state in India, it is near Banke Bihari temple. The primary deity at the temple is Krishna, who is revered as Shri Radhavallabh Ji, which literally translates to “the consort of Shree Radha.” A crown is positioned next to Krishna to denote the presence of Shree Radha.

‘RadhaVallabh’ refers to Lord Krishna and Shree Radha as one. Shree Krishna Says, “I am never separated from Radha though many people view and count us as separate people. People who believe we are far and divided are uneducated, uninformed, and stuck in delusion”.

 As per the popular belief, the one with devotion and purity in heart can get the divine darshan of the idol.“Nirmal man jan so mohi paava, mohi kapat, chhal, chhidr na bhaava” by Goswami Tulsidasji outlines his way to meet the divine suggest that having a pure heart is a prerequisite for reaching God. The only authentic emotion that has the power to remove the pollutants amassed over many incarnations is love. But love needs a beautiful shape in order to be presented and felt so, Shri  Radhavallabh Ji appeared to show the most beautiful form of love itself. Shri Radhavallabh Lal, the ultimate possession of the Rasik Saints is considered to be the pure divine love the basis of this entire creation, the beginning, middle and the end.

Shri Radhavallabh ji is a depiction of the divine love of Lord Krishna and Shri Radha Rani, which is frequently referred to be the rarest type of “Ras Bhakti.” The RadhaVallabh sect’s major shrine upholds the belief that Radha Rani is the supreme divinity. One of the most attractive features of Shri Radhavallabh lal is his eyes. People usually lose their heart when they look into the eyes of Shri Radhavallabh lal. It is said that if one gazes long enough into the eyes of Shri Radhavallabh Ji, the person would be dazzled by its charm and feel intense joy, ultimately losing his self-consciousness.

Radha Vallabh Mandir in Vrindavan is an emblem of the purest form of love between Lord Krishna and Radha Rani displayed in the rarest form “Ras-bhakti”. This temple is situated on the cliff near Bankey Bihari temple surrounded by the pious Yamuna River. According to the Rasiks, the mesmerizing idol of Shri Radhavallabh Ji Maharaj is a form of blessing given by Lord Shiva to one of his devotees Shri Atmadev in by consideration of hisarduous devotion and prayers. This idol of Lord Krishna in Radha Vallabh temple is very unique.What makes this temple different is that there is no idol of beloved  Shri Radha Ranibut is replaced by  a crown that is placed near the idol of Lord Krishna to signify her presence. It is a belief that only devotees with the heart full of love, devotion, and purity can have the vision tosee holy divine idol.

In this temple, Radha Ashtami is enormously celebrated as the birthday of  Shri Radha Rani. This festival is celebrated for nine days at Radha Vallabh Mandir. Many devotees gather on this auspicious occasion and offer prayers and sing bhajans so that Lord Krishna and Radha Rani fulfill their wishes. Getting the glimpse of Sri Radhavallabh lal at Radha Vallabh Mandir is considered to be very difficult as the curtains of the Lord are at regular intervals closed to give them rest. RadhaVallabh Temple in Vrindavan is also famous for regular processions of wedding ceremonies of the supreme almighty. This ritual is locally known as Vyahula of the Lord. The temple is flocked with devotees on such ceremony and is center of prime attraction for such different rituals.

Timings of Radha Vallabh Mandir, Vrindavan:

Summer:

Morning: 08:00 am – 12:00 pm

Evening: 05:30 pm – 09:30 pm

Mangla Aarti: 05:00 am -6:30 am

Dhoop Aarti : 08:00 am – 8:30 am

Shringar Aarti: 08:30 am – 9:30 am

Raj bjog Aarti: 12:15 pm – 12:30 pm

Utthapan Aarti: 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Dhoop Sandhya Aarti: 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Sandhya Aarti: 07:30 pm – 08:00 pm

Shayan Aarti : 09:00 pm – 09:30 pm

Winter:

Mangla Aarti: 06:30 am

Morning: 09:00 am – 12:00 pm

Evening: 06:30 pm – 08:30 pm

One can experience the tranquility in the ambiance and surrounding of the Radha Vallabh temple only after visiting it.

Temple History

History-

The bhakti poet Sant Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu (1502–1552) founded the Radha Vallabh Sampradaya, a Vaishnava Hindu sect, in Vrindavan in 1535. Radhavallabh Sampradaya emphasises devotion to Shri Radha Rani as the Supreme Being.

According to popular legend,Lord Shiva honoured the Shri Atmadev Brahman’s devotion to the Lord by giving him the idol of Shri Radhavallabh ji.  In a place called Devavan, the Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu lived for 31 years. He departed for Vrindavan in his 32nd year. He was instructed to marry the daughters of Atmadev on his route to Vrindavan by the goddess Shri Radha Rani herself, and was asked to take with the idol of Shri Radhavallabh ji with him. As instructed, Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu wed Atmadev’s daughters, and  Atmadev gave Shri  Radhavallabh Ji’s idol to Harivansh Mahaprabhu and his daughters. The Radhavallabh temple was established in 1585 and is one of the oldest and longest-lasting temples. It was built using red sandstones and at that time red sandstones were only used to construct royal palaces, imperial structures, and forts.Being the incarnation of the Holy Flute, Shri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu tasted the spiritual nectar present in the close service of the Lotus, like the lovely, softest, most gentle feet of Shri Radha Rani and Shri Krishna in their ecstatic love. By providing unwavering devotion, commitment, and lovingly intimate service to the supreme Lord in his capacity as the divine friend of the divine Consort, one can taste the elixir of Bhakti-Rasa.

The Radhavallabh temple, built in 1585,by Sundardas Bhatnagar, a disciple of Shri Vanchandra Ji, son of Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu, founder of the Radhavallabh sect. It is one of the oldest and longest-surviving temples, majestically built with red sandstones at a time when they were only used for high palaces, imperial buildings, and royal forts.

Ashtyam Seva

Hit HarivanshMahaprabhu’s loving worship is considered as the Sakhi Bhava worship.And this sentiment is expressed and seen in Shreeji’s loving and pampered services. This loving way of offering sewaand worship to our beloved Shreeji is certainly a treat to watch. Shri Radhavallabh laal ji continues to steal the heart of all devotees through his graceful and loving acts. The services offered to Shreeji in the temple are called as “Nitya Seva”. In which there are “Eight Services” offered in a day called as Ashtyam Sewa. Ashtayam means eight pahars of a day.As there are eight pahars in a day and 1 pahar is of 3 hours.All Nitya sewas are performed with love and care by the descendants of Goswami ji.

So the eight services offered to Shri Radhavallabh Laal ji are as follows-

Mangla Arti

This is the first arti and first service offered to our beloved Shri Radhavallabh Laal ji. Shreeji is awakened with all the love and care and brought to Nij mandir for the devotees who eagerly wait to have just one glimpse of their beloved Shree ji. The bhog of makhan mishri, paan bida is served before Shreeji and then distributed among the devotees.

Dhoop Shringar Arti

After Mangla artiRadhavallabh Laal ji is taken for bath and shringar so that devotees can have Shreeji’s darshan in the most beautiful form. Shreeji is given bath with eitr and Yamuna jal thereafter Shreeji wears the most beautiful selected poshak and is adored with beautiful jewels and ornaments. After which the door gets open for darshans and bhog of ladoos and matri are offered to our beloved Radhavallabh Laal ji anddhoop shringar arti is performed.

Shringar Arti

Followed by Dhoop arti, Sringar arti is performed and after which doors remains open for devotees so that they can have Shreeji’s darshan. Variety of mithais also known as ‘kinka prashad’ is offered to Shreeji and bhog of charnamrit is distributed among the devotees.

Raj Bhog Arti

Raj bhog also called as Sakhra Prashad is offered to Shreeji in the Shreeji’s bhog mandir. All the jewels and ornaments are set aside when Rajbhog is offered to Shreeji. After the bhog Shreeji is brought back to the Nij mandir and Rajbhog arti is performed and darshan after this arti gets close till evening.

Utthapan Arti

This the first arti of the evening when Shri ji is awakened after the noon nap bhog is offered to Shreeji and doors of the mandir once again gets open for the darshan and Utthapan arti is performed.

Dhoop Sandhya Arti

Pua pakwan and sharbat is offered to Shreeji as utthapan bhog .Shreeji takes the flute during the Dhoop sandhya arti. Temple is usually decorated with beautiful flowers according to the seasons and festivals for sandhya darshan of Shreeji.

Sandhya Arti

In bhog variety of seasonal fruits is offered to Shree ji there after Sandhya arti is performed and devotees gather in huge crowds to see the glimpse of sandhya arti. Throughout the daycharnamrit and bhog is distributed among the devotees.

Shayan Arti

This is the last arti of the day. Bhog of puri kachori, saag, sabzi, dahi, mithai, kheer and other pakwans are offered to Shreeji and the Shayan arti is performed and after the Shayan arti darshan gets close for the devotees and Shreeji is taken to Sijja mandir for night. With all thelove and extreme care Charan Sewa is offered where eitr is rubbed on Shreeji’s charan while Shreeji is resting. Shreeji then goes back to sleep after the entire day.

About Harivansh Mahaprabhu ji

Shri Hit Harivansh Chandra Mahaprabhu who is considered as the Vanshi avtar was one of the most renowned and divine personalities appeared in the sixteenth century. He was born in ‘Baad’ Graam on Baisakh Shukl Ekadashi, Vikram Samvat, 1530.His father, Sri Vyasa Mishra, was a Gaur Brahman of Deoband in Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. Mahaprabhu through his divine qualities and conduct brought a significant zeal in the field of worship, devotion, poetry music etc.  Mahaprabhu was bhakti poet- sant and the founder of Radhavallabh Sampradaya.  He was famous in the Rasik Samaj and Sant Samaj by the names of, Hit Ju and Hitacharya. Mahaprabhu ji’s preaching of Shri Radha Krishna as Ek Praan Dou Deh that is one soul with two bodies is consider as the base of Radhavallabh Sampraday.

Early life of Harivansh Mahaprabhu

Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu spent his childhood at Deoband a place of peace and divinity. One day while he was playing with some of his friends, the ball fell in a deep well nearby and to take the ball back  Mahaprabhu jumped into the well and he found ‘Shri Vigraha'(Lord’s idol). This well still exists and ‘Sriji vigraha is placed in the ancestral palace at Deoband, is widely known as ‘Sri Radha Navarangilalaji’.

At the age of 16, Harivansh Mahaprabhu got married to Shri Rukimani Devi. Even after entering thehouseholder life, he did not change his religious allegiance. While performing all theduties of the householder, he remained a devotee and a saint in the true form. Therewas neither detachment in his mind towards household life nor did he have any kind ofinferiority complex towards it. One daughter and three sons were born to them fromSmt. Rukimani Devi.

Sri Harivansh Mahaprabu initiation from his Guru

It is a well known fact that Harivansh Mahaprabhu ji’s guru is none other than our beloved Shri Radha Rani. Once while Harivansh Mahaprabhuwas asleep, Sri Radha Rani gave her holydarshan to Hit HarivanshMahaprabhu in his dream and blessed him with guru mantra under a Peepal tree. This tree still exists at Deoband .

Sri Hit Harivansh got the Sri Vigraha of SriRadhavallabh lal :

At the age of 32, he went off on the way to Vrindavan he received Divine command from ‘Sri Radha’ while asleep in a vision. He was instructed by the goddess Shri Radha Rani herself to marry the daughters of Atmadev on his route to Vrindavan, and was asked to take with him the idol of Shri Radhavallabh Ji with him. As instructed, Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu wed Atmadev’s daughters, and  Atmadev gave the Shri  Radhavallabh Ji’s idol to Harivansh Mahaprabhu and his daughters. Further his child Shri Vanchandra also like him only wholesomely devoted himself to Shri Radhavallabh Ji. Further heredity is taking care of thetemple and its properties.

After deciding to permanently reside in Vrindavan, Shri Harivansh ji would have probably disciplined all the spiritual practices prevalent in Vaishnavism and after this contemplation-study, he would have started his new spiritual practice, the effect of rituals increased with the prohibition of rituals and many customs of Brahmachar had become prevalent. By not accepting them, Shri HarivanshJi started his own new sect and accepted a completely innovative style in many things which was called Ras Marga. Therefore, the general public seemed more attracted to it. On the path of devotion and love, after receiving the blessings by worshipping Shri ji, the devotees started walking together on the path promoted by Harivanshji and his method of worship was spread far and wide. Enchanted by the beautiful form, virtues and modesty of Shri Harivanshji, the people of Braj considered him to be the real incarnation of Krishna’s lineage and considered his simple voice to be attractive according to the sound of his voice he was extensively described in the later verses as an incarnation of Vanshi (Shri Krishna’s flute)

 Work and Compositions – Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu

 Hit Harivanshji, has composed two famous Hindi texts and two famous Sanskrit texts.

 Hindi texts haveHita Chaurasiand Shri Safut Vani

Sanskrit texts have Radha Sudha Nidhi and Yamunashtak

All the above mentioned books have been published.

1 – Radha Sudha Nidhi – This is a hymn written in Sanskrit in which there are 270 verses.This book, full of various descriptions of Shri Radha Ji’s, worship, praise, service, devotion, proximity, beauty. It is considered to be the best hymn among thecommunal devotional poems for its favored uniqueness. Its ancient handwritten copieshave been mentioned by many English and Indian scholars. It is mentioned in the list ofhandwritten texts of the India Office and in it the name of its founder is given as ShriHit Harivansh.

2 – Yamunaashtak – This is a prashasikavya of eight verses written in the worship of Yamuna. In this, the hymn of Kalindandini Yamuna has been sung. The adjectives used in the praise of Yamuna are meaningful the joy of this poem is attained only by understanding their meaning.

3- Hit Chaurasi – The collection of eighty-four verses composed by Shri HitHarivanshji is Hitachaurasi. This is the original text of the Radhavallabh-sampraday.On the basis of this book, the later devotees-Mahatmas have poured their heart out for the Radhavallabh  sampraday.  In the Radhavallabh-sampraday, this book is given the highest respect byconsidering it as the foundation. In 84 versus of this book, Shri Harivansh Mahaprabhu Ji has poured out all the melody of Brajbhasha,Due to the 84verses, initially some people without seeing the book had such a belief that this bookhas been made to describe the eighty-four devotees, but it has no direct or indirect relation with the character description of the devotees. This is a compilation of Muktak verses written in pure rasa method, which should be called the book of Radha-Bhava-Park Premlakshana-Bhakti. 84 verses were compiled in order to liberate the creature who wanders in 84 yonis, in these verses, Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu ji has presented those subjects on the background of Shringar Rasa, which are the backbone of Radhavallabh sect, that is, the exclusive love of Radhakrishna, nitya-vihara, rasleela, devotional feelings, respect in love, thestate of separation, the essence of Shri Radhavallabh Ji. The description of the swaroop, nitya vihar is the main text of this book.

 Hita SafutVani – 27 verses compiled in Safut Vani, which are directly related to the formulation of theory. In Hit Chaurasithe principles have been described indirectlyeverywhere, but in Safut Vanisubjects like love, indifference, radha-bhakti, and life- purpose have been directly rendered. In this compositions of Hit Harivanshji, this speech has a place after Hita Chaurasi. Due to its creation in sophisticated Brajbhasha, it has got enough publicity. The speech of Shri Harivansh ji is a collection of lyrical verses filled with devotion.

Shri Harivansh Mahaprabhu ji was not only a scholar of Sanskrit language, but also a natural poet, even after being proficient in Sanskrit language; we see the form of his natural expression in the composition of his Brajbhasha. The melodiousness, gentleness, fluency, expressiveness, eloquence and transmitability are in his ‘Hitachaurasi’ book; its meaning is not found even in ‘Radha Sudha Nidhi’. Along with reciting the verses of ‘Hita Chaurasi’, the image of the expressive subject matter gets embodied in the mind due to the transmittance and emotional capacity of that language.

Shri Radhavallabh Sampraday

Shri Radhavallabh Sampradaya – The primacy of Shri Priya’s Charanarvind is the vital element of this sect. Where the other sects are based on Shri Krishna Charan Rati, Shri Radhavallabh Laal Sampradaya is based on Radhacharan Rati there is no fast, there is no ritual. There is no place of prohibition in this sect as described in the scriptures. The happiness of Ishta is the only method and the displeasure of Ishta is the only prohibition.

This manifestation of love can also be understood in the words of Shri Sevak ji.

श्रीहरिवंशजनितजहाँप्रेम,तहाँकहाँव्रतसंयमनेम।छेमसकलसुख –सम्पदा।।तहाँजातिकुलनही

विचार,कौनसेउत्तमकौनगँवार।सारभजहरिवंशकौ।।

कोटि-कोटिएकादशीमहाप्रसादकोअंश।

व्यासहियेप्रतीतहैजिनकेगुरुश्रीहरिवंश।।

Shyama shayam’s bhajan and Vrindavan’s ras is of utmost importance among rasiks and millions of Ekadashi fasts are also useless before it. As Shri Vyas ji clearly says-

In this way, Rasiks worship Shri Priya  Ji’s Charanravind, and becomes free from the ostentation of all the scriptures and dwells in the sweetest nectar of Shri Vrindavan.

श्रीहरिवंशसुरीतिसुनाऊं।श्यामा-श्यामरकसंगगाऊं।।

छिनएककबहुनअंतरहोई।प्राणसेएकदेहहैंदोई।।

Here Shri Radhacharan’s worship does not mean neglect of Shri Laal ji but both Shri Priya  Ji and of Shri Laal are considered to be one form of love rather than two different individuals. In Radahavallabh Sampraday our beloved Priya-Priyatam’s praises are sung together as Shree Hit Maharaj considers Priya-Pritam as one.

Shri Hit Sampraday is very popular sect for its Shringararas, the beauty of Shri Vigraha Radhavallabhlal ji worshiped and served by this sect is incomparable, indescribable, and supernatural, the form of this deity is very gentle and blissful whoever sees the deity gets attracted to its beauty.

The biggest difference of Shri Hit Sampradaya from Shrivallabh and Shri Chaitanya sects is that, both these sects have considered ‘God as the Supreme Being’ as the supreme element, whereas in Hit Sampradaya ‘love of God’ is considered as the last element, the difference between these two is that in one there is predominance of God and in the other there is predominance of love, as a result of this, the principles of devotion and love have developed in Sri Vallabh and Sri Chaitanya sects with respect to Lord Shri Nandanand and in Shri Radhavallabh Sampradaya, love itself is considered as essence of the inner soul of Sri Nandanandan, and Sri Vrishabhanunanandini and considered to be the manifestations of the eternal love for the pastimes. Dhruvadas ji has written, ” Prem Ke Khilone Dou, Khelat Hai Prem Khel” i.e. the player of love who is Priya-Pritam is also playing the game of eternal love leela by becoming a toy. And this transcendent self-play of love is called as Nityavihara.

चन्द्रमिटैदिनकरमिटै , मिटैत्रिगुणविस्तार।

दृढ़व्रतश्रीहरिवंशकौ, मिटैननित्यविहार।।

The moon may be destroyed, The sun may also be
destroyed, All the three kinds of material worlds (hell, heaven and earth) will be destroyed as well, But Shri Hita Harivansh Mahaprabu says, the ‘Nitya Vihar’ (Leela of Shri Radha Krishn never being separated not even for a moment in Vrindavan with Sakhis) can never end and will remain as such permanently.

The only goal of this worship is to make the living being a part of the love game of this never ending leela by making the soul experience divine love play, according to the reading of this worship, the soul itself should become the toys of the love play of Shri Priya-Pritam and experience never ending Nityavihar with nijatma. And become a servant of God.

Shri Radha-Kinkari are maids and their only purpose of life is to bring happiness to the mistress and her beloved through her easy loving service and love and to experience happiness in her happiness itself, this is the famous ‘Tsukhamaya Bhav’ of friends, there is not even the slightest desire for any personal happiness.

To make Sakhi Bhav clearer, it has also been called as Gopibhav Seva, just as Gopikas want only the happiness of Shri Radha Madhav by sacrificing everything, the same sentiment has been described as Sakhi Bhav Seva. But in this Sampradaya Sakhi Bhav is said to be higher than Gopibhav because the gopis have considers Shri Madhav as their husband through Katyayani Vrat and when Madhav fulfilled their wishes through raas,they became proud, due to which the Lord has become meditative, but in Sakhi Bhav, no relation was made with Madhav alone. Sakhi selflessly serves Shreeji and because Madhav is Shreeji’s husband due to the same relation they lives in the arrangement of Shreeji-Madhava’s happiness. Sakhis consider the joy of their love and service to be their only reason of their own happiness, so any desire for even a little bit of personal happiness does not only arise in them.

In this sect, Shri Radha-Madhav is considered to be the same, Shri Krishna and Shri Radha are always together  they have a constant association, Shri Krishna is Shri Radha, Shri Radha is Shri Krishna, the love of both of them is considered as Vanshi( Shri Krishna’s Flute)

Sewa offered at Radhavallabh Temple

Devotees can offer various services known as sewas to their beloved Radhavallabh laal. There are large number sevas which can be offered by devotees if they have any such desire. Following are the list of such sewa-

• Shreeji’s Poshak Sewa
• Ashtyam Sewa
• Shri Ji’s Vivah Utsav
• Chappan bhog Sewa
• Phool bangla
• Eitar Sewa
• Dehleej Pujan
• Raj bhog sewa
• Mangla bhog Sewa
• Shringar bhogSewa
• Utthapan bhog sewa
• Sandhya Bhog sewa
• Shayan Bhog sewa

 Festivals /Utsavs at Shree Radhavallabh temple

Radhavallabh temple is considered as temple of happiness and utsavs. It is very much famous for its festivals called as Utsavs  which are celebrated throughout the year. Devotees of Radhavallabh laal eagerly wait to be a part of all the festivals. People from different states and cities come together to be enjoy these utsavs one can feel the divine bliss and happiness at this time. The huge crowd of devotees gathers at temple they sing and they dance on these festivals as they feel bliss full to be a part of such festivals and what makes it more valuable and special that they get a chance to celebrate these utsav with their beloved Shreeji.

Some famous mahotsavs of the temple are

Khichdi Utsav

Hitotsav

Radha Ashtami

Holi Utsav

Jhulan Utsav

Phool Bangla

Sanjhi Utsav

Krishna Janam Utsav

Sharad poornima utsav

Deepawali

Patotsav

Chanda Utsav

Nauka Vihar