Nava mohana krishna Temple – gokulam

Overview

The temple is located on the banks of River Yamuna in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the108 Divya Desam temples and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

About the Temple

The temple is also known as Gokulam, Thiruvaipaadi temple, Gokul temple, Ayarpadi temple and Braja Bhoomi. Sri Navamohana Krishna Perumal temple is glorified in Nalayira Divya Prabandham, a Vaishnava canon, and mangalaasan (devotional songs) were sang by the azhwar saints Periyazhwar, Andal, Thirumangai Azhwar. Few steps from Ayarpadi, there is a small shrine of Lord Krishna, which is considered to be the Purana Gokulam, which is on the banks of river Yamuna. And the idols of Nandagopan, Yasodha, and Balarama can be seen there. The Pushkarani (temple tank) of Sri Navamohana Krishna Perumal temple is called as Yamuna Pushkarani. The Vimanam (tower above the sanctum sanctorum) of Sri Navamohana Krishna Perumal temple is called as Hema Kooda Vimanam.

It was said that Lord Krishna was the eighth son of Vasudeva and Devaki. As soon as Lord Krishna born, He was shifted to Mathura in order to save Lord Krishna from the demon Kamsa, the brother of Devaki, who was in the intension to kill Lord Krishna. It was believed that in childhood days Lord Krishna spent His time with His adopted parents namely Nandagopan and Yasodha in the sacred place of Thiruvaipaadi. Hence the holy place Mathura has been revered as one of the remarkable place in Hindu literature and mythology. The temple is closely related to Surdas, a 15th-century blind saint, poet and musician, and a great devotee of Lord Krishna, and Sathyabama, the second wife of Lord Krishna. Surdas was believed to be born his previous birth as Akroorar, who had a wonderful character and who was a great devotee of Lord Krishna.

About the Deity

The main deity is Lord Navamohana Krishnan. He is in a standing posture facing towards the east. And the goddess of the temple is Rukmani and Sathyabama Thayaar. The other deities of the temple are Goddess Yoga Maya (Goddess Durgai), Lord Shiva, Nandi, the mount of Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Brahma. The temple has a separate sanctum for Navagrahas.

Legend and Stories

Legend has it that once; Sathyabama was in an urge to see Lord Krishna, as she was depressed by loneliness. But Lord Krishna could not able to come to that place at that time. When Akroorar came to that place, he saw Sathyabama who was seen restless and wired. He asked the reason about her restiveness. She told that she wanted to see Lord Vishnu with a minute or else she would involve in self-immolation. On hearing these words from Sathyabama, Akroorar got tensed and went in search of Lord Krishna. But he could not find Him anywhere. As the time is running, Akroorar took the form of Lord Krishna and went in front of Sathyabama to save her life.

Sathyabama thought it was Lord Krishna and she started to have conversation with Akroorar who was in the form of Lord Krishna with loving words. Finally, Sathyabama got happy on seeing Lord Krishna. But when Akroorar explained his act to Lord Krishna, Lord Krishna got angry that he has imitated his god and it was a big sin that the eyes of Akroorar has seen Sathyabama in a different way. And so Lord Krishna cursed Akroorar that in his next birth, he will be born as a blind person and Sathyabama will be born on earth as a normal girl.

He also said that when they get the Gnana (knowledge inseparable from the total experience of reality, especially a total or divine reality) they will get rid of from their curse. As a result, Akroorar was born as a blind man named Surdas. But he had a great knowledge and was glorified as a great poet and musician. And he always praised Lord Krishna with his devotional songs and prayers. And finally he got rid of from his sin.

Festivals

Krishna Jeyanthi – August/September
Guru Purnima – June/July
Navarathri – September/October
Karthikai Deepam – November
Vaikunda Ekadasi – December/January

Nearby Place To Visit

Shri Krishna Janmbhoomi

• Dwarkadish Temple
• Gita Mandir
• Rangaji Temple
• Jugal Kishor Temple
• Radharaman Temple
• Jaipur Temple
• Prem Mandir
• Govind Deo Temple
• Krishna-Balaram Mandir

Accessibility

The nearest airport is in Kheria (Agra), 62 km away from Mathura. Mathura is on the main lines of the Central Railways and is connected with all the important cities of Uttar Pradesh and India such as Delhi, Agra, Lucknow, Mumbai, Jaipur, Gwalior, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai. Mathura is also well connected by roads which connect it to and from many important cities.

Temple Address

Sri Navamohana Krishna Perumal Temple Yamuna,
Mathura district
Uttar Pradesh