Shri Radha Madan Mohan Temple, Vrindavan
One of Krishna’s beloved names is Madan Mohan, meaning ‘one who enchants even Kamadeva’" A famous temple dedicated to this form of Krishna stands on a high mound near Kalidah Ghat in Vrindavan. This temple has a long history and is known for the story of its origin.
In this temple, Krishna is shown subduing a giant snake Kaliya, symbolizing his power over evil. According to Bhaktasindhu, a devotional text, two saints—Rupa Goswami and Sanatan Goswami—found an idol of Krishna in Nandgaon, where it was hidden in a small cave. They believed it was a divine sign, and they named the deity Govind Ji, meaning ‘protector of cows.’ They brought Govindji to Vrindavan and installed him at a site near Brahmakund. In those days, Vrindavan was empty, so the saints traveled to nearby villages and Mathura to collect food.
Shri Radha Madan Mohan Temple in Vrindavan is 5,000 years old. Krishna’s great-grandson, Vajranabha, originally built the temple. However, over time, the idols were lost. Later, when Advaita Acharya visited Vrindavan, he discovered the idol of Madan Mohan beneath an old banyan tree. He entrusted the deity’s worship to his disciple, Purusottama Chaube, who then gave the deity to Sanatana Goswami.They carried it to a hill near Kalidah, where they built a simple hut to stay close to the deity. This area was rough and steep, so they named it Pashukandan Ghat, meaning ‘a place so tough that even animals could barely pass.’
The temple’s fame grew when a merchant named Ramdas Khatri (also called Kapuri), who was traveling to Agra, got his boat stuck on a sandbank near Kalidah Ghat. Despite three days of effort, the boat did not move. Ramdas met Sanatan Goswami, who instructed him to pray to Madan Mohan. Miraculously, his boat started floating again. Grateful, Ramdas returned and offered his earnings to Sanatan, requesting him to build a temple for Madan Mohan.
With Ramdas’s help, a grand temple and a red stone ghat were built, creating a holy place for Krishna’s devotees. Even today, the temple and red sandstone steps remind visitors of the deep devotion that brought this temple to life.
Historical records indicate that the temple was rebuilt in 1580 AD. When the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb invaded in 1670 AD, the original idol of Madan Mohan was secretly transported overnight to Jaipur by King Jai Singh to protect it from the attack on the temples in Vrindavan and Mathura. Later, the deity was moved to Karauli by King Gopal Singh. Today, the original deities of the Shri Radha Madan Mohan Temple are housed in the Madan Mohan Temple in Karauli, Rajasthan.
The Madan Mohan Temple in Vrindavan is more than a place of worship; it is a reminder of Krishna’s love and the blessings he brings to his devotees.
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