The tenth shrine dedicated to Lord Krishna is the Prem Mandir, Vrindavan. This grand religious site, known as the “Temple of God’s Love,” is dedicated to Radha Krishna as well as Sita Ram.
Prem Mandir is a Hindu temple in the Indian town of Vrindavan, Mathura. Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, an international non-profit educational, spiritual, and charitable trust are responsible for its upkeep. The complex is situated on a 55-acre plot of land on the outskirts of Vrindavan. It is named after Radha Krishna and Sita Ram.
Radha Krishna is on the first level, while Sita Ram is on the second. Kripalu Maharaj, the fifth Jagadguru, built the temple structure. The main temple is covered in figures of Shri Krishna and his followers depicting important events in the Lord’s life. Construction began in January 2001, and the inauguration ceremony was held from February 15 to 17, 2012. On February 17, the temple was opened to the public.
The total cost was Rs. 150 crores ($23 million). Shri Radha Govind (Radha Krishna) and Shri Sita Ram are the presiding deities. A pillar-free, dome-shaped Satsang hall of 73,000 square feet is being built next to Prem Mandir, with a capacity of 25,000 people. The temple complex is surrounded by lush gardens and fountains and features life-size depictions of Shri Krishna’s four leelas – Jhulan Leela, Govardhan Leela, Raas Leela, and Kaliya Naag Leela. It is a sister temple to Bhakti Mandir, which opened in 2005, and another sister temple, Kirti Mandir, Barsana, which opened in 2019.
Prem Mandir History:
On 14 January 2001, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj laid the foundation stone in the presence of thousands of devotees. The structure took about 12 years to build and involved over 1000 artisans. Kripalu Ji Maharaj, whose major ashram was in Vrindavan, created the Vrindavan site. He dedicated his love gift to Shri Vrindavan Dham.
Prem Mandir is entirely made of Italian marble. The temple’s total dimensions, including its flag, are 125 feet high and 190 feet long, with a 128-foot-wide raised platform serving as the seat of the two-story white monument. A circumambulation route has been built on the temple’s platform, mandir prāṅgaṇa, allowing visitors to view the 48 panels depicting Shri Radha Krishna’s pastimes that are carved on the temple’s outer walls.
The walls are 3.25 feet thick and made of solid Italian marble. The garbha-walls griha’s are 8 feet thick to support the weight of the massive Shikhar, Swarna Kalash, and flag. 84 panels depicting Shri Radha Krishna’s loving pastimes have also been installed on the temple’s exterior. Aside from that, numerous portraits of Radha Krishna Leela, or Lord Krishna’s miracles, can be found inside the temple.
Architecture:
A 1000 artisans worked day and night to complete the structure of this majestic temple, which cost a whopping INR 150 crores to build. To be worthy of the enormous sums of money and time spent on the site, the architecture of the Prem Mandir must be breathtaking and mesmerizing.
The Prem Mandir, constructed in the Rajasthani Somnath Gujarati style architecture, is located on a 54-acre site on the outskirts of Vrindavan. The entire structure was built with high-quality Italian marble and represents a “renaissance in ancient Indian art and architecture.” The overall dimensions of the structure are 125 feet tall, 122 feet long, and 115 feet wide.
The temple’s doors and windows are exquisitely carved, and the walls and floor are decorated with colorful semi-precious stones depicting floral vines blooming with blooms and flowers. The engravings on the main sanctum and the ceiling are also magnificent and captivate the viewer. The pillars are intricately engraved with beautiful statues of Kinkari Sakhis and Manjari Sakhis serving Shri Radha Krishna in various ways.
The entire temple is beautifully illuminated by the soft light of the stunning chandeliers, and it is truly a sight to behold. Prem Mandir’s lighting changes color every five minutes and is used very strategically.
The temple also includes a circumambulation route with 48 panels depicting Shri Radha Krishna’s pastimes. 84 panels depicting Shri Krishna’s loving pastimes have also been installed on the temple’s exterior. Aside from that, numerous portraits of Krishna Leela, or Lord Krishna’s miracles, can be found inside the temple. The temple’s first floor features magnificent idols of Lord Krishna and Radha, while the second floor is dedicated to Lord Rama and Sita.
Festival Celebrated:
Janmashtami and Radhastami are important and major festivals celebrated at the Prem Mandir. Both of these festivals are celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm, and people from all over the country flock to the temple during this time to partake in the holy celebrations.
Temple Timing:
Temple hours: The temple opens from 5:30 a.m to 8:30 p.m. every day. The following is the schedule for Aarti at the Prem Mandir:
Mornings:
- 5:30 AM – Aarti and Parikrama
- 6:30 AM – Bhog and Bhog Door Closes
- 8:30 AM – Darshan and Aarti
- 11:30 AM – Bhog
- 12:00 PM – Shayan Aarti and doors close
Evenings:
- 4:30 PM – Aarti and Darshan
- 5:30 PM – Bhog
- 8:00 PM – Shayan Aarti
- 8:15 PM – Shayan Darshan
- 8:30 PM – Door Closes
Preferable time to visit:
The best time to visit Prem Mandir is during the winter months of November to March. Prem Mandir is also well-known for its Holi celebrations, which take place in February and March.
More to explore:
The musical fountain show, which begins every evening from 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM, is a striking feature of the temple. Devotees enjoy the spectacular sight of water streaming out of the jet and then twisting and dancing to kirtans sung in praise of the Almighty.
How to reach:
- Air: The nearest airport to Vrindavan is in Agra, which is 80 kilometers away. To get to the Prem Mandir, take a taxi from the airport.
- Rail: The nearest rail station is Mathura, which is 8 kilometers away from the temple. You can hire a taxi, bus, or auto-rickshaw outside the station.
ALSO READ: Top 6 Temples to visit at Mathura Vrindavan
Image Source: Google