Gopisvara Mahadeva Temple
Vrndavan, Braj Mandal, Uttar Pradesh (UP) India

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Vajranabha, the great grandson of Krishna, installed the Siva-linga in this important temple about 4,900 years ago. There is a deity of Lord Siva, as a gopi, in this temple.

Gopisvara means Lord Siva as the controller (isvara) of the gopis. One time Lord Siva tried to enter into the rasa dance. Because he is a male he was told he could not enter. He then bathed in Maan Sarovara and took the form of a female. Maan Sarovara is across the Yamuna, about 3km from Vrindavana. When he returned to the rasa dance, Krishna told him to guard the entrance of the rasa dance and that no one would be allowed to enter the rasa-mandala (place of the rasa dance) without his permission. This pastime is described in the Garga Samhita.

Every morning, from 4 am to noon, thousands of people pour Yamuna water over the linga. It is said that the big pipal tree here is a kalpa-vriksya tree and will fulfill all desires. It is traditional to go around the tree and embrace it. The Maharaja of Gwalior built the present temple here.

The biggest festival of the year here is Siva Ratri, which falls during Phalguna (Feb-March). During Jhulana Purnima there are realistic silver images of Gopisvara and the Yogisvara aspects of Lord Siva. In front of this temple is another temple dedicated to Parvati or Annapurna, the consort of Lord Siva and the mother of Ganesh.

“The gopis worshiped Lord Siva in Vrindavana, and the lord is still staying there as Gopisvara. The gopis, however, prayed that Lord Siva bless them by giving them Lord Krishna as their husband. There is no harm in worshiping demigods, provided one’s aim is to return home, back to Godhead.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 4.30.38 purport)

“A Vaishnava’s visit to the temple of Lord Siva is different from a nondevotee’s visit. A Vaishnava sees Lord Siva as being simultaneously one with and different from the Supreme Lord, like yogurt and milk. The Absolute Truth, God, is everything, but this does not mean that everything is God. For this reason Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His followers visited temples of all the demigods, but they did not see them in the way an impersonalist sees them. Everyone should follow in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and visit all temples.” (Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya 9.360 purport). It is said, vaishnavanam yatha shambhu, or that “Lord Siva is the highest Vaishnava.”

The samadhi of Srinivasa Acarya is just down the road from this temple. A little distance from Srinivasa Acarya’s samadhi are the Deities that belonged to Raghava Pandita, called Radha Kanta.

How To Get Here This temple is in the Vamsivata area and most rickshaw drivers know how to get to it. It is a famous temple. It is not a very big temple, but from the outside it is obvious that it is a temple. If you are going to visit the places in this area, it is a good place to use as a landmark.

Temple Timings Darshan in this temple is from 5 am to 12 noon and 4 to 9 pm in the summer and 5.30 am to 12 noon and 4 to 9 pm in the winter.

Copyright ©2001 John Howley and Spiritual Guides