Radha-Ballabha Temple
Vrndavan, Braj Mandal, Uttar Pradesh (UP) India

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Hit Harivamsa Gosvami, a disciple of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, founded this popular temple. He is the founder of the Radha-Ballabha Sect, and is known for his emotional poetry about Radha and Krishna. He was born around 1500 in the village of Bad, about 10 km from Mathura, on the Mathura-Agra Road, in Braja Mandala. His father was a well-known astrologer and was engaged by the Mughal emperor. He was married at the age of 16 and had three sons. He renounced family life at the age of 32 and started for Vrindavana. On the way he stopped in a village where a brahmana named Atmadeva was worshiping the Deity of Radha Ballabha. Atmadeva had two daughters of marriageable age. In a dream Atmadeva was directed to give the Deity to Hit Harivamsa and also that his daughter should be married to him. He then built a hermitage near Seva Kunja and installed the Deity of Radha-Ballabha there.

A temple was constructed for Radha Ballabha around 1626 by a Bengali devotee named Sundara Das, who was the disciple of Braja Chand, Sri Hit Harivamsa’s son. The soldiers of Aurangzeb desecrated this temple in 1670. The present temple, which is adjacent to the old one, is where the Deity is now worshiped. This temple was completed in 1871-72. The Deity of Radha-Ballabha was taken for a while to the town of Kaman, and returned in 1784. This is one of the more popular temples in Vrindavana.

There is no Deity of Radharani in this temple. A crown is placed on the altar and this is used for Radha’s worship. First oblations are offered to Radha and then to Krishna. Garments are also first offered to Radha and then to Krishna.

A special event at this temple is the Khicari festival, which takes place from the new moon day of Paush to the new moon day of Magha. Each morning the Deity is offered khicari (rice mixed with dhal or lentil), vegetables, poppadums (papar), and pickle, while the Deity is dressed in different ways in relation to some of Krishna’s pastimes.

During the Jhulan Yatra festival in spring from the third day of Sravana Shukla to the full moon day the Deity is put on a different swing (hindola) every day. One of the swings is solid silver.

If you come to this temple from the main entrance (not the one up the steps) you pass through a courtyard called Radha-Ballabha Ghera, which has temples dedicated to Radha Ananda-Ballabha, Radha Kishori-Ballabha and Radha Jivan-Ballabha in it. In this courtyard is the samadhi of Hit Harivamsa.

How To Get Here This temple is close to the Banke Bihari temple. If you are coming from Loi Bazaar to Banke Bihari temple on Banke Bihari Bazaar Road, you make a right about 150m before the T intersection. There is a barber on the corner here. You go down this road about 50m (150 feet), passing the Narasimha temple on your left, and then you make a left. You are then in the courtyard that leads to the Radha-Ballabha temple (about 70m ahead). The ancient temple directly in front of you, on the right, is the old temple. Next to this temple is a doorway that leads to the new temple, where worship of the Deity is presently going on.

To get here from Banke Bihari temple, you make a left out of the lane that leads to Banke Bihari temple and walk about 80 metres (250 feet). There is a stairway here (on the right) that leads to the back of the new temple. This stairway is just before the road bears to the left. If you are in the new temple and are facing the Deities the old temple is to your right. You reach it by going out the door in back of you, on your right.
Temple Timings Mangala arati - 5.30 am; Darshan: 8.30 am to 12.30 pm and 6 to 9 pm.

Copyright ©2001 John Howley and Spiritual Guides