Mathura Krishna Temple: History, Timings, and Darshan

Mathura Krishna Temple: History, Timings, and Darshan

Situated on the Delhi-Agra railway line is this divya desa. To go to the temple, get out at Mathura Junction and walk about two miles. Vrindavan lies about seven miles away. Speaking of Mathura requires considering both Govardhan and Brindhavan at the same time. Here, the Lord is referred to as Balakrishna. He is pictured standing and looking east. This is Satyabama, the consort. The Yamuna River, Govardhana Theertha, and Indra Theertha are the theerthas. Govardhana vimana is the name of the vimana. God made his appearance for Brahma, Vasudeva, Devaki, and other devas in addition to Indra. A new temple has been constructed at Janma Bhoomi, approximately 1.5 miles from Mathura. The shrine is adjacent to the prison cell where Sri Krishna was born. Govardhanagiri, where Krishna and his cowherd buddies grazed cows, is located about 8 miles from Mathura.

Mathura Krishna Temple History

Once upon a time, when Ramarajya ruled the land and rishis like Bhargava and Ravanar lived on the banks of the Yamuna river, they came to meet Sri Rama and implored Him to spare them the tremendous hardships caused by an asura named Lavana. They claimed that Mathu, a highly righteous monarch of the Kiruta yuga, made a great penance to Rudra. Pioneered with his devotion, Rudra bestowed upon him one amsa of His sacred trident, Sula. Siva then said that if Mathu used that Sula in any combat, it would aid him by reducing the enemy army to ashes and returning to him. However, he warned that the sula would vanish from his hands if he were to provoke the fury of the Brahmanas and devas. After receiving this present, Mathu expressed his happiness and asked that it be kept as a family heirloom and useful for all future generations. Siva stated that it wouldn’t work for all generations, but rather for just one. Over time, Mathu gave his son Lavana control of the country. This son did not resemble his father at all. He had an extremely wicked mind and enjoyed carrying out wicked actions. He was bothering the Rishis. They sought assistance from Sri Rama for this reason. Then, Sri Rama asked his younger brother Shatrugna to go and defend the Rishis. Shatrugna received a bow from Rama. It was a Swayambu bow, meaning that no human hands manufactured it. It came from within. This specific bow was made to destroy the asuras Mathu and Kaitapa, according to Rama, who also claimed custody of it when they were slaughtered. He claimed that because the universe would tremble if a bow was used, he refrained from using it during the battle with Ravana. Thus, he instructed Shatrugna to destroy Lavanasura using this if needed. In addition, he informed Shatrugna that only Shatrugna should visit Lavanasura’s residence and that the troops he is accompanied by may be held outside the town.
He went on to say that he has to be alert when Lavanasura leaves his home in quest of food. Shatrugna should get inside his house as soon as he leaves, wait patiently until he returns, and forbid Lavanasura from going inside so that he can battle him once he has access to the Sula weapon. He declared that he must not permit him to take the Sula that Shiva had sanctified. Shatrugna moved in that direction, making his way to Lavanasura’s residence. He went via Valmiki and Syavana Maharshi’s asrama en route. The latter reminded him of the Sula’s power that Lavanasura possessed and urged him to exercise caution. After arriving in Mathu’s town, Shatrugna followed Rama’s advice and calmly waited for Lavana to leave his house before moving in and keeping Lavanasura from entering. Later, after a fruitful hunting journey, he challenged Lavana to a wrestling match. In the interim, Lavanasura took a tree down and struck Shatrugna with it.

Shatrugna stumbled and passed out. Perceiving him as his deceased, Lavanasura attempted to break into the home. Shatrugna recovered in the interim. Without delay, he raised the bow that Sri Rama had given him.

The entire globe trembled. The devas were all terrified and unsure of what was going on. Shatrugna dispatched Lavanasura by shooting an arrow from the bow. The Sula that he had taken returned to Shiva right away. The devas showered Shatrugna with petals and invited him to choose any blessing. Shatrugna again demanded that Mathu grow into a large town with magnificent temples, formidable warriors, broad highways, water-filled tanks, etc. It is believed that Lavanasura once lived in the town of Mathura, which Shatrugna subsequently rebuilt. Shatrugna ruled from Mathura as before. Afterwards, the Yadhavas seized Mathura. Vasudeva was one of the Yadhavas; he wed Devaki. It is too widely known to repeat here the tale of how a divine voice declared during Devaki and Vasudeva’s wedding that the eighth child they would have would be King Kamsa’s demise. The children born to Kamsa the King were executed one by one when the monarch locked up his sister and brother-in-law. The eighth was Krishna, who was whisked to safety as soon as he was born and raised by Yasodha. Therefore, Mathura is the place where the Paramapurusha, Lord Krishna, dwelt as a child.

Gokulam, Brindavan, and Gavardhanagiri are the locations where Krishna was raised. As a result, it is revered as a particularly holy place, and going there is supposed to atone for all sins.