Krishna: A Journey Through the Lands and Legends of Krishna

Contents Foreword xi Preface xv 1. Who is Lord Krishna? 1 2. Brij Bhoomi 9 3. Mathura 19 Kansa Qila 13 Krishna Janmasthan Temple 18 Krishna Janmasthan Temple the “other” Divine Location 27 Potara Kund 28 Dwarkadheesh Temple 29 4. Mahavan 31 Yogamaya Temple 34 Putana Temple 38 Trinavarta Temple (Lakshmi Narayan Temple) 41 Yashoda Bhavan 42 Nanda Bhavan (Chaurasi Khambha Mandir) 45 Chatti-Palana Temple 46 Revathi Balarama Temple 51 Patala Devi Temple 51 Utkhal (“Grinding Mortar”) 52 Brahmanda Ghat 55 Raman Reti 57 5. Gokul 61 Nanda Yashoda Bhavan 64 Yashoda Ghat 67 Raval 69 Radha Rani Janmasthan Temple 69 7. Baldeo 73 Balarama Temple 73 Kshir Sagara Kund (Balbhadra Kund) 74 8. Vrindavan 77 Sri Krishna Balarama Temple (ISKCON) 83 Sri Radha Vrindavan Chandra Temple 85 Varaha Ghat 86 Kaliya Ghat 88 Radha Madan Mohan Temple 90 Bake Bihari Temple 93 Radha Vallabha Temple 95 Seva Kunj 96 Imli Tala 99 Radha Dmodhar Temple 100 Radha Shyamsundar Temple 102 Shahji Temple 104 Nidhivan 106 Chir Ghat 111 Radha Raman Temple 113 Radha Gokulananda Temple 116 Kesi Ghat 117 Radha Gopinath Temple 120 Brahma Kund 121 Rangaji Temple 123 Radha Govind Dev Temple 124 Jaipur Temple 126 Gita Mandir 127 Glass Temple 128 Pagal Baba Temple 128 Mansarovar 130 9. Madhuvan and Talvan 135 Dhruva Narayan Temple 136 Krishna Kund 140 Balarama Temple 141 Dauji Temple 142 10. Radha Kund 145 Radha Kund and Shyam Kund 146 11. Goverdhan 151 Goverdhan Hill 152 Goverdhan Parikrama 153 Manasi Ganga 155 Mukharavind Mukut Temple 156 Brahma Kund 157 ISKCON Temple 160 Govinda Kund 162 Apsara Kund and Punchari Kunda 166 Kadamba Van 167 Airavata Kund 168 Surabhi Kund 169 Indra Kund (Charana Kund) 169 Kusum Sarovar 170 Uddhav Temple 171 12. Barsana 181 Radha Rani (Ladliji) Temple 182 Pila Pokhar Kund 184 Jaipur Temple 184 Mor Kutir and Maan Kutir 185 Prem Sarovar 189 Khadiravana 190 13. Nandagaon 195 Pavan Sarovar 195 Nanda Rai Temple 197 14. Mathura Revisited 209 Akroor Ghat 209 Rang Bhoomi 212 Vishram Ghat 220 The Journey 223 15. Dwarka 231 Location of Lord Krishna’s Place 233 Dwarkadheesh Temple 234 Rukmini Temple 239 Rukmini Krishna ISKOCN Temple 246 Gomti Ghat 246 Samudra Narayan 247 Gomti Temple 248 Sri Krishna Temple 248 Gopi Talav 253 Gita Temple 255 Bet Dwarka 256 Dwarkadheesh Temple 256 16. Porbandar (Sudamapuri) 259 Sudama Temple 259 17. Kurukshetra 269 Sri Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple 270 Jyotisar 274 Ban Ganga (Narkatari) – Bhisham Kun 279 Birla Gita Temple 284 Dera Baba Shravanthji Temple 285 Brahma Sarovar 286 Gaudiya Math 293 Sri Jairam Vidyapeeth 295 Gita Bhavan 298 Sannihit Sarovar 298 Bhor Saidan 300 Astipura and River Saraswati 303 Bhadrakali Temple 309 Krishna Museum 313 18. Somnath 317 Balka Teerth 317 Sri Prabhas Golok Dham 323 Gita Temple 323 Sri Seshavatar Temle and Cave 324 Bhagwan Sri Krishna Charan Paduka (Sri Krishna Neejadham Teerth) 325 Hiran, Kapila, Saraswati Triveni Sangam 326 Epilogue 329 Travelogue 333 Maps 33 Acknowledgements and Thanks 343