Shrinathji Temple
Nathdwara located just 48 km from Udaipur is a holy town and is identified for housing Shrinathji Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. The idol of this temple is carved out from a single piece of black marble and following the historical past, the statue was moved to the Mewar kingdom from Mathura during the reign of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. However, the chariot in which the statue was being shifted was caught right here and did not move further; therefore, a shrine was established at Nathdwara.
The temples and the legends always walk hand in hand. The legend related to the Shrinathji Temple can be found in the Pushtimarg scriptures of the Vaishnava sect. According to Vallabhacharya, Shrinathji used to visit Mewar with her young princess Ajab Kunwari. The purpose of his visit was the game of Chaupar.
The princess loved staying in Mewar. Therefore, whenever they went back to their home in Vrindavan, the princess used to become sad. So one day Shrinathji promised his daughter that when it was the right time, he would make Mewar his permanent residence. So, when the cart got stuck in the mud and came to a standstill, it was believed to be God’s will.
History of Shrinathji Temple
The Shrinathji image of God Krishna celebrates the seven-year-old child version of Krishna. This Swaroop of Krishna is known as Gopala, who was first worshipped by the Vallabhacharya in the Govardhan region of Vrindavan.
Idol- The sculpture of Shrinathji is made on a monolith out of black stone. As per the legends, around the 12th century BC, the stone of the idol was self-manifested from the Govardhan Mountain. The Govardhan Mountain was lifted by Lord Krishna to protect the people of Vrindavan from the wrath of the jealous Lord Indra.
Protection- Many temples have been under the threat of looting and plunder by many foreign settlers such as Sultans and Mughals. Therefore during the invasion of the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb, the people of Vrindavan shifted the idol to a predetermined destination. But as far as the legends go, during the transit, the wheels of the cart holding the statue came to a standstill.
The priests who were escorting the idol took this incident as the Lord’s wish to stay at that very place. Therefore, at the same spot, the temple was made which is today widely known as the Shrinathji Temple of Nathdwara. Around 1672 under the keen and vigilant eye of Maharana Raj Singh of Mewar, the temple was established.
Architecture of Shrinathji Temple
Built-in the 17th century, the Shrinathji Temple is a major Lord Krishna temple in Udaipur. The temple has a simple architecture, but the rich carving found on the white marble enhances its appeal. The architecture has a considerable resemblance to the Nanda Maharaj Temple located in Vrindavan. The local name of the temple is “Shrinathji ki Haveli.” The house has two essential features, mentioned below:
The foundation of the Shrinathji temple is laid on the fortified mansion of the honorable Sisodia Rajputs of Mewar.
The figure of Shrinathji is considered more of the head of the household rather than the temple. The people in Nathdwara have more love and respect towards the Shrinathji figure of Lord Krishna, rather than having a God and deity relationship. This kind of relationship is both rare and praiseworthy. The temple has an elaborate household structure. You can find separate storehouses for milk, flowers, sweets, and decorations along with different kitchen spaces, a stable, a treasury as well as a drawing-room.
Things to do at Shrinathji Temple
Shrinathji Temple has a whole day ritual planned, which is always a pleasure to watch. The ceremony begins early in the morning and ends in the evening. The ritual steps are mentioned below.
Mangala –The first darshan of the day, it is the step on which the idol of Shrinathji is revealed. The time slot is 5:15 AM - 06:00 AM.
Shringar – Shringar is the process in which the idol is re-decorated and dressed up in new and fresh clothes. The time slot is from 7:15 AM - 07:45 AM.
Gwal – The third stage is of the mid-morning snack of God. The time slot is from 9:15 AM - 9:30 AM.
Rajbhog – The fourth stage is the lunchtime of God. The time slot for the same is 11:15 AM - 12:05 PM.
Uthapan – It is the siesta time of the afternoon, which begins at 3:30 PM and ends within 15 minutes, i.e., at 3:45 PM.
Bhog – The Bhog is dinner time of Shrinathji, which begins at 4:45 PM and ends at 5:00 PM.
Sandhya Aarti - Sandhya Aarti is the final time of Puja or can be said the last Puja of the day. The time slot is 5:15 PM - 6:00 PM.
Shayan – The Shayan is the quiet time of God, which is from 6:50 PM to 7:30 PM.
Once you become a part of these rituals, you will feel happy and content, which is the best feeling one gets at the temple.
