Shrinatha Mama Natha | Nathdwara | Where the Little One is Adored

On the day of Shravan Shukla Panchami (Naag Panchami), a Braj resident went to Govardhan mountain to search for his lost cow, he saw the raised left arm of Shrinathji. He called other Brajvasis and showed them the raised left arm. They believed this was the same left arm of Lord Krishna with which He carried the Govardhan Hill. They decided no one should try to dig the mountain to take out the form of the Lord. Only when He wishes will His form be seen. Every year a fair was organized here on the day of Nagpanchami.

After 69 years, cow isolated from Sri Saddu Pandey’s (a resident of Vraj) herd, climbed the Govardhan Hill and dropped her milk on a black arm on the top of the hill. Everyday, in the afternoon, she continued to lag behind the rest of her herd to perform her ritual over the protruding arm.

Her owner, unaware of her devotion began to wonder why the cow’s milk giving capacity has reduced. One day he followed her and discovered her secret rite with Shrinathji. The complete form of Shrinathji did not appear all at once. First the left arm appeared, then the face and later the complete form appeared. When Saddu Pandey saw the Lord Krishna their in the form of Govardhandhari, The Lord himself revealed his name as “Devadaman Indradaman and Nagadaman”. On the same day Vallabhacharya’s incarnation happened in Champaranyam, Chattisgarh. Saddu Pandey and his wife worshipped the Lord for so many years. After several years Bhagavan appeared in the dream of Vallabhacharya and instructed Him to come to Vrajbhoomi to see this archavatar of His. On hearing this order, Sri Vallabhacharya changed the direction of his journey and came to Anyor village near Govardhan in Braj, where he sat on the platform in front of Sri Saddu Pandey’s house. Drawn by the greatness of Sri Vallabhacharya, Sri Saddu Pandey along with his family became his devotees. Saddu Pandey narrated the entire story of Shrinathji’s manifestation to Sri Vallabhacharya. Next day morning, Shri Vallabhacharya along with his devotees and residents of Braj went to Shri Govardhan for the darshan of Shrinathji. When Sri Saddu Pandey told him from a distance where Shrinathji had appeared, tears of joy started flowing from the eyes of Mahaprabhuji. He felt as if the pain of separation from God which he had been feeling for years was now going away. He increased his speed of climbing the mountain. Then he saw that Lord Shrinathji wearing a peacock crown and yellow clothes was coming towards him. Shri Vallabhacharya reached near the Lord running. Shrinathji and Shri Vallabhacharya embraced each other. The people of Braj were also blessed to see this divine scene. Shrinathji instructed Sri Vallabhacharya to construct a temple for him there. Shri Vallabhacharya immediately got a small thatched temple constructed and consecrated Shrinathji in it.

Protecting Srinathji from the plunder of several invasions and wars, he was finally brought to a small temple town Nathdwara, forty-eight kilometers from Rajasthan, nestled in the lap of the Aravalli Hills.

According to the hagiography of the Pushtimarg, Shrinathji used to travel to Mewar to play chaupar (an antecedent to pachisi) with a princess by the name of Ajab Kunvari. She was upset whenever her beloved Shrinathji would go back to Vraj and asked him to stay with her in the palace. Shrinathji said that one day, when the time was right, he would re-locate to Rajasthan.

The temple has been designed in the lines of Nandababa’s temple in Vrindavan. Therefore, it is also known as Nanda Bhavan or Nandalaya (the House of Nanda).

Structurally, a kalasha on the shikhara marks the top of the temple, on which seven flags are flown along with the Sudarshana Chakra. The seven flags represent the seven ‘houses’ of Pushtimarg or  Vallabha Sampradaya. The temple is also popularly called Shrinathji ki Haveli (House of Shrinathji). Like a regular household it has a chariot for movement (In fact the original chariot in which Shrinathji was brought to Singhar), a storeroom for milk (Doodhghar), a storeroom for betel (Paanghar), a storeroom for sugar and sweetmeats (Mishrighar and Pedaghar), a storeroom for flowers (Phoolghar), a functional kitchen (Rasoighar), a jewellery chamber (Gahnaghar), a treasury (Kharcha bhandaar), a stable for horses of chariot (Ashvashala), a drawing room (Baithak), a gold and silver grinding wheel (Chakki). The Nathdwara temple has subsidiary temples dedicated to the deity Madan Mohanji and Navneet Priyaji, located in the main complex.

Located on the banks of the Banas river, this city which means the Gate of God, worships Lord Krishna as a little child.

The worship, therefore, is far from the usual ritualistic manner and takes place in an unique and adorable way. It is as if Little Krishna lives, plays, interacts with and watches over the people of this beloved city. The townspeople, therefore, mould their schedules to the calendar of darshan so as to ensure that Lord Krishna enjoys his sojourn. Visitors are only allowed into the sanctum sanctorum at certain times during the day to have a glimpse of the deity. He is not to be disturbed at other times and is given plenty of time to play and rest, just like any other seven-year-old. According to legend, Yashoda, like all concerned mothers, charted out a timetable for the Gopis to visit Krishna at their home, so that they would not crowd the poor child throughout the day. It is this custom that inspired Shri Vallabhacharya, to formulate a schedule for the worship of Shrinathji in his various temples, the primary of which is at Nathdwara.

An hour after Mangala Darshan, it is time for the Shringar Aarti where Shrinathji is adorned in silks and ornaments, dressed and made ready for the day. He does not repeat an attire in the same year, as an outfit calendar for the child-god was set about 500 years ago and is followed to this day. Shrinathji admires himself in a gold mirror held up for him after Shringar, and the reflection of the lord complete with his mellifluous flute is said to be one of the most iconic moments of worship.

The Gwal Darshan is next in line, and is sometimes not open to visitors. Krishna takes up his traditional vocation of cow herding and leads his flocks for grazing.

 Once he has returned to his holy abode after some time out in the fields, the Rajbhog is offered to him. He is decorated with a flower garland, and partakes in a royal luncheon. As Shrinathji is only a child, spice is not added to his food, and most of the dishes are sweet. After the grand meal, he is justly tired from the rich cuisine and retires for a long afternoon siesta, during which time the temple remains closed.

 Shrinathji is woken up from his nap with the musical strains of the veena, played during Utthapan. The little boy is still awakening from sleep and, the temple maintains a peaceful and calm atmosphere.

This is followed by the Bhog, after which comes the Sandhya Aarti, where Yashoda conducts puja for her precious child. 

Lord Krishna’s long day of work, frolic and mischief comes to a close with the Shayan Darshan. This involves a lullaby being sung to the heavy-eyed youngling. A luxuriant carpet leads to his room, where a gold bed has been prepared for divine sleep. Radha’s adornments are also left here so that she may join him.

Along with Shrinathji, all of Nathdwara winds down for the night. Peace and quiet settle in the town, save for the tranquil babble of the Banas river.

To view Sri Swamiji’s Madhurageetham on this kshetra:

 Sri Swamiji exalts Srinathji as His Beloved