Gupt Vrindavan - Finding Lost Pages From Jaipur’s History

You know it as the Pink City. You may also know it as the Paris Of India. If you follow its literal meaning, you may know it as the City Of Victory. But do you know our beautiful Jaipur was once known as Gupt Vrindavan? Lost in pages of violent war history, vibrant architecture, and the glamour of tourism lies a tale of devotion and resilience that is centuries old and seems to be forgotten. 

At the epicentre of this tale are the divine deities of Shri Radha Govind Devji, Shri Radha Gopinath Ji and Shri Radha Madan Mohan Ji, deities who once lived in Vrindavan, the sacred land of Krishna. The deities who now live in the heart of Rajasthan once faced desecration at the hands of Aurangzeb!

The forgotten pages of Jaipur’s history hold a tale of material ego and terror that tested the resilience and spirit of pure devotees and their love for the Supreme Lord. Chant Hare Krishna and read on to be captivated!

The Historical Context: Protecting Krishna’s Legacy

The tale of Gupt Vrindavan starts with Aurangzeb, the 17th-century Mughal Emperor who strived to dominate the Indian Subcontinent with his power and philosophy. Led by his ruthless desire, Aurangzeb's relentless campaign against Hindu temples was a brutal assault on the very soul of Hindu culture. Aurangzeb fueled his campaigns with the systematic destruction of sacred sites and historical temples, which were not just places of worship but pillars of communal identity, cultural centres, spiritual hubs and testimonials of Hinduism’s glorious legacy. 

From the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi to the prosperous Somnath Temple of Gujarat and Mathura’s Keshav Rai Temple, Hindu temples across the Mughal Empire were strategically targetted and brutally desecrated by Aurangezeb’s army of plunderers who sought nothing but the destruction of both, the Hindu culture and spirit. Not even the vibrant temples of Krishna’s own playground, Vrindavan, were safe from Aurangzeb’s tyrannical commands and forces.

Although Aurangzeb had the command of one of the mightiest armies in the world during his time and a gross taste of destroyed Hindu temples, little did he know that his plans to plunder the divine legacy of Vrindavan and establish his supremacy would be left to the dust and nothing more than failed attempts at the lotus feet of the greatest supreme, Krishna - The Supreme Personality Of Godhead.

The Glory Of Vrindavan’s Temples & Aurangzeb’s Anxiety

Aurangzeb’s zeal to crush Hindu temples is not unknown, but his grudge against the temples of Vrindavan was more than that. His cruel attacks on the temples of Vrindavan were birthed by his fragile ego and jealousy being triggered by the glory of Shri Vrindavan Dham. According to the tale, on a dim night, Aurangzeb stood at his royal patio in the city of Agra to glance at the night sky. To his amazement, a very peculiar star close to the horizon caught his attention with its extraordinary glow that illuminated the dark sky brighter than the moon!

Puzzled and fascinated by the extraordinary twinkle in the dark night, the Emperor inquired his councilmen about the peculiar star and what he was told left him enraged and anxious at the same time. The glow was not a star or any celestial body, but the pure ghee lamp alit on the Shikhara of the seven-storey magnificent Shri Govind Devji Temple in Vrindavan! The enormous size and aura of the lamp were such that its shimmering glow could be seen from unimaginable distances.

After witnessing the grandeur of the Vrindavan’s temples himself, Aurangzeb was deeply unsettled and anxious by the advancement and prosperity of these temples. To shelter his ego and shred the pride of the Hindu community, Aurangzeb launched a strategic military campaign led by men, canons, horses and elephants to tear these temples down, but what followed next was truly a remarkable series of actions that tested the resilience and devotion of the Lord’s pure devotees but more importantly, served as a severe blow to the ego and hatred of Aurangzeb. 

The Attacks Of Aurangzeb & The Deities Escape

Enraged and jealous by the glory of Vrindavan, the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb, commanded his troops to take down the holiest and the most important of Vrindavan temples, dedicated to the Supreme Personality Of Godhead, Lord Shri Krishna. Most notable of these temples were Shri Radha Govind Dev Ji, Shri Radha Gopinath Ji and Shri Radha Madan Mohan Ji.

Each of these deities has a unique story to tell, and with a Darshan of all of them, a devotee is said to witness the physical form and features of Krishna himself. These deities also hold the successive keys to spiritual advancement, namely – Sambandha, Abhidheya and Prayojana. With his material forces, Aurangzeb tried desecrating these spiritual crown jewels of Shri Vrindavan Dham but, in a divine turn of events, failed miserably with nothing but frustration left in his hands.

1. Shri Radha Madan Mohan Ji – The Sambandha Deity

Originally Worshipped By: Srila Sanatana Goswami

The enchanting deity of Shri Radha Gopinath Ji also made its journey from Vrindavan to Jaipur to ensure its preservation. Residing in the Gopinath Mandir, this deity is a cherished symbol of Krishna’s eternal pastimes, keeping Vrindavan’s spirit alive in the Pink City.

Each of these deities carries the divine essence of Vrindavan, filling Jaipur’s air with spirituality and devotion. These temples are not just architectural marvels but sacred abodes where the eternal love of Radha and Krishna thrives, making Jaipur a spiritual oasis for seekers worldwide.

2. Shri Radha Govind Dev Ji –  The Abhidheya Deity

Originally Worshipped By: Srila Rupa Gosvami

Famed as the King of Jaipur, Shri Radha Govind Dev Ji is the predominating deity of Abhidheya, the second stage of spiritual advancement as per Vedic literature. Before the heinous attacks of Aurangzeb, Shri Radha Govind Dev Ji was worshipped in a glorious temple that peaked to a magnificent seven-stories height, bejewelled with the forever-lit ghee lamp on its Shikhar that lit the night sky. The temple was studded with some of the most intricate hand carvings known to mankind and stunning architectural excellence. To add to the glory, the face of Shri Radha Govind Dev Ji is said to resemble the facial features of Shri Krishna himself.

Aurangzeb was well aware that taking down this monumental temple was not an easy task, even with his fierce army. Even though he had an unstable sense of confidence in dismantling Shri Radha Govind Dev Ji’s abode, Aurangzeb commissioned battalions of his army and the mightiest of elephants to demolish the temple.  

When Jai Singh II,  the King of Jaiour and a humble servant of the Lotus Feet of Krishna, was notified about Aurangzeb’s oncoming attacks on Vrindavan, he immediately disposed off all of his engagements and hurriedly arranged the extraction of Shri Radha Govind Dev Ji’s deities from the Lord’s Sanctum Sanctorum. 

Although the Rajput King was not bestowed with the strength to defend against Aurangzeb’s forces, he managed to secretly relocate the deity, that is, the life and soul of the temple, to Jaipur, leaving nothing behind but just stone walls and an empty temple for Auranzeb’s army. Out of their rage and frustration, the Mughal troops used all of their strength to demolish four stories out of seven of Shri Radha Govind Dev Ji’s temple. After days of consistent blows on the soulless stones of the temple, the troops eventually fell to exhaustion and surrendered their efforts with three stories still standing.

Raja Jai Singh, on the other hand, commissioned a grand temple to be built for the Lord in the heart of his capital, Jaipur, and in a straight sight from the quarters of his royal palace. With the Supreme Lord situated at the heart of his kingdom, Jai Singh erected fortified walls around the city, thereby blessing Jaipur with its true name –  The City Of Victory.

3. Shri Radha Gopinath Ji –  The Prayojana Deity

Originally Worshipped By: Srila Madhu Pandita Gosvami

The original deity of Sri Radha Gopinath Ji was not carved out of stone by material hands but by the architect of demigods, Vishwakarma, at the request of Lord Krishna’s great-­grandson, Vajranabha. The deity is said to resemble the exact physical features and beauty of Krishna’s shoulders to the waist.

Lost for ages, the deity was later excavated by the command of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu at Vamsivata in Vrindavana by Paramananda Bhattacarya, a disciple of Gadadhara Pandita ( the incarnation of Shrimati Radha Rani). In Vedic literature, Shri Radha Gopinath Ji represents the third and final stage of spiritual advancement, that is, Prayojana – the ultimate stage of life where love for the Supreme Personality Of Godhead truly sprouts.

With the name Gopinath translating to the Lord (Nath) of the Gopis, Shri Radha Gopinath Ji is a perfect embodiment of love for the Supreme Personality Of Godhead. Originally worshipped and served by Srila Madhu Pandita Gosvami, a close associate of the six prominent Gosvamis of Vrindavan, the deity was safely and secretly moved and re-established in Jaipur for safe keep from the Mughal attacks.

In addition to these three prominent deities, Jai Singh ensured the safety of the principal Deities of the Gosvamis of Vrajabhumi by safely relocating them to Jaipur for shelter and safe worship. Gradually, the deities of Shri Radha Damodara, Shri Radha Vinoda, Shri Vrindavanchandra, Shri Radha Madhava and several other deities of Vrindavan were secretly relocated to a new home in Jaipur, thereby earning Jaipur the name – Gupt Vrindavan, the Secret Vrindavan.

 

Besides these chief deities, Jaipur also hosts many other deities like Sri Radha Madhava, Sri Radha Natavar, and Sri Radha Raman. Unique temples, including the Mira Bai Temple, Caran Pahadi, and Kanak Vrindavan, further enrich the city’s spiritual vitality and significance.

The Significance Of The Three Deities In Gaudiya Vaishnavism

The holy land of Vrindavan is bestowed with sacred deities of Krishna, which are astonishingly higher in number than any other spiritual destination or city. Yet, apart from all, the deities of Shri Madan Mohan Ji, Shri Govind Dev Ji and Shri Gopinath Ji carry a special significance in Gaudiya Vaishnavism. As previously mentioned, the three deities represent three successive stages of spiritual advancement in Vedic literature. 

With Shri Madan Mohan, the Sambandha Deity, a devotee establishes his original relationship with Lord Krishna. Successively, Shri Govinda Dev Ji is the Abhidheya Deity and with the worship of Shri Govinda Dev Ji, a devotee actively engages in devotional activities based on complete attachment to the Lotus Feet of Krishna. With this divine process of devotional service, a devotee finally reaches the ultimate stage of purification by worshipping the Prayojana Deity, Sri Gopinath Ji and develops pure, unalloyed love for Krishna ( Prema Bhakti ).

Apart from spiritual significance, the Darshan of these three deities bestows up on the devotees the pleasure of glancing at Krishna himself, for Shri Radha Madan Mohan Ji resembling the Lotus Feet Of Krishna, Shri Govind Dev Ji resembling the Lord’s beautiful face and Shri Radha Gopinath Ji bearing resemblance with Krishna’s torso.

The Aftermath Of Attacks: Krishna – The Ranchora

ईश्वर: परम: कृष्ण: सच्चिदानंद विग्रह: ।
अनादिरादिर्गोविंद: सर्वकारणकारणम् ।।

ishvarah paramah krishnah
sac-cid-ananda-vigrahaha
anadir adir govindaha
sarva-karana-karanam

~ Brahma Samhita 

Translation: Krsna who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes.

Krishna is the Supreme Personality Of Godhead, the cause of all causes, the beginning of everything and the end of everything that has a beginning. For He is the Supreme Protector and needs the protection of none. If the Lord so desires, he can vanquish the armies of the entire universe and all the universes combined without making an effort. There’s no doubt that the infinite potency of the Lord and his deities was and will always stand far, far beyond measure, with the meagre strength of an ignorant Aurangzeb’s army. 

The Lord works in mysterious ways, and we know it from His fabulous pastimes, particularly when Krishna fled the battlefield when Jarasandha attacked Mathura, earning him the title of Ranchora – one who fled the battlefield. Just as Krishna’s fleeing from the battlefield carried a deeper meaning and plan, the deities’s escape from Vrindavan was also not an act of cowardice and weakness but a Him cleverly playing with his Maya to cause a profound impact and inspiration in several ways.

• Aurangzeb’s Arrogance And Ego Shattered

During his reign, the Mughal Empire was at its peak, with its roots spreading far across the Indian Subcontinent. With such power and prosperity at his disposal, Aurangzeb was acutely unaware of failure, but his conquest against the deities of Vrindavan shattered his false ego and illusion of power. Aurangzeb’s soiled attempt to desecrate the deities of Vrindavan, even with an army of terrifying scale and strength, left him brimming with frustration and an overwhelming sense of defeat.

Incapable of accepting defeat at the hands of humble servants of the Lord’s Lotus Feet and with the dawn of old age, Aurangzeb slowly succumbed to his death in 1707.

• Dawn Of A New Haven For Vaishnavism

Although the cruel Emperor’s attacks were meant to crush the culture of Vrindavan, the ultimate result was the exact opposite. When the sacred deities from Vrindavan were relocated to Jaipur, they brought not just spiritual presence but also a thriving tradition of bhakti. The temples became centres for scriptural study, kirtans, and festivals, inspiring generations of devotees to immerse themselves in Krishna consciousness. 

The Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, founded by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, also found fertile ground in Jaipur, nurturing its teachings and practices. Moreover, with replica deities of Shri Govind Dev Ji, Shri Gopinath Ji, and Shri Madan Mohan Ji installed in the original temples, the spiritual aura of devotion has only doubled itself, arising from Vrindavan expanding into Jaipur.

• Srila Prabhupada And His Vision Of Gupt Vrindavan Dham

In modern times, Srila Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, played a pivotal role in reviving Krishna Consciousness globally and reinforcing Jaipur’s spiritual significance. His teachings, inspired by the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, emphasised devotion through chanting the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra and spreading the glories of Lord Krishna. Cultural centres, such as the Hare Krishna Mandir Jaipur, have continued to uphold these traditions by organising kirtans, lectures, and festivals that celebrate Lord Krishna’s divine pastimes.

During his visit to Jaipur, Srila Prabhupada sensed the extraordinary potential of spirituality in the veins of Jaipur and dreamt of a one-of-its-kind cultural centre that would bring together the mercy of Shri Govind Dev Ji, Shri Gopinath Ji and Shri Madan Mohan Ji, effectively sowing the seeds for Gupt Vrindavan Dham.

• The Emergence Of Gupt Vrindavan Dham – Where The Three Ahikaris Come Together

The tireless efforts of devotees and organisations like ISKCON have ensured that Jaipur remains a thriving centre of Krishna worship, offering spiritual solace to seekers and spreading the timeless message of love and devotion.

The Spirit Of Pink City: A Living Gupt Vrindavan

After centuries of adopting the sacred deities, Jaipur continues to radiate the divine essence of Vrindavan, embodying its legacy in every corner. As a modern-day Gupt Vrindavan, the Pink City is flourishing as a spiritual epicentre for Krishna Consciousness, where centuries-old traditions harmoniously blend with contemporary devotion.

• Jaipur’s Spiritual Architecture: Tints Of Vrindavan

Jaipur’s spiritual essence is deeply rooted in its architecture which reflects the sacred heritage of Vrindavan. The city’s temples were constructed with intricate designs and spiritual symbolism, reminiscent of the devotion found in Vrindavan. From the ornately carved entrances to the grand temple courtyards, every detail reflects a deep reverence for Lord Krishna and Radha.

• Temples Inspired By Vrindavan

Temples such as Shri Radha Govind Dev Ji and Shri Radha Gopinath Ji not only house the revered deities brought from Vrindavan but also showcase architectural grandeur similar to the temples of Braj. The use of red sandstone, marble, and traditional Rajput designs too, integrate the spiritual depth with artistic brilliance.

• A City Designed With Devotion

Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II planned Jaipur with a vision that honoured Lord Krishna. The city’s layout follows the principles of Vastu Shastra, with temples strategically positioned such that they remain central to the lives of its residents. Notably, the Govind Dev Ji Temple was deliberately aligned with the King’s Royal Palace, symbolising that Krishna’s blessings govern the royal family and the city itself.

Jaipur’s streets, palaces, and temples form a sacred symphony that together preserves the divine echoes of Vrindavan while also offering a sanctuary for devotion and spiritual awakening.

• Festivals That Celebrate Krishna’s Glory

Jaipur’s temples come alive during festivals like Janmashtami and Nandotsav, attracting devotees from across the globe. These celebrations recreate the vibrant energy of Vrindavan with heartfelt kirtans, grand processions, and rituals steeped in devotion. Janmashtami, the joyous occasion of Lord Krishna’s birth, is marked by midnight prayers, abhishekam (ceremonial bathing), and the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, faithfully filling the air with spiritual aura.

On Nandotsav, the city mirrors the jubilant festivities of Gokul, with offerings of sweets, vibrant music, and enactments of Krishna’s playful pastimes. These festivals deepen the connection between Jaipur and Vrindavan for devotees to experience Krishna’s divine presence.

• A Thriving Hub For Spiritual Seekers

Modern Jaipur is a beating heart for those seeking a deeper connection with Lord Krishna. Temples like the Hare Krishna Mandir Jaipur continue to host daily rituals, spiritual discourses, and cultural programs to nurture devotion and spread the teachings of Srila Prabhupada.

Whether through grand festivals or quiet moments of prayer, Jaipur, with the spirit of Vrindavan, is a living testament to Krishna’s eternal charm, offering devotees an opportunity to immerse themselves in the transcendental love of Vrindavan.

Conclusion: Preserving The Divine Legacy

Jaipur, honoured as Gupt Vrindavan, stands as a living testament to devotion, resilience, and spiritual preservation. Its sacred temples, hosting the beloved deities of Shri Radha Govind Dev Ji, Shri Radha Madhav Ji, and Shri Radha Gopinath Ji, echo the divine essence of Vrindavan, making the city a sanctuary of Krishna Consciousness.

Visiting Jaipur is not merely a journey through history—it is an invitation to immerse yourself in Lord Krishna’s eternal presence. From witnessing the grandeur of Janmashtami celebrations to feeling the vibrant energy of Nandotsav, every moment in Jaipur brings you closer to the divine.

Let Jaipur inspire your devotion and connect your soul to the timeless legacy of Krishna’s love.