Krishna Janmashtan Temple
About Krishna Janambhoomi Temple
The Krishna Janmasthan Temple, located in Mathura, marks the sacred birthplace of Lord Shri Krishna. This beautiful temple complex, known as Shri Krishna Janmasthan, holds three main temples within its premises:
- Keshavdev Temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna
- Garbh Griha, the prison cell believed to be Krishna’s actual birthplace
- Bhagvata Bhavan, which holds the idols of Radha and Krishna.
Over centuries, the temple faced multiple destructions by various rulers. The last major destruction occurred in 1670, under the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who replaced it with the Shahi Eidgah mosque, which still stands nearby.
Krishna Janambhoomi Mathura Timing
Summer
(April to August)
Morning- 05:30 am to 12:00 pm
Evening – 04:00 pm to 09:00 pm
Winter
(September to March)
Morning – 06:30 am to 01:00pm
evening – 04:00 pm to 09:00 pm
Garbha Griha (Prison Cell) Timing
Summer – 05:30 am to 09:00 pm
Winter – 06:30 am to 09:00 pm
Note – electronic items and luggage are not allowed inside the temple
The Birth of Lord Krishna
Around 5,200 years ago, during the last part of the Dvapara Yuga, Lord Krishna was born to Vasudeva and Devaki in the prison of King Kansa in Mathura. His birth was extraordinary, as he appeared in a divine form, with four arms and a dark-blue complexion like a raincloud. He held a conch shell, a disc, a club, and a lotus flower in his hands, and the Kaustubha gem shone around his neck. Seeing his divine form, Vasudeva and Devaki offered prayers, and soon after, Krishna transformed into a normal baby.
Miraculously, Vasudeva’s chains fell off, the prison doors opened, and the guards fell into a deep sleep. Krishna urged Vasudeva to carry him across the Yamuna River to Gokul, where Nanda and Yashoda, a humble couple, lived. Despite the stormy night, the river parted, allowing Vasudeva to cross safely.
At the same time in Gokul, Yashoda gave birth to a baby girl, who was actually Yogmaya, the goddess of divine power. Yashoda had fallen asleep, and Vasudeva quietly placed baby Krishna beside her, taking Yashoda’s baby girl back to the prison. As soon as he returned, the prison doors closed, and his chains were back in place.
When King Kansa heard that a child had been born to Devaki, he rushed into the cell to kill the baby. But as he tried to harm her, the baby girl slipped from his hands, rose into the sky, and transformed into Goddess Durga. She warned Kansa that his destiny was sealed and that Krishna, who was now safe in Gokul, would eventually bring an end to his evil rule.
Krishna Janmasthan Temple History
The temple’s roots trace back to Krishna’s great-grandson, Vajranabh, who built the first structure at Krishna’s birthplace. Over the years, several rulers rebuilt the temple, each adding their own mark to its legacy:
- In the Gupta Era, Emperor Chandragupta Vikramaditya rebuilt it as a grand architectural marvel.
- It was later destroyed in 1018 by Mahmud of Ghazni.
- In 1150, it was rebuilt by Jajja under King Vijayapala Dev’s rule.
- The temple faced destruction again in the 16th century by Sikandar Lodi.
- In the reign of Jahangir, Raja Bir Singh Bundela constructed a new temple after gaining permission from the Mughal emperor. This structure, known as the Keshavdev Temple, lasted only about 50 years before being destroyed by Aurangzeb, who built the Shahi Eidgah mosque in its place.
British and Modern Era Developments
In 1804, the British took control of Mathura, and the East India Company auctioned off 5.41 hectares (13.37 acres) of land in Katra, which included the birthplace of Lord Krishna. Raja Patnimal, a wealthy banker from Banaras, bought the land with hopes of building a temple there. Although he was unable to fulfill this wish, his family kept ownership of the land, preserving it as a whole for many years.
In 1935, Raja Patnimal’s descendant, Rai Krishna Das, faced challenges to his ownership of the land from local Muslims. They filed two court cases arguing for their right to the land where both the shrine and the Shahi Eidgah mosque stood. However, the Allahabad High Court ruled in favor of Rai Krishna Das, securing his family’s ownership of the full 5.41 hectares.
On February 7, 1944, Madan Mohan Malaviya, a respected leader, bought the land from Rai Krishna Das for 13,000 rupees. He received financial help from Jugal Kishore Birla, an industrialist who also deeply supported Hindu causes. After Malaviya’s death, Birla formed the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust in 1951 to oversee the temple land. He then invited another industrialist, Jaidayal Dalmia, to help with the temple’s construction.
Construction of the Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple complex began in October 1953 and was completed in February 1982. During this time, a unique agreement was also reached with the Shahi Masjid Idgah Trust to preserve peace and cooperation between the temple and mosque. According to the agreement, the Idgah Trust retained management of the mosque, while giving up any further claim to the rest of the land except specific parts allocated to them.
Nearby Tourist Attractions
- Dwarkadheesh Temple
- Kans Kila
- Mathura Museum
- Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple
Distance for Temple
| Place Name | Distance |
|---|---|
|
Mathura Railway Station |
4.3 km |
|
Dwarkadish Temple |
3 km |
|
Vishram Ghat |
3 km |
|
Vrindavan |
13 km |
How to Reach Krishna Janamsthan
By Road: You can easily hire a cab from Agra, Mathura, or Delhi to travel to the Krishna Janamsthan temple. It is approx. 162 km from Delhi, 60 kms from Agra.
By Train: The city is well-connected with almost all cities across the country. The nearest railway station is in Mathura, located approx. 4 kms away.
By Air: The nearest fully functional commercial airport is the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, approx. 152 km away.