Radha Shyamsundar Temple in Vrindavana is one of the seven goswami temples. The temple houses the Deity which was removed by Radharani from Her heart. Radha Shyamsundar Temple was established by Srila Shyamananda Pandit, an incarnation of the Ananga Manjari of Srimati Radharani and a disciple of Srila Jiva Goswami.
Radha Shyamsundar Temple is situated within the Seva Kunja area of Vrindavana Dham, where Sri Radha and Krishna perform the nitya-lila in the night, even today. It is one of the most important temples of the holy dham Vrindavana. The temple is situated within the narrow lanes of Loi Bazaar and revered by the devotees of Radha and Krishna.
The origin of Shyamsundar’s vigraha in Radha Shyamsundar Temple
A great devotee in the Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya named Shyamananda Pandit was living in Vrindavana and performing dham seva by cleaning the Seva Kunja area daily. Once he discovered a transcendental anklet of Srimati Radharani. The moment he touched that anklet, he felt devotional ecstasy all throughout his body.
Later during the day, Lalitha Sakhi came disguised as an old woman to collect the anklet of Srimati Radharani but Shyamananda Pandit didn’t agree to return it. He put a condition that only if the original bearer of the anklet would show Her feet to him with similar anklet on Her other feet, will he return this one.
Not able to argue with Shyamananda Pandit, Lalitha Sakhi and Radharani were forced to reveal their original form. However, on the condition that Shyamananda Pandit takes bath in the nearby Mansarovara lake. When Shyamananda Pandit took a dip in the Mansarovara lake, he emerged out in his eternal form of a Manjari.
The whole of the area where he stood was also transformed into the original opulence of Vrindavana. Srimati Radharani who was seated on a jeweled throne showed Her mercy on Shyamananda Pandit. She kept Her lotus feet on his head and took the anklet from him. She pushed the anklet into the forehead of Shyamananda Pandit thus forming a nupura tilaka.
She then extracted a very beautiful vigraha of Lord Sri Krishna from Her heart and gave the vigraha to Shyamananda Pandit, who was unwilling to return to the material world. But to preach the mission of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Shyamananda Pandit had to return.
He established the vigraha of Sri Shyamsundar in his bhajan kutir which was a cave underneath the ground and worshiped Him. Once within the treasury of the king of Bharatpur, a vigraha of Radharani self-manifested, who was later brought to Radha Shyamsundar Temple in Vrindavana Dham to be worshiped along with Shyamsundar. The worship of both the vigrahas together began on Vasanta Panchami day.
The three sets of Deities on the altar of Radha Shyamsundar Temple
Later when Baladeva Vidyabhushana came to Vrindavana and stayed here in Radha Shyamsundar Temple, he realized that the vigrahas of Radha Shyamsundar were small and they could not be dressed adequately. He procured a special nila shila from Odisha and got the bigger Deity of Shyamsundar carved. He also got an ashta-dhatu Deity of Radharani carved and installed on the altar.
After the installation of bigger Deities of Radha Shyamsundar, the smaller Deities were known as Lala-Lali, meaning kids. Sometimes during the excavation of Nandagaon, another set of Deities known as Radha Kunjabihari were excavated and brought to Radha Shyamsundar Temple for worshipping.
Places to see within Radha Shyamsundar Temple
Three sets of Deities
As mentioned earlier, one should have darshan of the three sets of Deities – Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar (tallest), Sri Sri Radha Kunjabihari (second tallest) and Lala Lali (shortest) who generally sit on the left side of the tallest Deities.
Bhajan Kutir of Shyamananda Pandit
This is the original cave in which Shyamananda Pandit was worshiping Lala Lali and performing his bhajana. The cave was discovered during the renovation of the temple and has been renovated further.
Charanamrita of 1 lakh Vaishnavas
The disciple of Shyamananda Pandit – Sri Rasikananda Pandit had organized a festival in which he had invited 1 lakh Vaishnavas. He washed the feet of every Vaishnava and collected the charanamrita. Even today on request you may have darshan of this.
Pushpa Samadhi of Baladeva Vidyabhushana
Behind the altar, is the samadhi of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana and other acharyas.
Nupur Prapti Sthala
Just few meters away from the temple is the place where the anklet was found by Srila Shyamananda Pandit under a tree.
How to reach Radha Shyamsundar Temple
Radha Shyamsundar Temple is in Vrindavana. To experience this temple best, you can take up the Vrindavana-Kurukshetra Yatra or the Vrajabhumi Yatra conducted by Tirtha Yatra.
If you wish to travel on your own, you may take up the following route.
By Air – The nearest airport to Vrindavana is Agra Airport or New Delhi Airport. From Agra or New Delhi, you may take up train to Mathura or a taxi to Vrindavana.
By Rail – the nearest railway station to Vrindavana is Mathura. From Mathura, you may take up taxi to Vrindavana.
By Road – Vrindavana is well connected with the roadways. The nearest is the Yamuna Expressway or the New Delhi – Agra National Highway.
After reaching Vrindavana, one can reach this temple by any means either on foot or by rickshaw.
Best time to visit Radha Shyamsundar Temple
Although Vrindavana can be visited all through the year. The ideal months are October to November and February to March when the weather is good. Weekends are very crowded in Vrindavana, hence visiting the Radha Shyamsundar Temple can be challenging.
Festivals are also very crowded in Vrindavana. It is advised not to visit the Radha Shyamsundar Temple during this time. Plan your visit well ahead of time.
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