5/5 Prasoon S. 1 year ago on Google
The
Sri
Sri
Krishna
Balaram
Mandir,
situated
in
the
Raman
Reti
area
of
Vrindavan,
holds
a
special
significance
for
devotees
of
the
International
Society
for
Krishna
Consciousness.
This
grand
temple
represents
the
fulfilled
dream
of
Srila
Prabhupada,
founder
acharya
of
ISKCON,
who
wished
to
construct
a
temple
of
unparalleled
beauty
for
the
worship
of
the
transcendental
brothers
Krishna
and
Balaram
in
the
same
village
where
they
played
more
than
five
thousand
years
ago.
Prabhupada
directly
oversaw
all
aspects
of
design
and
construction
and
personally
called
the
Lord
to
come
and
accept
the
worship
of
His
devotees
from
around
the
world.
He
said
"Lord
Balaram
is
the
source
of
spiritual
strength,
and
I
have
built
this
temple
just
to
give
strength
to
the
devotees".
Today,
the
Sri
Sri
Krishna
Balaram
Mandir
is
a
booming
spiritual
center.
Every
day
of
the
week
pilgrims
flood
in
great
numbers
from
nearby
Delhi
and
all
over
the
world.
In
fact,
the
large
green
government
signs
posted
over
the
highway
turn
off
to
Vrindavan
only
give
directions
to
two
temples:
Banke
Bihari
and
ISKCON.
Visitors
to
the
temple
first
pass
under
the
brilliant
white
marble
archway
of
Srila
Prabhupadas
samadhi,
an
architectural
wonder
of
winding
peacock
stairways
and
intricately
carved
walls
and
domes.
They
then
enter
through
the
gigantic
wooden
temple
doors
and
find
themselves
transported
to
the
spiritual
world
upon
seeing
the
palace
of
Krishna
Balaram
with
its
sunken
black
and
white
checkered
marble
courtyard,
beautified
by
a
living
tamal
tree.
The
music
of
the
kartals,
mrdanga
and
sweet
harmonium
of
the
24
hour
kirtaneers
enters
the
heart,
and
everyone,
including
young
and
old,
spontaneously
raise
their
arms
and
dance
in
ecstasy.
Ascending
the
courtyard
steps,
visitors
approach
the
effulgent
gorgeous
forms
of
the
source
of
all
beauty,
the
presiding
Lords
Sri
Sri
Gaura
Nitai,
Krishna
Balaram
and
Radha
Shyamasundar.
Standing
transfixed
with
open
eyes
and
folded
hands,
pilgrims
drink
in
the
dazzling
vision
of
the
Lord,
artistically
decorated
with
no
consideration
of
expense
or
effort,
truly
a
festival
for
the
eyes.
This
entire
temple
complex
is
a
busy
preaching
powerhouse
comprised
of
thirty
departments
including
a
guesthouse,
welcome
center,
Samadhi
museum,
ten
book
stalls,
bakery,
restaurant,
broadcast
studio,
residential
Brahmacari
ashram
and
a
Deity
department
with
one
of
the
highest
standards
of
worship
in
the
world,
engaging
more
than
one
hundred
devotees
directly
in
the
seva
everyday.
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