Shrinathji Mandir - श्रीनाथजी मंदिर

Shrinathji Mandir at Nathdwara, Rajasthan is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shrinathji, an incarnation of Bhagwan Krishna. It is situated on the banks of Banas River at a distance of 48 km from Udaipur. Shrinathji temple of Nathdwara is famous for the adornment of the Bhagwan where the idol is dressed in a new attire every day. Devotees come from all over the world to see the different forms of the idol.

History and Architecture of Nathdwara Shrinathji Temple
The story of Nathdwara temple dates back to the time of Meera Bai and is important for Hindu mythological history. Shrinathji Temple has an interesting origin story that blends the best of both worlds – reality and legend. It has been designed on the lines of the temple of Nand Maharaj of Vrindavan. Therefore it is also called Nandbhavan or Nandalaya.

The image of the principal deity Shrinathji, the seven-year-old child incarnation of Bhagwan Krishna, affectionately known as Gopal elsewhere, was first worshiped by Vallabhacharya at Govardhan Parvat in Vrindavan. The statue is a sculpture carved on a monolith of black stone, which is said to have appeared in its own right around the 12th century BC. From Govardhan Mountain - which was raised by Bhagwan Krishna to save the people of his village from the wrath of Bhagwan Indra.

Later, to keep the idol out of the hands of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, it was being shifted from Vrindavan to a pre-determined place, but on the way, the wheels of the cart carrying the idol sank deep into the soil. The same place where the temple now stands. The accompanying priests interpreted this as God's wish to reside at this place, and thus around 1672 the Shrinathji temple was established here under the supervision and patronage of Maharana Raj Singh of Mewar.

The seven flags on the top of the temple represent the seven houses of the Pushtimarga sect. The temple is locally called Shrinathji ki Haveli. The temple complex also has separate store rooms for milk, sweets, flowers, jewelery and a kitchen, stables, treasury and drawing rooms.

The temple has subsidiary shrines dedicated to the deities of Madan Mohan and Navit Priya, which are located inside the complex along with the main sanctum. The idol stands in the iconic position of lifting Mount Govardhan, with one hand held above his head and the other held in a fist at his waist, carved in a black monolith. Other famous temples in Nathdwara are Shri Navneetpriyaji Temple, Shri Vitthalnathji Temple, Vanamaliji Temple, Madanmohanji Temple, Yamunaji Temple and Shiva Murti.

Nathdwara Shrinathji Temple Darshan Timings
The darshan time of the temple is from 5:45 am to 6:30 pm. The ritual begins with Mangala Aarti when the idol appears for the first darshan of the day. Shringaar Ceremony Shringaar is followed by Mangala Aarti, which is followed by Gwal, which is the mid-morning breakfast for the deity. Next is Rajbhog – lunch and then comes Utthan – the afternoon rest period. This is followed by Bhog – the Bhagwan's dinner, evening Aarti – the final puja and the Bhagwan's bedtime ritual.

Major festivals in Nathdwara Shrinathji Temple
Shrinathji temple is open throughout the year, but special celebrations are held by the local people during Holi and Janmashtami. Annakoot is the festival associated with Bhagwan Krishna lifting Govardhan Parvat and is celebrated with great enthusiasm. However, during these festivals the temple is crowded with devotees from all over the country. Shrinathji Temple is also known for its culinary feast, which is in good demand and serves hundreds of visitors every year.

How to reach Nathdwara Shrinathji Temple?
The nearest railway station is Mavli Junction which is 30 kilometers away and Udaipur is about 50 kilometers away. The nearest airport to Nathdwara in Udaipur, at a distance of about 60 kilometers. Nathdwara can be reached by state-owned buses, private or rented cars and cabs from neighboring cities including Udaipur.