TEMPLE Chief shrine of RadhaVallabh sect, old RadhaVallabh Temple at Vrindavan, though now abandoned but protected monument is in itself a handsome building and its spatial architectural interest is the last example of the early Eclectic style. It was constructed by Sundardas Bhatnagar, a disciple of Shri Vanchandraji, son of Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu, founder of the RadhaVallabh sect. Wilson noted an inscription over the gateway of this temple, now no longer extant, that it was in 1585, when this temple was constructed. Abdul Rahim Khankhana, the Dewan at Akbar's court, in whose employment Sundardas Bhatnagar of Deoband was, not only got Royal permission to use red sandstone for temple construction, which was till then used only for construction of imperial buildings, royal palaces and forts, but also monetary grant for this temple from Akbar. Descendants of Sunderdas Bhatnagar at Deoband still have these documents with them. It is said that Raja Mansingh first decided to contract this temple. But on hearing a legend that whosoever will construct this temple will die within a year, he backed out. Actually Sundardas died within a year, after he with his personal treasure as well as help from Abdul Rahim Khankhana and Akbar constructed it.
ARCHITECTURE This temple represents a living dialogue between Hindu and Islamic elements in Mediaeval Architecture. The walls having a thickness of 10 feet and are pierced in two stages, the upper stage being a regular Triforium to which access was obtained by an internal staircase. This Triforium is a reproduction of Mohammedan's designs, while the work, both upper and below, it is purely Hindu Architecture. In fact this temple is the last temple in the neighborhood in which a naive was built at all. In the modern style, it is so completely obsolete, that its distinctive name is even forgotten by some architects. This temple is characterized by its architectural accent on harmony of lines and balanced massing. It reflects constructional unity more than richness of ornamentation. If in any art it were possible to revive the dead, or if it were in human nature ever to return absolutely upon the past, this style of RadhaVallabh temple would seem to be the one for our architects to copy. AKBER'S FARMANS On Jumada ii, 972 (8th, January 1565) King-Emperor by a Farman conferred a grant of 100 bighas of Madad-eMash...land to RadhaVallabh temple and the custody of temple offerings emanating from the Emperor, were declared to he under custody of Shri Harivansh Mahaprabhu in viIIage Dosait, Pargana, Mathura. It is the earliest surviving revenue-grant to a Hindu Divine made by Akbar. The grant conferred on RadhaVallabh temple was mentioned in subsequent Farman’s of Akbar, Jahangir and Shahjahan. Previous grant to named person was now converted into grants to temple as institution. SHRI RADHA: THE MAIN DEITY Shri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu relished tasting the spiritual nectar inherent in the intimate service of the Lotus like beautiful softest soft feet of Shri-Shri Radha and Shri Krishna in the ecstatic love as a Dearest Associate of the Divine Couple, being incarnation of the Holy Flute (Vanshi Avatar). One could taste the elixir of Bhakti-Rasa by unalloyed devotion dedication and loving intimate service to the Supreme Lord as the Divine Friend of the Divine Consort. The supreme Lord Krishna is only predomination and transcendental recipient of Prema, while Shri Radha is the Predominated Counter-Whole Divinity who alone can offer the supreme enjoyments to the absolute Lord. So long as one's heart is polluted by sense egoism, so long as one's mind is darkened by a very the quagmire of sex-mindedness, so long as an individual misidentifies his true self with his gross body and his subtle body-mind, intelligence. Ego-there is absolutely no possibility of entering into the depth of the Spiritual Transparency of Shri RadhaVallabh. The conception of Shri-Shri Radha is completely misconceived by most people, and Shri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu had shown the path. Who can understand all at once his (Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu's) method of devotion? With whom the blessed feet of Shri-Shri Radha were the highest object of worship; a most staunch-soul devotee who made himself the page in waiting on the Divine Couple in their bower of love who gloried in the enjoyment of the remnants of all that was offered at their Shrine; a servant who never pleaded obligation or dispensation; a votary of incomparable zeal. Account him blessed who follows in the path of Shri Vyasa's great son, the Goswami Shri Harivansh, who can understand all at once his method of devotion?
Would you know the one point in a thousand of Shri HitJi ways? He adored Radha first and after her Krishna. A most strange fashion, that none could even faintly comprehend save by His favor. He obliterated all distinction between obligation and dispensation; his beloved was in his heart; he lived only as her servant, singing the praises of the divinity night and day. All the faithful know his many edifying and holy actions; why tell and repeat them, since they are famous already. Radha gave him the gracious command publicize my worship among my faithful people, a path for pathless, of high renown, tell them about delights of my sylvan abode. He drank in with his eyes the essence of bliss and gave it to every desirous, dedicated person who supported the cause of female Divinity. Night and day imbibing the honeyed draught of sweet song and cherishing it in his soul, with no thought but for Shyama and Shyam, The soul is enraptured at the sound more than at that of any other name. |
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