MATHURA

Mathura Pilgrimage

Distance : 150km south of Delhi
Population : 235,000

¤ Mathura - The Birth Place of Lord Krishna

Mathura and Vrindavan are the most important Vaishnava holy places in India, Mathura being the birthplace of Lord Krishna and Vrindavan being the place where he spent his childhood with cowherds, and gopis, or the village maidens. As stated in the Adi-varaha purana, an ancient Hindu scripture, any person dying in Mathura is bound to attain salvation, as it is the holiest of places.


¤ Also Known As Brij Bhoomi

Mathura swarms with innumerable tales of the blue god, Krishna, the serene banks of the river Yamuna on the one hand, and the hustle-bustle of the city on the other. Put together, this creates an ambience charged with religious fervour. Mathura is a major pilgrim centre for the Hindus, second only to Benares.

This sacred city of the Hindus is also popularly known as Brij Bhoomi, or the birthplace of Lord Krishna. Krishna is the eight incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the Hindu Preserver of the Universe. Krishna was born to Vasudeva and Devki who were imprisoned by King Kansa, the maternal uncle of Krishna. Vishnu manifested himself in Krishna to kill the evil King Kansa. Krishna’s life walks us through childhood, adolescence and adulthood. In various paintings, he is shown as a wayward child, a soldier, a statesman and an ideal lover.


¤ Festival Celebrations In Mathura

Holi and Janamashtami are two festivals celebrated with great fervour in Mathura. Both these festivals are associated with Lord Krishna. Holi is celebrated in the temples before it is celebrated on the streets, as it is considered auspicious to play with the Lord, first. This festival is preceded by performances that last well over a week. Artists from various parts of the country gather here to perform raas leela, or dance recitals depicting Krishna’s flirtatious interlude with the gopis, or the village maidens. Gayan mandalis,orsinging troupes that render folk songs particularly associated with Holi, flock to this place. The artistic exuberance associated with the festival is termed as Rang Gulal.

Janamashtami is celebrated on the day when Krishna was born. Idols of Krishna and his childhood sweetheart, Radha, are decorated beautifully, then worshipped.


¤ Temple Attractions

Mathura has a number of temples that are dedicated to the blue god, Krishna, the Dwarkadhish Shrine being the most outstanding of them all. Another important temple worth seeing is the Temple of Keshava. On the way to Vrindavan, one comes across another temple called the Gita Mandir.


¤ Other Attractions

The Sacred Heart Cathedral that was built in1870, is the sole legacy of the British in Mathura. The famous Jami Masjid right in the centre of Mathura is a fine piece of Muslim architecture. An old mosque built by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb is situated in the Katra locality.

The Archaeological Museum of Mathura has an excellent collection of Buddhist, Brahminical and Jain sculptures in ancient red sandstone. Along the banks of the Yamuna, one finds innumerable ghats, or steps leading down to the river. Here one can visit the Vishram Ghat, Sati Burj and the Kans Qila.


¤ Vrindavan - Excursion From Mathura

Situated 12kms north of Mathura, Vrindavan attracts a considerable number of pilgrims. This is where Krishna indulged in his adolescent pranks with the gopis.

The place has some 4000 medieval and modern temples. From Mathura, you could go to see the Taj Mahal (about 50km from Mathura, at Agra), a monument that is an ode to love, and is among the Seven Wonders of the World.