Sri Sri Radha Damodar temple

This is one of the most important of the ‘Seven Goswami Temples’ and was established
by Shrilajiva Goswami, who was both the nephew and the disciple of Shrila Rupa Goswami. The original deity of Radha Damodara was personally hand carved by Rupa Goswami and given to Jiva as a gift. This deity is now being worshiped in jaipura, where all the deities of the Gaudiya Goswamis were taken for safety due to the fear they would be desecrated by the tyrant Aurangzeb’s soldiers. The replica deity known as the pratibhu-murti, which has exactly the same potency as the original, is presently being worshiped here at the Radha Damodara Mandira, although the pujaris like to claim otherwise. According to old records of the period, the deity of Radha Damodara was installed on the simhasana in 1542, when the first seva-puja was performed. In the same year Gopala Bhatta Goswami performed the first seva-puja of Radharamana. Then in
the year 1558, Jiva Gosvami eventually acquired the land at Seva Kunja where the deity of Radha Damodara was being worshiped, during the same year he also acquired the land at Radha-kunda. There are no records pertaining to the construction of the temple, but as few temples were built during this period of the Mughal rule, the first temple would have been a very simple structure.
The magnificent Goswami temples of Govindaji, Madana-mohana, and Gopinathaji, were built after Emperor Akbar’s visit to Vrindavana in 1570, when he met Jiva Goswami and also gave permission for the temples of the Gaudiya Goswamis to be constructed. Emperor Akbar also donated funds for building of a small room for keeping all the Goswami’s literatures. This room is to the left of the altar and is known as the ghanta-garh or book-room. The present temple of Radha Damodara dates from the bhakti
renaissance period which flourished from the late 16TH Century, and this is also
confirmed by the particular type of architecture and the materials used in the construction.
On the alter (simhasan) of the Radha Damodara Mandira, besides the deities of Radha Damodara and the gopi Lalita Devi, one can also see the pratibhumurtis of two other Gaudiya Goswami deities including; Radha Vrindavanacandra (Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami) and Radha Madhava Jayadeva Goswami) . The deity of Radha Chalchikan (Bhurgarbha Goswami) is believed to be the original deity worshiped by him. One can also see the famous Govardhana-shila that was given to Sanatana Goswami by Lord Krishna for the purpose of Sanatana’s circumambulation of Govardhana Hill during his old age. This shila is also believed to be the pratibhu-murti, with the original shila being in Jaipura. The Radha Damodara Mandira, which was situated in a comer of the sacred Seva Kunja, was the place where Rupa Goswami established his bhajana kutira, and where he wrote many of his books. Rupa Goswami was assisted at that time by his nephew and disciple ]iva Goswami, who personally made the parchment leaves for Rupa to write upon and also edited all of Rupa’s books. It was once said by His Divine Grace A.C, Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, that the Radha Damodara Mandira is situated at the centre of the spiritual world, because of the divine activities performed there by the Six Goswamis of Vrindavana, who used this place for their daily meetings, and from where they made their plans to inundate the world with Krishna consciousness. Shrila Prabhupada also stayed here at the Radha Damodara Mandira for a number of years where he translated the first three cantos of the Vedic classic Shrimad Bhagavatam into
the English language. After completing his translation of Srimad Bhagavatam, Shrila Prabhupada left for America in 1965, in order to fulfill his spiritual master’s order to spread the teachings of the Six Goswamis and the glories of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu throughout the world.

This temple is situated within the area of Sevä-kuïja. Çré Rüpa Gosvämé used to live here in his bhajana-kuöé. The contemporary Gosvämés and devotees assembled here for iñöagoñöhés and, in those gatherings of Vaiñëavas, Çré Raghunätha Bhaööa would elucidate on Çrémad-Bhägavatam in his melodious voice. Çré Rüpa Gosvämé compiled Çré Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu, Ujjvala-nélamaëi and other sacred texts on bhakti at this place. The young Çré Jéva Gosvämé was engaged in all kinds of service to Çré Rüpa Gosvämé, who personally manifested the deity of Çré Rädhä-Dämodara with his own hands and offered the service and worship to Çré Jéva. According to the book Sevä-präkaöya, Çré Rädhä-Dämodara were installed in saàvat 1599 (1543 AD) in the month of Mägha (January–February) on Çuklä-daçamé (the tenth day of the bright half of the month). The original Çré Rädhä-Dämodara are now in Jaipura, and Their pratibhü-vigrahas, which are as potent as the original deities, are in Våndävana. On the altar with Them are Çré Våndävana-candra, Çré Chailacikaniyä, Çré Rädhä-Mädhava and a few others. The samädhis of Çré Jéva Gosvämé and Çré Kåñëadäsa Kaviräja Gosvämé lie behind the temple, and in the northern area of the temple are the samädhi and bhajana-kuöé of Çré Rüpa Gosvämé. Adjacent to this is the samädhi of Çré Bügarbha Gosvämé. Sanätana Gosvämé used to perform parikramä of Govardhana daily. In his old age, when he became incapable of performing parikramä, Kåñëa came to him as a boy and gave him a govardhanaçilä, which was one-and-a-half cubits long and shaped like a banyan leaf. He instructed Sanätana Gosvämé to perform parikramä of this çilä instead. On this çilä are imprints of Kåñëa’s foot, His flute and a cow’s hoof. Sanätana Gosvämé brought that çilä to Våndävana and would circumambulate it daily. After his disappearance, Çré Jéva Gosvämé installed the çilä in the temple of Çré Rädhä-Dämodara and began to worship it. Darçana of this çilä is available on special request.

In 1956, Shrila Prabhupada moved to the holy city of Vrindavana where he initially
stayed in a room at the Vamsi Gopala Mandira near Keshi Ghata. Then in july 1959, after having begun his now famous translation into English of the Vedic classic Shrimad Bhagavatam, Shrila Prabhupada moved to the famous Radha Damodara Mandira and occupied two rooms on the upper floor. Then in 1962, Shrila Prabhupada moved downstairs into two rooms on the ground floor, adjacent to the temple courtyard. One of the rooms, which also overlooked the Samadhi of Shrila Rupa Goswami, became his kitchen and the place where he honored prashadam while looking out through the latticed window at Rupa’s Goswami’s samadhi and bhajana kutira. The other room he used as his bhajana kutira where he chanted japa and spent most of his time translating the Shrimad Bhagavatam.
Moving to the Radha Damodara Mandira was a major turning point in Shrila Prabhupada’s life, and it was here where he began in earnest his life’s mission of fulfilling his spiritual master’s order, to spread the teachings Lord Chaitanya and the sankirtana movement to the Western world. On September 17TH 1959, Shrila Prabhupada accepted the renounced order of life known as tridandi-sannyasa, from his dear god-brother Keshava Maharaja at the Gaudiya Matha in Mathura. After moving to Radha Damodara and now having taken sannyasa, Shrila Prabhupada began formulating his plans of traveling to America and establishing a world-wide society of devotees dedicated to the devotional service of Radha and Krishna. In 1960, Shrila Prabhupada produced a small book entitled, ‘Easy Journey to Other Planets’ while he continued with his ‘magnum opus’ translation of the first-canto of Shrimad Bhagavatam, that would later form the basis of his preaching work in the Western world.
Shrila Prabhupada said that the Radha Damodara Mandira was the most important
temple in Vrindavana, because it was here that Shrila Rupa Goswami resided, and where he established his headquarters for preaching the mission of Lord Chaitanya’s. Lord Chaitanya had personally sent Rupa Goswami to Vrindavana to perform this important task of establishing the sankirtana movement for the benefit of the whole world. Shrila Prabhupada has said that this corner at the Radha Damodara Mandira was like the hub of the spiritual world, due to the activities performed there by the Six Goswamis of Vrindavana in propagating the Krishna consciousness movement, which began here under Rupa Goswami leadership, and then gradually spread out around the world, just as the spokes of a wheel start from the hub, and then spread out in every direction. Shrila Rupa Goswami established the solid foundation of Lord Chaitanya’s mission here at Radha Damodara, but it was Shrila Prabhupada who single-handedly took that mission from there, to every part of the globe. With a crate of his English translations of the Shrimad Bhagavatam and just forty rupees in his pocket, Shrila Prabhupada left the Radha Damodara Mandira in Vrindavana and on the 13TH of August 1965, set sail from the Indian port of Calcutta, having obtained a free passage on the Scindia Lines merchant ship jaladutta, bound for the United States of America where he arrived on the 17TH September, the rest is now a part of history.
Living at Vrindavana’s Radha Damodara Mandira as a sannyasi and performing madhukari in order to sustain his existence, was said by Shrila Prabhupada to have been one of the most blissful periods of his life. While staying there, besides writing books, he would go on parikrama every morning and evening to have darshana of all the famous deities and temples of Vrindavana.
While residing in his rooms at Radha Damodara, Shrila Prabhupada once revealed that both Rupa Goswami andjiva Goswami had appeared to him in dreams, encouraging him to accomplish the greatest task ever expected of a pure devotee – to deliver the mercy of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to an inhospitable and hostile alien world. Shrila Prabhupada’s stay at Radha Damodara, not only transformed his own life, but ultimately transformed the lives of millions of people around the world, besides changing the religious history of the whole human race.
Shrila Prabhupada once confidentially informed his senior disciples, that he is eternally present in his rooms at the Radha Damodara Mandira. Shrila Prabhupada entered samadhi in November 1977, at the Krishna Balarama Mandira in Vrindavana, where his Samadhi Mandira is now situated.

Knowing of Srila Jiva Gosvami’s desire for a Deity, Srila Rupa Gosvami personally carved, installed and offered a small Krsna Deity named “Damodara”to his disciple, Srila Jiva Gosvami.
The Eucalyptus and Tamal trees flanking Srila Rupa Goswami’s bhajan kutir at the Radha Damodara temple, and the divine trees in Seva Kunja are particular favourites of the Vrajavasis.

It was here that Srila Prabhupada resided and wrote his first three volumes of Srimad Bhagavatam from 1962 until his voyage to America in 1965.
Radha Damodar is a small temple hemmed in by other buildings. Its gateway leads into a courtyard fronting a central altar. Much of the facade of the archway has crumbled, leaving the bare, original bricks exposed. In the interior courtyard are living quarters for the pujaris and also Srila Prabhupada’s quarters. The families in charge conduct daily aratiks to Jiva Goswami’s Deities.
In the back courtyard rest Lord Chaitanya’s principal disciples, interred there since the sixteenth century: the great Rupa Goswami—founder of Govindaji Temple and author of important treatises on bhakti-yoga—and his nephew Jiva Goswami, founder of Radha Damodar. Their samadhis, (tombs) give Radha Damodar its special sanctity.
the checkered marble floor. Some circumambulate the temple grounds, touching the pillars and walls of the samadhis to absorb spiritual strength. The stones themselves testify to devotion, having been worn smooth by a million touches of fingers seeking salvation. A tulasi tree in the courtyard is also circumambulated, bowed to, and touched lightly and reverently. The bark is as polished as furniture. Beneath this tree’s ancestor, the great Goswamis sat discussing the pastimes of Lord Krishna.

Description and history of radha damodar temple and premises
History and description of Radha Damodar Temple and premises
In 1542, Kartik (Damodara month), Sri Rupa Goswami, knowing Jiva Goswami’s desire for a Deity, personally carved, installed and offered a small Deity of Damodaraji (Krishna) to his foremost disciple. Standing about eight inches high, Lord Damodara came from a piece of black marble brought from Vindhya Parvat (mountain) in Madhya Pradesh, central India.
Today Seva Kunj appears like a small park encircled by a protective wall. But during Lord Krishna’s time, it encompassed a vast area. When Rupa Goswami came to this part of Vrindavan forest, he sat down in the middle of Seva Kunj in order to serve Radha and Krishna and write books to benefit others. The Radha- Damodara temple is in the middle of the original Seva Kunj.
In 1564 on Sravan Dvadasi Pavitra, Sri Rupa Goswami entered samadhi. Jiva Goswami placed the transcendental body of Rupa Goswami in his samadhi mandir, where it now stands at the Radha-Damodara temple.
In 1570, Moghul Emperor Akbar came to Vrindavan to meet the widely acclaimed Goswamis. After receiving darsan of Nidhuvan and Jiva Goswami, the Emperor was deeply impressed and reciprocated by erecting a library at Radha-Damodara to enshrine the Vaisnava literatures.Being the youngest, Sri Jiva Goswami inherited many of the elder Goswami’s original writings, Deities, properties, and temples. He personally managed the temples of Madanmohan, Govindaji, Gopinatha, and Damodaraji.
In 1582, the same year Srila Krishna das Kaviraj Goswami left this world, Jiva Goswami called a meeting at Radha-Damodara temple. It was attended by Gopala Bhatta Goswami, Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami, Radha-Krishna Goswami and Hari dasji. To benefit suffering humanity, they ordered Narottam das Thakur, Srinivas Acarya and Shyamananda Prabhu, three perfect exemplars of the teachings, to copy the Goswami’s writing’s and broadcast the message of Krishna consciousness in Bengal and Orissa.

Jiva Goswami directed Mansingh Raja of Ajmer, Rajasthan, in constructing Radha-Damodara temple. The opening date remains unknown since only two of the Goswamis’ temples have inscription dates denoting the year of completion: 1580-Radha-Madanmohan, and 1590-Radha-Govindaji.Although Radha-Damodara temple is not large and ornate, it was once famous for its vast library, where Jiva Goswami neatly stored all the original manuscripts of the Goswamis. Unfortunately, the time factor and negligence have combined to demolish a majority of the precious works. The Vrindavan Research Institute, however, has salvaged and conscientiously preserved a small remnant of the original library, including autograph manuscripts of Sanatana and Rupa Goswamis.The present day temple of Radha-Damodara was built about two hundred and fifty years ago.
The Radha-Damodara temple had the largest collection of original writings by the six Goswamis and their followers – more than two thousand separate manuscripts, many 300-400 years old. Rupa Goswami and Jiva Goswami, with a combined literary output of over half a million authorized verses on the science of devotional service, were definitely the most prolific writers among the Goswamis.
Generation of worshipers of Radha Damodar:-
Before Jiva Goswami’s disappearance in 1608, he penned a will, leaving all the Deities, temples, properties and libraries that he had inherited from Sanatana, Rupa, and Raghunatha das Goswamis, to Sri Vilas das, who was Jiva’s successor as the head priest of the Radha-Damodara temple. Sri Krishna das succeeded Sri Vilas das as the next manager. Custodianship of the Radha-Damodara temple remained in the hands of Sri Krishna das’s descendants for about a century. Because Sri Krishna das had no issue, two nephews came from Bengal, to perform the worship of Damodaraji. The present sevait (temple proprietor) is directly coming from the descendants of one of these nephews.
Shifting of Radha damodar deities to Jaipur:-
In 1670 the wicked and demoniac Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb ruthlessly attacked Vrindavan and desecrated the Goswamis’ temples, especially Radha-Madanmohan and Govindaji. Being alerted beforehand, all the Deities including Radha-Damodara hastily transferred to Jaipur, which was protected by invincible Rajput kings. Aurangzeb’s raiders, mistaking it for a private residence, didn’t defile the simply designed Radha-Damodara temple. The temple priests, therefore, implored the Jaipur king to return Radha-Damodara.
After a sixty-nine year sojourn in Jaipur, Radha-Damodara came home to Vrindaban. The Lord did not stay long, however, because a determined Maharaja Jai Singh prevailed upon Damodara’s priest to allow the Deity to move back to Jaipur, where He remains today.

Present Radha damodar deities:-
Today a five foot tall black marble Damodara Deity, with expansive lotus-petal eyes dancing upon a moon-like face, and powerful fear-destroying arms, legs and chest resides in Jiva Goswami’s temple at Seva Kunj. This Deity is called a prati-bhu-murti, which is non-different from the original Damodara Deity, that now exists simultaneously in two places, Vrindavan and Jaipur.
Sri Sri Radha-Damodara share Their altar with three other sets of Radha-Krishna Deities: Radha-Vrindavanchandra, Radha-Madhava, and Radha-Chalchikan.

Reason of many deities along with Radha damodar in altar:-
In 1967, when Acyutananda was in Vrindavan, Srila Prabhupada explained why this temple has four sets of Radha-Krishna murtis, “Several years ago each of the four Deities now on the Radha-Damodara temple altar had had His own temple, land holdings, income and priests. But for economy the goswamis (householder proprietors) had sold the property, reduced the opulence of the worship and amalgamated the Deities.”

History of appearance of Govardhan shila in Radha Damodar Temple:-
Another attractive feature of the Radha-Damodara temple is a large Govardhan Sila embedded with the impression of Lord Krishna’s right foot, a calf’s hoof print, and marks of Krishna’s flute and stick. When Sanatana Goswami became too old to perform his fourteen mile daily Govardhan parikrama, Lord Krishna gave him this sila, and assured him that a mere four times around it would equal a complete circumambulation of Govardhan Hill.
Gopal Ghosh tells the story:
“Although old and weak, Sanatana Goswami struggled to keep his vow of daily circumambulation of Govardhan Hill. Feeling compassion for His devotee, Lord Madanmohan appeared before Sanatana in his bhajan kutir at Manasi Ganga. Krishna ordered Sanatana to bring one big stone from Govardhan Hill. Lord Krishna then stood on that stone and played an enchanting flute song, which attracted a small calf to come over and dance jubilantly. Hearing Krishna’s transcendental flute, the Govardhan sila melted in ecstasy and captured the impression of Krishna’s lotus feet.”
Why is Sanatana Goswami’s Govardhan sila kept in the Radha-Damodara temple? Jiva inherited it from Rupa Goswami, who worshiped this Govardhan sila following Sanatana Goswami’s departure.
From behind a tattered curtain the head priest calls out, ‘Giriraj Maharaj Ki Jai.’ A second later the curtain flings aside and twenty, footsore but smiling, pilgrims echo the priest with a ‘Giriraj Maharaj Ki Jai,’ as they gratefully glimpse at Krishna’s transcendental footprint. This scene is repeated dozens of times each day, as thousands of devotees from Manipur, Bengal, Orissa, Nepal, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and other places faithfully flock to the Radha-Damodara temple to receive ‘Giriraj Charan Darsan’ and quickly circumambulate the expansion of Govardhan Hill.
Moving clockwise around the temple, one enters the courtyard of one hundred samadhis. On the right side under an archway are the samadhis of the temple founder, Sri Jiva Goswami, and his disciple, Krishna das brahmacari.

Descriptiom Samadhi’s of different viashnav acharyas and their history:-
The tallish samadhi on the outside corner of the second row is the puspa samadhi of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur. After walking around behind the temple, one enters the Northern compound, housing Rupa Goswami’s bhajan kutir and his samadhi directly opposite. Why is Rupa Goswami’s samadhi here instead of at the Govindaji temple?
During Rupa Goswami’s presence, Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami ordered his disciple, Maharaj Man Singh, to construct a small temple for worshiping the Deities of Yogamaya and Govindaji. The Maharaj promised to build a large fort-like temple, upon returning from a political campaign in Bengal. Thirty years before the magnificent Govindaji mandir opened, the Deity’s beloved servant and founder, Sri Rupa Goswami, entered samadhi at Radha-Damodara, because the massive Govindaji temple structure usurped all available space.In the northern most corner of the courtyard stands the small square samadhi of Bhugarbha Goswami. Bhugarbha Goswami, formerly known as Prema Manjari (Krishna lila) was a friend of Lokanatha Goswami, who constructed the temple of Gokulananda, one of the seven important temples of Vrindavan. Before the arrival of Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis, Lokanatha and Bhugarbha Goswamis toured Vrindavan. While still in Bengal, they had the same dream of Lord Chaitanya advising them to travel to Vraja Dham and search for Sri Krishna’s pastime places.Wandering through Vrindavan, Lokanatha and Bhugarbha chanted the names of Krishna’s frolicsome forests, ‘Talavan,’ ‘Mahavan,’ ‘Kamvan.’ By the mercy of Vrinda devi, they received realizations of the exact locations of the major kunjas (forest groves) of Radha and Krishna’s divine loving pastimes.Sakhi Charan Raya Bhakta Vijaya, a disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, is entombed in the red sandstone samadhi next to Bhugarbha Goswami. He was a wealthy landlord from Bengal who contributed handsomely for refurbishing both Radha-Damodara temple and Imli Tala.
Monkeys at Radha Damodar Temple:-
Lord Krishna had an old pet monkey named, “Dadhilobha”, and because the Lord is very fond of feeding stolen yoghurt and butter to his primate friends, and because Lord Damodara rules Seva Kunj, it appears that the monkeys are an eternal feature of Radha-Damodara temple.
Krishna’s eternal pastimes at the place of Radha damodar Temple:-
Because Rupa Goswami lives there eternally and Jiva Goswami lives there eternally, all the Vaisnavas are gathered eternally there. And here Bhakti-rasamrta Sindhu, Ujjvala Nilamani, and other authentic books were written by Rupa Goswami. “Krishna is situated in the middle of Rasa Sthali, Seva Kunj. Radha-Damodara temple is in the middle of’ Seva Kunj. Seva Kunj is not only the place within the wall but that whole area of about a mile or so is called Seva Kunj. Radha-Damodara, Sringhar Sthali, Imli Tala, our Rupa Sanatana Gaudiya Math, are all in Seva Kunj.
“There was no Radha-Damodara temple when Rupa Goswami went there, just a thin forest, Seva Kunj. So here is the place of the Rasa dance. And more than the Rasa dance, it is the place where Krishna is doing the seva (service) of Srimati Radhika there. That is Seva Kunj. He is doing different services like brushing and decorating Srimati Radhika’s hair with flowers and other things like painting designs on Her lotus feet with alta mixture. So this is the most important place for the Gaudiya Vaisnavas, more important than Rasa Sthali (the place of the rasa dance).
“Krishna left the Rasa dance but He didn’t leave Srimati Radhika. Srimati Radhika was so much near and dear to Krishna that He used to do seva for Radhika, but none of the other gopis. That place where Krishna served Radhika is the present location of the Radha-Damodara temple.”
Kartik festival at Radha Dmodar Temple:-
For the whole month of Kartik at Radha-Damodara temple, and others, there is a special puja performed called, “Niyam Seva.” Every day thousands of Vaisnava pilgrims go around the temple, participate in the many kirtans, and hear the enlightening Bhagavat discourses by different pandits, speaking in turn. This spiritual atmosphere, swelling with sounds, scents and sentiments, saturates any sincere soul with ecstatic love for Sri Krishna. Kartik month is also called “Damodara month”, which refers to that naughty boy, Krishna, who Mother Yasoda bound around the waist with a rope. During this Damodara month, if one manages to capture Krishna with the ropes of pure devotion, he will be released from the bondage of repeated birth and death.
Srila Prabhupad at Radhadamodar mandir
Srila Prabhupada accepted sannyasa on September 17, 1959, moved to an upstairs room at the Radha-Damodara temple, and concentrated his energy on translating into English and purporting the Srimad Bhagavatam.
After spending nine years, over ten percent of his life, in Vrindavan, Srila Prabhupada, empowered by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and his guru maharaja, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, and encouraged by his recent publication of Srimad Bhagavatam, marched out of Vrindavan as a valiant Vaisnava.
1959 was a momentous year for Srila Prabhupada. He moved into the eternal association of Sri Rupa Goswami (Sri Rupa Manjari) and Sri Jiva Goswami (Vilas Manjari) at the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Damodara He formally renounced material life by accepting sannyasa.
In Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta, Satsvarupa das Goswami describes Prabhupada’s relocating from Vamsi Gopal to Radha-Damodara temple.
Satsvarupa das Goswami: “One day Gourachand Goswami, proprietor of the Radha-Damodara temple, approached Stila Prabhupada inviting him to come live at the Radha-Damodara temple; being the eternal home of Jiva Goswami and Rupa Goswami, it would be more suitable for his writing and translating. Stila Prabhupada was interested. He never stopped his regular visits there, and he always felt inspired in the presence of the samadhi tombs of the great leaders of Lord Chaitanya’s movement, Jiva Goswami and Rupa Goswami.” (SPL I p. 234)
Spending his first six sannyasa years at the Radha-Damodara temple, Prabhupada absorbed the mood, mercy, and mission of Sri Rupa Goswami and Sri Jiva Goswami. As a rupanuga, a dedicated follower of Rupa Goswami, Srila Prabhupada found the ideal situation.
At one A.M., in the stillness of night by kerosene light, Srila Prabhupada would begin pouring out his Bhaktivedanta purports to Srimad Bhagavatam. After working a few hours, Prabhupada would chant japa in his room, or sitting before Rupa Goswami’s samadhi, or while pacing the eighteen foot long veranda connecting his kitchen and bedroom. From his desk he could view the large, beaming lotus face of Vrindavanchandra, the tallest Krishna Deity on Damodara’s altar.
Although more than one hundred and eight samadhis stand in the Radha-Damodara temple compound, Srila Prabhupada’s daily routine included temple circumambulation and obeisances at four samadhis: Rupa Goswami, Jiva Goswami, Krishna das Kaviraj, and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.
Prabhupada would honor the maha-prasadam of Radha-Damodara whenever it was impossible to cook for himself.
Gopal Ghosh: “Once I visited Prabhupada in his room at Radha-Damodara in 1960. He was a sannyasi and sitting on the floor at a small desk, writing a Bengali Gita with an American Parker fountain pen. Prabhupada held up the pen to show me and told in Bengali ‘Par-kar’. In Bengali, Par – means bhava sagar, the ocean of birth and death. And kar – means to cross over the river by boat. Then Prabhupada said, ‘So Gopalji, by always doing Hari Nam Sankirtan, Lord Krishna will carry you across the ocean of repeated birth and death.’”
In June 1964, Srila Prabhupada settled back in the serene surroundings of Radha-Damodara to complete the last volume of the First Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. A July jaunt to see Sumati Morarji of Scindia Steamship Company, secured sufficient funds to print Prabhupada’s Bhagavatam.
On August 31, 1964, Srila Prabhupada organized a successful Janmastami celebration at the Radha-Damodara temple in order to promote Srimad Bhagavatam and his anticipated worldwide preaching. To publicize the event he passed out a small booklet, announcing U.P. Governor Biswanath Das as special guest, featuring Gaudiya Kirtan Performances, and book reviews and an advertisement with prices and mailing address for his Srimad Bhagavatam.

On this day, Srila Prabhupada very expertly engaged the exuberant energies of his young friend, Gopal Ghosh.

Gopal Ghosh: “I preached on that day with one ricksaw. Prabhupada gave me money to rent one ricksaw equipped with a loudspeaker and sound system. For one hour I rode around Vrindavan, announcing in both Hindi and Bengali: ‘One meeting will be held on Janmastami day at the Radha-Damodara temple, please attend.’ Many dignitaries attended like U.P. Governor, the Superintendent of Police, District Magistrate and all others. Prabhupada distributed freely many autographed copies of his Srimad Bhagavatam books to the temple leaders like Visvambhar Goswami of Radha-Raman temple. At that time I asked Prabhupadaji for a copy of Srimad Bhagavatam and Stila Prabhupada said, ‘Oh, this is very hard, very hard English, I shall give you Bengali. After some time, I shall print in Bengali and give you one.’”
Narayan Maharaj: “I would visit Stila Prabhupada many times while he was staying at Radha-Damodara temple between 1962-1964. One time I went there and he was sitting on the floor on a torn quilt. After sitting down on my chaddar, we both discussed the Srimad Bhagavatam. There was no bed in Prabhupada’s room, he was sleeping on the floor.”
Satsvarupa das Goswami: “Srila Prabhupada told the story of a Bengali widow who walked to the Yamuna River every morning to bathe, and return with a pot of Yamuna water for Radha-Damodara’s bath. Sometimes Srila Prabhupada would open the temple gate for her. Srila Prabhupada said she would go back to Godhead for this activity.”

Reason of Srila Prabhupada’s shifting to Radha Damodar Temple:-
Although his rooms at Radha-Damodara were austere and poorly appointed, they gave Prabhupada direct access to the spiritual opulence of intimate association with the great Goswamis, Sri Rupa and Sri Jiva. It was one of Vrindavan’s most important temples, previously the headquarters of the Goswamis where they would meet to take prasadam and talk about Krishna.
Srila Prabhupada: “Regarding the Radha-Damodara temple, because it is one of the most important temples in Vrindavan, I took shelter in this temple, just to improve the dilapidated condition.” (S.P. Letters 14/11/68)
Another reason for Prabhupada’s move to the Radha-Damodara temple is told here.
Gopal Ghosh: “Prabhupada told me a dream he once had. Prabhupada said he dreamed that he saw many Vaisnavas chanting Hari Nam Sankirtan and dancing as they circumambulated Rupa Goswami’s samadhi. At the same time, Rupa Goswami way sitting beneath a tamarind tree. A large clay waterpot sat besides Rupa Goswami, who was watching the devotees chanting.
“Suddenly a bright ray of light emanated from Rupa Goswami and shined fully on Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada said that from that day I told Rupa Goswami, ‘I shall stay at Radha-Damodara and perform bhajan.’”
Residing at Radha-Damodara temple was also conducive for Prabhupada’s internal devotional service, as a personal attendant to Sri Rupa Manjari, Rupa Goswami’s spiritual form in Goloka Vrindavan. When asked whether Radha-Damodara was the best place for Prabhupada to render his external service of translating and preaching and his internal service to Radha-Krishna, Narayan Maharaj replied:
“Yes, Rupa Goswami has done the same thing. And under the guidance of Rupa Goswami, Swami Maharaj (Srila Prabhupada) has also done, both externally and internally. Internally, he was engaged in the service of Srimati Radhika and Krishna there. Rupa Goswami was a manjari, so he was manjari. He was given the gopi (sannyasa) mantra.”
Srila Prabhupada: “I was staying in two rooms upstairs, then one of the Goswamis asked me if I would like to stay in the two rooms below where one Babaji who was taking care of the tombs, stayed. The rooms were dilapidated, so he proposed that I fix the rooms and whatever I pay as rent would be all right. I invested about one thousand rupees and paid five rupees monthly.” (SP Letters 73-9-4)

Realisations of Srila Prabhupada at Radha Damodar Tample and his leaving the Radha-Damodara temple, destined for America:-

In 1965, Srila Prabhupada left Vrindavan to distribute Krishna consciousness in America and around the world. Despite physical separation from Vrindavan, Srila Prabhupada was always remembering Vrindavan and internally serving the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Damodara.
Before leaving his rooms at Radha-Damodara for his preaching mission, Prabhupada had this interesting conversation.

Narayan Maharaj: “Often we would have kirtan in his room at Radha-Damodara; Prabhupada played mrdanga, I played kartals. He used to tell me how he was planning to go to America and other Western countries. He said, I want to preach as Prabhupada (Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati) has ordered me, and I want to publish BTG in huge scale, and preach in Western countries. If there will be need, I will establish boarding facilities for interested people. If they want, I will give meat also, and eggs also, and wine also.’
“‘I believe that after hearing Hari Nam Sankirtan and the siksa (instructions) of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, then certainly they will reject all these things, and surely they will become pure Vaisnavas.’”
Jiva Goswami is the actual father of transcendental book distribution, and the Radha-Damodara temple is the place from which it began, three hundred eighty-three years before Prabhupada came to America with his trunk full of Srimad Bhagavatams. Knowing that Krishna consciousness eradicates all suffering, Sri Jiva Goswami, in 1582 at Radha-Damodara temple, commanded his siksa disciples, Narottam das Thakur, Srinivas Acarya and Shyamananda Prabhu to copy all the Goswami scriptures and give them to people of Bengal and Orissa.
Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Nectar of Devotion, Sri Isopanisad, Nectar of Instruction, Chaitanya Caritamrta, Krishna Book – “the lawbooks for the next ten thousand years”, first appeared in Prabhupada’s rooms at the Radha-Damodara temple.
Gopal Ghosh: “Once I met with Prabhupada and he was sitting on a small mat and he would often lean back against the wall. He told me, ‘Gopal, listen to me. At night many times I sit in front of Rupa’s samadhi and chant Hari Nam Sankirtan and burn an incense stick. I pray to Rupa Goswami everyday that, “If you are truth, and this place is truth, then please show me your face and your grace, so that I can feel your grace.” I feel that Rupa Goswami’s immortal grace is flowing. But the general mass of people cannot receive it. They just bow their heads there every day. But I am feeling that Rupa Goswami is here and is hearing everything. And Rupa Goswami told me in a dream that great work will be done by you. He also said you should always chant Chaitanya Caritamrta and Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu, and that I will be right behind you.’”

Activities and thoughts of Srila Prabhupada , returning after two years to Radha damodar temple:-

In August 1967, Srila Prabhupada returned to Radha-Damodara for the purpose of recuperating his health, which he had sacrificed during two years of strenuous nonstop preaching in America. Kértanänanda, an American disciple, attended him and acted as practical proof of Prabhupada’s preaching. Greeting Prabhupada in Delhi and accompanying him to Vrindavan, Narayan Maharaj said that upon arriving at the Radha-Damodara temple, the proprietor offered them maha-prasadam.
Srila Prabhupada settled back into his old rooms at Radha-Damodara. He was relaxed and living simply, wearing only one piece of cloth wrapped around his waist from behind, crossed over his chest and tied behind his neck. In the bracing summer heat, Prabhupada’s vitality bloomed like a lotus drinking sunshine.

Prabhupada had some charming acquaintances at Radha-Damodara. Sarajini, an old widow sporting a shaved head and sikha, used to sweep Prabhupada’s kitchen and wash his clothes. Every evening one venerable babaji, who was constantly laughing, would bring sandalwood paste for Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada wanted to construct an ‘American House’ at the Radha-Damodara temple, where his Western disciples could study Sanskrit and the Vaisnava scriptures. Prabhupada previously indicated this desire in a letter to Nripen Babu, co-trustee of the Radha-Damodara temple, dated 15 December, 1966, from New York City:
Srila Prabhupada: “Now one thing I beg to draw your attention to is the Rupanuga Para Vidya Pitha, which I wanted to start in Vrindavan, within the vicinity of the Radha-Damodara Mandir… my aim is to start it on the land of Sri Sri Radha-Damodara temple, which I think will be very good for everyone concerned. I want to start a nice international institute at the place of Sri Rupa Goswami and Jiva Goswami.”
Four hundred and fifty years ago at the Radha-Damodara temple, Rupa Goswami, and then Jiva Goswami, regularly taught the principles of pure devotion to a group of Vaisnavas, who congregated there from all over India. Following in their footsteps, Srila Prabhupada tried to erect a Vaisnava school on Radha-Damodara’s land behind the inner boundary wall. The temple authorities, however, rejected Prabhupada’s proposal.
On August 28, 1967, Janmastami day, ISKCON history was made at the Radha-Damodara temple. Srila Prabhupada gave sannyasa to Kértanänanda, his first disciple to enter the renounced order. To mark the auspicious occasion, Prabhupada organized a small festival.
Gopal Ghosh: “When I arrived Prabhupada called me over to sit down next to him, and we listened to Kértanänanda Maharaj’s speech. Sweet rice prasadam was distributed that day, and Prabhupada donated new jari, mukut, dresses and nice makhara kundala for all the Deities at the Radha-Damodara temple.”
Prabhupada came to Vrindavan on pilgrimage to share it with his disciples. Together, they toured the spots of Krishna’s playful pastimes: Govardhan Hill, Radha Kund, Varsan, Nandagram, Gokula, Mathura. During his ten day stayover, Prabhupada abided one night at Radha-Damodara. While showing his rooms to his disciples, Prabhupada spoke to the head pujari about using the Radha-Damodara temple for ISKCON.
Srila Prabhupada: “We shall prepare the whole temple nicely, and we shall make a silver throne for the Deity. Fifty to a hundred men will take prasadam here. It will be unique. If you want, we can do it. Otherwise, we can start our own temple somewhere. We are prepared to spend money. If you give us a chance, we will spend it here.”
Where Prabhupada had once sat alone and dreamed of a worldwide Krishna conscious movement, he now sat with forty initiated Western disciples, members of his International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Srila Prabhupada spoke intimately about the days of his solitary bhajan at Radha-Damodara.
Srila Prabhupada: “Everyday I was going to the samadhi of Jiva Goswami and Rupa Goswami, and also praying to Rupa Goswami to write down these three volumes of Bhagavatam. And this is the place where I was actually writing in my room.
“I was circumambulating the temple everyday and offering obeisances to the samadhis of Rupa Goswami and Jiva Goswami. And by their mercy I was praying to Radha-Damodara that I should fulfill the desire of my guru maharaj, and go to the Western world and preach.” (Ksirodakasayi, Memoirs)
Padmanabha Goswami: “When I first met Srila Prabhupada, he was sitting on a choki (low seat) in the entranceway to his bedroom, in front of the Radha-Damodara temple. My father sent me to deliver a congratulations message to Prabhupada because he has just come back from the Western countries. I gave the message to Srila Prabhupada, and told him I am the son of Sri Visvambhar Goswami from the Radha-Raman temple. So, after that Prabhupada said, ‘You please sit down here’, and he asked me about my father’s health and everything. Then he gave me some prasadam. Actually, I was very much impressed with Prabhupada’s personality. I felt something nice in my heart.”
Srila Prabhupada: “My plan is to come to Vrindavan sometime near the twelfth or fifteenth of October for the Kartik Vrata, and I want to sit down there in the Sri Sri Radha-Damodara temple until sometime near the end of November. I will lecture daily in the courtyard on Bhakti-rasamrta-Sindhu, especially for the benefit of the devotees. So you can make arrangements in that way.”
In October, Srila Prabhupada came to Vrindavan to begin construction on his new property and to lecture to his fifty American, European, and Indian disciples, who gathered at the Radha-Damodara temple.
Srila Prabhupada: “Yesterday I have met with George Harrison and his wife in their place at Henley, and they are very much favorable. They want to stay with us for some time at Radha-Damodara temple this winter.”

Ganga Mayi dasi: “Every morning the devotees from Keshi Ghat would assemble outside Prabhupada’s room in the Radha-Damodara courtyard and have these real far-out, tip-roaring kirtans, with about thirty devotees. About a half-a-dozen sannyasis (Subal, Parivrajakacarya, Paramahamsa, Tusta Krishna) used to jump up and down with their dandas whirling about. And they would leap into the air, polevaulting with their dandas. Those kirtans were pretty amazing, come to think about it. They were very ecstatic.
Gopal Ghosh: “Prabhupada would come out of his room with his stick, and his chaddar wrapped over his shoulder. Two devotees would accompany him, waving camara and peacock fans. First he would do pranams to Radha-Damodaraji, then Jiva Goswami, Rupa Goswami and then sit down to lecture.

Prabhupad’s Feelings of separation from Radha Damodar Temple:-
Ksirodakasayi: “Subal Maharaj was living with us from March till June, 1972. Many Indian devotees were curiously coming to see us while we were living at Radha-Damodara. Subal wanted to speak to them but nobody spoke English. Subal wrote to Prabhupada that he was wasting his time at Radha-Damodara, he said, ‘Because I can’t preach anything, and I am a sannyasi, and I am supposed to preach. So I want to come back to America.’
“Srila Prabhupada, wrote back to him with an instruction. ‘In Vrindavan wherever you stay, even the walls, the birds, the trees, they all hear. You keep on speaking and preach to them, they will hear.’”
Although Prabhupada never stayed again in his rooms at Radha-Damodara after 1972, he did say at that time:
Srila Prabhupada: “This corner at the Radha-Damodara temple is just like the hub of the wheel of the spiritual world – it is the center.”
In 1972, when Srila Prabhupada told his disciples that this corner at the Radha-Damodara temple was just like the hub of the spiritual world – it was the center; he could have been referring to the fact that the Radha-Damodara temple is situated right in the middle of Seva Kunj. Seva Kunj is the transcendental place where Lord Krishna humbly served Srimati Radharani in order to mollify Her maan (anger) aroused during a conjugal conflict.
Ksirodakasayi: “Because after Srila Prabhupada took vanaprastha life and then sannyasa, he remained in Vrindavan for so many years. His realization was through the Radha-Damodara temple. There, other great acaryas like Rupa Goswami, Jiva, Kaviraj Goswami and others have their samadhis. They also live there. So Prabhupada realized that he got the mercy of these great acaryas.”
“Srila Prabhupada referred to these rooms at Radha-Damodara temple as his ‘eternal residence’, the place where he actually began his plans for the Krishna consciousness movement.”
In 1972, from Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada sent a letter to a disciple briefly stating the same profound point: “In 1961 I moved into the Radha-Damodara temple and I am still living there.” (72/8/31)

Jagat Guru Swami: “Prabhupada said that the Radha-Damodara temple was in the center of the spiritual world because of the activities that went on there among the followers of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and because of the intimacy of the association and what was revealed there to the devotees and what they experienced there. The intensity of the divine rapture would make it the center no matter where it was. But it also happened to be in Vrindavan.”
A few devotees respond to the question, “What did Srila Prabhupada mean when he said, ‘I eternally reside in my rooms at Radha- Damodara temple’”
Narayan Maharaj: “Prabhupada being eternally situated at that place means that he will serve Radha and Krishna under the guidance of Lalita and Visakha and Rupa Manjari. So, Prabhupada is saying that I am always here, eternally.”
Jagat Guru Swami: “I always felt it was there at Radha-Damodara where Prabhupada had what he himself would consider his most divine revelations and internal experiences in Krishna consciousness.”
Srila prabhupad’s bhajan kutir and instruction of srila prabhupada to disciples regarding his bhajan kutir

Srila Prabhupada cherished his rooms at the Radha-Damodara temple, and he often stressed their importance. From the beginning of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada allowed his disciples to live in his rooms at Radha-Damodara for two reasons: to maintain possession of the rooms and to give his disciples a chance to receive the transcendental blessings of Sri Rupa Goswami, Sri Jiva Goswami, Sri Vrindavan dham, and Sri Sri Radha-Damodara.
In June 1969, Srila Prabhupada wrote in the concluding words to his Nectar of Devotion:
Srila Prabhupada: “While physically present, Srila Rupa Goswami was living in different parts of Vrindavan, and his headquarters were in the temple of Radha-Damodara, in the present day city of Vrindavan.
“The place of Rupa Goswami’s bhajan, execution of devotional service, is commemorated still; one structure is called his place of bhajan, and in the other, his body is entombed. Behind this very tomb, I have my place of bhajan, but since 1965 1 have been away. The place, however, is being taken care of by my disciples. By Krishna’s will, I am now residing at the Los Angeles temple of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.”

To Gargamuni: “In the meantime you can use my Radha-Damodara rooms, but make the locks and doors secure.” (S.P. Letters 71/12/27)

To Guru das Maharaj: “If you like to stay in my rooms at Radha-Damodara, then you may stay there. I allow it. Preaching also means reading and writing, or else what will you preach.” (77/2/4)

Satsvarupa das Goswami: “At this time (Feb. 1977) Srila Prabhupada advised his disciples to always live in his Radha-Damodara rooms to preserve his occupancy rights.”

Prabhupada left definite plans and standards for maintaining his rooms at Radha-Damodara.

Jagat Guru Swami: “I remember Prabhupada called a meeting in 1977 with a few of his sannyasis. Then he told us, ‘Generally, the worship in the spiritual master’s bhajan kutir doesn’t start until after his departure. But I want to initiate the system of worship now, so I know that it’s going on.’ So after that meeting, from that time on, Prabhupada’s rooms at Radha-Damodara became known as ‘Prabhupada’s bhajan kutir.’”

Srila Prabhupada: “In my room at Radha-Damodara you should keep one photo of me, and offer it prasadam of Sri Sri Radha-Damodara.” (77/3/4)

Srila Prabhupada: “As you have described the placing of my photograph and offering to it Prasadam, that is good. In consultation with Akshayananda Maharaj, just find out some responsible men to stay there. Everything should be kept neat and clean, as if I am staying there. It is good if someone daily sells books from there.”

Srila Prabhupada left specific plans for the worshiping in his bhajan kutir at Radha-Damodara temple.

Jagat Guru Swami: “During those initial talks with his sannyasis about commencing worship in his rooms, Prabhupada said he wanted a written inventory of all the things lying in his rooms, including how many books, manuscripts, pots, plates, spoons, cups, everything. Prabhupada said that Gargamuni Maharaj would oversee the rooms, but that his sannyasi disciples from around the world, should live alone, and do the service at his rooms at Radha-Damodara.
“The sannyasis should stay in his rooms for one to three months and then rotate. Just like during Prabhupada’s presence, he was always calling his top preachers to come serve him, and then sending them out. But it never happened.
“The sannyasis were supposed to go shopping, buy everything, cook the offering for Stila Prabhupada, and basically live there just like he did. The position is more than just being a caretaker, but that person is like Prabhupada’s personal cook.”

What are the benefits of living and serving in Srila Prabhupada’s bhajan kutir? Ksirodakasayi, who lived there for nine months in 1972, answers.
Ksirodakasayi: “Those who stay there will realize that those acaryas are still living there. And if one is actually advancing in the spiritual field, they can still take instruction from the acaryas living there. It is up to the individual, how he realizes this by his devotional service. By staying there you must realize how pure the environment is. The environment itself gives a high taste of consciousness. Radha-Damodara is there and the great acaryas samadhis are there. There cannot be any other better place to live, than at Radha-Damodara!”

Although now Srila Prabhupada’s bhajan kutir is an obscure place, unknown to the thousands of Vaisnava pilgrims flowing through the Radha-Damodara temple, in the future millions of grateful Gaudiya Vaisnavas from China, Russia, India, Europe, Asia, and North and South America will prostrate themselves before the door of Prabhupada’s bhajan kutir and beg for his divine mercy. Prabhupada said that the First Canto of his Srimad Bhagavatam contained all the necessary instructions to guide humanity for the next ten thousand years.

In his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam, 10.2.20, Srila Prabhupada states:
Srila Prabhupada: “Therefore, Krishna has taken birth or taken shelter within the womb of the Krishna consciousness movement.”
As Lord Krishna has taken birth within the womb of ISKCON, similarly the Srimad Bhagavatam has taken birth within the womb of Prabhupada’s bhajan kutir at the Radha-Damodara temple. It is here that Prabhupada translated the First Canto of Bhagavatam and projected his purports, designed to penetrate Kali’s darkness for the next one hundred centuries. Prabhupada’s bhajan kutir is the maha-grantha janmasthan, the birthplace of the best of scriptures, the Srimad Bhagavatam.

What is the importance of Prabhupada’s bhajan kutir?
Ksirodakasayi: “It is not only important for members of ISKCON and Prabhupada’s disciples, but it is important for every Vaisnava. A saintly person purifies the atmosphere wherever he goes. When a saintly person stays so long in one place, that place becomes sanctified by purity. And anyone who bows down his head at such a place will get the mercy of the acarya.
“Srila Prabhupada’s disciples and others who realize this by his teachings, will understand that Srila Prabhupada started his spiritual movement from there, his rooms at the Radha-Damodara temple.
“If one wants to get the mercy of Prabhupada, he should go there to his bhajan kutir and ask for the mercy. Actually, Prabhupada stayed at many different places, but this place (his bhajan kutir) was the original candle and that light goes throughout the world.”

Gopal Ghosh: “That is where Prabhupada got the idea for ISKCON. It is where Prabhupada did his own personal bhajan. and there many times he told me that Rupa and Jiva Goswamis appeared to him in dreams.
“He took power from that place. The power to preach and spread Krishna consciousness. Because one day he told me one poem in Bengali from Chaitanya Bhagavat. ‘Until now, Lord Chaitanya is doing His lila. He is also chanting and dancing. He is distributing this. It is cinmoya lila, and satya – truth. Some rare person is getting this grace, but the general masses are entrapped in visaya, sense gratification, and cannot follow.”