5 Fascinating and Mysterious Facts About Vrindavan

VIVA – In religious tourism, no place attracts more pilgrims throughout the year like Vrindavan and Braj. Vrindavan which is also named as sacred guarantee plant is an ancient city that highlights ancient Indian culture and traditions.

The Vrindavan name is itself inspired from Vrinda “Holy Basil”, a pious and sacred plant beloved to the deities. 

Besides the two pilgrimage centers of ancient gardens and temples, there are many folk tales related to various aspects of the city. Here’s 5 fascinating and mysterious facts about Vrindavan India:

Vrindavan is home to the popular Govinda Deva temple that attracts thousands of visitors each day.

Not many people however know that this ancient temple was lost and rediscovered only in 1515 by mystic Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He used his mystical abilities to find the ruins of an ancient location believed to be the true location of what is today the well-known Govinda Deva temple.

It’s believed by the local people and the legend that after their Ras Leela, the Lord and Radha rest in their adobe at the Rang Mahal. Beds are decorated for both during the evening with food and Prasad left for the lord.

No one is allowed to be in the vicinity of the Rang Mahal at night. Some tales also suggest that no human has lived to tell the story of those who tried to sneak in to check who entered the Rang Mahal in the night.

3. No Shells in the Bankey Bihari Temple

Bankey Bihari temple is one of the rare temples in Vrindavan that offers no bells or conch shells. People chant the name of the God instead during the prayers and distribution of Prasad in the temple at dusk and dawn.

The legend has it that the Lord in the form of Bankey Bihari didn’t like the sound of conch or shells.

4. The Secret of Nidhi Van

Nidhi Van known to be the famous area where the God adorns human avatar for Rasleela continues to enthrall devotees and locals of Vrindavan. Such as the legend that no people are allowed inside the Nidhi Van after sunset. It’s believed that Lord Krishna and Radha come and play their Rasleela at midnight.

Local people have witnessed the sounds of ghungroos used in the RasLeela amid the densely populated forest of Nidhi Van.

The Radha Damodar Temple is one of the biggest tourism attractions in Vrindavan where a rock containing footprints of Lord Krishna stand tall till date.

Krishna is believed to come in human form to give darshan to a devotee named Jiva Goswami. Along with the footprints of the Krishna, there is also a hoof print of a cow. As in common folklore, Krishna and the cow has a good friendship.