Gokula (Vraja Bhoomi) - Where Sri Krishna grew up

► Gokul (Vraja Bhoomi) (Divya Desam)
(Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

▬ River Yamuna flows → Gau Ghat, Brahmanda Ghat (Aarti)
- Gokul: Yashoda Ghat - Gau Ghat - Yamuna Temple
- Mahavan: Brahmanda Ghat
(Upper Ganga Plain)

(Srimad Bhagavatam)

• Balarama: Sri Balarama incarnated in Mathura in the prison of Kamsa in the womb of Devaki, but was transferred to the womb of Rohini in Gokula by Devi Yogamaya. Sri Balarama grew up in Gokula.

• Krishna: Sri Krishna grew up in Gokula as the son of Nanda and Yashoda and performed various childhood pranks (like stealing butter) in that place.
- Sri Krishna killed Putana and Trinavarta in Gokula.
- Sri Krishna performed the Leela of Damodara (Yashoda trying to bind) in Gokula and liberated Nalakuvara and Manigriva (as Arjuna Trees).
- Sri Krishna made a woman fruit-seller rich in Gokula.
- Gokul: Nand-Yashoda Bhavan - Putna Uddhar Sthal - Yashoda Ghat
- Mahavan: Nand Bhavan or Chaurasi Khamba Temple - Putna Temple - Brahmanda Ghat - Ukhal Bandhan

• Devi: Devi Yogamaya incarnated in Gokula as the daughter of Nanda and Yashoda.
- Mahavan: Yogamaya Temple

• Shiva: Lord Shiva abides in Gokula as Darshaneshwar Mahadev (the Mahadev who came to see child Krishna).
- Darshaneshwar Mahadev Temple

• Sages: Sages associated with Vraja:

○ Garga: Sage Garga performed the naming ceremony of Sri Krishna in Gokula secretly within a cowshed. Sage Garga also performed the Upanayana ceremony of Sri Krishna in Mathura before he departed to Sandipani Ashrama of Avanti.

• Saints: Saints associated with Vraja:

○ Nimbarkacharya (? - 1162 CE): Sri Nimbarkacharya is said to have lived in Vraja and preached devotion of Sri Krishna (Dvaitaadvaita).

○ Surdas (1478 - 1573 CE): Sri Surdas lived in Vraja and composed devotional songs in praise of Sri Krishna (Sur Sagar).

○ Vallabhacharya (1479 - 1531 CE): Sri Vallabhacharya lived in Vraja for sometime and preached devotion of Sri Krishna (Pushtimarga). The Image of Srinathji emerged from Govardhana. Sri Vallabhacharya built the first temple of Srinathji in Govardhana and performed the seva of the Lord.

○ Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486 - 1534 CE): Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Vraja during his pilgrimage and spread devotion of Sri Krishna through his Sankirtans (Gaudiya Vaishnavism).

○ Sanatana Goswami (1488–1558 CE): Sri Sanatana Goswami came to Vraja, being instructed by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to discover the sites associated with Sri Krishna.

○ Rupa Goswami (1489–1564 CE): Sri Rupa Goswami came to Vraja, being instructed by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to discover the sites associated with Sri Krishna.

○ Meerabai (1497 - 1557 CE): Sri Meerabai visited Vraja and worshipped Sri Krishna (Meera Bhajans).

○ Swami Haridas (16th Century): Swami Haridas lived in Nidhivan and practised devotion of Sri Krishna. The Banke Bihari idol was found by Haridas Thakur in Nidhivan.

कृष्णाय वासुदेवाय देवकी नन्दनाय च ।
नन्दगोप कुमाराय गोविन्दाय नमो नमः ॥
- Krishnaya Vasudevaya (Sri Krishna abides in Gokul as the son of Devaki and Nanda)

मुरारिकायकालिमाललामवारिधारिणी तृणीकृतत्रिविष्टपा त्रिलोकशोकहारिणी ।
मनोऽनुकूलकूलकुञ्जपुञ्जधूतदुर्मदा धुनोतु मे मनोमलं कलिन्दनन्दिनी सदा ॥
- Yamunashtakam - verse 1 (River Yamuna flows through Gokul)


(Srimad Bhagavatam)
(Garga Samhita)

▬ Devi Yogamaya incarnating in Gokula
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 3)
▬ Sri Krishna appearing as the son of Yashoda in Gokula
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 5)
▬ Sri Krishna killing Putana and liberating her in Gokula
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 6)
▬ Sri Krishna killing demon Trinavarta in Gokula
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 7)
▬ Sri Krishna showing mother Yashoda the whole universe inside His mouth in Gokula
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 8)
▬ Sri Krishna allowing mother Yashoda to bind him in Gokula
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 9)

► Gokul - Mahavan Yogamaya Temple
(Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

The Yogamaya Temple of Mahavan (Old Gokul) is identified with the place where Devi Yogamaya incarnated in Gokul.

► Gokul - Gokul and Mahavan
(Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

Gokul is identified with two places.
1. Gokul or New Gokul. (with Nand-Yashoda Bhavan or Nand Mahal)
2. Mahavan or Old Gokul (with Nand Bhavan or Chaurasi Khamba Temple).

► Gokul - Gokul Nand-Yashoda Bhavan or Nand Mahal
(Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

The Nand-Yashoda Bhavan of Gokul (New Gokul) is identified with the house of Nanda where Sri Krishna and Sri Balarama grew up.

Within the Nand-Yashoda Bhavan are Images of:
1. Sri Balarama (Sri Balarama was transferred from the womb of Devaki at Mathura to the womb of Rohini at Gokula)
2. Devi Yogamaya (Devi Yogamaya incarnated as the daughter of Yashoda in Gokul)
3. Sri Krishna (Sri Krishna was exchanged by Vasudeva with Devi Yogamaya)
4. Nand and Yashoda

► Gokul - Mahavan Nand Bhavan or Chaurasi Khamba Temple
(Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

The Nand Bhavan or Chaurasi Khamba Temple of Mahavan (Old Gokul) is also identified with the house of Nanda where Sri Krishna and Sri Balarama grew up.

► Gokul - Gokul Putna Uddhar Sthal
(Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

The Nand-Yashoda Bhavan of Gokul (New Gokul) has a room where Putna Uddhar (Moksha) is depicted.

► Gokul - Mahavan Putna Temple
(Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

Mahavan (Old Gokul) has a Putna Temple where Putna Uddhar (Moksha) is depicted.

► Gokul - Gokul Yashoda Ghat
(Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

The Yashoda Ghat at Gokul (New Gokul) is identified with the place where Sri Krishna showed mother Yashoda the entire universe inside his mouth.

► Gokul - Mahavan Brahmanda Ghat
(Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

The Brahmanda Ghat at Mahavan (Old Gokul) is identified with the place where Sri Krishna showed mother Yashoda the entire universe inside his mouth.

► Gokul - Mahavan Ukhal Bandhan Ashram
(Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

The Ukhal Bandhan Ashram at Mahavan (Old Gokul) is identified with the place where Sri Krishna was tied by mother Yashoda to a Ukhal (Mortar). Sri Krishna also liberated Nalakuvara and Manigriva in this place. So this is also known as Yamalarjuna Uddhar Sthal.