Mathura (Vraja Bhoomi) - Moksha Puri and where Sri Krishna incarnated

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

▬ River Yamuna flows → Vishram Ghat (Aarti)
- Vishram Ghat - Yamuna Temple
(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.
- Krishna Janambhoomi

• Krishna: Sri Krishna incarnated in Mathura in the prison of Kamsa as the son of Vasudeva and Devaki.
- Sri Krishna was transferred to Gokula by Vasudeva to become the son of Nanda and Yashoda.
- Sri Krishna slayed Kamsa and his wresters in Mathura.
- Sri Krishna defeated Jarasandha seventeen times in Mathura.
- Krishna Janambhoomi
- Potara Kund
- Akrur Ghat
- Kans Kila
- Dwarkadheesh Temple

• Devi: Devi Yogamaya manifested as Goddess Durga in Mathura when Kamsa tried to kill the girl child. Devi also abides on the outskirts of Mathura as Devi Mahavidya or Devi Ambika.
- Krishna Janambhoomi
- Devi Mahavidya Temple

• Shiva: Lord Shiva abides in Mathura as Bhuteshwar Mahadev.
- Bhuteshwar 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.

अयोध्या मथुरा माया काशी काञ्ची अवन्तिका ।
पुरी द्वारावती चैव सप्तैते मोक्षदायकाः ॥
- Sapta Mokshapuri Sloka (Mathura is a Moksha Puri)

अच्युतं केशवं रामनारायणं कृष्णदामोदरं वासुदेवं हरिम् ।
श्रीधरं माधवं गोपिकावल्लभं जानकीनायकं रामचंद्रं भजे ॥
- Achyutashtakam - verse 1 (Sri Krishna incarnated in Mathura)

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


(Srimad Bhagavatam)
(Garga Samhita)

▬ Sri Balarama incarnating in Mathura
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 2)
▬ Sri Krishna inspiring Vasudeva to exchange Him with Yogamaya
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 3)
▬ Sri Krishna incarnating in Mathura
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 3)
▬ Devi Yogamaya manifesting as goddess Durga
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 4)
▬ Sri Krishna showing the vision of Lord Vishnu to Akrura
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 39 to 40)
▬ Sri Krishna killing elephant Kuvalayapida in Mathura
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 43)
▬ Sri Krishna killing the wrestlers of Kamsa in Mathura
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 44)
▬ Sri Krishna killing Kamsa in Mathura
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 44 to 45)
▬ Sage Garga performing the Upanayana ceremony of Sri Krishna in Mathura
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 45)
▬ Sri Krishna defeating the army of Jarasandha seventeen times in Mathura
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 50)
▬ Sri Krishna destroying the army of Kalayavana
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 52)
▬ Sri Krishna killing Kalayavana through Muchukunda
(Srimad Bhagavatam - Skanda 10 - 51 to 52)

► Mathura - Sri Krishna Janmasthan or Sri Krishna Janambhoomi
(Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

Sri Krishna Janambhoomi is identified with the location of the prison of Kamsa where both Sri Balarama and Sri Krishna incarnated from Devaki.

► Mathura - Potara Kund
(Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

Potara Kund near the Sri Krishna Janmasthan Temple is said to be the place where the clothes of baby Krishna was washed after his incarnation in prison.

► Mathura - Akrur Ghat
(Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

Akrur Ghat between Mathura and Vrindavana is identified with the place where Sri Krishna showed divine vision of Lord Vishnu to Akrura.

► Mathura - Kans Kila or Kans Tila
(Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

Kans Kila or Kans Tila is identified with the place where Sri Krishna killed Kamsa.

► Mathura - Bhuteshwar Mahadev Temple
(Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

Bhuteshwar Mahadev Temple is located on the outskirts of Mathura.

► Mathura - Devi Mahavidya or Devi Ambika Temple
(Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)

Ambika Forest is identified with Devi Mahavidya or Devi Ambika Temple. It is located on the outskirts of the Mathura town and is situated on a hillock. On the bottom of this hillock is a Saraswati stream and Saraswati Kund.