Sri Govindaji Deity was originally installed 5000 years ago by great Krishna’s grandson in Vrindavana and it is one of the four main Deities of Vraja-mandala. Others are Keshavadeva (on Janmasthana), Harideva (on Govardhan) and Dauji (Deity of Balarama). Govindaji was worshiped by Srila Rupa Goswami in Radha-Govinda Temple.
Before that the Deity was for a long time lost. One day Rupa Goswami had a dream and Govindaji Deity appeared to him and told him where it is buried. Rupa Goswami discovered the Deity and personally took care about the worship.
Maharaja Jai Singh II. took the Deity from Vrindavana to Amber near Jaipur to protect it from Muslim king Aurangzeb, who used to destroy the Hindu temples and break the Deities. The Deity was moved to Jaipur in 1728 (or in 1735 according to the other sources). Maharaja Jai Singh dedicated his Jaipur or “the town of victory” to Govindaji.
On the altar there are life size Deities (Radha’s Deity is also black). The smaller Deity of Gaura-Govinda was worshipped by Kasishvar Pandit. Deities are dressed 3 times a day and Srila Prabhupada considered local Deity-worship standard to be a good example for others to follow.
Every day before 5 a.m. in the morning almost 5000 people is coming to see their beloved Deity on mangala-arati. Every month the times for the aratis change, therefore it is important to ask what time arati is.
The devotees enthusiastically chant prayers in praise of Lord Govinda. The translation to the mantra that is chanted in front of Govindaji is: “We hunger for the sight of your face, and we wish to fix you constantly in our thoughts while meditating on your lotus face. This life is full of responsibilities and now we are in the middle of the ocean; please give us your blessing so that we can relieve ourselves of life’s burdens and understand the meaning of life.”
A long time since I was there. Some very nice temples in Jaipur and this evening arati is wonderful This is what I miss most about India.
Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Govindaji ki jai!
Pamho agtacbsp, RADHE GOVINDA GOVINDA RADHE RADHA KRSNA RADHA KRSNA RADHA GOVINDA 30 years ago they use to chant this mantra , I did a marathon of books distribution of SRILA PRABHUPADA in jaipur in 1987 we had rooms in SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU TEMPLE close to SRI RADHA GOVINDJI, I see now in this video they change song but their devotion is the same.SRILA RUPA GOSVAMI used to talk to this deities like all the others GOSVAMI they used to talk to their deities because they are eternal associated of SCM nitya siddha in krsna prema completely free from the mental slavery of the contamination of the painful bodily concept of life these are the real devotees of the Lord . JAI SRI SRI RADHA GOVINDJI KI JAY agtacbsp ys haribol
Pamho agtacbsp, VANDE RUPA SANATANA RAGU YUGO SRI JIVA GOPALA KO.the seven temples of vrindavan are the temple of the six GOSVAMI of vraja bhumi, SRI SRI RADHA RAMANA of GOPALA bhatta GOSVAMI is gopal ko hai trinbanki hai svayam bhuve SANATANA hai hari banki bihari mithyu priyar is self manifested from the Sri salagram sila of GOPALA BHATTA GOSVAMI .agtacbsp ys haribol