Shrimad Bhagavata Purana
Skandha 10 — Shri Krishna's birth, Kansa-Karagara, complete bala-lila narrative
Mathura · Uttar Pradesh
Shri Krishna Janmasthan Temple Complex, Mathura
Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi — the prison-site where Shri Krishna manifested
अन्य नाम: Krishna Janmabhoomi · Shri Krishna Janmasthan · Karagara · Keshav Dev Temple
- 7 Saptapuri
- Foremost among Shri Krishna's lila…
- Ashta-Dham Vaishnava tirtha
इस मन्दिर की विशेषता
- 7 Saptapuri (Mathura — moksha-granting city)
- Foremost among Shri Krishna's lila-sites
- Ashta-Dham Vaishnava tirtha
01
मूल विग्रह
मुख्य देव एवं स्वरूप
Shri Krishna (in the child form; at the birth-site as 'Karagara' and in the main temple as Radha-Krishna)
Three principal temples: (1) Keshav Dev Temple — Krishna-form, (2) Garbh Griha — the birth-site of Shri Krishna in the Dvapara Yuga, (3) Bhagvata Bhavan — main Radha-Krishna idols
सम्प्रदाय: Vaishnava (Pushti-Marga + Nimbarka + others)
02
स्थल-पुराण
कथा, इतिहास एवं महत्व
Harivamsa Purana
First detailed reference to Shri Krishna's life
Vishnu Purana
Shri Krishna avatar and Mathura Mahatmya
Brahma Vaivarta Purana
Shri Krishna Janma Khanda
Mahabharata
Many references to Shri Krishna's lila
संत एवं परम्परा
- Shri Krishna — Dvapara Yuga, Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami, midnight, born in Kansa's prison (as 8th son of Vasudeva-Devaki); father Vasudeva carried him across the Yamuna to Nanda-Yashoda's home in Gokul
- Vajranabha — great-grandson of Shri Krishna; builder of the original temple (tradition)
- Raja Veer Singh Deva Bundela (Orchha, 1618 CE) — during Jahangir's reign, built an octagonal red-sandstone temple at the cost of 33 lakh rupees
- Madan Mohan Malaviya and the Birla family (20th century) — patrons of the present temple complex's reconstruction through the Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan (1957)
ऐतिहासिक घटनाक्रम
- -6006th-5th century BCE — archaeological excavations evidence ancient Krishna upasana — Wikipedia Krishna Janmasthan Temple Complex
- 10171017 CE — Mahmud of Ghazni's first destruction of Mathura and the temple — Wikipedia + Aurangzeb-era historical records
- 115012th century — reconstruction by Vijayapala (Rajput king) — Wikipedia
- 16181618 CE — during Jahangir's reign, Raja Veer Singh Deva Bundela (Orchha) built an octagonal red-sandstone temple at the cost of 33 lakh rupees; French traveller Tavernier described it in 1650 — Wikipedia + Tavernier travelogue
- 16701670 CE — destruction of the temple by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and construction of the Shahi Eidgah mosque on the same site (confirmed by ASI historical records) — Wikipedia + ASI historical records + OpIndia 2024
- 19571957 CE — founding of the Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan; the present temple complex (Keshav Dev + Garbh Griha + Bhagvata Bhavan) was rebuilt under the patronage of Madan Mohan Malaviya and the Birla family — Wikipedia + Trust records
03
नित्य उपासना
दर्शन समय एवं आरती
05:00 से 21:30 तक
Mangala Aarti05:30
First aarti of the day
Makhan Bhog08:00
Shringar Aarti09:00
Rajbhog Aarti11:00-12:00
Garbh-griha briefly closes post-midday
Utthapan / evening darshan16:00 (summer) / 15:00 (winter)
Sandhya Aarti18:00
Principal evening ritual
Shayan Aarti21:00-21:30 (summer) / 20:00-20:30 (winter)
Last aarti of the day
04
दर्शन
दर्शन के प्रकार
General Free Darshanनिःशुल्क
Free darshan of Keshav Dev, Garbh Griha and Bhagvata Bhavan.
Strict Security Rules
Mobiles, cameras, bags, leather items are strictly prohibited in the temple complex; mandatory free lockers. Strict checks at outer security checkpoints (due to the Shahi Eidgah dispute).
05
उत्सव
प्रमुख पर्व एवं उत्सव
Shri Krishna JanmashtamiBhadrapada Krishna Ashtami
The temple's supreme annual festival — birth celebration at the actual Krishna-birth-site. At the stroke of midnight (12:00 AM), the manifestation festival; abhisheka, jhulan-utsav; all-night darshan. Lakhs of devotees. 2026 — Smarta 4 September Friday + Vaishnava/ISKCON 5 September Saturday (per DrikPanchang; Ashtami tithi 4 September 10:48 AM - 5 September 11:23 AM).
NandotsavDay after Janmashtami
Welcome festival of Shri Krishna by Nanda-Yashoda at Gokul; butter-curd festival
RadhashtamiBhadrapada Shukla Ashtami
Radha's birth festival; special Radha archana at Bhagvata Bhavan
Holi / Lathmar HoliPhalguna Shukla Purnima and after
The world-famous Holi festivals of Mathura-Vrindavan; grand celebrations at the Janmasthan also
Annakut (Govardhan Puja)Kartika Shukla Pratipada
56 bhog and Govardhan narrative
06
आस्था
मनोकामना एवं फल
Mathura is foremost among the 7 Saptapuri moksha-granting cities; the Krishna-birth-site darshan grants the moksha resolve
स्रोत: Skanda Purana + Garuda Purana
Darshan of Shri Krishna's child form — for the boon of progeny, child-health, and increase of bhakti
स्रोत: Shrimad Bhagavata Purana
The Janmasthan is the first in the 8-dham Vaishnava tirtha sequence; Mathura-Vrindavan-Gokul-Govardhan-Barsana-Nandgaon-Ballabhgarh-Gopeshwar 7-day yatra
स्रोत: Vaishnava tradition
Darshan of the very avatar-site of the Lord — unique merit
स्रोत: Bhagavata tradition
07
जप
मन्त्र एवं स्तोत्र
- Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya — Dvadashakshara MantraCore mantra of Janmasthan upasana
- Shrimad Bhagavad Gita
- Hare Krishna Mahamantra
- Shri Krishna Janma Ashtami Stotra
08
तीर्थाटन
समीप के तीर्थ एवं परिपथ
Garbh Griha (Krishna birth-prison)50 मी
Actually the site where Shri Krishna was born in Kansa's prison in the Dvapara Yuga; underground-garbhagriha; a unique spiritual experience
Keshav Dev Temple100 मी
The principal temple of Shri Krishna's 'Keshava' form
Bhagvata Bhavan100 मी
Main Radha-Krishna idols; site of Bhagavata-katha satsang
Dwarkadhish Temple, Mathura2 किमी
A separate Dwarkadhish temple in Mathura (built in 1814 by Seth Gokuldas); a Pushti-Marga temple
Vrindavan (Banke Bihari Temple)12 किमी
Site of Shri Krishna-Radha's Rasa-lila; Nidhi-vana; Prem Mandir
Gokul — Nanda-Yashoda's home15 किमी
Shri Krishna's childhood (0-6 years); Ramanreti; Dwarkadhish-Gokul
Govardhan Parvat22 किमी
Shri Krishna lifted it for 7 days to protect the Vrajavasis from Indra's wrath; 21-km parikrama tirtha
Vishram Ghat (on the Yamuna)1.5 किमी
Shri Krishna rested here after slaying Kansa; the principal ghat among Mathura's 24 ghats; evening Yamuna aarti
First dham — Mathura's Krishna Janmasthan; sequence: Janmabhoomi → Vrindavan → Gokul → Govardhan → Barsana → Nandgaon → Gopeshwar → Vallabhgarh
8 मंदिर
Mathura foremost among the 7 Saptapuri; the other 6: Ayodhya, Haridwar, Kashi, Kanchi, Ujjain, Dwarka
7 मंदिर
Central tirtha of the traditional 84-kos (~268 km) foot parikrama of the Braj region
Birth-site; the first tirtha of the Shri Krishna-life yatra
09
मार्गदर्शन
यात्रा एवं संपर्क
- पता
- Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan, Janmabhoomi Marg, Mathura — 281001, Uttar Pradesh
- हवाई अड्डा
- Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi (DEL) — ~145 km; Agra (AGR) — ~60 km
- रेलवे
- Mathura Junction (MTJ) — ~4 km from the temple; a major junction of the North Central Railway (Delhi-Mumbai + Delhi-Chennai routes)
- उत्तम ऋतु
- October-March best; temperatures 12-30°C. July-August monsoon (butter-matki festivities). Peak crowds at Janmashtami and Holi.
- वेबसाइट
- https://jksskmathura.com ↗
4 किमीMathura Junction Railway
12 किमीVrindavan
15 किमीGokul
22 किमीGovardhan
50 किमीBarsana
60 किमीAgra
145 किमीDelhi
200 किमीJaipur