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Imphal East (Wangkhei Keithel Ashangbi) · Manipur

Shri Shri Govindajee Temple

Shri Shri Govindajee Temple — Palace Compound, Imphal East, Manipur (the central Manipuri-Vaishnavism royal-Kuldevta temple; twin gold-plated domes; built by Maharaja Nara Singh 1846; the origin site of the Manipuri Maha-Ras-Lila classical dance)

Shri Shri Govindajee Devalaya — commissioned 16 January 1846 by Maharaja Nara Singh (reigned 1844-1850); 1868 earthquake damage; rebuilt by Maharaja Chandrakirti (reigned 1859-1886); reconsecrated 26 April 1876; Manipuri-localised Chaitanya-Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition; Radha-Krishna pair worship central

अन्य नाम: Shree Govindajee Temple · Shri Shri Govindajee Temple · श्री गोविन्दजी मन्दिर

  • The central Manipuri-Vaishnavism r…
  • Maharaja Nara Singh
  • Damaged in the 1868 earthquake
  • Maharaja Bhagyachandra
Shri Shri Govindajee Temple
दर्शन समय
05:30 (morning) – 20:30 (evening)
स्वरूप
Manipuri-Vaishnava Radha-Krishna pair fo…
स्थान
Imphal East (Wangkhei Keithel Ashangbi) · Manipur
उत्तम ऋतु
Maha-Ras-Lila 24 November 2026
काल
Mid-19th century

इस मन्दिर की विशेषता

  • The central Manipuri-Vaishnavism royal-Kuldevta temple (the Manipur royal-dynasty's Kuldevta)
  • Maharaja Nara Singh (reigned 1844-1850) commissioned on 16 January 1846 — Wikipedia + multi-source consensus
  • Damaged in the 1868 earthquake; rebuilt by Maharaja Chandrakirti (reigned 1859-1886); reconsecrated 26 April 1876
  • Maharaja Bhagyachandra / Ching-Thang Khomba / Jai Singh (reigned 1759-1761 + 1763-1798 — two periods; abdicated 5 February 1798) — the central propagator of Manipuri-Vaishnavism; the founder of Radha-Krishna pair worship as the state form
  • The Kaina Hill Krishna-vision narrative — Krishna appeared in a dream while in Assam-exile; seven Krishna images carved from the jackfruit tree at Kaina Hill; the first (~1.2 m) installed at the Imphal-palace; murti-carving began Friday 12 Hiyaang-gei 1776; murti unveiled Friday 11 Hiyaang-gei 1779; carver Sapam Laxman under guidance of Wanghei Pandit Angom Gopiram (Pacha Hanchapa)
  • 1779 — the first Manipuri Maha-Ras-Lila on Kartik Purnima night; Maharaja Bhagyachandra's daughter Shija Lailoibi was the first Radha (Wikipedia Bhagya Chandra '1777' vs Sanskriti/IndiaDivine '1779' conflict; the 1779 3-source majority)
01
मूल विग्रह

मुख्य देव एवं स्वरूप

Sri Krishna (Govinda/Govindajee) + Radha (central sanctum); sub-deities: Jagannath + Balabhadra + Subhadra (adjoining chamber); second chamber: Balabhadra + Krishna

Manipuri-Vaishnava Radha-Krishna pair form

सम्प्रदाय: Manipuri-Vaishnavism — a localised adaptation of the Chaitanya-Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition; emphasises Radha-Krishna pair worship (not Krishna alone); administered per Article II of the Manipur Merger Agreement 1949; previously royal-managed; currently a board of priests + city-notables; the Chief Minister of Manipur chairs the board

02
स्थल-पुराण

कथा, इतिहास एवं महत्व

Manipur Vaishnava conversion chronology narrative (not a single date; progression flag)

(1) 1467-1523 King Kayamba built the Vishnu temple at Vishnupur (the early seed); (2) 1704 King Charairongba was initiated into the Vaishnava tradition; (3) 1709-1748 King Pamheiba/Garib Niwaz was initiated into Gaudiya Vaishnavism by the preacher Shantidas Gosai; (4) From 1759 Maharaja Bhagyachandra — the most decisive propagator; the founder of Radha-Krishna pair worship as the state form. Wikipedia Manipuri Vaishnavism is the single authoritative source; treated as scholarly consensus.

The Kaina Hill Krishna-vision narrative (1776-1779)

While in Assam-exile, Maharaja Bhagyachandra received a Krishna-dream vision; on Krishna's command, after demonstrating bravery in the elephant ordeal, he was to carve images from a specific jackfruit tree on Kaina Hill; murti-carving began Friday 12 Hiyaang-gei (~November in the Meitei calendar) 1776; murti unveiled Friday 11 Hiyaang-gei 1779 (three years later); the carver was Sapam Laxman under the guidance of Wanghei Pandit Angom Gopiram (Pacha Hanchapa); seven Krishna images in total; the first (~1.2 m) installed at the Govindajee Temple in the Imphal palace; the others distributed to temples in Manipur/Assam/West Bengal. Wikipedia Sacred Jackfruit Tree + Sanskriti Magazine + IndiaDivine 3+ multi-consensus.

The first Manipuri Maha-Ras-Lila narrative (November 1779)

The first Manipuri Maha-Ras-Lila was performed on Kartik Purnima night in November 1779; Maharaja Bhagyachandra's daughter Shija Lailoibi was the first Radha. (Wikipedia Bhagya Chandra '1777' vs Sanskriti/IndiaDivine/Jayadvaita Swami '1779' — the 1779 3-source majority; 1777 flagged and dropped.) The Manipuri classical dance form was born here.

The royal-Kuldevta status narrative

Govindajee is the Kuldevta of the Manipur royal dynasty — Wikipedia + the Imphal East district government portal verified. During the 1891 Anglo-Manipur War the murtis were moved to Kongma for safety; in 1908 Maharaja Churachand Singh built a new palace; the murtis were reinstalled in the present temple. Kaina Hill has been declared a historical archaeological site by the Manipur Department of Archaeology.

संत एवं परम्परा

  • Sri Krishna (the central Govindajee deity)
  • Radha (central to the pair)
  • Maharaja Bhagyachandra / Ching-Thang Khomba / Jai Singh (reigned 1759-1761 + 1763-1798; the central propagator of Manipuri-Vaishnavism; abdicated 5 February 1798)
  • Shija Lailoibi (Bhagyachandra's daughter; the first Radha 1779)
  • Sapam Laxman (the murti carver)
  • Wanghei Pandit Angom Gopiram / Pacha Hanchapa (carving director)
  • Shantidas Gosai (the 1709-1748-period Gaudiya-Vaishnava initiator of Pamheiba/Garib Niwaz)
  • Maharaja Nara Singh (reigned 1844-1850; the 16 January 1846 commissioner)
  • Maharaja Chandrakirti (reigned 1859-1886; post-1868-earthquake reconstructor; 26 April 1876 reconsecration)
  • Maharaja Churachand Singh (the 1908 new-palace builder)
  • Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (the source of the Gaudiya-Vaishnava tradition; 16th century)

ऐतिहासिक घटनाक्रम

  1. 1759Maharaja Bhagyachandra's reign begins (1759-1761 interim; 1763-1798 second period) — Wikipedia Bhagya Chandra
  2. 177612 Hiyaang-gei Friday 1776 — Krishna-murti carving from the Kaina-Hill jackfruit tree begins — Wikipedia Sacred Jackfruit Tree + Sanskriti + IndiaDivine
  3. 177911 Hiyaang-gei Friday 1779 — Govinda-murti unveiled at the Imphal palace; Kartik Purnima night November 1779 first Manipuri Maha-Ras-Lila (Shija Lailoibi first Radha) — Wikipedia + Sanskriti + IndiaDivine + Jayadvaita Swami 3+ multi-consensus (1777 Wikipedia-Bhagya-Chandra conflict flagged)
  4. 17985 February 1798 — Maharaja Bhagyachandra abdicated — Wikipedia Bhagya Chandra
  5. 184616 January 1846 — Maharaja Nara Singh (reigned 1844-1850) commissioned the present temple structure — Wikipedia + multi-source
  6. 18681868 — temple damaged in the earthquake — Wikipedia + Incredible India
  7. 187626 April 1876 — Maharaja Chandrakirti (reigned 1859-1886) reconstruction + reconsecration — Wikipedia + Manipur Tourism
  8. 18911891 — during the Anglo-Manipur War the murtis were moved to Kongma for safety — Wikipedia
  9. 19081908 — Maharaja Churachand Singh built a new palace; the murtis were reinstalled in the present temple — Wikipedia
  10. 19491949 — per Article II of the Manipur Merger Agreement, the temple custodianship was transferred from the Meitei royal family to the state; the Manipur CM chairs the board — Wikipedia
  11. 2013August 2013 — 30 kg gold-dome replating (2012-launched renovation) — Wikipedia
  12. 202624 November 2026 — Kartik Purnima / Maha-Ras-Lila anniversary (Purnima tithi 23 November 23:42 - 24 November 20:23 IST) — SmartPuja + GuptVrindavan + Prokerala
03
नित्य उपासना

दर्शन समय एवं आरती

05:30 (morning) से 20:30 (evening) तक · मध्याह्न विश्राम 13:00-16:00

Temple opens + morning darshan05:30-13:00
Daily
Morning aarti06:00
Daily
Midday break13:00-16:00
Daily
Evening darshan session16:00-20:30
Daily
Evening aarti19:00
Daily

वस्त्र-संहिता: Dress code — V2-verified-source minimal; footwear must be removed before entry

फोटोग्राफी: Photography rules in the sanctum — V2 minimal source; follow temple signage

विशेष नियम: Midday break 13:00-16:00; entry free; the Manipur CM chairs the temple board; located in the Palace Compound (near Kangla Fort); the murti tirtha-yatra-narrative source Kaina Hill is 29 km (not 60 km)

04
दर्शन

दर्शन के प्रकार

General Free Darshanनिःशुल्क
समय
05:30-13:00 + 16:00-20:30

Govinda-Radha central sanctum + Jagannath-Balabhadra-Subhadra + Balabhadra-Krishna adjoining chamber.

Maha-Ras-Lila Kartik Purnima anniversary (24 November 2026)निःशुल्क

Manipuri classical dance performance; commemorates the 1779 Shija Lailoibi first-Radha.

Kang Chingba (Manipuri Rath Yatra; 8-day)निःशुल्क

Jagannath-Balabhadra-Subhadra Kang (chariot) procession; 16 July 2026.

Yaoshang (Manipuri Holi; 5-day)निःशुल्क

3-7 March 2026; Thabal Chongba moonlight dance.

Janmashtamiनिःशुल्क

4 September 2026 — Krishna's birth anniversary.

05
उत्सव

प्रमुख पर्व एवं उत्सव

Maha-Ras-Lila (Kartik Purnima anniversary)Kartik Purnima; 2026: 24 November 2026 (Purnima tithi 23 November 23:42 - 24 November 20:23 IST)

The annual classical-dance form anniversary; commemorates the 1779 Shija Lailoibi first-Radha

Vasanta RasVasant Purnima / Holi (February-March)

One of the four Manipuri Ras varieties

Yaoshang (Manipuri Holi; 5-day)Phalguna Purnima; 2026: 3-7 March 2026

Thabal Chongba moonlight dance central

Cheiraoba (Meitei New Year)Vaishakha; 2026: 14 April 2026

Meitei national new year

Kang Chingba (Manipuri Rath Yatra)Ashadha; 2026: 16 July 2026; 8-day festival

Jagannath-Balabhadra-Subhadra Kang (chariot) procession from the temple

JanmashtamiBhadrapada Krishna Ashtami; 2026: 4 September 2026 (some regions 5 September)

Krishna's birth anniversary

06
आस्था

मनोकामना एवं फल

Manipuri-Vaishnava royal-Kuldevta darshan sankalpa

The Kuldevta of the Manipur royal dynasty; the central tirtha of Manipuri-Vaishnavism; the Bhagyachandra-1779-installed Govinda-murti darshan sankalpa

स्रोत: Wikipedia + Imphal East district government + Sanskriti + IndiaDivine

Maha-Ras-Lila Kartik Purnima sankalpa (24 November 2026)

Commemorates the 1779 Kartik Purnima first Manipuri Maha-Ras-Lila; Shija Lailoibi first-Radha; the Manipuri classical dance form's origin-site sankalpa tirtha

स्रोत: Wikipedia + Sanskriti + IndiaDivine + Jayadvaita Swami + SmartPuja

Kaina Hill jackfruit-tree 7-Krishna-murti yatra sankalpa

Kaina Hill (29 km) jackfruit-tree carving 1776-1779 of 7 Krishna murtis; the first (~1.2 m) is enshrined at the Govindajee temple — darshan sankalpa; an archaeologically protected site

स्रोत: Wikipedia Sacred Jackfruit Tree + apnisanskriti

Kang Chingba Rath Yatra sankalpa (16 July 2026; 8-day)

Jagannath-Balabhadra-Subhadra Kang (chariot) 8-day procession from the Govindajee temple; the Manipuri form distinct from Puri Rath Yatra — sankalpa tirtha

स्रोत: TourMyIndia + OfficeHolidays

Yaoshang 5-day Manipuri-Holi sankalpa (3-7 March 2026)

Thabal Chongba moonlight-dance central; the central Manipur annual peak Holi vow sankalpa

स्रोत: BankBazaar + WanderOn

Article II 1949 constitutional-lineage darshan sankalpa

Per Article II of the Manipur Merger Agreement, the temple's custodianship was transferred to the state; the Manipur CM chairs the board — unique in Indian constitutional history — darshan sankalpa tirtha

स्रोत: Wikipedia (single authoritative source)

07
जप

मन्त्र एवं स्तोत्र

  • Govinda Damodara StotraStotraBilvamangala Thakuraइस मन्दिर हेतुCentral to Gaudiya-Vaishnava
  • Sri Radha-Krishna pair stutiStotraChaitanya-Gaudiya traditionइस मन्दिर हेतुCentral to Manipuri-Vaishnava Radha-Krishna pair worship
  • JagannathashtakamStotraAdi Shankaracharyaइस मन्दिर हेतुCentral to the Jagannath chamber
  • Maha-mantra (Hare Krishna Hare Krishna…)Maha-mantraKali-Santarana Upanishad; central to Chaitanya-Gaudiyaइस मन्दिर हेतु
  • Manipuri Nata SankirtanaManipuri classical kirtana styleManipuri Vaishnava tradition; UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritageइस मन्दिर हेतुThe central Manipuri kirtana style
08
तीर्थाटन

समीप के तीर्थ एवं परिपथ

Kangla Fort (the historic Meitei royal centre)1 किमी

The centre of the Meitei royal dynasty; near the palace compound; Wikipedia + Imphal East district government verified

ISKCON Imphal (Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra Manimandir / 'the Jewelled Temple')5 किमी

Established 1977 by HH Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami; Prabhupada's wish to revitalise Manipur Vaishnavism

Kaina Hill (the Sacred Jackfruit Tree site)29 किमी

The 1776-1779 Krishna-murti carving site; archaeologically protected; user-brief 60 km incorrect — corrected 29 km

Imphal East district central Hindu-temple group3 किमी

Central to the Manipur Vaishnava community

Manipuri-Vaishnava circuit (Govindajee Temple ↔ Kaina Hill 29 km ↔ ISKCON Imphal)

The central royal-Kuldevta temple; the centre of Manipuri-Vaishnavism

3 मंदिर

Northeast Hindu circuit (Govindajee Manipur ↔ Umananda Assam ↔ Kamakhya Assam)

The central Vaishnava temple of the Northeast; paired with Assam's Shakti/Shaiva tirthas

3 मंदिर

09
मार्गदर्शन

यात्रा एवं संपर्क

पता
Shri Shri Govindajee Temple, Palace Compound, Wangkhei Keithel Ashangbi, Imphal East 795005, Manipur
हवाई अड्डा
Imphal International Airport (Bir Tikendrajit / earlier Tulihal) — near Imphal city; exact km source-conflict (6-10 km range)
रेलवे
Rail connectivity to Imphal is minimal; nearest Dimapur (Nagaland) ~215 km; rail in Manipur is limited
बस-स्टैण्ड
Imphal East bus stand — ~3 km (Tripnetra)
उत्तम ऋतु
Maha-Ras-Lila 24 November 2026 (annual peak); Yaoshang 3-7 March 2026; Cheiraoba 14 April 2026; Kang Chingba 16 July 2026; Janmashtami 4 September 2026; October-March (cool period ideal travel); monsoon May-September rainfall caution
प्रबन्धन
Pre-1949: royal-managed; per Article II of the Manipur Merger Agreement 1949 it was transferred; currently a board of priests + city-notables; the Chief Minister of Manipur chairs the board (Wikipedia single authoritative source; the 'Govindajee Trust' name is not directly verified)
वेबसाइट
No dedicated official website ↗
2 किमीImphal city centre
1 किमीKangla Fort
8 किमीImphal Airport
5 किमीISKCON Imphal
29 किमीKaina Hill
215 किमीDimapur
← सभी मंदिर निर्देशिका
Shri Shri Govindajee Temple — दर्शन, आरती, इतिहास एवं यात्रा | Pauranik | Pauranik