Meera temple of Chittorgarh

Kumbha Shyam Temple or Meera temple of Chittorgarh is dedicated to a mystic poetess and a great devotee of Lord Krishna – Meera Bai. This temple has very attractive deity of Lord Krishna along with the statue of Meera Bai in right side.

Meera Bai was the daughter Ratan Singh Rathore born in Kurki village near Merta. Later on she was married to Bhojraj, son of Maharana Sangram Singh I of Chittorgarh. Raja Bhoj Died soon and Meera Bai continued her devotion for Lord Krishna. On request of Meera Bai this temple was built by her Father-in-law, Maharana Sangram Singh. In this temple only Meera Bai started spending her time by praying and singing Bhajans in Glory of Lord Krishna.

When Rana Vikramaditya the step brother of Raja Bhoj became the king of chittorgarh, he didn’t like the devotional attitude of Meera for Lord Krishna. He tried to kill her by sending her a bowl full of poison on the name of Charnamrit (The holy water ). Meera offered her prayers to Lord and happily drunk poison. It was surely her great devotion that the poison turned to nectar. This incident with many other great stories happened in this temple make this temple a unique one.

The ceiling of the cenotaph have beautifully carved figure of five human bodied with one head. The figure conveys the message of equality that all castes are equal and have right to attain God equally.

Meera temple of Chittorgarh

Deity of Krishna and Meera

Krishna-Meera's Devotional Love

MeeraBai was a great devotee of Lord Krishna and had her unconditional love for him. We had heard lot of stories about MeeraBai; still we have one inspired story to tell.

Meerabai once was standing on the banks of Yamuna River busy in singing bhajan in glory of Lord Krishna. Same time some Hindu saint passing by recognized Meerabai. Knowing her great devotion, they went to Meera and said that they came from Dwaraka. They said that the doors of the Dwarka temple are closed for some time now and we are of the mutual belief that only a person of your stature can get the doors open. Meera agreed to come as she didn’t wanted to refuse saints and also wanted everyone to have darshan of Srinathji-the presiding deity of Dwaraka.

Along with priest Meera went Dwaraka and offered her prayers to Srinathji-the presiding deity of and sang devotional bhajans. In her words she said to Lord that in this whole world she only know and believe him as everything like father, mother, husband and guru. Meera said you are only the protector in this whole world as I suffered a lot of trials and tribulations here.

Suddenly the doors opened and MeeraBai immediately ran into the temple and embraced her Lord and with a flash of bright light she became one with the lord and her form vanished.

Krishna-Meera's Devotional image

Raja Gopala Temple, Mannargudi

Raja Gopala Temple of Mannargudi is a vast temple with a 1000 year old history. This temple is located in the town of Mannargudi in Thanjavur district, Tamilnadu, India. The temple is also known as Dakshina Dwarka which means Southern Dwarka by Hindus

The presiding deity of this temple is Rajagopalaswamy, a form of Lord Krishna. The deity of this vast temple is 12 feet tall. There is another Deity of Santana-gopalakrishna. Devotee believes that cradling the Deity of Santana-gopalakrishna in one’s lap, would bless barren couple with progeny.

The temple was first built by Kulothunga Chola I with bricks and mortar.Earlier the place Mannargudi was termed as Sri Rajathi Raja Chathurvedhi Mangalam. Later on town started growing around the temple. Successive kings of the Chola Empire, Rajaraja Chola III, Rajendra Chola III and kings of Thanjavur Nayaks, Achyuta Deva Raya] expanded the temple.

Beautiful temple of Raja Gopala

Deity of Raja Gopalaswamy