At about 90 min. drive (about 48 kms) from
Udaipur in Rajasthan lies a very popular dham, Nathdwara set amidst
idyllic hills on the left bank of the Banas river, where one can see
devotees in large numbers flocking for worship. The place is most popular
for its sacred Vaishnava temple of Lord Srinathji, the manifestation of
Lord Krishna.Sri Nathdwara or the gateway leading to the Srinathji is also
the centre of the Pushtimarg Sampradaya, a doctrine created by Jagatguru
Sri Vallabhacharya. One can find the idol of Srinathji, sculpted out of
one piece of black marble belonging to the 12th century and was first
installed by Sri Vallabhacharya in a small temple at Jatipura, near
Mathura. The little town is a honeycomb of lanes and alleys leading to the
hub of activity, the Srinathji temple.The Haveli of Srinathji(as the
temple is called), was once a royal palace of the Rajput rulers. Over 1000
devotees reach the temple early in the morning to serve the Lord, each day
of the year. Getting up during the early hours for the first darshan is a
regular observation where Lord Sir Nathji resides in regal splendour.
Darshans or glimpses of Srinathji can be sought 8 times in the day.
Collectively known as Ashtaya, the 8 darshans are Mangala, Shrungar, Gwal,
Rajbhog, Uthhapan, Bhog, Sandhaya Aarti and Shayan. In each of them the
leelas (divine manifestations) of the Lord are described and harmonized
with His daily routine.Groups of devotees constantly flush into the
temple, pushing, pulling and reaching out, sometimes even getting hurt in
the process. The darshan is like a matter of life and death for them, and
they endure it bravely eight times in a day just for those few seconds.
At about 90 min. drive (about 48 kms) from
Udaipur in Rajasthan lies a very popular dham, Nathdwara set amidst
idyllic hills on the left bank of the Banas river, where one can see
devotees in large numbers flocking for worship. The place is most popular
for its sacred Vaishnava temple of Lord Srinathji, the manifestation of
Lord Krishna.Sri Nathdwara or the gateway leading to the Srinathji is also
the centre of the Pushtimarg Sampradaya, a doctrine created by Jagatguru
Sri Vallabhacharya. One can find the idol of Srinathji, sculpted out of
one piece of black marble belonging to the 12th century and was first
installed by Sri Vallabhacharya in a small temple at Jatipura, near
Mathura. The little town is a honeycomb of lanes and alleys leading to the
hub of activity, the Srinathji temple.The Haveli of Srinathji(as the
temple is called), was once a royal palace of the Rajput rulers. Over 1000
devotees reach the temple early in the morning to serve the Lord, each day
of the year. Getting up during the early hours for the first darshan is a
regular observation where Lord Sir Nathji resides in regal splendour.
Darshans or glimpses of Srinathji can be sought 8 times in the day.
Collectively known as Ashtaya, the 8 darshans are Mangala, Shrungar, Gwal,
Rajbhog, Uthhapan, Bhog, Sandhaya Aarti and Shayan. In each of them the
leelas (divine manifestations) of the Lord are described and harmonized
with His daily routine.Groups of devotees constantly flush into the
temple, pushing, pulling and reaching out, sometimes even getting hurt in
the process. The darshan is like a matter of life and death for them, and
they endure it bravely eight times in a day just for those few seconds.