Sri Govardhana Nesa Perumal Temple, Mathura
Thiru Vadamathura
Photo: Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Birthplace of Sri Krishna; one of the seven Mukti sthalams.
Sthala Purāṇam
Thiru Vadamathura, the Sri Govardhana Nesa Perumal temple at Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, stands beside Krishna Janmabhoomi and is one of the seven mukti-giving cities (alongside Ayodhya, Dwaraka, Maya/Haridwar, Kanchipuram, Avanti/Ujjain and Kasi). The sthala puranam links the place to the slaying of the asura Mathu, from whom the town takes its name, and pre-eminently to Sri Krishna: about two miles away lies the prison where Vasudeva and Devaki were held by Kamsa and where Krishna was born, and where he later slew Kamsa and the elephant Kuvalayapida; eight miles off is Govardhana hill, lifted by Krishna to shelter the cowherds from Indra's torrential rains - the event from which the Lord and the Govardhana Vimanam take their name. The Moolavar, Govardhana Nesan (Balakrishna), stands facing east and is said to have granted darshan to Indra, the devas, Brahma, Vasudeva and Devaki; his consort is Sathyabama Nachiyar. Tradition holds the original deity was installed by Krishna's great-grandson Vajranabha. Tirthams include the Indra, Govardhana and Yamuna theerthams, and Brindavanam and Govardhanam are counted within the sthalam. In the Nalayira Divya Prabandham this is among the most widely sung northern abodes, receiving mangalasasanam from Periyalvar, Andal, Thondaradippodi Alvar, Thirumangai Alvar and Nammalvar; it is celebrated grandly at Krishna Janmashtami.
Mangalāśāsanam — the Āḻvār pāsurams
The Lord Govardhana Nesan (Balakrishnan) with Sathyabama Naachiyar of Thiru Vadamathura is glorified in 25 pāsurams by:
Thiru Vadamathura — 'Northern Mathura', the birthplace of Krishna on the Yamuna (and the wider Brindavanam/Govardhana region) — receives one of the richest Mangalasasanams among the northern Divya Desams. Five Alvars sing it: Periyalvar (4 pasurams, glorifying the joy of Krishna's avatara), Andal (6 pasurams), Thondaradippodi Alvar (1 pasuram), Thirumangai Alvar (4 pasurams) and Nammalvar (10 pasurams, the Thiruvaaymozhi 9.1 'koNda peNdir' decade). Nammalvar's verses declare that Krishna incarnated in Northern Mathura solely to relieve the earth's burden and to be the one refuge of all souls.
கண்ணன் அல்லால் இல்லை கண்டீர் சரண் அது நிற்க வந்து மண்ணின் பாரம் நீக்குதற்கே வடமதுரைப் பிறந்தான் திண்ணமா நும் உடைமை உண்டேல் அவன் அடி சேர்த்துய்ம்மினோ எண்ண வேண்டா நும்மது ஆதும் அவன் அன்றி மற்றில்லையே
kaNNan allAl illai kaNdIr saraN adhu niRka vandhu maNNin bAram nIkkudhaRkE vadamadhuraip piRandhAn thiNNamA num udaimai uNdEl avan adi sErththuymminO eNNa vENdA nummadhu Adhum avan anRi maRRillaiyE
Behold — there is no refuge other than Krishna. Setting aside His repose (on the serpent-bed), He came and was born in Northern Mathura solely to remove the burden of the earth. If you truly hold anything as your own, surrender it firmly at His feet and be uplifted; there is no need to deliberate — nothing whatsoever is yours; all belongs to Him alone.
vada madhuraiyAr mannan vAsudhEvan kaiyil ...
In the 'karuppUram nARumO' decade (addressed to the Lord's conch, Panchajanya), Andal speaks of the conch that ever rests upon the divine hand of Vasudeva (Krishna), 'the king of Northern Mathura' — a Mangalasasanam reference to Vadamathura.
Tamil text & meaning sourced from divyaprabandham.koyil.org and other Śrī Vaiṣṇava authorities — please cross-check the linked source for the canonical reading.
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