Radha Madhav Dham | |
---|---|
Barsana Dham | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Hinduism |
Deity | Radha Krishna |
Location | |
Location | Near Austin |
State | Texas |
Country | United States |
Geographic coordinates | 30°9′20″N97°57′28″W / 30.15556°N 97.95778°W |
Architecture | |
Date established | 1990 |
Website | |
radhamadhavdham |
Radha Madhav Dham, originally called Barsana Dham [1] [2] [3] is the main U.S. center of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, a nonprofit organization located on more than 200 acres of land in Hays County, south of Austin, Texas.[ citation needed ] It is a Hindu temple and ashram campus, [4] [5] the oldest Hindu Temple in Texas [6] the largest in North America. [7]
Radha Madhav Dham is a nonprofit, religious, educational, and charitable organization [8] that follows the path of raganuga bhakti. [9] The temple is involved in numerous charitable educational projects including JKP Education, which won the Nelson Mandela Peace Award instituted by the Economic Growth Society of India in April 2014. [10] [11] [12]
Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj was an Indian religious leader, and the founder of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat (JKP), a worldwide Hindu non-profit organization with five main ashrams, four in India and one in the United States. Radha Madhav Dham is the main ashram of JKP for the United States. The temple was founded by Prakashanand Saraswati. Saraswati was convicted in 2011 of 20 counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and sentenced to 280 years of prison. As of 2015 all images and mentions of Saraswati have been removed from the temple, which has said that its leadership has been changed and that it has no knowledge of Saraswati's whereabouts. [13] [14]
Radha Madhav Dham (Barsana Dham) was established in 1990 as the main US center of the International Society of Divine Love, which was founded in the 1970s. [15] Radha Madhav Dham was built to be a representation of the holy land of Braj in India where Radha and Krishna are believed by Hindus to have appeared, over 5,000 years ago. [16] [15] [17] [18] It has been designed as a place of pilgrimage in America. [19] Areas of Radha Madhav Dham have been developed to be the places for meditation. [15] [18] [20] Places of Braj like Govardhan, Radha Kund, Prem Sarovar, Shyam Kuti, and others are represented in Radha Madhav Dham where a natural stream named Kalindi represents the Yamuna river of Vrindaban. [15] [21]
On January 9, 2024, News9live shared Radha Madhav Dham to be one of the ten famous Hindu Temples Outside of India.
In April 2011, following the escape and disappearance of its founder Prakashanand Saraswati after his conviction on 20 charges of sexual indecency with a child at Barsana Dham, the organization changed its name. [22] [23] [14]
In 2012, on the one-year anniversary of the trial, Radha Madhav Dham spokeswoman Vrinda Devi stated, "What we've been trying to do since then is moving forward... As far as [Saraswati's] presence, we've subdued that in order to go on and survive as a minority religious community." [24]
The Shree Raseshwari Radha Rani Temple at Radha Madhav Dham is the first Hindu temple built in Austin, Texas, and one of the largest Hindu temples in the USA. [25] The temple encompasses about 35,000 square feet (3,300 m2) and is topped by a 90-foot (27 m)-high golden dome. [2]
The main prayer hall of the Shree Raseshwari Radha Rani Temple is decorated with the pictorial representations of teachings from ancient Hindu scriptures, which are captioned in both Sanskrit and English. [26] The philosophy of the Hindu scriptures are described in a continuous panel on the sides of the hall. A realistic depiction of the sky is portrayed on the ceiling. [21]
The temple architecture is a blend of north and south Indian, and modern styles of architecture. [16] [21] [27] It was designed by two architects from India. [27] The 90-foot (27 m) high temple dome is made of white and blue granite and gold. The tower is in the traditional shape, but it's built out of granite, whereas most in India are sandstone. [27] The artwork of the temple's shrine was hand-crafted by 15 artisans from South India. The artisans carved the pillars and ceilings with images of peacocks and floral patterns. There are 84 columns and five levels in the building with covered area of 35,000 sq ft (3,300 m2). The temple was built using special construction techniques and processes that are intended to allow it to last for more than a thousand years. [28] A peach orchard, gardens of roses, jasmine and marigolds and wandering peacocks decorate the temple grounds. [29]
Festivals and celebrations at the temple attract up to 8000 people. [30] The temple and ashram complex is a center for traditional Indian cultural activities and weddings. [30] [31] [32] [33] Weekly services are held every Sunday morning from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. followed by a community lunch. Approximately 1000 families attend Radha Madhav Dham. 96% of these are Indian, the remaining 4% being Westerners and people of Caribbean descent. [30]
According to Rinehart (2006) [31] and Lee & Nadeau (2011), [34] Radha Madhav Dham is an example of how builders of Hindu Temples in the US have replicated the sacred Geography of India, providing a familiar space and experience for Hindus from India, and fostering an identification with their adopted homeland. [31]
Radha Madhav Dham celebrates all the major Hindu festivals [35] which attract thousands. [9] The Temple is home to one of the biggest Janmashtami celebrations in North America. [15] [36] To commemorate the yearly Rath Yatra festival at the temple, October 27, 2001 was named 'Radha Rani Rath Yatra Day' by Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. [37] The 2011 Rath Yatra celebration was attended by "Bhajan Samrat" Anup Jalota. [38] Various other Mayors of Austin and Governor of Texas have visited or offered commendations to Barsana Dham. [30] [39] 50,000 visitors [40] from both Indian and Western communities participate in the lessons, religious programs and celebrations there. [41]
At various times throughout the year, the temple offers special weekend family retreats, mini-intensives, and weekend seva retreats. These retreats and programs include Hindi, yoga and Indian dance classes. Radha Madhav Dham has been named one of the "best places to relax, reflect, and renew". [4] Radha Madhav Dham also conducts tours for schools, other educational institutions and community groups. [9] In 2007, the temple and ashram was featured in National Geographic's "The 100 Best Vacations to Enrich Your Life". [42]
Radha Madhav Dham also organizes free family camps and "Basics of Hinduism" courses [43] in Hindu temples in Dallas, Houston, Washington, D.C., and New York. [44]
Each fall, the Texas Yoga Retreat, organized by Charles MacInerney and Ellen Smith is held at the ashram. This retreat provides an opportunity to experience ashram living along with 250-plus other yoga enthusiasts. [45] There is also a new year retreat organized by Radha Madhav Dham. This weekend long stay involves relaxation and meditation. Families are welcome to the yoga classes and meditation sessions, and a 24-hour continuous chant known as Akhand Sankirtan takes place from noon on New Year's Eve to noon the following day. [46]
Radha Madhav Dham opened its doors to Hurricane Katrina evacuees, and executed a fundraising drive in its wake. [47] In September 2008, Radha Madhav Dham launched a fundraising drive for victims of the flooding in Bihar. The immediate goal of the drive was to raise US$150,000 for relief efforts. [48] In the same month, hundreds of evacuees of Hurricane Ike were given food and shelter at Radha Madhav Dham. [49] [50] Radha Madhav Dham is also active in a number of local and global charitable activities including housing rehabilitation work in Central Texas, flood relief efforts for India, and the ongoing support of hospital operations oversees. [50] The temple hosted 300–400 evacuees from Hurricane Rita in 2005. [51] Radha Madhav Dham has organized charitable walks in Dallas to raise funds for its $2.3 million Kripalu Charitable Hospital in the town of Barsana, India [8] which was inaugurated in 2008. Besides the hospital in Barsana, JKP Radha Madhav Dham's center in India also opened the 'Kripalu Charitable Hospital' in Mangarh in 2003. That facility provides free diagnostic exams, treatment, surgical procedures, hospitalization, emergency services and medication to hundreds of patients daily. [8] National eye camps and mother/child welfare programs also have been established throughout India, providing free eye exams, cataract surgery and polio vaccines to those in need. [8]
Radha Madhav Dham participates in inter-religious services such as Austin Area Interreligious ministries, [30] [37] [52] Hindu-Jewish Solidarity Day [53] [54] [55] and PBS's Many Voices project. [56] The organization was selected to represent Hinduism at the Parliament of the World's Religions in 1993. [29]
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Hinduism:
Mathura district is situated along the banks of the river Yamuna is a district of Uttar Pradesh state of north-central India. The historic city of Mathura is the district headquarters. Mathura district is home to many important sites associated with goddess Radha and Lord Krishna, who was born in Mathura and grew up in the nearby town of Vrindavan. Both cities are some of the most sacred sites in the Vaishnava tradition, making Mathura district an important Hindu pilgrimage centre.
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In Hinduism, the yatra (pilgrimage) to the tirthas has special significance for earning the punya needed to attain the moksha (salvation) by performing the darśana, the parikrama (circumambulation), the yajna, the Dhyana, the puja (worship), the prarthana, the dakshina, the seva, the bhandara, etc. These sacred places are usually located on the banks of sacred waters, such as sacred rivers or their tributaries, the kundas, the ghats, or the stepwells, or the temple tanks.
Vraja Mandal Parikrama, also called VrajaYatra, is a Nimbarka Sampradaya Hindu pilgrimage dedicated to Krishna. At present Vraja Parikrama Pradhan Mahant Sri Sri 108 Swami Rasbiharidas Kathiababaji Maharajji of 84 kos Vraja region (Braja) which takes 1 to 2 months depending on the route and speed of travel on foot. The Nimbarka Sampradaya tradition Vaishnava Nagaji Maharaj only performed 84 crore Vraja Parikrama 530 years ago. Since this is a site associated with Krishna and the Mahabharata, it is an important place of pilgrimage for Hindus. It is one of 3 main pilgrimage sites related to the Krishna circuit, namely the 48 kos parikrama in Haryana, Braj parikarma in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, and Dwarkadhish temple pilgrimage in Gujarat.
Yatra, in Indian-origin religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, generally means a pilgrimage to holy places such as confluences of sacred rivers, sacred mountains, places associated with Hindu epics such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana, and other sacred pilgrimage sites. Visiting a sacred place is believed by the pilgrim to purify the self and bring one closer to the divine. The journey itself is as important as the destination, and the hardships of travel serve as an act of devotion in themselves.
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Prakashanand Saraswati, also known as Swamiji, is a Hindu monk, guru and convicted child molester from Ayodhya, India. Previously, he founded the Hindu religious organisation the International Society of Divine Love and the Radha Madhav Dham temple in the United States. In 2011, a jury found Swami Prakashanand Saraswati guilty on 20 counts of indecency with a child. He is still a fugitive and appeared on the Fox TV show America's Most Wanted.
Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj was an Indian spiritual guru and the fifth Jagadguru. He was the founder of Prem Mandir in Vrindavan, one of the ten largest Hindu temples in the world. He was also the founder of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat (JKP), a worldwide Hindu non-profit organization with five main ashrams, four in India and one in the United States.
Ratha Yatra, or chariot festival, is any public procession in a chariot. They are held annually during festivals in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The term also refers to the popular annual Ratha Yatra of Puri that involves a public procession with a chariot with deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshana Chakra on a ratha, a wooden deula-shaped chariot.
Swami Mukundananda is a spiritual leader, Vedic scholar, author, and a teacher of spirituality, yoga and meditation from India. He is a senior disciple of Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj and the founder of the yogic system called Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog, widely known as JKYog. A proponent of the path of bhakti, Swami Mukundananda is a sannyasi (monk), who has a technical and management background which complements his spiritual knowledge.
Prem Mandir is a Hindu temple in Vrindavan, Mathura district, Western Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple was established by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj. It is maintained by Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, an international non-profit, educational, spiritual, charitable trust. The complex is on a 22-hectare (55-acre) site on the outskirts of Vrindavan. It is dedicated to Radha Krishna and Sita Ram. Radha Krishna are on the first level and Sita Ram are on the second level. Different Leelas of Shri Krishna and Rasik saints are depicted all over the wall of the main temple.
Religious tourism in India is a focus of Narendra Modi's national tourism policy. Uttarakhand has been popular as a religious and adventure tourism hub.
Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat (JKP), previously known as Sadhna Bhawan Trust, is a charitable religious organisation in India. It was established in 1970 by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj and continues to run today under the three Presidents he appointed. The philanthropic activities are designed to fulfil the vision of Jagadguru Kripalu, who was entitled with Jagadguru on 14 January 1957. To fulfil his vision, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji established three major temples, Bhakti Mandir, Prem Mandir (Vrindavan) and Kirti Mandir (Barsana).
Bhakti Mandir is a Hindu Temple located in Kripalu Dham Mangarh, Kunda, India. This divine temple was established by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj in November 2005. It is maintained by Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, a non-profit, charitable, educational and spiritual organisation. This temple is situated on the northern side of Ganga River.
Rangeeli Mahal, founded in 1996, is one of the main centers of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, is located at Shri Radharani's eternal abode, Barsana. In describing the glory of Barsana dham, Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj had said that within this Barsana dham resides the divine Barsana dham. In Rangeeli Mahal, there is a large satsang hall with depictions of Shri Radha Krishna's pastimes all around the hall. There are also beautifully landscaped gardens, waterfalls and other attractions.
Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog (JKYog) is a spiritual and charitable non-profit organization in United States. It was founded by Swami Mukundananda, a senior disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj. JKYog works for physical, mental, spiritual wellness through a holistic system of Yog that includes Bhakti yoga, meditation, and spirituality. The organization also supports health care for the underprivileged and education for rural youth.
Kripalu Dham Mangarh is a village in Pratapgarh district in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Previously known as Mangarh, the Government of India changed the name of the village to Kripalu Dham Mangarh. It is the birthplace of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj, the Fifth Original Jagadguru in Indian history.
Vishakha Tripathi is the President of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat and the eldest daughter of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj. She has received several awards for her work in the field of girls' education, healthcare and philanthropy. As part of her current responsibilities, she oversees the charitable hospitals of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat.