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{{Short description|Famous temple dedicated to Shri Krishna}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox Mandir
| name = Shrinathji Temple, Nathdwara
| image = Gateway To Temple, Nathdwara.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Gate of the temple
| map_type =
| map_caption =
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Rajasthan]]
| district = [[Rajsamand]]
| location = [[Nathdwara]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Shrinathji]] (form of Lord [[Krishna]])
| festivals=[[Krishna Janmashtami]], [[Holi]]
| architecture = Rajputana
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed = 1672
| creator = Goswami Tilakayat Damodar lalji and other Goswami Descendants.
| website = https://www.nathdwaratemple.org/
}}

'''Shrinathji Temple''' is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to [[Shrinathji]] in [[Nathdwara]].<ref name=et02>{{cite news|title=Temple of Doodh|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2002-08-15/news/27361138_1_temple-management-kar-seva-nathdwara|access-date=2 April 2012|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|date=15 August 2002}}</ref> It is considered an important pilgrimage centre by [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavas]].<ref name=kj07>{{cite book|last=Jain|first=Kajri|title=Gods in the bazaar: the economies of Indian calendar art|year=2007|publisher=Duke University Press|isbn=978-0822339267|pages=86}}</ref>

==Legend and history==
[[File:Nathdwara srinathji.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Nathdwara [[Shrinathji]] at the autumn Annakuta Festival. Pichvai-style background. Late 18th century.]]
The Swarup or divine form of Shrinathji is said to be self-manifested.<ref name=kapoor02>{{cite book|last=Kapoor|first=Subodh|title=The Indian Encyclopaedia: Meya-National Congress (Volume 16)|year=2002|publisher=Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd|isbn=8177552732|pages=5140}}</ref> The deity of the Lord [[Krishna]] according to the legend, is self-manifested from stone and emerged from the Govardhan Hills. Historically, the image of Shrinathji was first worshipped at Govardhan hill, near [[Mathura]]. The image was initially shifted from Mathura in 1672 CE along river Yamuna and was retained at [[Agra]] for almost six months, in order to safeguard it from the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, who wished to keep the prestigious deity with him in Agra. Subsequently, the image was transferred further south on a chariot to a safer place to protect it from barbaric destruction unleashed by the Mughal ruler [[Aurangzeb]]. When the deity reached the spot at village Sihad or Sinhad, the wheels of the bullock cart in which the deity was being transported sank axle-deep in mud and could not be moved any farther. The accompanying priests realised that the particular place was the Lord's chosen spot and accordingly, a temple was built there under the rule and protection of the then Maharana [[Raj Singh I|Raj Singh]] of [[Mewar]].<ref name=rb01>{{cite book|last=Roma Bradnock|first=Robert Bradnock|title=Rajasthan & Gujarat handbook: the travel guide|year=2001|publisher=Footprint Travel Guides|isbn=190094992X|pages=203}}</ref> Shrinathji Temple is also known as 'Haveli of Shrinathji’ (mansion).<ref name=tm09>{{cite news|title=VISUAL ARTS: Textiles for the delight and delectation of the faithful|url=http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2009/03/visual-arts-textiles-for-the-delight-and-delectation-of-the-faithful/|access-date=2 April 2012|newspaper=[[Tribune (magazine)|Tribune]]|date=5 March 2009}}</ref> The temple was built by Goswami Damodar Das Bairagi in 1672.<ref name=toi08>{{cite news|title=Celebrating Nathdwara paintings|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-11-30/ahmedabad/27892936_1_mughal-sect-aurangzeb|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023114609/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-11-30/ahmedabad/27892936_1_mughal-sect-aurangzeb|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 October 2012|access-date=2 April 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=30 November 2008}}</ref>

===Holkar's attack and Shrinathji's rescue by Maharana===
In 1802, [[Yashwantrao Holkar|Jaswant Rao Holkar]] moved to Mewar after being defeated by Daulat Rao Sindhia and advanced towards Nathdwara to plunder the town and the temple. News of Holkar's march was already received in Nathdwara and Goswamiji requested Maharana Bhim Singh for help. Maharana sent an escort of Thakurs of Delwara, Kunthwa, Argya, Mohi, Kothariya to escort the deity to Udaipur. Goswamiji reached Udaipur with the image of Shrinathji, NavinPriyaJi and VitthalNathJi on 29th Jan, 1802. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nathdwaratemple.org/history/attack-on-nathdwara|title = History:: Attack on Nathdwara & Arrival of Lord at Udaipur-Ghasiyar | Shrinathji Temple, Nathdwara}}</ref> At Unawas, Thakur Vijay Singh of Kothariya and his men fought with Holkar's army and were killed in the battle. Holkar's army soon reached Nathdwara. Holkar's men first plundered the town mercilessly and then demanded 10 Lakh rupees. With the mediation of Seth Balachand, the amount was brought down to the immediate payment of 1 Lakh. Singhvi Motichand was sent to negotiate further, but Holkar arrested him, broke the locks of the temple and looted the treasure and valuables of the temple. Holkar's army then plundered not the just the town of Nathdwara but the entire district and marched to Banera.<ref>Prof. K. S Gupta, Mewar and Maratha relations, Book Treasure. Jodhpur, p150 </ref>

Later, Shrinathji temple at Ghasiyar was built, where the deity was shifted from Udaipur. After a few years, the deity was moved back to Nathdwara. Temple of Shrinathji at Ghasiyar is still open. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nathdwaratemple.org/history/attack-on-nathdwara|title = History :: Attack on Nathdwara & Arrival of Lord at Udaipur-Ghasiyar | Shrinathji Temple, Nathdwara}}</ref>

In 1934 an order was issued by the Udaipur King (Darbar), by which, inter alia, it was declared that according to the law of Udaipur all the property dedicated or presented to or otherwise coming to the Deity Shrinathji was the property of the shrine, that the Tilkayat Maharaj for the time being was merely a custodian, Manager and Trustee of the said property and that the Udaipur Darbar had absolute right to supervise that the 562 property dedicated to the shrine was used for the legitimate purposes of the shrine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1913766/|title=Tilkayat Shri Govindlalji ... vs The State Of Rajasthan And Others on 21 January, 1963|website=indiankanoon.org|access-date=2019-03-06}}</ref>

===Legend===
According to the hagiography of the Pushtimarg, Shrinathji used to travel to Mewar to play ''chaupar'' (an antecedent to Parcheesi) with a Princess by the name of Ajab Kunvari. She was upset whenever her beloved Shrinathji would go back to Vraj and asked him to stay with her in the palace. Lord Shrinathji said that one day, when the time was right, he would re-locate to Rajasthan.

Presently, Shrinathji's worship is performed by direct male descendants of [[Vallabhacharya]] in a haveli (lit. palatial home) in Nathdwara, Rajasthan.

Economy and livelihoods in Nathdwara town revolve around the ''[[Haveli]]'', the term used for the temple probably because it was situated in a fortified mansion, or ''Haveli'', once a royal palace of the [[Sesodia]] [[Rajput]] rulers of [[Mewar]].

Shrinathji was quite popular with other medieval devotees, as well, as there were preachers who founded Shrinathji temples in present-day [[Pakistan]] (Dera Ghazi Khan). This was done by Shri Lal Maharaj Ji and his deity of Shri Gopi Nath Ji and Shri Dau Ji of Dera Ghazi Khan, earlier a part of undivided India and not far from here. Shrinathji was even worshiped as far away as [[Russia]] (in the lower [[Volga]] region) and other places on the Central Asian trade routes.

==Structure and design ==
The temple has been designed in the lines of [[Nanda (mythology)|Nanda Maharaj]] (Krishna's father) temple, in [[Vrindavan]]. Therefore, it is also known as Nanda Bhavan or Nandalaya (the House of Nanda).

Structurally, a [[kalasha]] on the [[shikhara]] marks the top of the temple, on which seven flags are flown along with the [[Sudarshana Chakra]]. The seven flags represent the 7 'houses' of Pushti Marg or [[Vallabha|Vallabh Sampradaya]]. The temple is also popularly called ''Shrinathji ki Haveli'' (House of Shrinathji). With the mood of worship in Pushti Marg, Shrinathji is not seen as an impersonal God so the worship is not done like in a temple. Shrinathji is seen as Thakorji or Lord of the House or Haveli and Sewa (service) is offered rather than worship. Like a regular household it has a chariot for movement (In fact the original chariot in which Shrinathji was brought to Singhar), a storeroom for milk (Doodhghar), a storeroom for betel (Paanghar), a storeroom for sugar and sweetmeats (Mishrighar and Pedaghar), a storeroom for flowers (Phoolghar), a functional kitchen (Rasoighar), a jewellery chamber (Gahnaghar), a treasury (Kharcha bhandaar), a stable for horses of chariot (Ashvashala), a drawing room (Baithak), a gold and silver grinding wheel (Chakki).

The Nathdwara temple has subsidiary temples dedicated to the deity Madan Mohanji and Navneet Priyaji, located in the main complex.

==Image of Shrinathji==
Shrinathji symbolizes a form of [[Krishna]], when he lifted the [[Govardhan Hill|Govardhan hill]], with one arm raised.<ref name=tfe05>{{cite news|title=Krishna conscious|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/krishna-conscious/143784/0|access-date=2 April 2012|newspaper=[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]]|date=26 June 2005}}</ref> The image is in the form of a single black marble,<ref name=et02/> where the lord is revealed with his left hand raised and the right hand made into a fist resting at the waist, with a large diamond placed beneath the lips.
The deity is carved in [[bas-relief]] out of a monolithic black [[marble]] stone, with images of two cows, one lion, one snake, two peacocks and one parrot engraved on it and three sages placed near it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blessingsonthenet.com/travel/showplace4.asp?place=Nathdwara |title=Nathdwar, Temple, Krishna, Rajasthan |publisher=Blessingsonthenet.com |access-date=20 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929162317/http://www.blessingsonthenet.com/travel/showplace4.asp?place=Nathdwara |archive-date=29 September 2011 }}</ref>

The iconography at the temple has given birth to [[Nathdwara Painting]]s.<ref name=kj07/>

==Festivals and rituals ==
Devotees throng to the shrine in large numbers during occasions of [[Janmashtami]] and other festivals, like [[Holi]] and [[Diwali]]. The deity is treated like a living image, and is attended with daily normal functions, like bathing, dressing, meals called "bhog" and the resting times in regular intervals. Since the deity is believed to be the infant Krishna, accordingly, special care is taken. The priests in all [[Havelis]] are Brahmins under Gurus who are the ''kul'' (descendants) of [[Vallabhacharya]], the founder of this deity's image at [[Govardhan hill]], near [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]].

The main attractions are the [[Aarti]]s and the ''Shringar'', i.e. the dressing and beautifying of the deity of Shrinathji, which is changed seven times daily, treating it as a living person, adorning it with the appropriate dresses for the time of day or night. The intricately woven ''shaneels'' and silk cloth have original ''zari'' and embroidery work on them, along with large quantities of real precious jewellery. The formal prayers are offered with ''diya'', incense sticks, flowers, fruit and other offerings, with local instruments and devotional songs of the Shrinathji, according to the demand of the time and occasion. The view of the deity after the ''parda'' (curtain) is removed is called ''jhakhi''.<ref name=et03>{{cite news|title=The quest to reach God |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_the-quest-to-reach-god_1154716 |access-date=2 April 2012|newspaper=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|date=6 March 2008}}</ref>

=== Coronavirus Effect ===
Due to [[Coronavirus disease 2019]], authorities have decided to reduce "''Darshan Timings''" to 4 times from 8 times.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/rajasthan/jaipur/news/dargah-ajmer-sharif-news-shrinathji-temple-latest-news-corona-virus-effect-on-temples-126994295.html|title=राजस्थान: 348 साल में पहली बार श्रीनाथ मंदिर में 8 नहीं, सिर्फ 4 दर्शन; अजमेर दरगाह में हौज से वुजू पर रोक |trans-title=Rajasthan: For the first time in 348 years, not 8, only 4 darshan in Shrinath temple; Ban on Wudu from Hauz in Ajmer Dargah |last=Singh|first=Bharat Kumar|date=2020-03-18|website=Dainik Bhaskar|language=hi|access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref> They also decided to allow only 50 people at once for ''Darshan''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hindi.oneindia.com/news/jaipur/corona-effect-on-rajasthan-s-srinath-temple-temple-and-gangaur-fair-551360.html|title=राजस्थान : कोरोना की वजह से 348 साल के इतिहास में पहली बार श्रीनाथ मंदिर में दर्शनों पर रोक |trans-title=For the first time in the history of 348 years, due to Corona, visits to the Shrinath temple were banned |last=Saini |first=Vishwanath |date=2020-03-18 |website=hindi.oneindia.com |language=hi|access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Shrinathji Temple, Bahrain]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.nathdwaratemple.org/ Official website]
*[https://templeknowledge.com/about-shrinathji-temple-nathdwara/ Shrinathji temple complete info]
*[https://www.thedivineindia.com/shrinathji-temple-udaipur/7159 Shrinathji Temple]

{{Coord|24.9289935|N|73.8150981|E|display=title}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Rajsamand district]]
[[Category:Krishna]]
[[Category:Nathdwara]]

Shrinathji Temple - Revision history

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