The Puranic Era: Krishna's Childhood Leelas
According to the Shrimad Bhagavat Mahapurana, when Kamsa's atrocities grew in Gokul, Nanda Maharaj and the gopas left Gokul and settled in Vrindavan to protect their families and cattle.
॥ इतिहास एवं लीला ॥
History & Legend
From Dwapar Yuga to today — the eternal story of the dham
Deliverance of the Asuras
On the sacred soil of Vrindavan, the child Krishna vanquished mighty demons — Putana, Shakatasura, Trinavarta, Bakasura, Aghasura, Dhenukasura and Pralambasura.
Subduing Kaliya Naag
Krishna freed the Yamuna from the venomous serpent Kaliya, making her waters nectar-like once again.
Govardhan Leela
To break the pride of Indra, Krishna lifted the great Govardhan Hill upon His little finger, sheltering all of Braj for seven days.
The Maharaas
On the full-moon night of Sharad Purnima, beneath Vanshivat on the Yamuna bank, Krishna performed the divine Maharaas with the gopis — the supreme symbol of the soul's union with the Divine.
Medieval Restoration — The Six Goswamis
After Dwapar Yuga, Vrindavan's sacred leela sites were lost to time. In 1515 CE, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Vrindavan and identified the hidden pastime places through divine insight. Inspired by Him, the Six Goswamis — Sanatan, Rupa, Jiva, Raghunath Das, Raghunath Bhatt and Gopal Bhatt Goswami — lived here, composed foundational scriptures, manifested the Deities and established the great temples.
Sanatan Goswami
Rupa Goswami
Jiva Goswami
Raghunath Das Goswami
Raghunath Bhatt Goswami
Gopal Bhatt Goswami
Cultural & Spiritual Heritage
Vrindavan is the meeting point of six major bhakti sects — Gaudiya, Sri (Ramanuja), Nimbarka, Pushtimarg (Vallabhacharya), Radha Vallabh and Haridasi sampradayas.
Raas Leela
Dramatic, musical enactments of Krishna's divine pastimes.
Sanjhi Art
Ancient Braj art of drawing Krishna leelas with flowers, colours and motifs on ground and water.
Samaj Gayan
Singing medieval pad-poetry in dhrupad style to classical ragas inside temple courtyards.