GOPINATH TEMPLE

Sri Gopinath is the Deity who stole sweet-rice for Madhavendra Puri. Being worshiped on the altar with Sri Gopinatha are Sri Madana Mohana, Sri Govinda, Radha-Rasabihari, and caitanya Mahaprabhu with Lord Jagannatha on one side and numerous shalagram shilas on the other side. Lord Gopinatha, flanked by Sri Govinda and Sri Madana Mohana, is made of black stone. Sri Gopinatha stands in bas-relief. Govinda and Madana Mohana, who were brought from Vrindavana in about 1938 by a devotee named caitanya Dasa Babaji, are free standing.

You get delicious kshira here call amrita keli. The Gopinatha kshira is a preparation of condensed milk, sugar, and cream, with a sprinkling of raisins. It comes in pots of various sizes, which are first given to god. Sri Gopinath is known as khira chora (thief) Gopinatha because he stole and hid a pot of kshira out of love for Madhavendra Puri.

The present temple was renovated by Rasikananda, after the prior temple built by king Gajapati maharaja langula Deva was destroyed by Muslim invaders. Rasikananda found the Gopinatha Deity in a pond 4 km from the temple, where Gopinatha was hidden. Rasikananda was the foremost disciple of Syamananda, who helped transport the important writings of the Goswamis from Vrindavana to Bengal. The samdhi tomb of Rasikananda Prabhu is near the temple.

In the temple room you will find many pictures of Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s pastimes, as well as a picture of the pancatattva over the main altar.

During Chandana-yatra, the Deities are smeared with cooling sandalwood pulp (chandana). The temple priests apply chandana to the chest of the temples’ three Deities Madana-Mohan, Govinda and Gopinath. On Akhsaya Tritiya the Deities entire bodies are smeared with sandalwood.