History
Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 4 narrates the story of Gaudiya Vaishnava sannyasi Madhavendra Puri who was visited by Shri Gopalji (original name of Shri Nathji) in Vrindavan and given a pot of milk. Later He appeared to him in a dream and instructed him to excavate His image from a jungle and install it in a temple on Govardhan hill. The installation was accompanied by Annakuta ceremony, a huge feast offered to the Lord. His worship was taken over by devotees in the Vallabha sampradaya shortly after Srila Madhavendra Puri's disappearance.
This modest temple attracts Krishna devotees from all over the world including various parts of India, but is significantly important to the Gujarati people of India, thereby making it one of the wealthiest temples of India. The town is often called Shrinathji rather than its original name, Nathdwara. During any major Hindu festival it is common to see enormous crowds packing the entire town and the temple complex.
Life in this town revolves around the Haveli, the term used for all the temples of the Pushtimarg Vaishnavism. Interestingly, this is one of the most colorful sects within the devotional side of Hinduism which also happens to be one of the few that do not advocate renunciation for spiritual growth. It is this worldly, practical and realistic view of life that lends itself to the colorfulness of the sect.
Shrinathji was evidently quite popular with other medieval devotees as well as there were Gaudiya preachers who founded Shrinathaji temples in present-day Pakistan (Dera Ghazi Khan). Shrinathji was even worshiped as far away as Russia (in the lower Volga region) and other places on the Central Asian trade routes. Tradition holds that he will one day return to Govardhana.
Where to Stay at Shreenathaji
The Nathdwara Temple Board are having dharmashals for the devotees around the temple. The famous and good places to stay are as follows:
* Dhiraj Dham-Located in the Market.
* New Cottages-Located in the Market.
* Chitalwala and Balasinor -Located in vegetable Market.
* Vallabh Cottages-Very near to Temple.
ATM at Nathdwara (Shreenathaji)
* ICICI Bank ATM
* Bank Of Baroda ATM
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