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The
City of Mathura, in Uttar Pradesh, the nucleus of
Brajbhoomi, is located at a distance of 145 km
south-east of Delhi and 58 km north-west of Agra.
Covering an area of about 3,800 sq. km., today,
Brajbhoomi can be divided into two distinct units - the
eastern part in the trans-Yamuna tract with places like
Gokul, Mahavan, Baldeo, Mat and Bajna and the western
side of the Yamuna covering the Mathura region that
encompasses Vrindavan, Govardhan, Kusum Sarovar, Barsana
and Nandgaon. |
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The
land of Braj starts from Kotban near Hodel about 95 km
from Delhi and ends at Runakuta which is known specially
for its association with the poet Surdas, an ardent
Krishna devotee. |
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Shri
Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, was born in the
Dwapara Yuga as the eighth son of the Yadava prince
Vasudev and his wife Devaki. To save him from the
murderous intentions of his maternal uncle Kansa, the
ruler of Mathura, the infant Krishna was spirited away
soon after birth to Gokul, the village of the gopas
(cowherds) in Braj (their pastureland). It was here that
he grew to manhood, in the tender care of his foster
parents Nand and Yashoda in the happy company of the
cowherds. |
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Vrindavan, just 15 km from Mathura, is another major
place of pilgrimage. It is noted for its numerous
temples - both old and modern. The name Vrindavan evokes
the playfulness and lovable characteristics of Shri
Krishna. This is the wood where he frolicked with the
gopis and tenderly wooed Radha. |
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It
is understood that Mathura City is the transcendental
abode of Lord Krishna. It is not an ordinary material
city, for it is eternally connected with the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Vrindavan is within the
jurisdiction of Mathura and still continues to exist.
Because Mathura and Vrindavan are intimately connected
with Krishna eternally, it is said that Lord Krishna
never leaves Vrindavan (vrindavanam parityajya padam
ekam na gacchati). At present the place known as
Vrindavana in the district of Mathura, continues its
position as a transcendental place and certainly anyone
who goes there becomes transcendentally purified. |
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