Shri Varshney Mandir Society
Vrishni Kul Shiromani Shri Akrur Ji
The business relations of Shri Akrur ji’s father Shufalak were spread far and wide. He was a skilled financial manager. He did not have much interest in state work (Kshatriya work). Due to his help in strengthening the economy of Kashi, the king there married his daughter Gandini to him. Akrur ji was a scholar and saint by nature due to the influence of his maternal home (Kashi) which has always been a center of study-teaching or knowledge. He also inherited his father Schwefalk’s business connections and skills. He was born in a Kshatriya caste family. Even an influential but cruel ruler like Kansa accepted the influence of Shri Akrur ji. When Kansa could not call Shri Krishna to Mathura by any means, he called Shri Krishna to Mathura through Akrur ji.After killing Kansa, Shri Krishna went to Akrur ji’s house and called him Guru and uncle (Madh Bhagwat Sk-10-A-48-Shl0-29) 15 Lord Shri Krishna himself, before the Mahabharata war, sent Shri Akrur ji to Hastinapur to collect all the details. . (Madh Bhagwat- Sk 010- A 049, Verse 07) 14 Akrurji’s fame for charity was very big. Shri Krishna and Kansa have repeatedly addressed him as Daanpate (great giver). (Mad Bhagwat- Sc. 010A057, Verse 0-36 and A036, Verse 028). 16-17 After Lord Krishna established Dwarka, he gave the responsibility of managing the economy of that place to Shri Akrur ji and handed over Syamantaka Mani (the giver of all wealth and grains) (Madh Bhagwat- Verse 10A057, Verse 034 to 41) shows their influence.
When Shri Akrur ji was bringing Shri Krishna and Balram to Mathura, he started getting suspicious because of their soft, gentle, polite and beautiful image. Then Lord Shri Krishna first appeared to Shri Akrur ji in the form of Vishnu. (Madh Bhagwat Sk 010 A 039 Verse 040-55) 18
Akrur Village, Akrur Ghat and Shri Akrur Ji Temple
Before Mathura, on the way, due to solar eclipse on the banks of Yamuna, at the time of evening bath, Lord Shri Krishna saw Shri Akrur ji in the form of Krishna-Balram with two arms and was served by all the incarnations, sitting on Shri Shesh ji. Gave darshan of Chaturbhuj eternal form, that place was called Akrur Ghat (Eternal pilgrimage).This pilgrimage is also mentioned in Shri Garga Samhita-Mathura Volume 5A. It is written in Barah Purana 19 that taking bath at Akrur Ghat during a solar eclipse affected by Rahu gives the same results as performing Rajasuya Ashvamedha Yagya.
This result is exactly the same as that obtained by taking bath in the Kuru-Kshetra lake after a solar eclipse. After the end of the Mahabharata war, on the request of Arjuna, Lord Shri Krishna once again appeared in this lake in person in his original form.
According to Bhakti Ratnakar Shaurya Purana (Vachan-Pancham) 20, those men and women who take bath at Akrur Ghat on the full moon day, especially on the Kartik Purnima (the same day Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Akrur village), become free from the toils of the world.
Akrur village still exists near Akrurghat. It exists since Dwapara Yuga. Shri Akrur ji had twelve brothers. Over time, after dividing into twelve categories, under the leadership of Lord Krishna’s great grandson, Shri Aniruddha’s son Bajra (Madbhagwat Skandh 11-A031, Verse 025)21, due to the great destruction of Jarasandha and Yadu dynasty, they destroyed Mathura (Madbhagwat Mahatmya-A01-Verse 015)22. Worked on rehabilitating them. He indulged in Vaishya activities more than Kshatriya activities. Again in the fourth century (AD 450 i.e. 393 AD) Shri Krishna Balram Temple was established here. Which still exists in ruins today. Remains of a very ancient lake are present near this. The idols of Shri Taleshwar Mahadev, Lord Shri Krishna and Balram installed nearby have emerged from this lake.
According to Chaitanya Charitamrit – Madhya Khand 18, Pari 062, Pyaar, when Mahaprabhu Chaitanya Ji came here in 1515 AD during his tour in Braj region, after taking a dip in Akrur Ghat, he became unconscious and the same feeling was awakened which happened to Shri Akrur Ji. Was.Shri Madan Mohan Ji and Shri Govind Dev Ji Temple was established in 1534 AD after the reappearance of Vrindavan by the disciples of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He used to take alms from Akrur village itself. There was only settlement here on the route from Mathura to Vrindavan. In 1693, the idol was installed in the new temple by Barhasaini or Varshneya Vaishyas. Ancient rare Panchmukhi Hanuman is present near the new temple. In the north, Ghateshwar Mahadev ji has been present here since Dwapar era.
This temple dedicated to Shri Krishna Balram and Shri Akrur ji is situated on the Mathura Vrindavan road in front of Sadhvi Ritambhara ji’s Vatsalya Gram. This is naturally the only place of worship of the Varshneya community. The circumambulation of Mathura-Vrindavan is incomplete without visiting Akrudham. Darshan of Panch Mukhi Hanuman and Kamdhenu installed in the premises is especially beneficial.
