Shah Ji Mandir

Shah Ji Mandir is also known as Tede Khambe Mandir, which means “spiral column temple” because of its exquisite marble spiral pillars gracing the front of the temple. It is the temple of small sized deities of Radha and Krishna, so it is also fondly known as chhote Radha Raman. Chhote meaning “small” in Hindi. The temple was built by Shah Kundan Lal and Shah Phundan Lal, where it gets its official name of Shah Ji Mandir from.

They began the construction of the temple in 1860 and took eight years to complete.

Spiral Columned Temple

In the right wing of the spiral columned veranda, look down on the floor and you will see the portraits of the founders and their families in mosaic. The idea of putting their portraits on the floor and not on a wall, as would be typical, is a mark of their humbled saintliness. In Vrindavan, they held the sand in the highest sanctity and glory. Therefore, it showed their desire to be “submerged “in the holy dust of Vrindavan, ensuring their souls would achieve the blessed attainment known as Goloka or the Land of Bliss (Heaven).

Their portraits on the floor ensured they would constantly receive the Braj Raj or Vrindavan Dust as the saints and devotees walked over them on the floor barefooted to take darshan of lord Krishna.

Portraits on the Floor

Look down on the floor and you will see the portraits of the founders and their families in mosaic. The idea of putting their portraits on the floor and not on a wall, as would be typical, is a mark of their humbled saintliness.

Fourteen Panels of Dancing Gopis

In side the temple, on the lower portion of the wall, there are fourteen panels, each five feet in height. All examples of pictorial mosaics inlaid in stone in a most unconventional style. They almost appear as miniature paintings, though of course much larger and in stone inlay. These mosaic portraits are unique in history stone inlay in more ways than one.

Gita Govinda – A Love Story Between Radha & Krishna

It was not uncommon to depict a relationship between a man and a woman in terms of the love between Radha and Krishna. And in literary terms, relational tradition dates back to the 12th century when the Mathilda poet Jaidev’s immortal song Gita Govinda became popular.

Look up! The ceiling has a magnificent 12 foot diameter light yellow chandelier, and they graced the higher walls with elegant sconces that until 1940 illuminated the temple with soft candlelight. Carefully placed mirrors reflect and amplify ethereal beauty that so captures the hearts and souls of the many devotees, pilgrims and denizens that are lucky enough to wander in with eyes to see.

Basanti Kamra Respendid Hall Open Twice a Year

On the east end of the temple is a large hall called Basanti Kamra (Durber Hall) that is only open two days out of the year on Basant Panchami. (February 5 & 6, 2022 – we’ll be there to capture a bit of the magnificent wonderful glory, and post an update then.)

Basanti Kamra a Durbar Hall, is adorned with Belgian glass chandeliers and exquisite paintings depicting the loving pastimes of Radha and Krishna. Shri Lalit Kishori’s samadhi is nearby at Tatiya Sthan. It is said that he so revered Vrindavan Dust that he would have his waste materials couriered out of the city limits daily for disposal.

In the center of the room are three enormous fountains built from a single piece of 10 ft x 5 ft white marble. Ornately carved with hollowed corners that are also smaller fountains. The whole Durbar hall is 40 ft x 35 ft with a forty foot high domed ceiling with nine crystal chandeliers. What a sight to behold! The sparkling brilliance of the Belgian crystals, white marble and flowing fountains.