The Three Deities of Vrindavan

[Bhagavat-Sangi-Sangasya]

The Three Deities of Vrindavan

In the 16^th Century, Vrindavan did not have so many temples as today. At that time Madan Mohan, Govindaji and Gopinath or Gopijana-vallabha were the three principal temples. When Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami, at the age of 95 was requested by all Vaishnavas to write the biography of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he prayed to These Deities to grace him by Their mercy. These three Deities are the life and soul of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas (the Vaishnavas following in the footsteps of Lord Chaitanya).

The three Deities have very specific qualities and They are worshiped in three different stages of one’s spiritual development. To teach us by his example, Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami first offers his obeisances to the Deity of Madan Mohan praying – “My progress in spiritual life is very slow. So I’m asking you for help.” Madan Mohan, He who charms cupid, the god of love, is the Deity Who can help us reestablish our lost relationship with Krishna and help identify ourselves in our true constitutional position, which is as the servitor of God. In the execution of Krishna consciousness, this is our first need – to know Krishna, to know ourselves and to know our relationship with Krishna as His eternal servant.

In the beginning of our spiritual life we must therefore worship Madan Mohan so that He may attract us and nullify our attachment for material sense gratification and establish our relationship with Krishna. Once this relationship is established, Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami teaches us to worship Govindaji, the functional Deity. Thus, a devotee who desires to render devotional service to Krishna with strong attachment worships the Deity of Govindaji, He Who pleases the senses and the cows. Govinda actually accepts our service, and hence He is the functional Deity.

Gopinath or Gopijana – Vallabha is the pleasure Deity, the master and the transcendental lover of the gopis. When by the grace of Kṛṣṇa and the devotees one reaches perfection in devotional service, he can appreciate Kṛṣṇa as Gopījana-vallabha, the pleasure Deity of the damsels of Vraja. Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami petitions the blessings of Gopinathji . Just as Krishna attracted the gopis by the sweet sound of His flute, the author of Caitanya Caritamrita prays that may He also attract the reader’s mind by His transcendental vibration in the form of His biography – Sri Caitanya Caritamrita.

Reference - http://vedabase.net/cc/adi/1/19/en