6. Shri Shri Rangji Temple
Sri Rangji Mandir was constructed in the
year 1851 by the efforts of Sri Rangadeshik Swamiji. According to the Hindu
calendar, Sri Rangadeshik Swamiji was born on the Karthik Krishna 7 in
Punarvasu nakshatra in the year 1809 AD at "Agram" village of Tamil
Nadu. He was introduced to study of Vedic scriptures under the guidance of
learned scholars. In a short period of time he had mastered all that was taught
to him and wanted to learn further. One night in a dream he was chased by a mad
bull and wherever he went the bull kept chasing, when he turned towards North
the bull stopped. Taking this as a divine sign, he joined Swami Sri
Anantacharya of Kanchipuram who was going to North on a pilgrimage. When they
reached Sri Goverdhanji, he met Swami Srinivasacharyaji, the head of Goverdhan
Peeth of Sri Vaishnav sect, who was a very learned scholar. Sri Rangadeshik
Swamiji became his disciple and very soon established himself as a brilliant
scholar. Finding him suitable to carry forward the torch of Sri Vaishanvavism,
Swami Srinivasacharyaji asked Sri Rangadeshik Swamiji to take over the reins of
Sri Goverdhan Peeth.
In a very short period of time Swamiji's
name and reputation as a great Vaishnava scholar had spread all over India.
Inspired by his knowlwdge and devotion the brothers Seth Sri Radhakrishnaji and
Sri Govind Dasji of Mathura approached Swamiji for discipleship and offered all
their wealth at Swamiji's feet. Once when Swamiji was explaining about the
greatness of the South Indian temples, then the brothers expressed their wish
for establishing Sri Goda-Rangamannar at Vrindavan. Swamiji had always thought
about the unfulfilled wish of Andal where she expresses her desire to spend her
life at Vrindavan. Taking the wish of brothers as divine indication, Swamiji
immediately went to Sri Rangam and expressed this desire to the divine couple
Sri Goda-Rangamannar and sought their permission for starting the construction
of the temple. Skilled labourers were hired from Sri Rangam and brought to
Vrindavan and the construction work for the temple commenced in the yeat 1845.
The brothers contributed whole heartedly and with their effort and Sri Goda
Rangamnaar's grace the temple was completed in the year 1851 A.D. The total
expenditure incurred was to the tune of Rs. 45 Lacs. In the year 1867 A.D
Swamiji formed Sri Rangji Trust to take care of the functioning of the temple.
Since then it has been five generations of Sri Randeshik Swamiji's who have
served the Lord. The present head of the Sri Goverdhan Peeth Sri Goverdhan
Rangacharya is the fifth generation of Sri Rangadeshik Swamiji.
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