Devotion & Heritage
The Temple
The temple and its deities form an important part of the living cultural and devotional context surrounding the collection.
The Temple
A Place of Daily Worship and Devotional Practice
Architecture and Origins
History of the Temple
Bhattji Ki Haveli, also known as the Sri Raghunath Bhatta Goswami peeth, is an important centre of the devotional and scriptural heritage of Vrindavan. Sri Raghunath Bhatta Goswami (1505–1579) was one of the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan and a distinguished exponent of Srimad Bhagavatam, especially renowned for his deeply devotional and melodious presentation of the Bhagavata Purana. He is traditionally associated with the development of the Bhagavata-vachaka tradition in Vrindavan, the practice of presenting and explaining Srimad Bhagavatam for the spiritual benefit of devotees.
His disciple and successor, Sri Gadadhar Bhatta Goswami, carried this sacred tradition forward, and the descendants of Sri Gadadhar Bhatta Goswami continue to preserve and uphold the tradition of preaching and reciting Srimad Bhagavatam to this day. Situated beside Radha Vallabha Ghera, at Atkhamba, Bhattji Ki Haveli remains a living testament to the enduring legacy of the Bhatta Goswami lineage and Vrindavan’s rich Bhagavata tradition. Read more about Raghunath and Gadadhar Bhatta Goswami and the family lineage that has carried this tradition forward.
Worship and Tradition
The Deities
The Haveli is home to the worshipful deities of Sri Sri Radha-Madanmohan Lalji Maharaj, whose seva remains entrusted to the descendants of the Gadadhar Bhatta lineage. Sri Radha-Madanmohan Lal is revered as the sevya-svarupa of Sri Gadadhar Bhatta Goswami, with their prakatya traditionally associated with Magha Shukla Panchami, Vasanta Panchami, and their worship continuing at Atkhamba, Vrindavan, following the traditional raganugiya mode of devotional service.
The family’s ancient sevya-svarupa, Sri Balakrishna Lal (Gopala), was later brought to Vrindavan by Sri Narahari Bhatta Goswami, Sri Gadadhar Bhatta Goswami’s son, and continues to be worshipped alongside Sri Radha-Madanmohan. Further installation and origin details are recorded here as verified sources become available.
The Temple