Founded in 1988 on the doctrine of Love, Dedication, Devotion and Servitude, VRAJ is a place of pilgrimage for an average of 100,000 Hindus a year.
Nootan Nandalaya (Temple), an abode for God ShriNathji (a manifestation
of God Krishna), is built on a 300 acres of bountiful land of VRAJ surrounded
by the grandeur of the hills and the accentuated with the tranquility
of the wooded valleys and the serenity of the lush green meadows. This
spellbinding natural ambience augments the spellbinding beauty of the
Haveli (Temple) that is situated on the bank of Chandra Sarovar (lake),
in the rich tradition of the royal Rajasthani architectural mystique.
Haveli is 60 feet tall, three stories high and has over 50,000 sq. feet
of built-up area.
VRAJ, an Institute of Indian Heritage, is a prominent Religious-Spiritual-Social-Cultural
center for all Hindus in addition to being the foremost bastion of PushtiBhaktiMarg
(Hinduism’s Path of ‘Bliss through Love-Devotion’) in the Western World.
Hindus of all faiths come to experience not only the spiritual serenity
uniquely bestowed over VRAJ, but also to celebrate their cultural and
social events.
Founding Members of VRAJ earnestly believed that in today’s world it
has become imperative for any temple to transform itself into an establishment
that facilitates an integration of society’s Religious, Spiritual, Social
and Cultural needs of the time. Keeping up with the changing world,
VRAJ has evolved into an institution bridging the gap between the diverse
needs of the Hindu community settled in North America.
To bring together the Hindu Youth, to educate them about the Indian heritage and to pass on to them the traditional value system of India, VRAJ organizes summer Youth Camps (www.vrajyouth.org) year after year in addition to sustaining several youth oriented activities round the year.
VRAJ’s willingness to actively support humanitarian causes such as the Rescue-Rebuild-Rehabilitate efforts in the event of natural disasters has benefited many communities. VRAJ provided timely financial assistance to the earthquake victims of Latur (Maharastra, India) in 1996 and of Kutch (Gujarat, India) in 2001, to the Tsunami victims of Tamilnadu, India and to the victims of hurricane Katrina (New Orleans, USA) in 2005.
Well maintained lodging, boarding, cafeteria facilities in VRAJ Campus can accommodate over 200 devotees who may stay at VRAJ for a day, a week or a month.
Several picnic areas on the grounds of VRAJ Campus offer excellent opportunities to Hindu social groups for organizing their gatherings in the natural environment away from the hustle-bustle of the cities.
Not
withstanding the popular belief by many Hindus and almost all non-Hindus
that Hinduism has many Gods and Goddesses, “The Vedas” (the most ancient
scriptures of the entire mankind) declare that ‘There is only ONE GOD
(The ParBrahm) who is perceived and worshipped in many forms by various
sages and seers.’ “The Vedas” further declare that Bhagvan ShriKrishna
is The ParBrahm (Parmatma) Himself. Bhagvan ShriKrishna, known to all
Hindus as “Loving God” manifested, in His full form, as ShriGovardhanNathji
(ShriNathji) over 500 years ago. Hinduism scriptures declare that ParBrahm
also manifested as JaganNath, RangNath, DwarkaNath and BadriNath. In
the holy land of India, these four Gods dwell in four directions and
the Gods’ God Shri GovardhanNathji dwells in the center at NathDwara
(Rajasthan, India).
Bhagvan ShriKrishna in the form of ShriNathji dwells in the Pennsylvania
state of United State of America for the benefit of His devotees of
North America.
Blessed
and Endorsed, in 1988, by the Prime Pontiff of PushtiBhaktiMarg(A Hinduism
Tradition), HDH Pradhan Pithadhishwar Goswami Tilkayat 108 Shri Govindlalji
Maharajshri of NathDwara, VRAJ’s ShriNathji Temple is the second such
temple in the entire world, next only to the 250 years old ShriNathji
Temple in NathDwara (Rajasthan,India).
Bhagvan ShriKrishna’s manifestation Shri GovardhaNathji was introduced to His devotes by JagadGuru Shrimad Vallabhacharyaji (Shri MahaPrabhuji).
Shrimad Vallabhacharyaji, also known as Shri MahaPrabhuji, was a renowned
Spiritual Guru, an eminent Philosopher and a celebrated Scholar of Hinduism
in 15th century India. He appeared on this earth in 1479 AD (on the
eleventh day of the second half of the month of Chaitra in the year
1535 Vikram Samvat) and stayed on this earth until 1531 AD.
Based on His understanding of The Vedas, The BrahmaSutras, The Bhagvad
Geeta and Shrimad Bhagvat, He evolved the philosophy Love-Devotion and
institutionalized PushtiBhaktiMarg – a path of devotion through selfless
Love for ShriKrishna.
During His life of 52 years, He wrote treatises and commentaries on
scriptures of Hinduism as well as many scholarly books.
Shrimad Vallabhacharyaji (‘Vallabh’ means ‘Beloved’) is the GURU who
showed us the way of love-filled devotion to experience Bhagvan ShriKrishna.
His descendents, known as ‘GuruDwar’ – A Gateway to The Guru Shri MahaPrabhuji,
has been guiding the followers of PushtiBhaktiMarg for the past 500
years.
PushtiBhaktiMarg is a specific way of practicing the Hinduism and so
no different then Hinduism. Hinduism believes in One God but prescribes
many paths that lead to The Supreme God. PushtiBhaktiMarg is one such
path (method) of Hinduism.
PushtiBhaktiMarg means …….
Pushti means Support, Encouragement
Bhakti means Love filled Devotion
Marg means Path, Method