The history of the Rādhā-Dāmodar Mandir began when Śrīla Rupa Gosvāmī and Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī came to Vrndāvan in 1516. Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu ordered them to uncover the pastime places of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa and distribute bhakti-rasa for the benefit of all human beings.
Established by Śrīla Jiva Gosvāmī in 1542, the Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Dāmodar Mandir remains dear to devotees in the Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya to this day. The presiding Śrī Rādhā Dāmodar deities were manifested by Śrīla Rupa Gosvāmī who later gave them to his dear disciple and nephew, Śrīla Jiva Gosvāmī for service and worship.
When Sripad Jiva Gosvāmī came to Vrindavan, he was engaged in devotional practice under the guidance of Sripad Rupa Gosvāmī. Rupa Gosvāmī’s heart became overwhelmed with separation from Śrī Rādhā-Dāmodar. Śrī Krishna appeared in his dream and instructed him to manifest a deity from stone. With great humility, Śrīla Rupa Gosvāmī carved the deity, and the manifestation was completed on Magh Shukla Dashmi in 1542 C.E. He then gave the deity to Jiva Gosvāmī for worship.
This occasion is celebrated annually as the appearance day of Śrī Rādhā-Dāmodar ji Maharaj. The Gosvāmīs remarked that while looking at Sri Damodar, they saw Sri Madan Mohan in the feet, Sri Gopinath ji in the chest, and Sri Govind Dev ji in the face.
In Rādhā-Dāmodar Mandir, the deities of Śrī Rādhā Rāni and Lalitā Sakhi are placed on either side of Śrī Dāmodar. Their origin is unique — in Bengal, a fisherman found two deities in his net instead of fish. The king later delivered them to Śrīla Jiva Gosvāmī, who, after a divine dream, identified them as Śrī Rādhā Rāni and Lalitā Sakhi and began their worship.
During the reign of Aurangzeb, many deities were shifted to Jaipur for protection. Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Dāmodar also went temporarily but returned to Vrindavan in 1739 C.E. Some devotees mistakenly believe the originals remained in Jaipur, but evidence shows the original deities are in Vrndavan, while Jaipur hosts a pratibhu (replica).
Before Śrī Jiva’s disappearance in 1596, he entrusted his Deities and library to his successor, Śrī Krishna Dasa. The present sevaites are direct descendants of this lineage.
Shri Tarun Goswami, Shri Karun Goswami, Shri Krishna Balram Goswami, Shri Puran Chandra Goswami (Current Authorized Sevayat)
