Sri Sri Radha GopalJiu Temple Opening and Closing Timings:
4.30 AM to 1.00 PM and 4.15 PM to 8.30 PM
The Temple centrally situated main altar with Sri Gaurahari, Sri Sri Radha Gopal, Sri Nrsimhadeva, Sri Jagannatha, Sri Sri Radha Madanmohan, SRI SRI RADHA GOPALJIU, Sri Sri Radha Sundargopal and in murtiform H.D.G. Gour Govinda Swami Srila Gurudeva and H.D.G. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada and furthermore in photoform Sri Guruparampara and the six Goswami’s of Vrindavan.
The Transcendental Couple SRI SRI RADHAGOPALJIU (on the main altar situated in the centre).
At the back of the Temple there is the altar with Sri Nrsimhadeva and Sri Prahlad and with the saviours of the most fallen Sri Gauranga (a.k.a Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu)and his eternal brother Sri Nityananda.
Founding of Gadeigiri
The following are some excerpts from the book GopalJiu – The Beloved Diety of Srila Gour Govinda Swami
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja was born to a daughter of the Giri family and from his early childhood rendered various services to Gopal. Throughout his life Gour Govinda Swami would always go to visit Gopal whenever possible. He left this world while gazing at a photo of Gopal. The last word he spoke was, “Gopal.” The following account is adapted from the book, GopalJiu-The Beloved Deity of Srila Gour Govinda Swami (page 1 to 6)
Early years
The village of Gadeigiri is situated in the Jagatsinghpur District of east central Orissa. It is a quiet place much like other small villages in India, consisting mostly of mud huts with thatched roofs. The residents take their daily bath in the local pond, keep cows, and cook over cow-dung fires in the same way their ancestors have done for thousands of years. The main sources of livelihood are rice cultivation and the selling of brass utensils.
In front of almost every house one will find a shrine for the sacred Tulasi plant, and it is common to hear the sound of the Maha Mantra— Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare-Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare— being sung. The residents of Gadeigiri are very devoted to Gopal. The long-standing tradition in the village is that the first fruit or flower that appears in any garden must be offered to the Gopal Deity, and it is understood that if one does this, those trees and shrubs will give their fruits and flowers abundantly.
The founding of Gadeigiri:
The village Gadeigiri is named after its founder, Gadai Giri, who migrated from the district of Midnapur in the seventeenth century. He was a businessman who regularly came to the area to sell utensils and bell-metal items. Every year Gadai Giri would come during the rainy season, stay four or five months, and then return to Midnapur.
Gadai Giri was a gentle and saintly person. He would rise early each morning and perform kirtan. Then after taking some flat rice and water he would go out selling brass utensils door to door. When evening arrived he would spend the night in some village and join with the local people in their daily custom of singing kirtan and reciting Srimad-Bhagavatam.
He soon became well known as a good kirtana singer and devotee and he recieved frequent invitations to take part in different sankirtana festivals celebrated for the plesure of the various local deity’s of Baladev Jiu, Brindaban Bihari Jiu, Radha Madan Mohan Jiu, and Dadhi Baman Jiu.
Appreciating Gadai Giri’s saintly qualities, the local zamindar (feudal landlord) offered to give him some nearby land. Shortly thereafter Gadai Giri met a naga-sannyasi, a naked mendicant, who was very pleased with Gadai Giri’s gentle behavior and high character.
One day, Gadai Giri and the sannyasi were walking together in the forrest when suddenly they heard the sweet voices of several different kinds of birds as well as the sounds of a flute, ankle bells, and a conch shell.
The naga-sadhu told him, “Where such auspicious sounds are heard, Krishna Himself is present. Wherever Krishna is present His consort Lakshmi, the Goddess of fortune, is also present.This is a sacred place, a place of glory. You should build a house here for your residence and engage yourself fully in the service of the Lord. Here, whatever you desire will immediately fulfiled”.
Presenting all these things before the zamindar, Gadai Giri received from him a large segment of land, including an area for cultivation. He cleared a small section of the jungle indicated by the naga-sadhu and built a house and a small Temple wherein he established a Deity of Dadhi Baman.
When Lord Jagannath is worshiped without his brother Baladeva and sister Subhadra, He is known as Patita Pavan or Dadhi Baman.
Gadai Giri left his brass business and simply engaged himself in bhajan and kirtan. Many wandering sadhus and sannyasis came to join with Gadai Giri’s kirtan. Gradually other people came to stay permanently, and a village developed in that place, in Gadai Giri’s name.
Gopal Giri:
Gadai Giri had only one son, who was named Gopal Giri. Gopal Giri was influenced by the devotional qualities of his father and was very devoted to Lord Jagannath. Every year he would go to Puri to see the Ratha-yatra festival. He was also very attached to performing sankirtan, and was expert in many different styles of kirtan.
Gopal Giri had a desire to worship a Deity of Gopal. Unable to find such a deity, he decided to go to Puri, thinking that if he would render service to Lord Jagannath there, then somehow Gopal would come to him. Arriving in Puri, he stayed in the area known as Kundei Benta Sahi, near Grand Road. As he was very scholarly, he easily obtained service in the office of the king, where he became the poddar, or cashier, for the Temple of Lord Jagannath.
Gopal Giri led a very regulated life. While staying in Puri he would daily go to see Lord Jagannath, and at the Temple he would sit on the bais pahaca, the twenty-two steps inside the compound leading up to the main darsana area, and there he would read Srimad-Bhagavatam. In the evening he would take Prasad and go home. Every Sunday he would go to the Satalahari Math, a Temple near the ocean, where he would sit and read Srimad-Bhagavatam and chant Harinam. He was very attached to Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Jagatsingpur Address:
Sri Sri Radha GopalJiu Temple,
Gadeigiri Via Balikuda,
Jagatsingpur District,
Orissa, India.
Phone 0091-6724238112
