Radha Madhav Dham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Radha Madhav Dham
Barsana Dham
Radha Madhav Dham in 2014
Geography
Coordinates	30°9′20″N 97°57′28″W / 30.15556°N 97.95778°W / 30.15556; -97.95778
Country	United States
State	Texas
Locale	Near Austin

Radha Madhav Dham is a large Hindu temple and spiritual center located on over 200 acres of land in Hays County, Texas, near Austin, Texas. It is the main center in the United States for Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, a non-profit organization. This temple is known as the oldest Hindu temple in Texas and one of the largest in North America.

Radha Madhav Dham is a non-profit group focused on religion, education, and charity. It follows a spiritual path called raganuga bhakti. The temple is involved in many helpful projects, including JKP Education. This educational program even won the Nelson Mandela Peace Award in 2014.

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj was an important Indian religious leader. He started Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat (JKP), which is a worldwide Hindu non-profit. JKP has five main spiritual centers, called ashrams. Four are in India, and one is in the United States. Radha Madhav Dham is the main JKP ashram in the U.S. The temple was first started by Prakashanand Saraswati, who is no longer involved with the temple.

History of Radha Madhav Dham

Radha Madhav Dham was built in 1990. It became the main U.S. center for the International Society of Divine Love, which began in the 1970s. The temple was designed to feel like the holy land of Braj in India. Hindus believe that Radha and Krishna appeared in Braj over 5,000 years ago.

Radha Madhav Dham is a place for spiritual journeys in America. Parts of the temple grounds are made to look like famous places in Braj, India. These include Govardhan, Radha Kund, Prem Sarovar, and Shyam Kuti. A natural stream on the property, called Kalindi, represents the Yamuna river from Vrindaban. These areas are perfect for quiet thinking and meditation.

In January 2024, News9live listed Radha Madhav Dham as one of the ten most famous Hindu temples outside of India.

Shree Raseshwari Radha Rani Temple

The Shree Raseshwari Radha Rani Temple is located at Radha Madhav Dham. It was the first Hindu temple built in Austin, Texas. It is also one of the largest Hindu temples in the USA. The temple building covers about 35,000 square feet (3,250 square meters). It has a golden dome that is 90 feet (27 meters) high.

Inside the Temple's Main Hall

The main prayer hall of the Shree Raseshwari Radha Rani Temple is beautifully decorated. It has pictures that show lessons from ancient Hindu scriptures. These pictures have captions in both Sanskrit and English. The ideas from Hindu scriptures are explained on a long panel along the sides of the hall. The ceiling is painted to look like a realistic sky.

Temple Architecture and Design

The temple's design mixes different styles. It combines traditional North and South Indian architecture with modern styles. Two architects from India designed it. The 90-foot-high temple dome is made of white and blue granite and gold. The tower has a traditional shape but is built from granite, which is different from many in India that use sandstone.

Fifteen skilled artists from South India hand-carved the artwork for the temple's shrine. They carved images of peacocks and flowers into the pillars and ceilings. The building has 84 columns and five levels. It was built using special methods to help it last for more than a thousand years. The temple grounds are also lovely, with a peach orchard, gardens of roses, jasmine, and marigolds, and peacocks walking around.

Community and Services

Festivals and celebrations at the temple can attract up to 8,000 people. The temple and ashram are important centers for traditional Indian cultural activities and weddings. Weekly services are held every Sunday morning from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. A community lunch follows these services. About 1,000 families attend Radha Madhav Dham. Most of these families are Indian, with a smaller number of Westerners and people of Caribbean descent.

Radha Madhav Dham helps Hindus in the U.S. feel connected to their heritage. It creates a familiar space that reminds them of India's sacred places.

Hindu Festivals and Celebrations

Radha Madhav Dham celebrates all the major Hindu festivals. These events attract thousands of visitors. The temple hosts one of the biggest Janmashtami celebrations in North America. Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna.

To honor the yearly Rath Yatra festival, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson named October 27, 2001, 'Radha Rani Rath Yatra Day'. The 2011 Rath Yatra celebration included famous singer "Bhajan Samrat" Anup Jalota. Many Austin Mayors and the Governor of Texas have visited or praised Radha Madhav Dham. About 50,000 visitors, both Indian and Western, take part in the lessons, religious programs, and celebrations there.

Retreats and Family Camps

Throughout the year, Radha Madhav Dham offers special programs. These include weekend family retreats, short intensive courses, and weekend seva (service) retreats. These programs often include classes in Hindi, yoga, and Indian dance. Radha Madhav Dham has been called one of the "best places to relax, reflect, and renew."

The temple also gives tours for schools, other educational groups, and community organizations. In 2007, the temple and ashram were featured in National Geographic's "The 100 Best Vacations to Enrich Your Life."

Radha Madhav Dham also organizes free family camps and "Basics of Hinduism" courses. These are held in Hindu temples in other cities like Dallas, Houston, Washington, D.C., and New York.

Yoga Retreats and New Year Events

Each fall, the Texas Yoga Retreat takes place at the ashram. This retreat is organized by Charles MacInerney and Ellen Smith. It gives over 250 yoga fans a chance to experience ashram life. Radha Madhav Dham also organizes a New Year retreat. This weekend stay focuses on relaxation and meditation. Families are welcome to join the yoga classes and meditation sessions. A 24-hour continuous chant, called Akhand Sankirtan, happens from noon on New Year's Eve until noon the next day.

Educational and Charitable Activities

Radha Madhav Dham has a strong history of helping others. When Hurricane Katrina hit, the temple opened its doors to people who had to leave their homes. It also started a fundraising effort to help victims. In September 2008, Radha Madhav Dham began raising money for people affected by the flooding in Bihar, India. Their first goal was to raise $150,000 for relief. In the same month, hundreds of people who had to leave their homes because of Hurricane Ike were given food and shelter at Radha Madhav Dham.

The temple is active in many local and global charity projects. This includes helping to fix homes in Central Texas and supporting flood relief in India. They also help run hospitals overseas. In 2005, the temple hosted 300–400 people who had to leave their homes because of Hurricane Rita.

Healthcare Support in India

Radha Madhav Dham has organized charity walks in Dallas to raise money for its Kripalu Charitable Hospital. This hospital, costing $2.3 million, opened in 2008 in the town of Barsana, India. Besides the hospital in Barsana, JKP Radha Madhav Dham's center in India also opened the 'Kripalu Charitable Hospital' in Mangarh in 2003. This hospital provides free exams, treatment, surgeries, hospital stays, emergency services, and medicine to hundreds of patients every day. They have also set up eye camps and programs for mothers and children across India. These programs offer free eye exams, cataract surgery, and polio vaccines to those who need them.

Community and Interfaith Involvement

Radha Madhav Dham takes part in services with other religions. These include Austin Area Interreligious Ministries and Hindu-Jewish Solidarity Day. They also participated in PBS's Many Voices project. In 1993, the organization was chosen to represent Hinduism at the Parliament of the World's Religions.