Shree Govindajee Temple, Manipur

Address

Kangla, Imphal, Laipham Siphai,

Manipur 795001

Moolavar

Radha Govindaji (Krishna)

Amman

Radha

Introduction

The Shree Govindajee Temple is a prominent Vaishnava temple dedicated to Radha Krishna (Govindaji), located in the Imphal district of Manipur, India. Established in 1846 by Maharaja Nara Singh, it was later rebuilt by Maharaja Chandrakriti in 1876. The temple has been a significant religious site for the local population and was historically managed by the former king, as outlined in the Manipur Merger Agreement of 1949, following the integration of Manipur into India.

Puranic Significance:

The temple’s origins date back to the reign of Maharaja Nara Singh, who commissioned the construction of the temple and dedicated it to Shree Govindaji, the royal deity. The temple suffered damage from an earthquake in 1868 but was faithfully restored by Maharaja Chandrakriti and reconsecrated in 1876. During the Anglo-Manipur war of 1891, the idols were relocated, and it was not until 1908, when Maharaja Churchand Singh resided in his new palace, that the idols were moved back and reconsecrated in the present structure.

In addition to Maharaja Nara Singh’s efforts, it is believed that Maharaja Jai Singh, also known as Bhagya Chandra Karta (1763–1798), had a divine vision to build a temple for Lord Krishna. He initiated the carving of the Govindaji idol in 1776, which was completed and consecrated in 1779. The original temple hosted a five-day Ras Lila festival at Raas Mandal Pukhri, celebrating the divine pastimes of Krishna.

Special Features:

The Shree Govindajee Temple boasts a simple yet elegant design featuring two gold-plated domes and a large, raised Mandop (Meitei for ‘Mandapa’). The central sanctum sanctorum houses the main deities, Govindaji (Krishna) and Radha. On either side of the central altar, there are dedicated chambers for Krishna and Balarama, and Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balabhadra. The temple’s surroundings are serene, with a well-maintained garden, a small pond, and a large open space bordered by tall trees.

Festivals:

The temple is renowned for celebrating major festivals with great enthusiasm, including Janmashatami (August) and Kang (Rathayatra) (June–July), both of which attract a large number of devotees.