Sri Gopinath
is the Deity who stole sweet-rice for Madhavendra
Puri. Being worshiped on the altar with
Sri Gopinatha are Sri Madana Mohana, Sri
Govinda, Radha-Rasabihari, and caitanya
Mahaprabhu with Lord Jagannatha on one side
and numerous shalagram shilas on the other
side. Lord Gopinatha, flanked by Sri Govinda
and Sri Madana Mohana, is made of black
stone. Sri Gopinatha stands in bas-relief.
Govinda and Madana Mohana, who were brought
from Vrindavana in about 1938 by a devotee
named caitanya Dasa Babaji, are free standing.
You get delicious
kshira here call amrita keli. The Gopinatha
kshira is a preparation of condensed milk,
sugar, and cream, with a sprinkling of raisins.
It comes in pots of various sizes, which
are first given to god. Sri Gopinath is
known as khira chora (thief) Gopinatha because
he stole and hid a pot of kshira out of
love for Madhavendra Puri.
The present temple was renovated by Rasikananda,
after the prior temple built by king Gajapati
maharaja langula Deva was destroyed by Muslim
invaders. Rasikananda found the Gopinatha
Deity in a pond 4 km from the temple, where
Gopinatha was hidden. Rasikananda was the
foremost disciple of Syamananda, who helped
transport the important writings of the
Goswamis from Vrindavana to Bengal. The
samdhi tomb of Rasikananda Prabhu is near
the temple.
In the temple
room you will find many pictures of Caitanya
Mahaprabhu’s pastimes, as well as
a picture of the pancatattva over the main
altar.
During Chandana-yatra,
the Deities are smeared with cooling sandalwood
pulp (chandana). The temple priests apply
chandana to the chest of the temples’
three Deities Madana-Mohan, Govinda and
Gopinath. On Akhsaya Tritiya the Deities
entire bodies are smeared with sandalwood.