Book launch in Vrindavana.

In a ground-breaking initiative to promote and celebrate Vaishnava research and literature, Mandala Publishing and the Bhaktivedanta Research Center (BRC) have collaborated to co-publish “The Vaishnava Studies Series,” a unique endeavour with a multi-dimensional approach aiming to showcase the most recent and impactful research on Vaishnavism. The publishers are thrilled to announce the latest addition to this ongoing series—a 172-page book entitled “Madan Mohan: An Enchanting Saga.”

Released in both Sri Jagannatha Puri Dhama and Sri Vrindavana Dhama during the auspicious month of Kartika, this volume is an absorbing blend of heartfelt devotion and rigorous scholarship. The author, Sushant Bharti, is a devout follower of Gaudiya Vaishnavism initiated into the Radha-Ramana parivar in Vrindavana and possesses an academic background in architectural conservation. This combination uniquely positions him to illuminate the built heritage of Braja. Having a long-held desire to contribute to the scholarship concerning the Braja region, his passion received a concrete shape upon meeting H.G. Gauranga Dasa, the Director of the Govardhan Eco Village (GEV). Gauranga Prabhu encouraged the author to write a document expounding the religious and historical significance of the Madan Mohan temple in Vrindavana. The result is this masterpiece that takes readers on a devotional odyssey to the Madan Mohan temple.

Speaking at the book launch in Jagannatha Puri, H.G. Braja Vilasa Prabhu reminded devotees of Srila Prabhupada’s constant emphasis, “If you want to please me, print books; distribute books.” Commending BRC for its service, he said that Srila Prabhupada was surely immensely pleased with this book. He urged everyone to make this book “viral,” declaring that “Every hand should have this book!”

Expertly weaving the strands of devotion, history, and architecture, this book delves into the vibrant history of the Madan Mohan temple and its significance in Braja-bhumi and beyond. It begins by chronicling the transcendental pastimes of Lord Chaitanya, highlighting the Lord’s exchanges with Srila Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis—who would later establish the Govindadevaji and Madan Mohan temples, respectively. It subsequently takes readers to the Dvadasaditya-tila where Sanatana Gosvami dwelt with Lord Madan Mohan and describes how Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvamī sought Lord Madan Mohan’s permission for his monumental undertaking of composing Sri Caitanya-caritamrta.

Against the backdrop of the temple’s broader history, the book reveals numerous fascinating details, including Lord Madan Mohan’s merciful intervention to help the salt merchant Ramdas Kapoor, the Mughal court’s imperial orders in favour of the Madan Mohan temple, the temple’s world-famous shikharas (spires), and the contributions of notable poets in the veneration of Lord Madan Mohan. Also revealed are intriguing facts, such as the contributions of two renowned modern artists regarding the Madan Mohan temple and the global recognition garnered by paintings depicting this temple.

Other topics covered include Lord Madan Mohan’s arrival from Kamyavana to Jaipur and subsequently to Karauli, with a detailed description of the architecture of Lord Madan Mohan’s temples in Jaipur, Karauli, and Vrindavana. The book concludes by chronicling the Govardhan Eco Village (GEV), H.H. Radhanath Maharaja’s affection for the Madan Mohan temple in Vrindavana, and the construction of a precise-scale model of this temple at GEV—a culmination of persistent efforts in the face of countless setbacks.

Book launch in Jagannatha Puri.

Dr. Sumanta Rudra, academic dean of BRC, shares feelings of great joy over the release of this book, “It’s extremely fulfilling to see this book out in the world. The BRC is committed to preserving and sharing Vaishnava philosophy and culture with the entire world,” he continued, “Thus, each book that we co-publish, gives us a feeling like no other. We fervently pray for the Vaishnavas’ blessings so that we may continue to be instruments in bringing forth an ever-greater number of literary contributions like this one.”

Reading “Madan Mohan: An Enchanting Saga” is akin to going on a sacred journey through the enchanting world of Lord Madan Mohan, a pilgrimage where the boundaries of space and time are transcended as the reader traverses seamlessly through the corridors of history, sacred geography, transcendental architecture and contemporary marvels of devotional offering—all of which combinedly absorb the mind in a one-pointed meditation on Lord Madan Mohan.

Readers interested in purchasing the book are requested to contact Ramesh Patel at: +91 9820026302.

The publishers gratefully acknowledge the following patrons for their invaluable support in the production of this book:

Moksha Lakshmi Devi Dasi, Ramesh C. Patel, Bharti R. Patel, Ramesta Das, Damodar Hari Das, Prema Niketan Das, Vraja Raman Dasa, Radharadhya Das, Rasesvara Madhava Das, Vishwatma Gopinath Das, Akrura Das, Srinivas Sharan Das, Madhava Chandra Dasa, Radhananda Das, Sundar Govinda Das, Vishwarupa Das, Murlidhar Das, Rahul Sapar, Dhananjaya Das, Janardan D. Bahirat, Rasesvara Das, Manish Goyal, Rasamrita Das, Anandini Sundari Devi Dasi, Prashant Devatraj, Tushar Bhole, Dr. Shekhar Shukla, JABS International Pvt. Ltd., Chaitanya Bhagavan Das, Praveen Kovvidi, Prasanna Kovvidi, Gadadhara Chandra Das, Shailen Ramanlal Desai, Sripati Das, Nityananda Vilas Das, Krishna Murali Das, Ansul Agarwal and Sreenivasulu Pappuru.