The Divine Journey
From the sacred Govardhana Hill to the royal land of Mewar.
Discovery at Govardhana
Madhavendra Puri discovered the deity, then known as Gopal, in the bushes near Govinda Kunda at Govardhana Hill. A local cowherd boy had visited him with milk, leading to a dream where the Lord revealed His location.
The Sweet Rice of Remuna
Instructed to fetch sandalwood from Jagannatha Puri, Madhavendra stopped at Remuna. There, the Gopinatha deity stole a pot of sweet rice (Amritakeli) for His devotee, earning the name "Khira-chora Gopinatha".
The Move to Mewar
To protect the Lord from Aurangzeb's destruction, the deity was moved from Jatipura to Mewar. At village Sihad, the bullock cart's wheels sank axle-deep in mud, signaling the Lord's chosen spot.
Establishment of Nathdwara
Under the protection of Maharana Raj Singh, a temple was built around 1669 AD. The village Sihad became Nathdwara, the "Doorway to Nathji". The deity was named Sri Nathji.
