CC Madhya 17.156
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 156
mathurā āsiyā kailā ‘viśrānti-tīrthe’ snāna
‘janma-sthāne’ ‘keśava’ dekhi’ karilā praṇāma
SYNONYMS
mathurā āsiyā—coming in to Mathurā; kailā—performed; viśrānti-tīrthe—at the bathing place known as Viśrāma-ghāṭa; snāna—bathing; janma-sthāne—at the place of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s birth; keśava—the Deity named Keśava; dekhi’—seeing; karilā praṇāma—offered His respectful obeisances.
TRANSLATION
When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu entered the city of Mathurā, He took His bath at Viśrāma-ghāṭa. He then visited the birthplace of Kṛṣṇa and saw the Deity named Keśavajī. He offered His respectful obeisances to this Deity.
PURPORT
At the present moment, the temple of Keśavajī is very much improved. At one time, Keśavajī-mandira was attacked by the emperor Aurangzeb, who constructed such a big mosque there that the temple of Keśavajī was insignificant in comparison. But with the help of many rich Marwaris, the temple has been improved, and a very large temple is now being constructed so that the mosque is now appearing diminished in comparison. Many archeological discoveries have been made there, and many people from foreign countries are beginning to appreciate Kṛṣṇa’s birthplace. This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is attracting many foreigners to the Keśavajī temple, and now they will also be attracted by the Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma temple in Vṛndāvana.