Editor’s Note
This article describes the opulent adornment of deities at Gwalior’s historic Gopal Mandir during Janmashtami, highlighting the immense cultural and material value of heirloom jewelry from the Scindia era.
The festival of Janmashtami is celebrated with great significance at the over 100-year-old Gopal Mandir in Gwalior. The idols of Radha-Krishna are adorned with jewelry studded with diamonds and precious gems worth approximately 100 crore rupees. These gold ornaments from the time of the Scindia Riyasat are set with precious stones like diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and topaz.
Gwalior’s Gopal Mandir was established in 1921 by the then ruler of Gwalior Riyasat, Madhorav Scindia I. He had silver utensils made for worship and gem-studded gold ornaments for the deities. These include Radha-Krishna’s 55-emerald studded seven-string necklace, a gold flute studded with diamonds, a gold nose ring, chains, and silver worship utensils. Every year on Janmashtami, Radha-Krishna are adorned with these jewels. Devotees wait all year to see this form.
The idols of Shri Radha Rani and Krishna Ji in Gopalji Mandir are adorned with gem-studded ornaments, valued at over 100 crore rupees. The deity’s crown and other ornaments are adorned with precious stones like diamonds, pearls, and emeralds. Until before India’s independence, the deities were adorned with these jewels. After independence, the ornaments were kept in a bank locker and were brought out in 2007 under the supervision of the municipal corporation. Since then, these precious ornaments are worn on the Radha-Krishna idols every Janmashtami.
Radha: A precious crown set with topaz, ruby, and emerald stones. It weighs 3 kg.
Shri Krishna: Has a ‘Soni ki Tode’ crown.
Radha-Krishna: A Panchmadi necklace with white pearls, a seven-string necklace with 62 real pearls and 55 emeralds.
Jewelry: Both have earrings, gold nose rings, necklaces, bangles, bracelets, etc.
Gold-Silver Utensils: There are gold and silver utensils for Radha Shri Krishna’s bhajan.
Worship Materials: Itr daan (perfume offering), pichkari (water sprinkler), chalni (sieve), dhoopdan (incense holder), sankdi, chhatra (umbrella), crown, kumbhakarni, niranjani, etc., are made of gold-silver.
Value: The value of all these gem-studded ornaments is over 100 crore rupees.
On Janmashtami day, these jewels are taken out from the bank locker under security arrangements for adorning Radha and Gopal Ji. After the adornment, first, the Gwalior Municipal Commissioner along with other officials worshiped Radha-Krishna. Heavy police force is also deployed at the temple for the security of the precious ornaments and devotees. Over 200 personnel have been deployed for security inside and outside the temple. Officers at the CSP level are monitoring it.
From 6:00 AM on Janmashtami day, lines of devotees start forming. Thousands of devotees arrive here to see the adorned Shri Krishna and Shri Radha Rani.
