Temple History

The Rakhal Raja Temple, located in Gopaldaspur, under Baidyapur Gram Panchayat, is about 11 km from Boinchi station and about 20 km from Ambika Kalna. The origin of this temple dates back to the 16th century. As per temple lore, Ramkanu Goswami, a revered Krishna devotee, settled in Gopaldaspur, which was then a dense forest, with his family and his family deity Gopinath Jiu. Ramkanu used to offer nitya puja to Goipinath Jiu with great precision. Unfortunately, one day, he couldn't collect any flowers for his puja; it is said that in a moment of frustration, enraged Ramkanu unknowingly cursed his youngest son, Rakhal, who tragically died within three days. The devastated priest decided to renounce worldly life and leave for Vrindavan. Before his departure, Lord Krishna appeared to him in a dream, instructing him to carve an idol of Rakhal Raja. It is said that Mahadev Bhaskar, a five-year-old sculptor, carved the current idol of Rakhal Raja from a neem log that was retrieved from a nearby pond named Yamuna. The land for the temple was originally granted by a local Zamindar named Gopaldas, after whom the village of Gopaldaspur is named. The Rakhal Raja idol is very unique. Lord Krishna resides here as a teenage Herdsman. He holds a Naru (a type of Sweet) in his left hand and a Lathi (Stick) in his right hand. This place is known for celebrating Dol Utsav on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami. Other festivals such as Janmasthami and Rakhal Raja Abhishek (on Maghi Purnima) are celebrated here in a grand manner.