Saksi Gopal Temple

This Saksi Gopal town is situated about 45 minutes by bus, north of the Jagannath temple. The deity of Krsna here is 5.5 feet tall and worshipped in a Vrijavasi Vrindaban style. This deity of Krsna walked all the way from Vrindaban to act as a witness in the case of a brahmana boy. The history is that an old brahmana man from Orissa took a young brahmana boy to act as a servant while he performed pilgrimage to Vrindaban. The brahmana boy served this old brahmana with full dedication and honesty. Being pleased by the service of the young brahmana, one day, the old brahmana took the young Brahmana to Saksi Gopal temple. This Saksi Gopal temple was located near The Govinda Temple in Vrindaban. The old Brahmana spoke to the young Brahmana before the Saksi Gopal deity that he was very pleased with the service of him, and he would give his daughter in marriage to him. Though old brahmana was a rich man and young brahmana was very poor. Hearing this the young brahamana replied, “Oh sir, your son will object to this because I am not qualified to be your son-in-law.” To this the old brahamana said, “It does not matter poor or rich, you served me with my full satisfaction and she is my daughter I can give her to you as your wife. My son should not object to this.” Hearing this the young brahmana said, “Please remember that Lord Krsna as Saksi Gopal is watching and hearing our conversation.”

The old man agreed to this accepting Krsna as the witness. When they return to Orissa, the son of the old man objected to give his sister to this poor brahmana. Smart, intelligent, rich, beautiful girl given to a poor brahmana, this became a controversy and the matter went to the court because the young brahmana did not want to give up the commitment given by the old. In the court, the judge and the old brahmana’s son asked for witness about his claim. The old Brahmana’s son accused the young Brahmana for allegedly feeding his father with intoxication. Hearing this the young brahmana replied, “Krsna is my witness. Your father gave his promise before Krsna deity.”

This Krsna deity was located about 2,000 kilometers away from the court, and the court was in Orissa, near Jagannath Puri. The king who was acting as the judge asked, “Well, how can you present your witness?” The young brahamana replied that Krsna will surely come to witness his case. So the you brahmana was sent to Vrindaban to bring Krsna as his witness.

The brahmana boy went to Vrindaban, entered the Krsna temple and said, “O Krsna, You must come and witness my case in the court.” Krsna replied, “No, I cannot come. I am a deity form, and deity can never walk.” Hearing this the brahmana replied, “If deity can talk, He can also walk.” Hearing this Lord Krsna thought, “O if I do not go with him he will be in My case.” Krsna then told the brahmana boy, “I will come but the condition is that you have to cook one kilo rice and feed Me and while talking don’t look back to see if I am coming behind you.”

The brahmana boy agreed to the proposal and started walking and Krsna walked behind him. Remembering the condition, brahmana body did not look behind his back to see if Krsna was coming behind him. The Brahmana knew that Krsna was coming because he could hear the sound of Krsna’s ankle bells. He cooked one kilo of rice everyday and offered to Krsna and Krsna ate and walked. When He came near Jagannath Puri, the sound of His ankle bells stopped. Not hearing the sound of Krsna’s ankle bells, the Brahmana looked behind forgetting the condition of looking back. Krsna stopped there and did not move any further. This deity is still being worshipped by Vrijavasis. The king found that Krsna walked all the way from Vrindaban to witness and eh ordered the old brahamana and his son to give the girl as wife to the young brahmana. This is the history of Saksi Gopal. Saksi means witness and Gopal means Krsna, the cow-herd boy. Foreigners are not allowed to visit this temple.

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