I received the name Mathura Das from H.D.G. Bhaktivendanta Swami Prabhupada on the 3rd May 1973 in Amsterdam at the tender age of 17. The name Mathura is intrinsically connected with Sri Krishna, being the ‘Janma Bhoomi’, sacred place of His birth in India over 5000 years ago. Mathura, steeped in the culture and mystical lore of the Puranic Tradition, is one of India’s three great cities, reaching back over 5000 years into the annals of antiquity.

For a Hindu, a pilgrimage to the sacred place of Mathura is considered essential for the fulfillment of one’s Dharma, as much as visiting the sacred city of Varanasi and the holy sites of the Himalayas.

We know about the ancient town and district of Mathura, it’s significance, location and spiritual heritage through sacred texts such as Srimad Bhagavat Purana and Mahabharata. Mathura district or Mathura Mandala is considered an especially sacred area classified as a ‘Dham’, and is also known as Vraja Dham with it’s own unique dialect Vrajabasa.  Mathura and Vrindavana are sacred places referred to in more poetry, prayers & devotional songs [bhajans & kirtans] than any other holy places in India - as ‘Mathura Dham’ is considered a manifestation and replica on Earth of the most intimate transcendental abode of God. The mystical and divine significance of this sacred tract is revealed in Puranic Shastras [scriptures] and later medieval texts such as the ‘Mathura Mahatmya’ of Rupa Goswami.

Situated three hours south of Delhi on the banks of the Jamuna river within the district of Mathura, is the more famous but smaller town of Vrindavana. The initial development of Vrindavana as a temple town during the 15th & 16th centuries was inspired by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu [1486-1533] through his prominent disciples the ‘Six Goswami’s’. Assisted by various Rajput Maharaja’s they created one of the prominent and enduring cultural influences of the area.

Here, I aim to share reflections on the cultural influences inspired directly or indirectly from that area; Including the music, art, philosophy and it’s various modern contemporary interpretations and artistic expressions.