Sri Rangji Mandir was constructed in
the year 1851 by the efforts of Sri
Rangadeshik Swamiji. According to the Hindu calendar, Sri
Rangadeshik Swamiji was born on the Karthik Krishna 7 in Punarvasu
nakshatra in the year 1809 AD at "Agram" village of Tamil
Nadu. He was introduced to study of Vedic scriptures under the guidance
of learned scholars. In a short period of time he had mastered all that
was taught to him and wanted to learn further. One night in a dream he
was chased by a mad bull and wherever he went the bull kept chasing,
when he turned towards North the bull stopped. Taking this as a divine
sign, he joined Swami Sri Anantacharya of Kanchipuram who was going to
North on a pilgrimage. When they reached Sri Goverdhanji, he met Swami
Srinivasacharyaji, the head of Goverdhan Peeth of Sri Vaishnav sect, who
was a very learned scholar. Sri Rangadeshik Swamiji became his disciple
and very soon established himself as a brilliant scholar. Finding him
suitable to carry forward the torch of Sri Vaishanvavism, Swami
Srinivasacharyaji asked Sri Rangadeshik Swamiji to take over the
reins of Sri Goverdhan
Peeth.
In a very short period of time Swamiji's name and reputation as a great
Vaishnava scholar had spread all over India. Inspired by his knowlwdge
and devotion the brothers Seth Sri Radhakrishnaji and Sri Govind Dasji
of Mathura approached Swamiji for discipleship and offered all their
wealth at Swamiji's feet. Once when Swamiji was explaining about the
greatness of the South Indian temples, then the brothers expressed their
wish for establishing Sri
Goda-Rangamannar at Vrindavan. Swamiji had always thought about
the unfulfilled wish of Andal where she expresses her desire to spend
her life at Vrindavan. Taking the wish of brothers as divine indication,
Swamiji immediately went to Sri
Rangam and expressed this desire to the divine couple Sri
Goda-Rangamannar and sought their permission for starting the
construction of the temple. Skilled labourers were hired from Sri Rangam
and brought to Vrindavan and the construction work for the temple
commenced in the yeat 1845. The brothers contributed whole heartedly and
with their effort and Sri Goda Rangamnaar's grace the temple was
completed in the year 1851 A.D. The total expenditure incurred was to
the tune of Rs. 45 Lacs. In the year 1867 A.D Swamiji formed Sri Rangji
Trust to take care of the functioning of the temple. Since then it has
been five generations of Sri Randeshik Swamiji's who have served the
Lord. The present head of the Sri Goverdhan Peeth Sri Goverdhan
Rangacharya is the fifth generation of Sri Rangadeshik Swamiji.
