Devotion is not limited by time or place. When challenges arise, true bhakti finds a way. Just as the priests of Barsana carried Shri Radha Rani’s deity to safety, devotees today carry Her message of love and surrender in their hearts, keeping Her eternal presence alive everywhere.
2025.08.31 (Vrindavan Today News): For centuries, the Ladli Ji Mandir in Barsana has been the spiritual center where devotees from across India come to offer their devotion. But history holds a fascinating chapter, little known to many, when Shri Radha Rani’s sacred deity (Vigraha) was secretly taken away from Barsana to Shayopur, far away, and worshipped there for eight long months.
The year was 1773 CE. Northern India was under the shadow of Mughal rule. Temples across the land often faced invasions, looting, and desecration, as Mughal rulers sought to weaken the spiritual foundations of Sanatan Dharma. That year, the Mughal army advanced toward Barasana, aiming to seize control of the Ladli Ji temple in Barsana.
At the time, Barsana was under the protection of the Bharatpur kingdom, ruled by the descendants of the valiant King Surajmal. His grandson Naresh Murarji commanded the forces that stood guard over the sacred town. Soon, Mughal and Bharatpur forces clashed in a fierce battle near Barsana.
The Courage of the Priests
As the sound of war drums grew louder, and with no certainty of victory, the temple priests faced a grave decision. They knew that the safety of Shri Radha Rani’s Vigraha was paramount. With deep faith and quick resolve, they carefully moved the deity from Barsana and carried Her to Sheopur, a fortified town far from the battlefield.
There, within the walls of the Sheopur fort, in a temple near a Kund, the deity was installed. For the next eight months, all the daily rituals, offerings, and festivals of Shri Radha Rani were performed in Shayopur, just as they had been in Barsana. Devotees continued to gather, and the flame of bhakti remained alive, far from the reach of invaders.
Barsana During the Invasion
Meanwhile, the Mughal army marched into Barasana. Temples and villages were plundered for weeks, but when they reached the Ladli Ji temple, they did not find Radha Rani’s deity. Instead, the devoted priests had already installed an alternate deity—the Vigraha of Shri Radha Rani’s Sakhi (companion). Worship continued without interruption, ensuring that the sanctity of the temple was never broken.
This act of devotion and wisdom preserved the unbroken chain of seva (service) to Shri Radha Rani. The replacement deity, standing in place of Radha Rani during the dark days of invasion, came to be revered as “Vijay Ladli”—the Victorious Ladli, symbolizing the triumph of faith over fear.
When the battles ended and peace returned, Shri Radha Rani’s original deity was brought back from Shayopur to Barasana. Yet the memory of those eight months remains etched in local tradition as a shining example of devotion, courage, and preservation of dharma.
It is the unwavering devotion of the Goswamis that even in times of political turmoil, they ensured that the worship of Shri Radha Rani never stopped. Through their sacrifice, they safeguarded a tradition that continues to inspire millions of devotees to this day.
