Shri Radhakrishna Temple, a sacred jewel in the holy land of Kanpur, stands as a divine beacon, drawing devotees into the loving presence of Lord Krishna and Radha. Reverently known as the J.K. Temple, this sanctified abode has blessed the lives of countless worshippers for sixty-three glorious years. Its towering steeple, rising gracefully into the Kanpur skyline, seems to reach heavenward, a symbol of faith calling the faithful to surrender and devotion.
Bathed in a tranquil and ethereal beauty, the temple’s regal structure and serene, green expanse stretch across seventeen sacred acres. Each step within these hallowed grounds is a journey back in time, immersing devotees in the divine essence of Vrindavan, where the eternal leelas of Shri Krishna and Radha come alive.
Our History
The Journey Begins
The idea for Shri Radhakrishna Temple germinated in the dream of Ram Pyari Devi, wife of Lala Kamlapat Singhania and the matriarch of the Singhania family. She was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna and was a regular visitor to Brindavan and its various temples. Legend has it that one night, Lord Krishna appeared in her dream and blessed her. Ram Piyari Devi took this as a divine sign and wished for a grand temple to be built for her revered Lord Krishna. She narrated the dream to her son, Sir Padampat Singhania. Since Kanpur already had the Dwarikadeesh Temple in the honor of Lord Krishna and Rukmin iji, Ram Piyari Devi requested for the new temple to be built in the honor of Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha. Thus was born the idea for the Shri Radhakrishna Temple. Immediately, Sir Padampat Singhania set about creating a blueprint to metamorphose his mother's wish into a magnificent edifice that would go on to become an iconic landmark of Kanpur. The first task at hand was to acquire the land for the temple complex. The land, on which the temple stands today, belonged to a trust created by the Singhania family. The location and area were found to be apt for the construction of Shri Radhakrishna Temple, and hence this land was acquired. Next came finalizing the layout and design of the temple. Sir Padampat Singhania traveled far and wide, visiting various temples around India to source inspiration and decide how to build and adorn this temple. After much deliberation, it was decided to build a mixed-style temple. It would be done up lavishly with the finest marble and a rich repository of artistic excellence and breathtaking beauty.
On 1 July, 1941, the foundation stone for Shri Radhakrishna Temple was laid. The trustees of the J.K. Charitable Trust took up the monumental responsibility of construction, and by 1944 the site was bustling with artisans and workers. Almost immediately after construction started, it had to be stalled. World War III had broken out, and the government had started rationing the supply of cement and steel. It took two years for the work to resume again, and from then on, it continued at a steady pace. Most of the building materials, like mortar, brick, and cement, were sourced locally. The stones, including the colored stones, were procured from Rajasthan. Sir Padampat Singhania foresaw the colossal quantities of marble that would go into the making of this structure. This prompted him to acquire an entire mine of marble at Makrana in Rajasthan. In a bid to take quality control one step further, an official of the trust was stationed at the marble site to ensure that the marble procured was of quite quality. A factory was specifically set up within the premises of J.K. Cotton Mills in Kanpur to cater to the marble-cutting requirements for the construction of the temple. This enabled better supervision over the precision and quality of the craftsmanship. The stone procured in Makrana was sent to this factory to be cut as per design specifications, polished, and then dispatched to the temple to be laid.
A Creation of Devotion and Love
Shri Radhakrishna Temple is a shining example of excellent craftsmanship. It is also the embodiment of a son’s love, deference, and devotion to his mother. Sir Padampat Singhania was deeply involved in the creation of this temple. Over the years that the construction went on, Sir Padampat would, without fail, visit the temple every afternoon at 3 pm and review the progress. He would spend hours at the site supervising every aspect of the construction and personally attending to each detail. He was uncompromising in his adherence to supreme quality, a fact that is apparent in the immaculately preserved magnificence of the structure that stands today. Besides the logistic side of the construction process, Sir Padampat had a keen eye for the aesthetics too.
Cultural Preservation
Abiding by the Shastras Initially, the idols of Radha Krishna ji, Ramchandra ji, Hanuman ji, Shiv ji, Durga ji, and Ganesh ji were to be consecrated in the temple.
Sir Padampat Singhania invited a scholar (from Uttar Pradesh), renowned for his knowledge of the Hindu Shastras, to give his views on the design and layout.
of the Temple. He advised Sir Padampat that certain aspects were not in compliance with the Shastras. According to the Shastras, Lord Rama was crowned.
King and Lord Krishna were not. Thus, placing Lord Krishna as the main idol with Lord Rama on the side would portray the king as being overshadowed and
This would go against the Shastras. He also felt that the site proposed for Durgaji’s idol was in the incorrect direction. This is because it would mean the idol
would face east, whereas the Shastras dictated that her idol should face south. His recommendations were incorporated, and the idols of Shri Radhakrishna Ji
along with those of Shri Narmadeshwar ji, Shri Ardhanarishwar ji, Shri Lakshminarayan ji, and Shri Hanuman ji were eventually consecrated. Meticulously Carved
Idols All the idols have been fashioned out of the lustrous ashtadhatu to accentuate the majestic aura of the deities. Ashtadhatu is an alloy of eight diverse metals: gold, silver, mercury, copper, bronze, brass, iron, and tin. It is considered to be one of the most sacred and pure metals, which makes it a coveted material in devotional deeds. The proportion of each component in the total mixture varies from deity to deity as it is determined as per the requirement of luster and color.
The idols were cast at the Anantram Dharmashala near Kamla Tower, the headquarters of the J.K. Organization, with the exception of Hanuman ji’s idol, which was cast at the Temple itself. The five marble steeples of Shree Radha Krishna Temple pierce the Kanpur sky, distinguishing the five shrines that have been built at this sanctified site. Shree Radhakrishna occupies the center shrine, and Shree Narmadeshwar Ji, Shree Ardhanarishwar Ji, Shree Laxminarayan Ji, and Shree Hanuman Ji are housed in the other four.
About Architecture
In a country with a rich heritage in temple architecture, Shri Radhakrishna Temple is one of the finest examples of harmony in design, planning, and construction. Sir Padampat Singhania was deeply involved in the designing of the structure as he wanted to ensure that Shri Radhakrishna Temple was built in adherence to the standards set in Hindu Shastra to solicit their sanctification. This, coupled with the profound devotion of the Singhania family and everyone involved in its construction, made this temple an eternal monument of reverence. The planning, designing, and ultimately the construction have all been carried out with careful attention to detail; every arch, every groove, and every molding has been painstakingly deliberated upon before being installed. Fusion of Creative Abundance The temple does not conform to a singular architectural identity and is instead a charming amalgamation of different styles. A combination of modern and ancient aspects of architecture, together with features pertaining to both north and south Indian style temple architecture, lends a distinctive nature to the structure. Ancient architectural features have been included in the design to give the structure a majestic appearance and an old-world charm. The kalash i.e. the dome-like steeples crowning the shrines, are replete with ornate moldings and carvings reminiscent of the Orissa style of architecture.
The Temple Library
A library to cater to the visitors curiosity about Hinduism and its rich history was added to the Temple campus in 1986. Just like the rest of the Temple, the library has been designed to prioritize the comfort of the visitor.
Bright and airy, it is the pleasant room where the visitors may spend hours sitting and reading some of the many gems that are accessible to them.
Cabinets line the library walls filled with books, all neatly stacked and numbered. It took many years of meticulous planning to build this collection, which boasts some of the most precious jewels of Hindu literature. Great care is taken to restore these ancient classics, and the librarian is assiduous about their maintenance. A project of this size demands a massive supply of materials. Sir Padmapat was extremely particular about maintaining accurate records of all the material that went into creating this grand edifice. The records show an exact figure of building materials used in the temple construction: bricks 47,35,935 nos. Ganga Sand is 1,01,439 cubic feet Jamuna Sand is 1,04,198 cubic feet.
Our beliefs
The JK Temple in Kanpur is a place of deep spiritual significance for devotees of Lord Krishna and Radha. Here, we share some of the core beliefs that inspire our visitors:
Devotion to Krishna and Radha: Our temple celebrates the divine love story of Krishna, the embodiment of the divine masculine, and Radha, the personification of divine love and devotion. Their eternal connection is seen as a symbol of the ideal relationship between the soul and the divine.
Sanctity of the Murti (Idols): The beautiful murtis of Radha Krishna enshrined in our temple are believed to be powerful representations of the deities. Devotees perform darshan (holy viewing) seeking blessings, expressing gratitude, and fostering a deeper connection with the divine.
The JK Temple is a serene sanctuary where devotees find solace and spiritual upliftment in the divine presence of Lord Krishna and Radha. Every element of the temple resonates with sacredness, fostering an environment that elevates the soul and brings peace.
Entering the temple, visitors are embraced by the divine love embodied in the murtis of Radha and Krishna. The architecture reflects ancient Hindu principles, guiding devotees toward a profound connection with the divine through darshan and prayer.
Our dedicated Pandits lead devotees in sacred rituals and prayers, helping each visitor experience a deeper bond with Krishna’s teachings and the eternal love of Radha.
Our dedicated Pandits lead devotees in sacred rituals and prayers, helping each visitor experience a deeper bond with Krishna’s teachings and the eternal love of Radha
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