Brief History of Tikari Temple Complex

Tikari Mandir at Vrindavan was constructed by Maharani Inderjit Kuer in 1830 by the bank of Yamuna River.She spent most of her time at Vrindavan and purchased many properties at Vrindavan largely out of her own funds.In 1872,she wrote a deed through which ownership of these properties was vested in the main deity of the temple , i,e THAKUR RADHENDRA KISHOREJI alias THAKUR RADHAGOPAL JI alias THAKUR NANDKISHOR JI alias THAKUR INDRAKISHOR JI(Lord Krishna in child form). While the ownership of these properties was vested in the deity , who always remains a minor child , managament of this complex was done by the Tikari family.Another supplementary deed was written by the Rani in 1877 .These deeds lay down objectives and manner of managing the complex .The basic objective is to serve Thakurji thru daily services and organizing functions on all important festivals . It was stipulated that surplus income after spending on religious activities shall be used for purchasing assets for use as part of temple complex only and no part of income is to be utilised for personal deeds by any employee or Mutwali(Manager) . The temple remained under management control of following members of Tikari family followed by Brahmavetta Shri Devaraha Hans Baba .

Maharani Inderjit Kuer --> Maharani Raj Rup Kuer --> Maharani Radheshwari Kishori -->Maharajkumar Captain Gopal Saran Narain Prasad Singh -->Maharani Vidyawati Kuer -->Maharaj Kumari Umeshwari Kuer -- >Brahmavetta Shri Devaraha Hans Baba.

In post-independent India ,with the extinction of princely states and zamindari system , the finances of the temple complex came under stress.Although a certain amount of annuity was fixed by Bihar State Govt in lieu of abolition of Zamindari rights used for financing activities of the temple , this was inadequate to meet the needs of temple complex .

Having regard to various difficulties encountered in management of the temple complex , the rani and her two sons and one daughter (immediate succesors) unanimously entrusted and transferred the management rights to their family Guruji and one of the greatest living mahayogi Brahmavetta Shri Devaraha Hans Babaji on 22nd October 2002 .Since then temple activities were managed by Babaji with the help and assistance of his countless devotees and Brahmvetta Shri Devaraha Hans Baba Trust headed by Babaji.The temple complex comprising of main temple , Gaushala(having four parts) , BhaktaNiwas ,etc has been renovated completely within a few years .In the gaushala where there was not even a single cow , now two hundred cows are residing gracefully giving opportunities to devotees to serve them .Bhakta-Niwas which was completely inhabitable and in ruins has been renovated and made fully habitable .

Many major functions including bhandaras on various occasions like Vasant Panchami , Yogini Ekadashi , Akshya Tritiya ,Rakshabandhan ,Janamashtami , Haryali teej are now held regularly , as envisaged in the trust deeds of 1870's .Pran Pratishta of two statues of Brahmrishi Devaraha Baba was done in early 2003 and these were installed in the Garbh Griha .In addition about 36 idols of saints like Augustya Muni , Kabir , Mirabai etc have been installed in the temple in deference to the new name of the complex i.e 'Brahmrishi Shri Devaraha Baba Bhakti Dham'. Brahmrishi Devaraha Baba and his great disciple and a mahayogi in his own right Brahmvetta Shri Devaraha Hans Baba are great exponents of Bhakti as an end in itself and as a means  of achieving Mukti and God and for restoration of peace and social harmony in the society.As the temple was entrusted to the management care of one of the greatest mahayogis of our time it has been restored to its old glory and a large number of devotees now visit the temple from all parts of the country and abroad.