Raskhan Samadhi Mahavan: The Tomb of the Poet Who Loved Krishna

Key facts at a glance

Raskhan Samadhi: an overview

On the banks of the Yamuna at Mahavan, near Gokul, a green and peaceful garden holds the samadhi of one of the most beloved of all Krishna's devotees: Raskhan, the poet whose love for the Lord crossed every boundary. Born Syed Ibrahim Khan, a Muslim of noble family, he became so absorbed in the love of Krishna that he left all else, took initiation from Goswami Vitthalnath Ji of the Pushtimarg and gave his life to singing the Lord's glories in the sweet Braj Bhasha. His tomb, set among trees and flowers, is revered as a symbol of the universal devotion of Braj, where love knows no barrier of birth or creed. This guide gives his life, the story of his devotion, his poetry, what to see at the samadhi, the timings and how to reach; and if you are planning a mathura vrindavan tour package with Experience My India, this quiet garden of a poet's love is a stop the thoughtful traveller seeks out.

Why visit Raskhan Samadhi:

• To honour Raskhan, the poet whose love for Krishna crossed every boundary of birth and creed

• For one of the most moving symbols of Braj's universal, all-embracing devotion

• A green, peaceful garden-samadhi by the Yamuna, away from the busiest crowds

• To remember his sweet Braj Bhasha poetry, still sung across the land

• Easily seen with Gokul, Mahavan and Raman Reti on an eastern Braj day

From the ground (Gurudutt): Raskhan Samadhi is a place I bring guests to when I want to show them the true heart of Braj, which is love that asks nothing of a person's birth. Raskhan was born a Muslim and became one of the greatest lovers of Krishna and the Brajwasis honour him with all their hearts. It is a quiet garden, a little off the Gokul-Mahavan road, with old trees and birdsong; most visitors miss it, so I ask my guests to sit a while and hear a verse of his. Go with a soft, open heart. We hold his memory and his devotion with great reverence. See our Mathura Vrindavan tour Package  or message WhatsApp +91 7302265809. 

Who was Raskhan?

Raskhan is one of the most cherished poet-devotees of Braj; his life, as it is remembered, can be gathered in a few points:

• Born Syed Ibrahim Khan. He was born a Muslim of noble birth, by tradition around 1548, at Pihani or Amroha in what is now Uttar Pradesh, though scholars differ on the date; Raskhan, meaning the treasure of rasa, the essence of divine sentiment, was his pen name.

• A devotee of Krishna. In his early years his heart turned wholly to Krishna, whom he accepted as the Supreme Lord and he became a Vaishnava, giving up all else for the love of the Lord of Braj.

• Initiation from Vitthalnath Ji. He learned the path of devotion from Goswami Vitthalnath Ji, the son of Vallabhacharya, of the Pushtimarg and took initiation from him at Braj.

• A life in Braj. He spent the rest of his life in Braj, at Vrindavan, Gokul and Mahavan, singing and dancing in the joy of Krishna and by tradition passed away around 1628, his samadhi made at Mahavan.

We recount his life as it is cherished in the tradition of Braj, with reverence, noting that scholars differ on some dates.

The story of Raskhan's devotion

By the cherished tradition of Braj, the turning of Raskhan's heart to Krishna is told in more than one way, each recounted here with reverence:

• By one telling, his heart, once caught in worldly attachment, was awakened when he came upon the Bhagavata and was overwhelmed by the pure love the gopis bore for Krishna and he turned that love wholly to the Lord.

• By another, drawn from an old text, he travelled to Braj with his preceptor, fell into a swoon before the beauty of the land and had a vision of Krishna that made him a devotee for life.

• By the Pushtimarg tradition, Shrinathji himself, seeing the purity of Raskhan's heart, gave him darshan at Govind Kund and bade Goswami Vitthalnath Ji take him under his shelter; and so Raskhan received initiation.

• However it came to pass, Raskhan gave the rest of his life to Braj, seeking nothing but the nearness of Krishna and the dust of his land.

We present these as the cherished belief and tradition of Braj, held with faith and recounted with reverence.

The poetry of Raskhan

Raskhan poured his devotion into the sweet Braj Bhasha, so that his verses reached the hearts of ordinary people; his poetry is among the treasures of Braj:

• His works. His best-loved works are the Sujan Raskhan and the Prem Vatika, the forest of love, along with the Danlila, the Astayama and many padas; they are gathered as the Raskhan Rachnavali.

• His forms. He wrote in the doha, the pada and the savaiya, singing the beauty of Krishna, his leelas and his love with Radha, in language of great sweetness and feeling.

• His famous longing. In his most beloved verse he prays that, in any birth to come, he might be a cowherd of Gokul or a cow of Nanda or a stone of the Govardhan hill that Krishna lifted or a bird upon the Kadamba by the Yamuna, so dear to him was the land of Braj.

We recount his poetry and its themes in our own words, with reverence for the devotion they carry.

Raskhan Samadhi at a glance

In one line: Raskhan Samadhi is the garden-tomb at Mahavan of the poet Raskhan, a Muslim by birth who became one of Krishna's most beloved devotees, revered as a symbol of Braj's universal love.

What to see at Raskhan Samadhi

• The samadhi itself. The tomb of Raskhan, set in its quiet garden, where devotees and saints come to pay their respects and to meditate; a verse of his is inscribed at the place.

• The garden and trees. A green and peaceful garden of old trees, including a great banyan, with birdsong and flowers, a lovely place to sit in reflection.

• The Hanuman temple. A small Hanuman temple stands near the samadhi and simple huts where sadhus rest, in keeping with the devotional calm of the spot.

• The nearness of the Yamuna. The samadhi lies near the banks of the Yamuna at Mahavan, in the old country of Krishna's infancy, close to Gokul.

The ancient sites of Mahavan and Gokul around it are gathered in our gokul mandir guide. We recount these as the cherished tradition of Braj, with reverence.

Timings, entry and the best time to visit

Raskhan Samadhi, being a garden and open shrine, may be visited freely through the day; there is no entry fee. The cool months of October to March are the most pleasant and the early morning or evening is the loveliest, quietest time. The general hours of the region's temples are set out in our mathura vrindavan temple timings guide.

How to reach Raskhan Samadhi

Raskhan Samadhi is at Mahavan, near Gokul, on the old Gokul-Mahavan road east of Mathura; the distances from the main starting points are given below.

In short, by each mode:

• By road (best): from Mathura take the Agra Road across the Gokul Barrage to Gokul and Mahavan, from where the samadhi is a short ride or walk; a car or auto is easiest, as covered in our distance from mathura to gokul guide.

• By train: Mathura Junction, about 12 to 15 km away and well connected to Delhi and Agra, is the nearest railhead, from where the samadhi is a short road journey.

• By air: the nearest airport is Delhi, about 150 km away, with the new Noida (Jewar) airport emerging closer; continue by road.

Our how to commute in vrindavan guide covers getting around the Braj towns.

Places to visit near Raskhan Samadhi

Raskhan Samadhi is in the Gokul and Mahavan country, so much is close by; the nearby places at a glance:

Close by are the 84 khambha temple mahavan at Mahavan, the gokulnath temple and chinta haran mahadev of Gokul, the raman reti with its deer, the braj yamuna ghats and leela sites of the eastern bank, and, a little on, the dau ji temple baldeo at Baldeo and the birthplace at the shri krishna janmabhoomi temple of Mathura; the Pushtimarg seats of Braj are gathered with the baithakji of mahaprabhu in braj. We hold these as the tradition of Braj, with reverence.

Tips for your visit and how to plan

• See Raskhan Samadhi together with Gokul, Mahavan and Raman Reti on an eastern Braj morning.

• Come in the cool of the early morning or evening; the garden is at its most peaceful then.

• Sit a while and hear a verse of Raskhan; the place is for reflection, not a quick stop.

• Dress modestly and keep the calm of the garden; respect the sadhus and those in prayer.

• Entry is free; carry a little water and some cash for any free-will offering and beware of touts.

• Take a guide for the story of Raskhan's life and love, which gives the samadhi its meaning.

Our mathura vrindavan tour itinerary helps you shape the eastern Braj day around Gokul and Mahavan.

We arrange guided tours of Gokul, Mahavan and the eastern Braj sites that take in Raskhan Samadhi, with pick-up from Mathura or Vrindavan, a comfortable vehicle and a knowledgeable Braj-born guide to tell the poet's story on the spot. A shared day tour starts from around ₹1,499 per person, with darshan free at the temples; our mathura vrindavan tour covers the twin cities and Gokul, the braj 84 kos yatra the whole circuit and the agra mathura vrindavan tour package adds Agra and the Taj Mahal. Message me on WhatsApp at +91-7302265809 to plan your visit to Raskhan Samadhi.

Related guides

• radha rani temple rawal

• braj kunds and sarovars

• vrindavan to barsana distance

• dwarka to vrindavan distance

• agra mathura vrindavan tour by car

• vrindavan tour package