Shri Malook Peeth Vrindavan: The Sacred Seat of Sant Malook Das

Key facts at a glance

Shri Malook Peeth Vrindavan: an overview

In the old heart of Vrindavan, in the Vanshivat quarter of Jamuna Puleen near the Vamsi Vat and Gopeshwar Mahadev, stands one of the town's great living centres of devotion: Shri Malook Peeth. It bears the name of the poet-saint Sant Malook Das, whose akhara this was and where by tradition he dwelt with some 2500 saints in the service of the Lord; today it is a busy, warm-hearted peeth of the Sanatan tradition, renowned for its Katha, its seva and its care of the poor and of the cows. This guide gives the life of Sant Malook Das, the story of the peeth from akhara to living seat, its tradition and its head, what to see and experience, the timings and how to reach; and if you are planning a mathura vrindavan tour package with Experience My India, this peeth of saints is a soulful place to include.

Why visit Shri Malook Peeth:

• To visit the seat of the great poet-saint Sant Malook Das, in the heart of old Vrindavan

• For a living peeth of the Sanatan tradition, warm with Katha, kirtan and seva

• To feel the older Vrindavan of the saints, near the Vamsi Vat and Gopeshwar Mahadev

• For the peeth's cherished work of feeding and serving the poor, the sadhus and the cows

• A soulful stop for those who seek the saints and the devotional life of Braj

From the ground (Gurudutt): I bring devotees to Malook Peeth who want to feel the living, breathing devotion of Vrindavan, not just to see its monuments. It sits in the old lanes near the Vamsi Vat, so pair it with that quarter. The peeth is famous for its Katha and its seva and there is a real warmth here, of saints, students and the daily feeding of many. Go with respect, sit for a while if a Katha is on and honour the simplicity of the place. We hold the saints of Braj with deep reverence. See our Mathura Vrindavan tour Package  or message WhatsApp +91 7302265809.

Who was Sant Malook Das?

The peeth takes its name from one of the great poet-saints of the Bhakti age; the life of Sant Malook Das can be gathered in a few points:

• A Bhakti poet-saint. Sant Malook Das, who lived from 1574 to 1682, was born at Kada, near Prayagraj (Allahabad) in Uttar Pradesh and became one of the beloved poet-saints of the Bhakti movement.

• A message of universal love. His teaching, like that of the great saints of his age, was of love, of the oneness of God and of the equality of all people, without regard to caste or creed; his was an all-embracing devotion.

• His famous couplet. He is remembered above all for a gentle couplet whose sense is that even the serpent that does no work and the bird that does no toil are provided for by the Lord, for God is the sustainer of all; it is a much-loved teaching of trust in God.

• His writings. Among his cherished works are the Ratna Khan, the Maluk Shatak and the Gyan Bodh, in which he sang of devotion and the love of God.

We recount his life and teaching as they are cherished in the tradition, with reverence.

From the Malook Das Akhara to the peeth

By the tradition of the peeth, this place in Vanshivat was the akhara of Sant Malook Das, where he lived with some 2500 saints, who gave their days to the service of the Lord and of the sadhus and to the learning of devotional music and bhajan. Known long as the Sri Malook Das Ji Akhara, it grew in time into Shri Malook Peeth, a seat of the Sanatan tradition that carries the saint's name and spirit into the present. So the peeth is at once an ancient seat of saints and a living, working ashram of today, joining the memory of Malook Das to the devotion of the Vrindavan of now. We recount this with reverence.

The living tradition of the peeth

Shri Malook Peeth is today a busy centre of devotion and service, led by its Peethadhishwar; its living tradition includes:

• Its present head. The peeth is headed by Jagadguru Swami Shri Rajendra Das Ji Maharaj, a renowned speaker of the Bhagavata, the Ramayana and the Bhaktamal and a scholar of the Vaishnava tradition, honoured with a doctorate for his learning.

• Katha and kirtan. The peeth is celebrated for its Bhagavat and Ram Katha and its kirtan, which draw devotees from far and wide to hear the leelas of the Lord.

• Seva of the poor and the sadhus. In the spirit of Malook Das, the peeth serves the sadhus and the poor, with the daily giving of prasad and care for those in need.

• Gurukul and music. It runs a gurukul for students and an institution where devotees learn traditional instruments, such as the harmonium and tabla and the art of devotional singing.

• Care of cows. In keeping with the Sanatan tradition, the peeth is devoted to the seva of the cow and the keeping of the old culture.

We set down the work of the peeth as it is, with respect for its saints and its seva.

Shri Malook Peeth at a glance

In one line: Shri Malook Peeth is the Vrindavan seat of Sant Malook Das at Vanshivat, once his akhara of saints, now a living peeth of Katha, seva and devotional music under its Peethadhishwar.

What to see and experience at Malook Peeth

• The peeth and its temple. The heart of a visit is the peeth itself, with its Thakur seva and the darshan of the Lord, in the warm devotional atmosphere of a working ashram.

• A Katha, if one is on. If a Bhagavat or Ram Katha is being held, to sit and hear it is the finest experience the peeth offers, in the tradition for which it is renowned.

• The music and the gurukul. The sounds of the harmonium, tabla and bhajan from the peeth's music school and the life of its gurukul, give it a living, joyful spirit.

• The seva in action. The daily prasad and the peeth's service of the sadhus, the poor and the cows are, for many, the most moving thing to witness here.

The Vamsi Vat and the ghats of this stretch of the Yamuna are gathered in our braj yamuna ghats and leela sites guide. We recount these with reverence for the seva of the peeth.

Timings, entry and the best time to visit

The peeth keeps the usual rhythm of a Vrindavan ashram, open in the morning and evening; confirm the exact hours and the times of any Katha or of the prasad, at the peeth itself. Entry is free and any donation is a free-will offering. The general hours of the Vrindavan temples are set out in our mathura vrindavan temple timings guide.

How to reach Shri Malook Peeth

Shri Malook Peeth is in the Vanshivat quarter of old Vrindavan, near the Yamuna; the distances from the main starting points are given below.

In short, by each mode:

• On foot or by e-rickshaw (best): the old lanes near the Vamsi Vat are narrow, so from Banke Bihari or the ghats it is easiest to walk or take an e-rickshaw the short way to the peeth.

• By road: from Mathura or elsewhere in Vrindavan, a car or auto brings you to the Vamsi Vat area, from where you continue on foot.

• By train: Mathura Junction, about 14 km away, is the nearest major railhead; those arriving by rail can see our tundla to vrindavan distance guide for the last leg into Vrindavan.

Our how to commute in vrindavan guide covers getting around the narrow lanes of Vrindavan.

Places to visit near Malook Peeth

Malook Peeth sits in the old heart of Vrindavan, so many of its most sacred places are close by; the nearby places at a glance:

Close by are the beloved banke bihari temple, the magnificent prem mandir vrindavan and the iskcon temple vrindavan; Mathura and the birthplace at the shri krishna janmabhoomi temple are a short drive on. So Malook Peeth is easily woven into a Vrindavan darshan day. We hold these as the tradition of Braj, with reverence.

Tips for your visit and how to plan

• Pair Malook Peeth with the Vamsi Vat and Gopeshwar Mahadev quarter of old Vrindavan.

• Time your visit for a Katha or kirtan if you can; it is the peeth at its most alive.

• Go with respect, dress modestly and honour the simplicity and seva of the ashram.

• Entry is free; any donation is a free-will offering, quite apart from any tout.

• For prasad or a stay, enquire at the peeth itself rather than relying on fixed times.

• Weave it into a Vrindavan day with Banke Bihari, the ghats and Prem Mandir.

Our mathura vrindavan tour itinerary helps you shape a Vrindavan day that can include the peeth.

We arrange guided Vrindavan tours that can include Shri Malook Peeth and the old quarter of the saints, with pick-up from Mathura or Vrindavan, a comfortable vehicle and a knowledgeable Braj-born guide to tell the story of Malook Das and the peeth on the spot. A shared day tour starts from around ₹1,499 per person, with darshan free at the temples; our vrindavan tour package covers Vrindavan in a day, our mathura vrindavan tour the twin cities, 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.

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