Mathura
Ancient city, birthplace of Krishna, and historic trade hub.
Mathura, a city in Uttar Pradesh and the administrative center of Mathura district, lies southeast of Delhi and not far from the town of Vrindavan. According to the 2011 Census of India, its population was 441,894. In Hinduism, Mathura is revered as the birthplace of Krishna, a principal deity, with the Krishna Janmasthan Temple Complex marking the believed site of his birth. The city is counted among the Sapta Puri, the seven holy cities of Hinduism, also called Mokshyadayni Tirth. The Kesava Deo Temple was built in ancient times on the location of Krishna’s birthplace, said to have been an underground prison. Mathura was the capital of the Surasena Kingdom, ruled by Kamsa, Krishna’s maternal uncle, and is a key stop on the Krishna circuit, which includes Vrindavan, Barsana, Govardhan, Kurukshetra, Dwarka, and Bhalka. The festival of Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated here annually. The city has been selected as a heritage city under the Indian government’s Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana scheme.
Traditionally, Mathura is thought to have been founded by Shatrughna after he killed the demon Lavanasura at the site of Madhuvana. The Ramayana states it was founded by Madhu of the Yadu tribe, and later his son Lavanasura was defeated by Shatrughna. Archaeological excavations at the Krishna Janmasthan site have uncovered pottery and terracotta from the sixth century BCE, along with remains of a large Buddhist complex, including a Gupta-period monastery called Yasha Vihara, and Jain sculptures from the same era. The city’s ancient history is tied to the Painted Grey Ware culture (1100–500 BCE) and the Northern Black Polished Ware culture (700–200 BCE). Its importance as a trade center grew from its location where the northern trade route of the Indo-Gangetic Plain met routes to Malwa and the west coast. A fragment of Mathura red sandstone, used as a grindstone, was found at the Indus Valley site of Rakhigarhi, dating to the third millennium BCE. By the sixth century BCE, Mathura was the capital of the Surasena Kingdom. It later came under Mauryan rule, and the Greek writer Megasthenes, in the early third century BCE, referred to it as Méthora. The city was not directly under the Shunga dynasty. The Indo-Greeks may have held sway over Mathura between 180 and 100 BCE, as indicated by the Yavanarajya inscription from Maghera, which mentions the 116t
- Location
- Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Distance from Vrindavan
- about 15 km (9.3 mi)
- Religious significance
- Birthplace of Krishna; one of the Sapta Puri
- Ancient capital of
- Surasena Kingdom
Lore & Background
Mathura is traditionally believed to have been founded by Shatrughna after killing Yadava Lavana at the site of Madhuvana, according to the Ramayana. It is also believed to be the homeland and birthplace of Krishna, who belonged to the Yadu dynasty. The most important pilgrimage site is the Krishna Janmasthan, where excavations have revealed pottery and terracotta dating to the sixth century BCE, as well as remains of a large Buddhist complex and Jain sculptures. By the sixth century BCE, it became the capital of the Surasena Kingdom. The city was later ruled by the Maurya empire, and Megasthenes mentioned it as a great city under the name Méthora. Mathura was later conquered by the Indo-Scythians and then by the Kushan Empire, who made it one of their capitals. Mathuran art and culture reached its zenith during the Kushan era, particularly under emperors Kanishka, Huvishka, and Vasudeva.
Reader's Guide
Mathura's significance lies in its dual role as a major religious center and a historically important trade city. As the birthplace of Krishna, it is a key pilgrimage site for Hindus, part of the Krishna circuit that includes Vrindavan, Barsana, Govardhan, Kurukshetra, Dwarka, and Bhalka. The Krishna Janmasthan Temple Complex marks the believed birthplace, and the annual festival of Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated there. Historically, Mathura was an economic hub at the junction of caravan routes, and its archaeological record spans from the Painted Grey Ware culture through the Mauryan, Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian, Kushan, and Gupta periods. The city was a center of Buddhist and Jain activity, as well as Hindu worship. The Mathura school of art flourished during the Kushan era, producing notable sculptures. In modern times, Mathura has been chosen as a heritage city under the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana scheme of the Government of India.
Did You Know?
- Mathura is located about 15 km from the town of Vrindavan.
- The Mora Well inscription from the early first century CE mentions images of the five Vrishni heroes installed in a stone shrine.
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