Shanidev Kokilavan Temple is considered one of the most powerful temples of Shanidev. It is located near Kosi Kalan. It is said that whoever visits this temple with pure intention will have their wishes fulfilled. Shani Dev (Saturn) is the eldest son of Suryadev and Chaya.
Story Behind Kokilavan Shanidev Temple
When Shri Krishna was born, all the demigods paid a visit to him; however, Shanidev was forbidden by Yashoda Maiya as the foster mother thought he might bring bad luck upon her son. It was his duty to punish the ones doing wrong deeds, or karma. Saddened by this event, Shanidev went to a forest nearby for tapas. Shri Krishna was moved by this deed and gave Shanidev darshan and asked him to live close to Nandgaon. Lord Krishna had given him the boon that anyone who visited this place/temple would get rid of all their problems.
In his childhood, Shri Krishna played the melody with his flute to attract the Gopis, and as soon as the Gopis would arrive, he would turn into a cuckoo, or koyal/kokila,” as it is said in Hindi. That is how this forest came to be known as Kokilavan. It is the only temple in the Braj forest that exists even today.
Kokilavan Shanidev Temple Timings:
Although I visited the temple in the morning, you can choose to visit it at any point of the day. For the ideal darshan and to be a part of the pooja, visiting at noon (12:00) is the best option. I visited the temple in the morning, around 08:00, as I had to visit the other temples in the Kokilavan Dham. Shri Dev Bihariji Temple, Gokulesh Maharaj Temple, Giriraj Temple, Navagraha Temples, and Barkhandi Baba Temple are some of the other temples I visited in the Dham. After the parikrama, I took a dip in the holy kund.
Kokilavan Shanidev Temple Summer Timings
- Opening Time: 24 Hours (All days)
- Morning Aarti: 04:00 AM
- Morning Bhog: 09:00 AM
- Evening Aarti: 06:00 PM
- Evening Bhog: 08:00 PM
Kokilavan Shanidev Temple Winter Timings
- Opening Time: 24 Hours (All days)
- Morning Aarti: 04:30 AM
- Morning Bhog: 09:30 AM
- Evening Aarti: 06:30 PM
- Evening Bhog: 08:30 PM
How Do I Reach?
It is located approximately six kilometers from Kosi Kalan on the Nandgaon-Barsana road. There are multiple ways of reaching here:
From Mathura, there are buses available to Kosi Kalan to reach here. Or if you are already in Vrindavan, you can take a bus from there as well. Moreover, to reach Mathura, you can travel via train. The nearest airport is Agra Airport, which is about 57 kilometers. As mentioned above, there are multiple ways to reach Mathura, but after you reach there, buses are the most accessible travel option.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Shanidev Kokilavan Temple?
In this beautiful forest, spread across 20 acres of land, November-December would be one of the best times to visit in a year.
