Place

Mathura

मथुराMathurā

verses
677
books
17
chapters
214

What the texts say

The Mudgala Purana says Krishna was born in Mathura to Vasudeva and Devaki. Mudgala Purana 2.67.6 The Bhagavata Purana says Shatrughna, who killed the rakshasa Lavana, founded the town of Mathura. Bhagavatam 9.11.14 In the same Purana, Mathura is the Yadu capital, ruled by King Kamsa, a son of Ugrasena. Bhagavatam 10.50.4, 10.5.19, 9.24.24 Krishna later came to Mathura with Balarama and killed Kamsa. Bhagavatam 3.3.1 In the Vishnu Purana, Krishna then freed Ugrasena and consecrated him again in his kingdom. Vishnu Purana 5.21.9 The Padma Purana declares the river Yamuna a giver of liberation when joined with Mathura. Padma Purana 3.29.46

Where to read

Every verse that names Mathura, book by book.

  1. Varaha Purana

    162 verses · 32 chapters

    All 162 verses in the Varaha Purana
    • 165.11

      At some time, by a turn of fate, a caravan arrived there. Among them were merchants who had set out from Mathurā.

    • 152.8

      Śrī Varāha said: In the netherworld, nor in the mid-space, nor among human realms is there anything equal to Mathurā; for Mathurā is dear to me, O Earth.

    • 169.40

      And whatever the character (or form) of the people of Mathurā is, that is my own, O Vasundharā. Indeed, when one from Mathurā is satisfied, I am satisfied—of this there is no doubt.

  2. Bhagavatam

    134 verses · 19 chapters

    All 134 verses in the Bhagavatam
    • 1.10.26

      Oh, how supremely glorified is the dynasty of King Yadu, and how virtuous is the land of Mathurā, where the supreme leader of all living beings, the husband of the goddess of fortune, has taken His birth and wandered in His childhood.

    • 3.3.1

      Śrī Uddhava said: Thereafter Lord Kṛṣṇa went to Mathurā City with Śrī Baladeva, and to please Their parents They dragged Kaṁsa, the leader of public enemies, down from his throne and killed him, pulling him along the ground with great…

    • 9.11.14

      Śatrughna had two sons, named Subāhu and Śrutasena. When Lord Bharata went to conquer all directions, He had to kill many millions of Gandharvas, who are generally pretenders. Taking all their wealth, He offered it to Lord Rāmacandra.…

  3. Skanda Purana

    126 verses · 45 chapters

    All 126 verses in the Skanda Purana
    • 2.5.17.3

      “O Four-faced One, in Mathurā the fruit of a sacred ford is found at every step. Wherever a person bathes there, he is freed from dreadful sin.”

    • 7.4.25.3

      In Mathurā is the Kāliṇdī (Yamunā), and the Gomatī is in the presence of Kṛṣṇa (at Dvārakā). In Ayodhyā is the Sarayū, ever revered—bestower of liberation.

    • 2.6.1.3

      The sages said: “After the king departed, having installed Vajra in the glorious land of Mathurā and his own grandson in Hastināpura, what did those two do, and how did they proceed?”

  4. Padma Purana

    74 verses · 30 chapters

    All 74 verses in the Padma Purana
    • 6.245.5

      In Mathurā, the king’s son duly married Devakī—Devaka’s own daughter—who was radiant with divine beauty.

    • 5.73.43

      Alas, misguided people do not recognize my city—supreme and eternal—ancient Mathurā, delightful, and praised by the lords of the gods, the lords of the Nāgas, and the foremost sages.

    • 6.246.5

      Having received the blessing and instruction of that noble guru, the two foremost among the Yadus bowed to him and then departed for Mathurā.

Also named in

Key chapters

The chapters where Mathura matters most.

  1. Mathurā’s Glory in the Month of Mārgaśīrṣa

    Skanda Purana 2.5.17 · 49 verses

  2. The Glory of Mathurā: The Account of Piṇḍa-Offering at the Catuḥsāmudrika Well

    Varaha Purana 165 · 16 verses

  3. The Slaying of Kaṁsa (and the Descent of Kṛṣṇa)

    Padma Purana 6.245 · 14 verses

  4. Praise of the Sacred Geography of Mathurā

    Varaha Purana 152 · 13 verses

  5. The Greatness of Mathurā: The Ardhacandra Sacred Bathing Rite and the Procedure for the Yajñopavīta Observance

    Varaha Purana 169 · 10 verses

  6. The Greatness of Kapila-Varāha: The Efficacy of Vaikuṇṭha Tīrtha and the Installation History of the Varāha Image

    Varaha Purana 163 · 9 verses

  7. The Merit of Seeing Mathurā’s Guardian-Deity and a Catalog of Mathurā’s Sacred Geography

    Varaha Purana 168 · 9 verses

  8. Narration of the Glory of Vṛndāvana and the Sacred Places Beginning with Mathurā

    Padma Purana 5.73 · 8 verses

  9. The Glory of Dvārakā and Comparative Tīrtha-Merit

    Skanda Purana 7.4.25 · 8 verses

  10. The Procedure and Merit of Circumambulating Mathurā

    Varaha Purana 159 · 8 verses

Also known to Wikipedia · Wikidata Q200311