Banke Bihari Temple

Banke Bihari Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the town of Vrindavan, Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to Banke Bihari who is believed to be the combined form of Radha and Krishna. Banke Bihari was originally worshipped at Nidhivan, Vrindavan. Later, when Banke Bihari temple was constructed around 1864, the icon of Banke Bihari was moved to new temple.[2][3]

Banke Bihari Temple
Kunj Bihari Temple
Banke Bihari in Thakur Shri Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan
Banke Bihari, a combined form of Radha Krishna at Banke-Bihari temple, Vrindavan
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictMathura
DeityBanke Bihari (Radha and Krishna)
FestivalsJanmashtami, Radhashtami, Holi, Sharad Purnima, Karthik Purnima
Location
LocationVrindavan
StateUttar Pradesh
CountryIndia
Banke Bihari Temple is located in Uttar Pradesh
Banke Bihari Temple
Location in Uttar Pradesh
Geographic coordinates27.57976°N 77.69051°E / 27.57976; 77.69051
Architecture
TypeRajasthani
Completed1862[1]
Elevation169.77 m (557 ft)
Website
bankeybihari.info
bihariji.org
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Vaishnavism
Closeup of Vishnu, seated in the lotus position on a lotus. From depiction of the poet Jayadeva bowing to Vishnu, Gouache on paper Pahari, The very picture of devotion, bare-bodied, head bowed, legs crossed and hands folded, Jayadeva stands at left, with the implements of worship placed before the lotus-seat of Vishnu who sits there, blessing the poet.
Supreme deity
Vishnu / Krishna / Rama
Important deities
Dashavatara
Other forms
Consorts
Related
Holy scriptures
Puranas
Sampradayas
Others
Teachers—acharyas
Related traditions

In Banke Bihari temple, the icon of Radha Krishna's united form stands in the Tribhanga posture. Swami Haridas originally worshipped this murti under the name of Kunj Bihari which means the one who enjoys in the groves or Kunj of Vrindavan.[4]

History
Devotees taking darshan at Banke Bihari Mandir in Vrindavan
Devotees at Banke Bihari Mandir in Vrindavan

The idol of Banke Bihari is believed to be the combined form of the divine couple Radha Krishna. The idol was manifested by Vrindavan musician and saint Swami Haridas who was believed to be the incarnation of Lalita gopi, a close associate of Radha Krishna in their celestial abode Goloka.[5] Swami Haridas was the guru of the famous singer Tansen.

According to the popular belief, once on the request of his disciples, Swami Haridas sang the following verse in Nidhivan in the praise of divine couple Shyama Shyam (Radha Krishna).

Mai ri sahaj jori pragat bhai ju,
Rang ki gaur shyam ghan damini jaisen,
Pratham hun ahuti ab hun aagen hun,
Rahihai na tarihai taisain,
Ang ang ki ujraii sugharaii,
Chaturai sunderta aisain,
Shri Haridas ke swami shyama,
Kunj bihari sam vais vaisain

— Swami Haridas

On listening the verse, the celestial couple Shyama-Shyam (Radha Krishna) appeared in front of him and at the request of Swami Haridas, the divine couple merged into one and the stone image of Banke Bihari appeared in front of him. The idol was named Kunj Bihari or Banke Bihari by Swami Haridas and later the same idol was shifted from Nidhivan to Banke Bihari temple, Vrindavan.[5]

In scriptures
Krishna upholding the Govardhan mountain in the Tribhanga pose

'Bānke' means 'bent', and 'Bihāri' or 'Vihāri' means 'enjoyer'. This is how Kṛiṣhṇa, who is bent in three places, got the name "Bānke Bihāri". According to Śrī Brahma-saḿhitā (verse 5.31), Brahma says the following about Kṛishna

"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, round whose neck is swinging a garland of flowers beautified with the moon-locket, whose two hands are adorned with the flute and jewelled ornaments, who always revels in pastimes of love, whose graceful threefold-bending form of Śyāmasundara is eternally manifest."[6][7]

Rituals
Worship of Radha Krishna

In Banke Bihari temple, Banke Bihari is worshiped in the form of a small child. Thus, no early morning aarti is performed and no bells are hanged anywhere inside the temple premises as it may create the disturbance to Banke Bihari. Only on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami, mangala aarti (early morning aarti) is performed. Curtains are drawn closed repeatedly in every five minutes to avoid the uninterrupted darshan of Banke Bihari as according to the popular belief if darshans are not interrupted, Banke bihari may accompany devotees to their homes, leaving temple empty. Only once a year, Banke Bihari holds the flute in his hands which is on the occasion of Sharad Purnima.[8][9]

  • Entrance of Banke Bihari Temple
    Entrance of Banke Bihari Temple
  • Nidhivana
    Nidhivana
  • Bankey Bihari Temple gate, sideview
    Bankey Bihari Temple gate, sideview
  • Garland sellers outside Banke Bihari Temple
    Garland sellers outside Banke Bihari Temple

See also

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Banke Bihari Temple.
  1. Glory project of Bihar, ISKCON PATNA, developed by Mahesh K Sanatan. "Temple History & Bihari Ji Appearance in Nidhivan - Shri Shri Banke Bihari, Vrindavan Dham". www.bankeybihari.info. Retrieved 9 June 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. "Visit Banke Bihari Temple". Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  3. Rājaśekhara Dāsa (2000). The Color Guide to Vṛndāvana: India's Most Holy City of Over 5,000 Temples. Vedanta Vision Publication.
  4. "Shri Banke Bihari | District Mathura, Government of Uttar Pradesh | India". Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  5. "Shri Banke Bihari ji Temple Vrindavan - site". bihariji.org.
  6. pnd (1 January 2012). "Bs 5.31". www.vedabase.com. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  7. Brahma Samhita (in Sanskrit).
  8. Inspired, Be (2 October 2022). "Essential Guide to Banke Bihari Temple Vrindavan 2022". Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  9. Bansal, Sunita Pant (2008). Hindu Pilgrimage. Pustak Mahal. ISBN 978-81-223-0997-3.
Banke Bihari Meaning-theagranews.com
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