Janmashtami Special: Vrindavan is one of the holy lands of India. Lakhs of devotees from all over the country and abroad come here to catch a glimpse of Lord Shri Krishna. It is said that Krishna is present in every particle of Vrindavan. The entire area of Vrindavan is a testament to his mischievous acts and miracles. But the Banke Bihari Temple is considered the heart of this place. In this temple, Lord Shri Krishna is grandly adorned, and thousands of devotees gather during the Aarti. But do you know how this temple came to be? Let us share some interesting facts about it.
How Was It Built?
The story of the construction of the Banke Bihari Temple is quite fascinating. Swami Haridas was a devoted follower of Lord Krishna. He would sit in Nidhivan, located in Vrindavan, and woo the Lord with his music. Pleased with his devotion and singing, Lord Shri Krishna would also appear before him. One day, one of Haridas’s disciples expressed a desire to see Shri Krishna. Following this, Haridas ji began singing Bhajans while being deeply engrossed in devotion to God. Pleased with his devotion, Radha and Krishna appeared before him. They expressed their desire to stay with Haridas, but he replied, “Prabhu, I am a saint. I can clothe you, but where will I find ornaments for You every day? After this, Radha and Krishna transformed into a black stone idol. Haridas named this idol Banke Bihari.
How Did the Name Banke Bihari Come About?
“Banke” means bent at three angles, which in reality is a posture of Lord Shri Krishna. “Bihari” means young man. Lord Krishna stands in this posture while playing the flute and wears a crooked peacock feather, which is why he is called Banke Bihari.
The Practice of Putting Up a Curtain Repeatedly
According to a story, once a devotee came to Shridham Vrindavan to see Banke Bihari. The devotee began staring at the idol of Lord Krishna, and the Lord, overwhelmed by the devotee’s love, started walking with him. When the Pandit ji noticed that there was no idol of Lord Krishna in the temple, he requested the Krishna to return to the temple. Since then, the tradition of repeatedly putting a curtain on the idol of Banke Bihari Ji has been followed.
