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 its present temple.[2][3]
| Banke Bihari Temple | |
|---|---|
Kunj Bihari Temple | |
 Banke Bihari, a combined form of Radha Krishna at Banke-Bihari temple, Vrindavan | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Mathura |
| Deity | Banke Bihari (Radha and Krishna) |
| Festivals | Janmashtami, Radhashtami, Holi, Sharad Purnima, Karthik Purnima |
| Location | |
| Location | Vrindavan |
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Country | India |
  Location in Uttar Pradesh | |
| Geographic coordinates | 27°34′47″N 77°41′26″E / 27.57976°N 77.69051°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Rajasthani |
| Completed | 1862[1] |
| Elevation | 169.77 m (557 ft) |
| Website | |
| bankeybihari bihariji | |
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
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The icon of Banke Bihari was originally worshiped by Svāmī Haridās under the name Kuñjbihārī. His disciples bestowed the name Bāṅke Bihārī due to the image's tribhaṅga posture. The icon's appearance is celebrated on Bihar Panchami. Formerly Bāṅke Bihārī was worshipped in Nidhivan, but was moved to the present location in the 19th century due a dispute between the sādhu and gosvāmī followers of Haridās. The gosvāmī's built the current temple and reside behind it.[5]
In scriptures
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'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
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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. Only once in the month of Shravan is Banke Bihari placed in a swing.[8][5]
Gallery
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Entrance of Banke Bihari Temple -
Nidhivana -
Bankey Bihari Temple gate, sideview -
Garland sellers outside Banke Bihari Temple
See also
editReferences
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- ^ 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) - ^ "Visit Banke Bihari Temple". Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ Rājaśekhara Dāsa (2000). The Color Guide to Vṛndāvana: India's Most Holy City of Over 5,000 Temples. Vedanta Vision Publication.
- ^ "Shri Banke Bihari | District Mathura, Government of Uttar Pradesh | India". Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ a b Entwistle, A.W. (1987). Braj: Centre of Krishna Pilgrimage. Egbert Forsten. p. 403.
- ^ pnd (1 January 2012). "Bs 5.31". www.vedabase.com. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ Brahma Samhita (in Sanskrit).
- ^ Bansal, Sunita Pant (2008). Hindu Pilgrimage. Pustak Mahal. ISBN 978-81-223-0997-3.