Banke Bihari Temple is located in the city of Vrindavan in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. This temple is dedicated to Banke Bihari who is considered to be the combined form of Radha and Krishna. Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple is one of the most visited temples in Vrindavan. It is a symbol of unwavering faith and devotion towards God. Every day thousands of devotees come to this centuries-old temple to worship Shri Banke Bihari Ji, whom the people of Braj fondly call 'Bihari Ji' and 'Thakur Ji'.
History and Architecture of Banke Bihari Temple
Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple was constructed in the year 1862. Initially the Bhagwan was worshiped in a temple at Nidhivan. Later after the construction of the new complex the idol of Shri Banke Bihari Ji was shifted to the present temple.
The icon of Banke Bihari was originally worshiped by Swami Haridas under the name Kunjbihari. Due to the Tribhanga posture of the image his disciples named him Banke Bihari. The appearance of the symbol is celebrated on Bihar Panchami. The architecture of the temple is influenced by Rajasthani style and the arches and pillars add to its grandeur.
In the Banke Bihari temple, Banke Bihari is worshiped in the form of a small child. Thus, no aarti is performed early in the morning and bells are not hung anywhere inside the temple premises as this may cause trouble to Banke Bihari. Only on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami, Mangala Aarti is performed.
Banke Bihari Temple Darshan Timings
Banke Bihari Temple remains open for darshan throughout the week and the darshan timings are Summer: 7.45 AM to 12.00 PM and 5.30 PM to 9.30 PM and Winter: 8.45 AM to 1.00 PM and 4.30 PM Till 8.30 pm. Unique in its tradition, at Banke Bihari Temple the darshan of the presiding deity (Shri Banke Bihari Ji) is never continuous but is interrupted at intervals by a curtain. It is believed that if a devotee looks into the eyes of the Bhagwan for too long, he becomes unconscious. The extraordinary charm and beauty of Shri Banke Bihari is a reason for uninterrupted darshan for the devotees.
Major festivals of Banke Bihari Temple
Shri Krishna Janmashtami, Hariyali Teej or Jhulavan Yatra, Holi, Dholandi, Radhashtami are the major festivals of Banke Bihari Temple. Bihari ji's service is special and quite unique in its tradition. Every day the service is performed in three stages: Shringara, Rajbhog and Shayan. There is no tradition of Mangala Aarti in Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple, rather Bhagwan Krishna is treated like a child and he is not disturbed early in the morning. The priests do not even ring loud bells keeping in mind the convenience of their little god.
Only once a year, Banke Bihari holds flute in his hands, which is on the occasion of Sharad Purnima. Banke Bihari is made to sit in the swing only once in the month of Shravan.
How to reach Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple?
Banke Bihari Ji Temple is located in Vrindavan and can be easily reached by taking an auto taxi from Mathura-Vrindavan. The nearest railway station is Mathura Junction which is very well connected to major cities of the country and is about 12 kilometers away from Bihari Ji Temple. The nearest airport is Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi which is about 161 kilometers from the temple.
Experiences of Shri Banke Bihari Darshan:
❀ The idol of Bhagwan Banke Bihari is mesmerizing and the architecture of the temple reflects the rich cultural heritage. Devotees sing hymns and pray in pure joy.
❀ The most special thing about Banke Bihari Temple is that the darshan of God is not done for a long time. It is believed that it is not possible to have darshan of the Bhagwan for a very long time, as the devotees get hypnotized by His enchanting image.
❀ The splash of colors and the atmosphere of devotion to Krishna during Holi is worth seeing. The Bhagwan is drenched in colors and devotees participate in this unique Holi with full devotion.
❀ Banke Bihari Temple is not just a religious place, but a place where one experiences devotion, spirituality and the pastimes of Krishna.
7:45 AM - 9:30 PM
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