Raunak Shankhwar at 21:28, 16 December 2025

2025-12-16T21:28:55Z

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{{short description|Hindu temple dedicated to the combined form of Radha Krishna in Vrindavan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Banke Bihari Temple
| image = Banke Bihari Vrindavan.jpg
|caption= Banke Bihari, a combined form of [[Radha Krishna]] at Banke-Bihari temple, Vrindavan
| alt = Banke Bihari in Thakur Shri Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan
| map_type = India Uttar Pradesh
| map_caption = Location in [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| coordinates = {{coord|27.57976|77.69051|type:landmark_region:IN-UP|display=inline,title}}
| native_name =Kunj Bihari Temple
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| district = [[Mathura]]
| location = [[Vrindavan]]
| elevation_m = 169.77
| deity = [[Radha Krishna|Banke Bihari]] ([[Radha]] and [[Krishna]])
| festivals= [[Janmashtami]], [[Radhashtami]], [[Holi]], [[Sharad Purnima]], [[Karthik Purnima]]
| architecture = [[Rajasthani architecture|Rajasthani]]
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed = 1862<ref>{{cite web|author=Glory project of Bihar, ISKCON PATNA, developed by Mahesh K Sanatan|title=Temple History & Bihari Ji Appearance in Nidhivan - Shri Shri Banke Bihari, Vrindavan Dham|website=www.bankeybihari.info|url=http://www.bankeybihari.info/banke-bihari-ji/|accessdate=2017-06-09|archive-date=27 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627174646/http://www.bankeybihari.info/banke-bihari-ji/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| website = {{url|bankeybihari.info}}<br />
{{url|bihariji.org}}
}}
{{Vaishnavism}}
'''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.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Visit Banke Bihari Temple |url=https://www.goibibo.com/destinations/vrindavan/places-to-visit-in-vrindavan/bankey-bihari-temple-7352795747623735679/ |access-date=18 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="Guide">{{cite book |author=Rājaśekhara Dāsa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q1cvAAAAYAAJ |title=The Color Guide to Vṛndāvana: India's Most Holy City of Over 5,000 Temples |publisher=Vedanta Vision Publication |year=2000}}</ref>

In the 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shri Banke Bihari {{!}} District Mathura, Government of Uttar Pradesh {{!}} India |url=https://mathura.nic.in/tourist-place/shri-banke-bihari/ |access-date=2023-06-22 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Banke-Bihari-Mandir-Vrindavan.jpg|alt=Devotees taking darshan at Banke Bihari Mandir in Vrindavan|thumb|Devotees at Banke Bihari Mandir in Vrindavan]]
The icon of Banke Bihari was originally worshipped by [[Swami Haridas|Svāmī Haridās]] under the name Kuñjbihārī. His disciples bestowed the name Bānke Bihārī due to the image's ''[[Tribhanga|tribhaṅga]]'' posture. The icon's appearance is celebrated on Bihar Panchami. Formerly Bānke Bihārī was worshipped in [[Nidhivan, Vrindavan|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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Entwistle |first=A.W. |title=Braj: Centre of Krishna Pilgrimage |publisher=Egbert Forsten |year=1987 |pages=403}}</ref>

== In scriptures ==
[[File:Govardhana-Mola-Ram1.jpg|thumb|190px| [[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."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vedabase.com/en/bs/5/31|title=Bs 5.31|last=pnd|date=2012-01-01|website=www.vedabase.com|language=en|access-date=2017-06-09|archive-date=21 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121172509/http://www.vedabase.com/en/bs/5/31|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/Brahma-Samhita |title=Brahma Samhita |language=Sanskrit}}</ref>

==Rituals==
In this temple, Banke Bihari is worshiped in the form of a small child.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-04-30 |title=Why the curtains are constantly opened and closed in Banke Bihari temple |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/soul-search/why-the-curtains-are-constantly-opened-and-closed-in-banke-bihari-temple/photostory/109717340.cms |access-date=2025-10-30 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> Thus, to avoid disturbing the deity, an early morning [[Arti (Hinduism)|arti]] is not performed and bells are not hung anywhere inside the temple premises. Only on the occasion of [[Krishna Janmashtami]], mangala aarti (early morning aarti) is performed. There is a popular belief that uninterrupted darshan will cause Banke Bihari to accompany devotees to their home and leave the temple empty. Therefore, the curtains are drawn every five minutes to avoid the uninterrupted darshan of Banke Bihari.

Once a year, on the occasion of [[Sharad Purnima]] Banke Bihari holds the flute in His hands. Additionally, once in the month of Shravan Banke Bihari is placed in a swing.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bansal |first=Sunita Pant |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lzPCOVQGP3wC&q=Banke+Bihari&pg=PT9 |title=Hindu Pilgrimage |date=2008 |publisher=Pustak Mahal |isbn=978-81-223-0997-3 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

==Gallery==
<gallery size="4" mode="packed">
File:Bankebihari temple main gate Vrindavan.JPG|Entrance of Banke Bihari Temple
File:Nidhivana Vrindavan Prakatyasthala bankebihariji.JPG|Nidhivana
File:Bankebihari temple gate, sideview Vrindavana.JPG|Bankey Bihari Temple gate, sideview
File:Flower garland sellers outside Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan.jpg|Garland sellers outside Banke Bihari Temple
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Radha Vallabh Temple, Vrindavan]]
*[[Nidhivan, Vrindavan]]
*[[Radha Raman Temple, Vrindavan]]
*[[Radha Rani Temple]], [[Barsana]]
*[[Radha Damodar Temple, Vrindavan]]
*[[Radha Madan Mohan Temple, Vrindavan]]

==References==
{{Commons category|Banke Bihari Temple}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.bankeybihari.info Official website]
* [http://www.thedivineindia.com/shri-bankey-bihari-temple/5846 Shri Bankey Bihari Temple -thedivineindia.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801155654/http://www.thedivineindia.com/shri-bankey-bihari-temple/5846 |date=1 August 2015 }}
{{Hindu temples in Uttar Pradesh |state=expanded}}

[[Category:Krishna temples]]
[[Category:Radha Krishna temples]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Mathura district]]
[[Category:Vrindavan]]

Banke Bihari Temple - Revision history

Raunak Shankhwar at 21:28, 16 December 2025