Banke Bihari Temple

Banke Bihari embodies the madhurya (sweet, loving) mood of Krishna devotion central to the Vrindavan tradition of Swami Haridas. The curtain darshan expresses the belief that the Lord's beauty is so overwhelming it must be glimpsed in loving moments rather than gazed upon endlessly. As one of the seven principal thakur (deity) temples of Vrindavan, it is a cornerstone of Braj bhakti. Its worship is steeped in music, emotion and spontaneous love for Krishna.

The deity of Banke Bihari — Krishna in a beguiling three-bent (tribhanga) pose — was revealed by the saint-musician Swami Haridas in the groves of Nidhivan, and the present temple was built in 1864. Uniquely, no bells or conches are used, and the curtain before the deity is swung open and shut every few moments, for it is believed that Bihariji's captivating gaze could draw a devotee's very soul away if held too long. The temple has no fixed daily aarti schedule in the usual sense, following its own intimate traditions. During Holi, Janmashtami and Jhulan, it overflows with ecstatic crowds.