Temple History and Appearance of Bihari Ji
The image of Bihariji installed in the Shri Banke Bihari Mandir, is the one granted to Swami
Haridas by the celestial couple Shyama-Shyam themselves. Submitting to the desire of devotees
The Lord appeared in person with his divine consort and left back a black charming image before
disappering.
Swami Haridas Ji was born to Shri Ashudhir and his wife Smt Gangadevi on the day of Radha Ashtami i.e. eighth day of second (bright)
fortnight of Bhadrapad month of the year 1535 Vikrami(1478 A.D.). He was born in a small village, now known as Haridaspur,
near Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh. The linage of the family can be traced back to Shri Gargacharya.
Shri Gargachrya was the kulguru (family guru) of Yadavs and visited Brij secretly for conducting the Namkaran Samskar (naming ceremony)
of young Krishna and Balram on request of Sri Vasudev. A branch of the family migrated to Multan (now in Pakistan),
but some of them returned after a long time. Sri Ashudhir was one such migrant who after returning from Multan settled
at the outskirts of Brij, near Aligarh.
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Swami Ramkrishna Paramhans visit to Vrindavan
Nidhivan , the location of appearance of Shri Banke Bihari, is a serene place. It has dense plantation
of Ban Tulsi (a kind of Basil, the wild variety) with its branches bowing down to ground as if they want to touch the ground imprinted
with tender feet of the divine couple Priya-Priyatam. The panorama is particularly charming during the rainy season as the freshly
washed and newly erupted tender leaves seem to invite the visitor to shelter from the scorching heat of intense Sun outside.
Once a visitor enters the environs of Nidhivan, he feels relaxed bodily as well as spiritually. Such is the grace of Swami Haridas!
A devotee from foreign land was tensely roaming around the place one day. It was so surprising to me, how a devotee can remain restless
even at this place? He was walking to and fro in front of the place of Bihariji’s appearance (Prakatya Sthal) as if looking for some
specific thing or place.
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Legends in Vrindavan
Gopeshwar Mahadev
On that pleasant night of Sharat Poornima, when Krishna was performing Maharasa on the banks of Yamuna near Vamshivat in Vrindavan, Lord Shiv along with mother Parvati reached their to participate in Rasa.
Mother Parvati was readily granted entryinto Rasa Mandal but Shiv was detained at the outskirts of Vrindavan by Vrinda Devi, the presiding deity of Vrindavan. Vrinda Devi explained to Him, "There is no male in Vrindavan other than Krishna. The spirit of Rasa is to please Raseshwari Shri Radha as a sakhi (friend) so as to maximize the bliss or Rasa Ras. A male devotee, however exalted he may be, can never develop this sakhibhav and is thus not worthy of entering into Rasa Mandal.” Shiv was left with no option but to sit at the entry point of Vrindavan and watching the magnificent Leela of Divinity....
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Does he eat? When Bihariji eats sweets
As practicing vaishnavas we all have developed a habit of offering to the lord whatever food is prepared in our kitchen. We also solemnly offer bhog in the temples we visit, and partake it as the prasad. Even if we are not at home, may be traveling, or at a friend's place, or in a party we say our silent prayers before we take our meals - Shri Krishnarpanam - whatever I have, is offered to Lord Krishna. The practice has a great practical significance - we shall always be eating healthy, fresh and satvic food as stale or tamsic food can not be offered to the Lord.
The important spiritual significance of the practice is derived from the dialogue between sage Valmiki and Lord Rama when latter visited the hermitage during his vanvas (exile in forests) in treta yug. Lord Rama asked the sage -Where should I live? To which the wise sage answered wittily, "You are asking me where should you live? Tell me where you are not and I will show you the place." Further elaborating about Lord's preferred places to live, the sage mentions the heart (or mind) of those who take their food only after offering to you as prasad, is where you reside with devi Sita and brother Laxman.
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