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Banke Bihari Mandir Vrindavan: Almost all the devotees who have ever been to the sacred Braj Dham, especially Shri Dham Vrindavan have once been to Shri Banke Bihari Mandir. This magnificent temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and houses a beautiful idol of Shri Banke Bihari Lal Ji standing in “Tribhanga Posture”. The word Banke means "bent in three places"  and Bihari means "supreme enjoyer". Initially, this idol was known as Kunj-Bihari (meaning "Enjoyer of Lakes") and Shri Haridas Swami was the worshipper of this sacred idol. 

It is believed that the devotees must not make eye contact with the idol of Bihari Ji. Perhaps you might have also noticed that Bihari Ji and his devotees are bound by a curtain. Every few minutes, the priests pull back the curtain. Have you ever wondered why this custom is prevalent? Let us know about it further. 

Banke Bihari Mandir Vrindavan: Popular Legend Behind Placing Curtain In Front Of Bihari Ji’s Idol 

There is a legend that the Banke Bihari temple was once visited by a princess from Rajasthan. She came to the temple to worship the Lord and was a member of one of the old kingdoms that ruled over this area. But the princess fell head over heels in heavenly love the moment she laid eyes on Bihari Ji's stunning all-black idol. With rapt attention, she saw the Lord and desired to spend eternity in Vrindavan with him. However, that could not become possible. The princess was taken to the castle since she had obligations to the kingdom. The princess longed to be with Krishna in Vrindavan and thought about him constantly


Shri Banke Bihari Lal Ji was originally known as "Kunj Bihari". (Image Source: Instagram)

Seeing the princess's love and devotion, Lord Banke Bihari accomplished something that had never been done before. The idol disappeared when the Banke Bihari temple's priest discovered it one day. A futile hunt ensued. The idol was eventually located at the castle of the Rajasthani princess, who had visited the temple and yearned to be in Vrindavan with the Lord after it had been searched everywhere. It is believed that Bihari Ji left his temple to meet his devotee after becoming influenced by her devotion. 

The deity idol of Bihari Ji was placed back in place, and since then it has become a ritual to place a curtain between Bihari Ji and his devotees. Priests still pull this curtain at regular intervals to rouse believers from the spell that Bihari Ji's beauty bestows upon them. 

Other Popular Local Legends For Not Looking Into Bihari Ji’s Eyes 

- According to the Brajwasis, Banke Bihari is said to even break the law to grant a devotee's desire if the devotee looks into his eyes when fully engrossed in devotion.

- Another explanation is that Banke Bihari is thought to be extremely adorable, almost like a baby. For this reason, he might become affected by "Nazar" if someone stares at him and gazes into his eyes for long. That's why it's forbidden to stare into his eyes.

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- Additionally, it's believed that when a devotee looks into Banke Bihari's eyes and starts to cry, Shri Banke Bihari accompanies that devotee all the way home and leaves the temple.  



(Disclaimer: This is based on general public information. Jagran English does not confirm its veracity. Before adopting any measures, consult an expert from the relevant field.)