The image of Bihariji in the Shri Banke Bihari Mandir was granted to Swami Haridas by the celestial couple Shyama-Shyam themselves. The Lord appeared in person with his divine consort, leaving behind a charming black image before disappearing, fulfilling the desire of devotees.
Swami Haridas ji was born in 1478 A.D. to Ashudhir and Gangadevi on Radha Ashtami, in a village near Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. His family’s lineage can be traced back to Gargacharya, the family guru of the Yadavs. Gargacharya secretly visited Brij to conduct the naming ceremony of Krishna and Balram on Vasudev’s request. A branch of the family migrated to Multan, but some returned after a long time. Ashudhir was one such migrant who settled near Aligarh after returning from Multan.
Swami Haridas was believed to be the reincarnation of Lalita ‘sakhi,’ a female friend of Lord Krishna. Even as a child, he was more interested in meditation and scriptures than playing. He married Harimati at a suitable age, but remained focused on meditation. Harimati, a saintly soul herself, realized her husband’s inclination and prayed intensely. She was transported to the heavenly abode of the Lord by entering the flame of a lamp in Haridas’ presence, leaving no physical remains behind.
Timings of shri bihari ji temple :
Morning
| Summer Timings (effective 2 days after holi) | Winter Timings (effective 2 days after diwali) | |
| Opening | 7:45 | 8:45 |
| Shringar | 8:00 | 9:00 |
| Rajbhog | 11:00 To 11:30 | 12:00 To 12:30 |
| Rajbhog Aarti and closing | 12:00 | 13:00 |
Evening
| Summer Timings (effective 2 days after holi) | Winter Timings (effective 2 days after diwali) | |
| Opening | 5:30 | 4:30 |
| Shayan Bhog | 8:30 To 9:00 | 7:30 To 8:00 |
| Shayan Aarti and closing | 9:30 | 8:30 |
Upon departing from his village, Haridas embarked on a transformative journey to the heart of Vrindavan, a verdant expanse that was then cloaked in dense forest. In this untouched wilderness, he carefully selected a secluded haven, a place that has come to be revered as Nidhivan. Here, surrounded by the whispers of nature, he embarked on a dual pursuit: the refinement of his musical craft and the deepening of his meditative practice.While on earth, he regularly entered the Nitya Bihar and enjoyed the closeness of the Lord. He chose a secluded area, Kunj, in Nidhivan as his gateway to nirvana and spent most of his time there, singing, meditating, and experiencing eternal bliss.
Swami Haridas’ disciples were curious about the Kunj in Nidhivan where he spent most of his time.With Swamiji’s permission, his disciples entered the Kunj in Nidhivan but were almost blinded by a bright, intense light. Swamiji went there himself and, after his requests, the Lord appeared with his divine consort, smiling pleasantly.The beauty of the Lord and his consort cast a spell of charm on every living being present there. Those who witnessed this were so spellbound that they couldn’t even blink their eyes and seemed to have turned into stone statues.
The charm and beauty of Shri Banke Bihariji
According to legend, the beauty of Lord Krishna and Radha was so great that no one wanted to lose sight of them. However, their beauty was overwhelming for mortals. Sensing this, Swami Haridasji requested they take a single form, like a cloud and lightning, to represent their combined beauty. He also wanted his beloved Lord always in front of his eyes. Granting his wishes, the couple turned into a single black charming idol in the Shri Banke Bihari Mandir. The temple regularly interrupts the ‘darshan’ of Shri Banke Bihariji by drawing a curtain over him due to his great charm and beauty. It is said that if someone stares into his eyes for long enough, they would lose their self-consciousness.
The physical form of Lord Banke Bihari, also known as Bihariji, came into existence through the divine intervention of Swami Haridas. Goswami Jagannath, one of Swamiji’s principal disciples and younger brother, was given the responsibility of serving Bihariji. The tradition of serving Bihariji is still carried on by Jagannath Goswami’s descendants.
The service of Bihariji is unique and performed in three parts every day: Shringar, Rajbhog, and Shayan. Shringar includes a bath, dressing, and adornment with jewelry like crowns and necklaces. In the forenoon, a feast called Rajbhog is offered. In the evening, Shayan Sewa, meaning sleep service, is offered. The temple does not have a tradition of Mangala (early morning) service. Swami Haridas did not want to disturb his child-like Lord from deep slumber so early in the morning.
Thousands of people visit the temple every day, as it stands in its full glory.
