Why Lord Krishna is known as "Banke Bihari’’

SPEAKING TREE

Krishna, the god with as many names as the people who adore him, is also known as "Banke Bihari". But have you ever wondered why Kanha is called by that name? Let’s find out the story behind this interesting name as well the interesting facts behind the "Banke Bihari Temple" in Vrindavan.

Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan

Intrigued, on a visit to the famous Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, I posed the question to the pandit at the temple. Indeed, he had an answer.

Krishna, The Supreme Enjoyer

He said because Krishna was the Supreme Enjoyer, who knew how to find rasa in every aspect of life, he got the name Banke Bihari, Banke meaning bent in three places (as the curved statue of Krishna normally is – hands folded to hold a flute; waist folded; and leg folded in a standing pose) and Bihari meaning Supreme Enjoyer.

Lord of the Jungle

Yet another interpretation exists: that Banke Bihari is a colloquial pronounciation of “Van Ke Vihari”, or the one dwells in the jungle, as Krishna was known to do during his childhood pastimes with the cowherds and the gopis.

One special forest

Krishna’s famous ramblings with the cows and the gopikas in Vrindavan took place in Nidhivan, also the venue of the famous rasleela.

Kunj Behari: Another name

You may be aware that during his aarti, he is also called “Kunj-Vihari”, where Kunj means lakes, making Krishna a lover of lakes.

Shri Banke Bihari Mandir

As mentioned before, there’s a temple where Krishna goes by the name Banke Bihari – it’s the Shri Banke Bihari Mandir located in the holy city of Vrindavan in Mathura district of UP. Banke Bihariji, the presiding deity, was originally worshiped at Nidhivana, before beign moved into the temple.

The Tribhanga Pose

The name Banke comes from the image of Lord Krishna standing in the Tribhanga posture. It was in the Tribhanga pose too that Krishna upheld the Govardhan mountain.

The Brahmasamhita version

According to Sri Brahmasamhita (Verse 5.31), Brahma says this about Kṛiṣhṇa: "I worship Govinda, the primaeval Lord, round whose neck swings a garland of flowers made even more beautiful 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 Syamasundara, is eternally manifest."

The Man Behind The Temple

The Bankey Bihari Temple was established by Swami Haridas, a guru of the famous singer Tansen. Once, on the request of his disciples, Swami Haridasji sang the following verse about Nidhivan in Vrindavan: "Mai ri sahaj jori pragat bhai ju rang ki gaur syam ghan damini jaisen. Pratham hun ahuti ab hun aagen hun rahihai na tarihai taisain.. Ang ang ki ujraii sugharaii chaturaii sunderta aisain. Shri Haridas ke swami syama kunjbihari sam vais vaisain."

Divine Appearance

Apparently, when Swami Haridas sang the verse, the celestial couple Shyama-Shyam (as Radha- Krishna are also known) appeared in front of him and his devotees. Then, they merged into one and the idol of Banke Bihari appeared. The idol was established at the same spot in Nidhivan before being moved to the present location inside the temple.

The black stone image of Shri Banke Bihariji - installed in the Shri Bankey Bihari Mandir, Vrindavan – being a divine gift by the celestial couple Shyama-Shyam themselves, is certainly worth a visit. It is sure to fill you with positivity and infuse you with a fresh zest for life!