Supreme Court Takes Charge of Banke Bihari Temple While Preserving Its Divine Legacy
The Supreme Court of India has stepped in to resolve longstanding mismanagement at the Banke Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple in Vrindavan, Mathura. A High-Powered Committee, chaired by former Allahabad High Court Judge Justice Ashok Kumar, will now oversee its daily operations, succeeding the now-suspended management structure formed under the Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025. The constitutional validity of that Ordinance remains pending before the Allahabad High Court, and the Supreme Court has directed a decision within one year.
Committee Structure and Duties
- Justice Ashok Kumar (Chairperson) will receive an honorarium of ₹2 lakh per month, funded by the temple’s resources, along with secretarial and transport support.
- Shri Mukesh Mishra (Member) will earn ₹1 lakh per month under similar terms.
- The Committee is tasked with planning the temple’s holistic development, including land acquisition—preferably through negotiated purchase, or via state-backed acquisition under lawful process if needed.
- Only four Goswami representatives on the Committee may participate; other Goswamis or Sevayats are restricted from meddling in administrative matters, though they may perform rituals and offer prasad.
In its critique, the Court lamented the ad-hoc governance that has long thwarted essential services for devotees and mismanaged substantial temple donations running into hundreds of crores. It underscored the need for urgent improvements in infrastructure, such as clean drinking water, functional washrooms, shelter, proper crowd movement corridors, and facilities for the elderly, women, children, and the differently-abled.
Pausing Earlier Orders
The Court also retracted its earlier (May 15, 2025) authorization for use of temple funds in the Vrindavan corridor project, pending fresh review and the Allahabad High Court’s verdict.
A Storied Sanctuary: Origins of the Banke Bihari Temple
The Banke Bihari Temple, one of Vrindavan’s most venerated sanctums, was built around 1862–1864 when the divine image of Banke Bihari was relocated from the mystical Nidhivan grove to its present site (Wikipedia, 99Pandit, AbhiBus).
The idol of Banke Bihari—a combined, graceful form of Radha and Krishna in a “tribhanga” (three-bend) posture—was brought to life by Swami Haridas, himself a saintly musician and mystic who is said to have received the idol from the divine couple directly (Wikipedia, TemplePurohit, AbhiBus).
Nidhivan, the sacred grove where the idol was first worshipped, remains a place of mystery and legend, believed to be the stage of Radha–Krishna’s nightly raslila (Wikipedia).
The temple’s rituals reflect its devotional intimacy:
- No bells or morning aarti, so as not to ‘disturb the child deity’, who is considered to sleep late (Wikipedia, TemplePurohit).
- Curtains are drawn every few minutes during darshan to govern the devotee’s gaze and protect from the idol’s captivating presence (Wikipedia, TemplePurohit).
- The daily worship (sewa) follows three parts—Shringar (adornment), Rajbhog (midday offering), and Shayan (night rest)—rather than the usual early morning puja (TemplePurohit, AbhiBus).
These unique traditions—enshrined in legend and rich Vaishnav heritage—have shaped the ambiance and spiritual identity of Banke Bihari Temple for generations.
Why It Matters
This judicial intervention is poised at a crucial intersection where ancient devotion meets modern responsibility. It aims to preserve the timeless spiritual sanctity of Banke Bihari Temple while ensuring transparent administration, essential infrastructure for pilgrims, and respect for ritual traditions.
As Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi noted, this reform is overdue—the temple’s grandeur must be matched by governance that befits its stature and the millions it serves.
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