The Story of the "Banke Bihari" and the Curtain

The Story of the "Banke Bihari" and the Curtain

The Legend:
At the famous Banke Bihari temple, you will notice a curtain is pulled shut before the deity every few minutes. The popular reason given is that the deity's gaze is too powerful. However, the rare origin story is about a princess from Rajasthan.

Centuries ago, a devout princess visited Vrindavan and locked eyes with the idol of Banke Bihari. Her love was so intense, so pure, and so desperate that the idol actually began to move off its pedestal to follow her back to Rajasthan. The priests, sensing the deity leaving, panicked. They begged Krishna to stay. The deity agreed, but on one condition: a curtain must be drawn constantly to break the intensity of the connection between the devotee and the divine, lest he be charmed into leaving again by another pure soul.

Contemporary Utility:

• The Power of Focus: In an age of distraction, this story highlights the terrifying power of absolute focus (Dhyana). If a devotee's focus can move stone, what can our focus achieve in our careers or relationships?
• Attachment and Detachment: It illustrates the balance between loving deeply and letting go. The deity stays for the many, not just the one, teaching the lesson of duty over personal preference.