The Allahabad High Court has directed the Chhata Tehsildar of Mathura district to explain how the ownership of the land of Banke Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple was changed in the revenue records in the name of Kabristan in 2004.
Justice Saurabh Srivastava passed the order on a petition filed by Shri Bihari Ji Seva Trust, Mathura. The court has fixed August 17 as the next date of hearing in the case. A writ petition was filed seeking directions to the revenue authorities of Chhata, Mathura to correct the revenue entry made “illegally” against the cemetery at the site of the Banke Bihari Ji Maharaj temple.
The counsel representing the state government told the court that an application is also pending as the entries in the revenue records have now been changed from graveyard to ‘old population’. “In view of the above facts and circumstances, the Tehsildar is directed to appear in person and explain the action taken by the Revenue Officers from time to time to change the entries available on Plot No. 1081 situated in Village Shahpur, Chhata Tehsil of Mathura District,” the court, in its order passed last Thursday, noted that according to the petitioner, Plot No. 1081 at village Shahpur was originally in the name of Banke Bihari Ji Maharaj Mandir and its possession is clear from records dated 1375-1377F .
In fact, after Gyanvapi, the matter of Mathura Krishna Janmabhoomi is the second most sensitive matter at this time.
Which has now reached the Supreme Court. If this news spreads among the masses that the property registered in the name of Banke Bihari Ji Maharaj has changes in the name of Muslim Graveyard, then the communal harmony of the country can be harmed.
That’s why, the Allahabad High Court has also summoned the Tehsildar concerned for immediate disposal of the matter and sought information about the matter. So that the dispute is resolved and misunderstanding does not spread in society.
A brief history of Banke Bihari Temple
Banke Bihari Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the town of Vrindavan, Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to Banke Bihari who is believed to be the combined form of Radha and Krishna. Banke Bihari was originally worshipped at Nidhivan, Vrindavan. Later, when Banke Bihari temple was constructed around 1864, the icon of Banke Bihari was moved to new temple.
In Banke Bihari temple, the icon of Radha Krishna’s united form stands in the Tribhanga posture. Swami Haridas originally worshipped this murti under the name of Kunj Bihari which means the one who enjoys in the groves or Kunj of Vrindavan.
The idol was manifested by Vrindavan Swami Haridas who was believed to be the incarnation of Lalita gopi, a close associate of Radha Krishna in their celestial abode Goloka.
Swami Haridas was the guru of the famous musician and singer and one of Navratna of Akbar, Miyan Tansen. Tansen was a Gaur Brahmin and his real name was Ramtanu Pandey. Tansen was also a staunch worshipper of Banke Bihari.