Vrindavan A uncertain Road Bike trip & Invitaion of Shri Bankey Bihari ji!!(14th feb)

 People often say:

“Jab tak bulawa nahi aata, tab tak koi Vrindavan nahi jaata.”

(One cannot go to Vrindavan until there is a divine call.)

In devotion to Krishna, especially in His form as Bankey Bihari, this belief is very common. Devotees feel that visiting Vrindavan isn’t just a travel plan — it’s a spiritual invitation. When life circumstances suddenly align, obstacles clear, or you experience inner pull, many see it as Krishna’s leela (divine play) unfolding.

In bhakti, it’s said that Krishna chooses when to draw a soul closer. Vrindavan is considered not just a place, but a state of grace. When He wants, He pulls.

And yes — “yeh sab unki leela hai.” Sometimes things don’t happen by our will, but by divine timing. 

Before 14th February, I was living a simple, routine life.

On 13th February at around 12 PM, One of my Friend  called and invited me for Vrindavan darshan on Holi. Suddenly something shifted inside me. Without overthinking, my mind decided — I will go to Vrindavan on 14th February.

I immediately asked my beloved wife, Shri. To my surprise, she agreed at once. I then spoke to my mother — who usually refuses permission for  bike trips — and this time she calmly said yes. Everything aligned so effortlessly that it didn’t feel like planning; it felt like being guided.

That evening, when I returned home on the 13th, I told Shri,
“Pack your bags. We are leaving for Vrindavan tomorrow at 5 AM.”

I called my friend  again and asked him to book a room because we were definitely coming.

On the morning of 14th February, I woke up filled with excitement. You may say I was going to Vrindavan — but in my heart, I felt I was going to meet the One who had called me i.e  Shri Bankey Bihari  Ji

It had been 30 years. Though I had visited Vrindavan two or three times before for other work, I had never had darshan of Bankey Bihari. This time, there was a deep longing within me.

We woke up early, got ready, and started our bike journey around 6 AM. The road was calm, the air fresh, and there was a different kind of peace in my heart. By 8:30 AM, we reached Vrindavan.

During the journey  we saw the sunrise view, the silent roads, and the sacred atmosphere welcomed us gently — as if the town itself knew we had come not as tourists, but as devotees answering a call.

And in that moment, I truly felt —Yeh bulawa tha.

In the morning, we checked into our room, freshened up, and prepared ourselves for the temple visit.

The distance from our hotel to the temple was about 2 kilometers, so we decided to walk. As we stepped onto the streets of Vrindavan, I could already feel the Krishna vibes in the air. There was something different — a sacred energy, a softness, a presence that cannot be explained, only felt.

With every step toward the temple, my heart grew lighter and more excited.

Soon, we reached the temple of Bankey Bihari.

There were countless devotees gathered there, all waiting patiently for darshan. The atmosphere was filled with devotion — chants, folded hands, hopeful eyes, and the shared longing to catch just one glimpse of Bihari ji.

After offering our prayers, we received prasad. Standing there among so many bhakts, I felt deeply moved. Each person had come with faith, and in that crowd, I realized we were all there because He had called us.

After waiting in the queue for almost one hour, we finally got darshan. I’m saying this because I had heard that many times even getting his darshan becomes durlabh (rare). So my heart felt truly blessed — man kritarth ho gaya, and my eyes filled with emotion. We also received prasad, which was the simple but sacred ek-muthhi dal.

From there, we visited 1–2 more temples, and finally reached Nidhivan. The story behind that place is very divine and mysterious.

Nidhivan (Hindi: निधिवन, meaning Tulsi Forest) is one of the most sacred places in Vrindavan, located in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh. It is believed to be the divine site of the pastimes of Radha and Krishna along with the Gopis.

Devotees believe that even today, Radha-Krishna perform the divine Rasa-Lila here every night. Because of this sacred belief, the forest is closed after evening and no one is allowed to stay inside at night, to maintain its sanctity.

Nidhivan is unique for its short Tulsi trees, which grow in paired, intertwined trunks, symbolizing divine union. Inside the premises, there are several sacred spots:

• Rang Mahal – believed to be the place where Radha and Krishna rest after the Rasa-Lila.

• Sri Bansichori Radharani Temple – dedicated to the divine leela where Radha playfully stole Krishna’s flute.

• Swami Haridas’s connection – the saint associated with the manifestation of Banke Bihari Temple idol.

• Raslila Sthali – believed to be the spot of the divine dance.

• Lalita Kund – a sacred pond said to have been created by Krishna to provide water for the tired Gopis.

Nidhivan is not just a forest, but a place filled with mystery, devotion, and living faith, where every corner reminds devotees of Radha-Krishna’s eternal presence.

After completing everything, we came back to the room, had lunch, and rested so that we could go out again in the evening to visit Yamuna Ghat. We rested for around 2–3 hours.

Around 4 a.m., our friend called to say he was finally free to meet us, and we set out toward Yamuna Ghat. After sharing a simple cup of tea together, we once again felt drawn to visit Banke Bihari Temple. It truly felt as if unka phir se mann tha ki hum unse milne aayein.

This second visit carried the same divine vibration — the energy, the devotion in the air, and the fascinating temple architecture all touched the heart just as deeply as before. Some places don’t just get visited; they call you back.

From there, we walked to Yamuna Ghat, where Yamuna ji ki aarti was taking place. The spiritual atmosphere, the sound of bells, and the sight of lamps reflecting on the sacred river created a moment of pure peace. We stayed there for nearly an hour, captured a few photographs, and quietly gathered memories of Vrindavan and the holy land of Braj that will stay with us forever.

Returning to the hotel, we realized our short pilgrimage was coming to an end. The next morning, it was time to go back to our karm bhoomi, carrying with us not just photos, but blessings and inner calm.

There was also a deeper realization hidden in this trip. I had visited Vrindavan before, yet never received the opportunity to see Banke Bihari ji. This time, I did. It reminded me that everything happens only by His will — sab unki leela hai. We are merely instruments in the path He chooses for us.

I end this journey with the timeless words from the Bhagavad Gita, which beautifully guide us in life:

Bhagavad Gita 11.33 (Krishna tells Arjuna)

तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व…
मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वमेव॥

Meaning:
Therefore arise and fight; they are already slain by Me. You are only an instrument.

“Jo hona hai, wo pehle hi meri ichchha se nirdharit hai — tum bas nimitt ho.”

Radhey Radhey!!