Shri Kunj Bihari Swami Haridas Ji

 Swami Haridasji



Swami Haridasji was born on Radha Ashtami in Haridaspur near Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh in1535 Vikrami(1478 A.D.). Their kulguru or family guru Sri Garhacharya visited Brij secretly for the naming ceremony of Krishna and Balram. Though some of Haridasji’s family migrated to Multan in Pakistan, his father Ashudhir settled near Brij in Aligarh.

While children of his age would play and read, he was more into meditation. It is believed that Swami Haridas was the reincarnation of Lalita ‘sakhi’ or female friend, the inner consortium of Lord Krishna. Though he was married at the right age to Harimati, he kept aloof from all worldly pleasures and diverted all his concentration to meditation. It is also said that Harimatji also followed the footsteps of her husband and prayed intensely only to enter the heavenly abode through the flame of a small lamp . One cannot therefore find any physical remains.

Upon reaching Vrindavan, Haridasji chose a secluded spot to enjoy eternal bliss and practice his music. This place is now known as Nidhivan. He chose this forested area Kunj as the gateway to Nirvana where he spent more of the time meditating and singing. One of the best ways he knew to attain Sadhna was through singing in praise of Lord.

The beauty of Krishna and Radha was such that no one wanted to lose the sight of divinity. Swami Haridasji wanted them to take a single form like Ghan (cloud) and Damini(lightning) thus giving a perfect metaphor to the combined beauty of dark Lord and his fair consort, Radhaji. He also wished his beloved Lord to be always in front of his eyes. The Lord granted both the wishes. The divine couple turned into a black charming idol which is the same as one sees in Banke Bihari temple. This Bihariji came into existence and the responsibility of which was handed over to Goswami Jagannath, principal disciple and younger brother of Swamiji.

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