Nidhivan which means "''Forest of

Tulsi ''Ocimum tenuiflorum'', commonly known as holy basil, ''tulsi'' or ''tulasi'', is an aromatic perennial plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and widespread as a cultivated plant throughout the Southeast Asian ...

'' " is one of the sacred forest sites of

Vrindavan Vrindavan (; ), also spelt Vrindaban and Brindaban, is a historical city in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located in the Braj Bhoomi region and holds religious importance in Hinduism as Krishna spent most of his childho ...

. It is situated in the Mathura district,

Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 1950 ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. Nidhivan is considered as the most prominent site dedicated to the pastimes of Hindu deities

Radha Krishna Radha-Krishna (IAST , sa, राधा कृष्ण) are collectively known within Hinduism as the combined forms of feminine as well as the masculine realities of God. Krishna and Radha are the primeval forms of God and his pleasure potenc ...

and their

gopis Gopi ( sa, गोपी, ) or Gopika in Hinduism are worshipped as the consorts and devotees of Krishna within the Vaishnavism and Krishnaism traditions for their unconditional love and devotion (''Bhakti'') to god Krishna as described in the S ...

. It is the common belief among devotees that Nidhivan still witnesses the Raslila (dance) of

Radha Radha ( sa, राधा, ), also called Radhika, is a Hindu goddess and the chief consort of the god Krishna. She is worshiped as the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion, and devotion. She is the avatar of goddess Lakshmi and is also de ...

and

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...

during night time and thus, nobody is allowed to stay inside the premises of Nidhivan at night. The site has numerous

(

Basil Basil (, ; ''Ocimum basilicum'' , also called great basil, is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae (mints). It is a tender plant, and is used in cuisines worldwide. In Western cuisine, the generic term "basil" refers to the variety also kno ...

) plants which are short in height but found in pairs and have entangled trunks. Besides Tulsi plants, the premises houses a palace called "Rang Mahal" where it is believed that Radha Krishna spend their night after raslila, a temple called "Bansichor Radha" where Radha has stolen the flute of Krishna, a shrine dedicated to Swami Haridas who with his complete devotion made the idol of Banke Bihari appeared, Raas Leela Sthali where Raslila is performed and Lalita Kund which was believed to be made by Krishna himself when gopis asked for water amidst of Raslila.

Legends

Tulsi Plants

Nidhivan is considered as one of the mysterious places of

. It is a dense forest with the lush green trees. The interesting thing is that the barks of the trees are hollow and the land is absolutely dry, but the tree remains loaded with green leaves throughout the year. All the trees are in bending position towards the ground. The common belief is that these trees of

turn into

in the night for performing Raslila. Every Tulsi plant in the premises are found in pairs signifying the pair of Gopi and

Rang Mahal

Rang Mahal is another temple in Nidhivan, known as the place where Radha Rani is adorned by

with his own hands. It is strongly believed by devotees that every night

themselves come to this palace to take rest. The temple has sandalwood beds for resting. Every evening, before closing the temple gates, the temple priests makes the bed, places ornaments like bangles, flowers and clothes for RadhaRani, leaves Neem Twigs (for brushing teeth), Sweets, Paan (Betel leaves) and a jar full of water beside the bed of Radha Krishna. After all the arrangements done by priests, the main door of the Rang Mahal and Nidhivan are locked from outside and unlocked only in the morning. But every morning, they found that the bed looks as if it has been slept in, Neem twigs looks used and Sweets and Betel leaves looks partially eaten by someone. Also, the bangles, flowers and clothes placed for Radharani looks disordered and disarranged. No one is allowed inside the premises of the temple after the sun sets down. It is believed that Radha-Krishna come to the temple every night to rest. Anyone who has tried to see what happens in the night either dies, goes blind or lose their mental balance. Although the houses built in the vicinity of Nidhivan have access to the view of the area but no one dares to attempt to do so. Many people who live in the vicinity have sealed their windows with bricks and those who have an open window, also closes them down after the final bell of the evening

aarti ''Arti'' (Sanskrit: Ārātrika, Hindi: Ārtī) is a Hindu ritual employed in worship, often part of '' puja'', in which light (usually from a flame) is offered to one or more deities. ''Arti(s)'' also refers to the songs sung in praise of the d ...

. Many of them also claimed to hear the sounds of anklet coming from Nidhivan in night. Even the monkeys leave the Nidhivan temple after evening aarti.

Appearance of Banke Bihari

Nidhivan is also considered as the place of appearance of Banke Bihari. It is said that Vrindavan saint Swami Haridas with his sheer devotion and dedication pleased the divine couple Radha Krishna and they appeared in front of him. Later, both

and

combined into one single form called Banke Bihari to stay with Haridas Thakur. For few years, Banke Bihari was worshiped in Nidhivan and then they were enshrined in separate temple and the temple is named

Banke Bihari Temple Bankey Bihari Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the town of Vrindavan, Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to Bankey Bihari who is believed to be the combined form of Radha and Krishna. Bankey Bihari was origi ...

Gallery

File:Nidhi van Vrindavan Main gate.JPG, Main entrance gate of Nidhivan File:Nidhivana Vrindavan Prakatyasthala bankebihariji.JPG, Place of appearance of Banke Bihar inside Nidhivan premises File:Sevakunja Vrindavan.JPG, View of Seva Kunj adjoining Nidhivan File:Banke bihari (444).JPG, Inside premises of Nidhivan File:Nidhivana Vrindavan.JPG, Nidhivan Tulsi plants

Timings

The time zone ( UTC+05:30) observed through India by the priest. Summer Timings - 05:00 am to 08:00 pm. Winter Timings - 06:00 am to 07:00 pm.

Nearby attractions

* Seva Kunj *

Radha Raman Temple Sri Radha Raman Temple, is a Hindu temple situated in Vrindavan, India. It is dedicated to Krishna who is worshiped as Radha Ramana. This temple is counted as one of the Seven most revered ancient temples of Vrindavan along with Radha Vallabh ...

* Radha Damodar Temple * Radha Gopinath Temple * Radha Vallabh Temple

References

{{Reflist

External Links

* https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/do-you-know-about-the-mysterious-nidhivan-in-vrindavan-where-krishna-still-performs-raasleela/as65654845.cms * https://kalingatv.com/features/nidhivan-the-mystery-land-where-krishna-rasleela-happens-every-night/ Hindu temples in Mathura district Radha Krishna temples Vrindavan Tourist attractions in Mathura district