- Viral video claims 85-lakh-rupee gold necklace offered to Thakur Banke Bihari Maharaj.
- Temple manager and Sevayat Goswami dispute the video, calling it misleading.
- Jewelers’ claims challenged by temple servant and manager.
2023.07.09 (Vrindavan Today News): A gold necklace worth 85 lakhs, meant for Thakur Banke Bihari Maharaj, has become the center of attention in Vrindavan. A viral video claiming that the necklace was offered by a devotee has caused quite a stir on social media. However, the temple manager and the temple sevayats have objected to the video, stating that it is incorrect to make such public statements.
For the past few days, social media has been abuzz with a video featuring Om Shiv Giri Jewelers from New Delhi. They claim that a devotee had gotten 85-lakh-rupees necklace made as an offering to Thakur Banke Bihari. The jewelers also stated that the necklace would be presented to the deity in the coming days. However, another video emerged, which quickly went viral, showing Thakur Banke Bihari adorned with a different necklace worth 85 lakhs. According to the news, a devotee from Raipur, Chhattisgarh had donated this 1.5-kilogram gold necklace to Thakur Banke Bihari.
In a surprising turn of events, Pankaj Goswami, the temple servant responsible for Thakurji’s service on the evening in question, refuted the entire necklace offering story. He stated that the reports were completely false and that no devotee had presented such a necklace to Thakurji.
Talking to ‘Vrindavan Today’ the temple manager, Shri Munish Kumar Sharma, confirmed that despite the viral video of the jeweler making the 85-lakh-rupee necklace, no devotee had actually brought such a necklace for Thakurji. Sharma said the jewelers should reveal the name of the person who placed the order to make the necklace and the date when it was offered to Bihari ji.
It is not uncommon to hear stories of devotees offering valuable items and ornaments to express their gratitude to Thakur Banke Bihari in Vrindavan. However, the management of these offerings and their transactions are overseen by the temple’s Goswamis. Unfortunately, no public records are maintained to track when and what valuable items and ornaments are donated to Banke Bihari Maharaj.
Munish Kumar Sharma, the temple manager said, “only the Mandir Sevayat Goswami serving on a particular day within the temple’s sanctum is aware of the offerings made by devotees”. “However, if a devotee donates through the temple management committee, the information is known but not disclosed to the public,” added Sharma.
