Devotees shocked: Temple's 'holy water' was AC runoff
Visitors to the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, India, recently lined up to drink water flowing from a sculpture of an elephant attached to the wall. They believed a miracle had occurred, thinking they were drinking "Charan Amrit," or holy water from the feet of the god Krishna. However, it turned out they were consuming water from the air conditioning system.
3:37 PM EST, November 8, 2024
In early November, a surprising video surfaced on social media, filmed at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan, in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It shows devotees happily drinking water flowing from the elephant sculpture, which is attached to a not-so-clean wall.
Some used cups, while others used their hands to drink a few drops or sips. There were also those who bent their heads, wetting their hair with the water dripping from the sculpture.
The believers were convinced they were witnessing a miracle. When water started to flow from the elephant sculpture, they believed it to be "Charan Amrit," or holy water from the feet of the god Krishna. The reality, however, was quite different.
Believers drank water from the air conditioning
After the video surfaced online, temple authorities decided to inform the believers that the water they were drinking had nothing to do with Krishna. In fact, the fluid leaking from the pipes was water drained from the air conditioning system.
We respect the faith people have in God, but it’s essential to inform them. The water they believe to be ‘Charan Amrit’ is actually just water from the AC. The real ‘Charan Amrit’ would contain ingredients like Tulsi [ed. - holy basil] and rose petals," said Dinesh Goswami from the temple — said Dinesh Goswami from the temple, as quoted by "The Economic Times."
Another cleric, Mohan Goswami, shared these sentiments, emphasizing the need to raise awareness among followers.
As the issue gained attention, some commentators praised the unwavering faith of the followers, while others expressed concerns about the potential health risks of consuming water from the air conditioning system.
