Devotees recently gathered at the Banke Bihari Temple in Mathura Vrindavan to drink water dripping from an elephant sculpture, mistakenly believing it to be ‘Charan Amrit,’ or holy water from Lord Krishna’s feet.
Viral footage from the famous Banke Bihari Mandir shows numerous devotees eagerly consuming water that drips from an elephant sculpture integrated into the temple’s architecture. While some used cups to collect the liquid, others cupped their hands to catch the drops they believed were sacred.
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Serious education is needed 100%
People are drinking AC water, thinking it is ‘Charanamrit’ from the feet of God !! pic.twitter.com/bYJTwbvnNK
— ZORO (@BroominsKaBaap) November 3, 2024
According to a report from Jagran, the water that the devotees mistook for Charan Amrit was actually air conditioning discharge running from elephant-shaped tubes.
In the video captured at the Uttar Pradesh temple, a bystander is heard informing devotees that the water they were drinking was, in fact, AC water. However, many temple-goers continued to line up for the water or splash it on themselves, disregarding the warning.
The video has garnered significant attention online, amassing 2.8 million views on X alone. Viewers reacted with surprise at the devotees’ gullibility and lamented the absence of scientific reasoning.
“A mind without scientific temper is the birthplace of myths, superstition, hate, division. It’s a threat to democracy and promotes herd mentality,” commented one user on X.
“Why does nobody stop for a second and even think about what’s happening here? Such a herd mentality,” another user remarked.
The video also prompted a caution from The Liver Doc, who warned followers against drinking AC water, stating, “Cooling and air conditioning systems are breeding grounds for many types of infections including fungus, some really hellish.”
The incident drew comparisons to a 2012 event involving a Weeping crucifix in Mumbai, where water appeared to flow from the feet of a crucified Jesus statue. Many devotees flocked to the site, believing it to be a miracle, until it was later revealed that the water was the result of a faulty sewage system.