Pushti maarg samprada Chief Sri Maha Prabhu Vallabhacharya came to Vrindavan. He was looking for a place to hold the Bhagvat katha. He found Banshivat to be the most pure and decided to have the Bhagvat katha here.
Some say that the first darshan of ShreeNathji he found here at Banshivat.
His many disciples – Surdas. Meerabai, Kumbhandas, Nanddas ……. Visited this place and have described it in their books.
It also finds mention in the Chaitanya Charitamrit.
“Sri man ras rasambhi Banshivat tat stitha
Karsan venu swnsav gopri Gopinath sriya stuna”.
In the 15th century, there was a sage from Nimbark sampradaya, named Ghamand Dev Acharya, who lived in a village Kahmai, near Govardhan. He started the Raas leela on stage. He was a great devotee of Radha Krishn. Ras Bihari was very pleased and gave their crown to him and said, “You spread our Raas leela all over the world for the rasik bhakt”.
When he decided to start performing, the first raas was played here on Banshivat, as this is the original sthal as mentioned in all the scriptures related to Vrindavan and Shree Krishn’s leelas.
Every Ras Acharya sings this pad at the beginning of the raas leela.
“Aaj Gopal liye Brij baal
Raas rachyo Banshivat chhayia”.
Since then till 1970, raasleela has been performed here. It was supported by the kings and the various landlords. Since independence the sponsors stopped and the mandir had to stop the leela also, because of lack of funds.
In 1820, a great sage, Girdhari Sharn Dev acharya took the worship of this mandir in his hand. He was a great devotee and served Ras Bihari with a lot of bhao. This pleased the Divine and Radha Ras Bihari gave Their footprints to him.
The same foot prints are being served by the present mahants.
Shyama