Banke Bihari Mandir devotees drink AC water believing it to be 'Charan Amrit' | WATCH

PTC News Desk: A strange scene unfolded in Mathura's revered Banke Bihari Mandir as devotees eagerly lined up to collect and drink water dripping from an elephant sculpture, believing it to be 'Charan Amrit'. 

A viral video shows devotees gathering and drinking water from elephant-shaped tubes built into the temple's architecture.

However, it turned out that the water was just a discharge from an air conditioning unit. 

A temple visitor recording the video could be heard debunking the myth. He tells the devotees, ''Didi, ye AC ka pani hai, charnon ka pani nahi hai ye Thakur ji ke. Yaha ke mandir ke pujariyon ne is cheez ki pushti ki hai.''

Undeterred by the clarification, several devotees went on to collect, drink, and splash water. 

The video shared on X was titled, ''Serious education is needed 100%.People are drinking AC water, thinking it is 'Charanamrit' from the feet of God !!''

The viral video, which has received over 3.8 million views on X, has stirred heated debate over the devotees' actions. 

The comments section has a wide range of responses, from scepticism and concern to empathy and criticism. Some have questioned the devotees' gullibility asking how they could believe that the water falling from the elephant sculpture was sacred. Others have raised concerns about a lack of scientific thinking, emphasising the value of critical thinking and logical inquiry. 

One person said, ''Why does nobody stop for a second and even think about what's happening here? Such a herd mentality," while another commented, ''Drinking AC water like it's charnamrit? unbelievable, the level of superstition and ignorance some ppl still hold onto in India.'' A third stated, "At least the temple trust could have put a notice there cautioning people.''