Aranya Devi Temple

Bihar, Bhojpur, Patna

The shrine of Aranya Devi dates back to the times of the Mahabharata. Over the ages, the temple is visited by thousands of pilgrims with their wishes to the Goddess Aranya (the deity of the forests), an incarnation of Devi Parvathi and they believe that She listens to their wishes and fulfill all their desires. According to history, the shrine was established by the Pandavas but the temple was detroyed because of aging. Later on, the new temple with the modern architecture was established by a local businessman in 1953.

Legend

King Mordhwaj of Arrah was celebrated for his kindness. To test his generosity, one day Krishna and Arjun visited the king in a disguise of a hermit and a lion respectively. Lord Krishna, under the veil of a hermit asked the King to offer his lion (Arjuna in guise) human flesh as he doesn't consume animals. The hermit also clarifies that the lion should only be fed with the son of the King. Moreover, to test his devotion and dedication, Krishna also asked the King and the Queen to kill their son with a saw (Arrah) and cook the flesh of their son and serve them. They obeyed all the words of the hermit and finally when they offered the cooked flesh of their son to the guests, the disguised hermit asked the King and his queen to eat the flesh of their son too. When the King was about to do that, the hermit requested him to call his son with his name. As the king did so, his handsome and living prince appeared in front of him and the queen.
Then Lord Krishna and Arjun appeared in their original form and threw the saw (Arrah in Hindi) nearby and blessed the king and his family for their devotion and generosity. Later on, as a mark of respect, the King established the temple of Aranya Devi (a form of Devi Parvati) were the saw dropped.
Another tale centers round the temple. Many believe that the Goddess who fulfills everyone's wish also listed to the prayers of the King and his wife. They were childless and with the blessings of the Goddess, the queen gave birth to a son. After some time when the chid grew up, the devi gave a vision to the parents asking for sacrificing their son to Her. When the King and the Queen was about to draw the saw through their son's head, the Divine Goddess appeared in front of them and blessed them for their devotion towards Her. This place later on became the temple sthan of Aranya Devi.

Architecture

The present temple of Aranya Devi was reconstructed with modern day architecture. The beautifully designed temple is decorated with marble and mosaic works. The temple dome face eastwards. There are two balconies (open corridors) towards the West and the North at the entrance. A Shiva linga is placed in the west verandah. Devotees can find three large bells, a well and a charity box over there.
Inside the sanctum sanctorum, the two idols of the Aranya Devi are placed on a throne. The 10 feet high statues are made of black touchstone. The deities are always festooned with beautiful yellow sarees, flower garlands and a beautiful crown on their heads.
The marble statues of Krishna, Radha, Ram, Sita, Bharata, Laxman and Satrughna are placed on the left side of Aranya Devi.

Darsan Info

Temple timings:- 5:00 AM to 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Darsan Dresscode

No specific dresscode is mentioned by the temple authority.

Famous Festival

March - Holi, Shivratri
April - Ram Navami
October - Chhat Puja, Navratri

Culture

Over the ages, Bihar has been the center of attraction regarding its involvement since the days of Ramanayana and the Mahabharata. The capital of the mighty Mauryan Empire was also at Pataliputra- which lies in the present day Bihar. Even today, many important relics of Emperor Chandra Gupta Maurya, Bindusara and the mightiest of them all Emperor Ashoka are found.
Moreover, Bihar proudly houses the centers of learning like the famous Nalanda University and the prestigious Vikramshila University during the ancient times.
The state boasts on its flagship religious culture, the enriched heritage that grew up associating different popular shrines in Bihar. Alongside, Bihar's culture extends to the vibrant Madhubani art and Manjusha art.

Travel Support

Travel Support
Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation: [email protected]

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Temple Rituals

The Deity is bathed twice daily in the morning and in the evening. Besides, the priests offer prasad and bhoga to the Goddess along with the morning and evening aarti.