The Vishnupad Temple, situated in Gaya, Bihar, India, is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Bhagavan Vishnu – holy feet of Bhagavan Vishnu is worshipped in the temple. The temple holds a significant place in Hindu scriptures and is believed to be constructed at the location where Bhagavan Vishnu defeated the demon Gayasura. The story behind the temple is rich with symbolism and conveys a moral lesson about righteousness and the pursuit of salvation. According to the legend, Gayasura, a powerful demon, performed intense penance and sought a boon that anyone who laid eyes on him would attain salvation (Moksham). The prospect of salvation being easily obtained by merely seeing him raised concerns among the gods. In response to this, Bhagavan Vishnu devised a plan to prevent immoral individuals from gaining unwarranted salvation. Bhagavan Vishnu granted Gayasura's wish but with a twist. He instructed Gayasura to go beneath the earth, and in doing so, Vishnu placed his right foot ...

The Vishnupad Temple, located in Gaya, Bihar, India, is a revered Hindu temple dedicated to Bhagavan Vishnu, where the holy feet of Vishnu are worshipped. The temple has a rich history that spans centuries. The original construction date of the temple remains unknown, shrouded in the mists of time, with history suggesting that Bhagavan Sri Rama and Sita visited the site during the Ramayana period. The present-day structure, however, was rebuilt by the illustrious Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar, the ruler of Indore, in 1787. This reconstruction was a monumental effort, with Ahilyabai Holkar personally overseeing the project and sending her officers to find the best stone for the temple. After an extensive search, they chose munger black stone from Jaynagar, a town known for its quality stone. The logistical challenges of transporting the stone to Gaya led the officers to discover a suitable mountain near Bathani, a small village in the Gaya district. Craftsmen from Rajasthan were brought in...

A Total lunar eclipse, or Chandra Grahan, will be visible in Bihar on September 7, 2025. The Chandra Grahan will be visible in  Patna , Gaya , Bhagalpur , Muzaffarpur, Purnia, Darbhanga and other towns from  9:57 PM on September 7 to 1:26 AM on September 8   – as per Indian standard time. The Grahan takes place during midnight and it is visible to the naked eye. Those Hindus following Grahan fasting and rituals need to follow it. All temples will remain closed 9 hours before the grahan and will only open next day morning after pujas and purification rituals. Detail Timing of Lunar Eclipse in Bihar on  September 7  The eclipse starts at 8:58 PM on Sept 7 Touching - 9:57 PM on Sept 7 Total Eclipse begins at 11:01 PM on Sept 7 Mid eclipse is at 11:42 PM on Sept 7 Total Eclipse ends - 12:23 AM on Sept 8 Eclipse ends at 1:26 AM on Sept 8

A small Durga Temple , Akhand Vasini Temple , in Patna, Bihar, is attracting thousands of devotees because of a holy flame – Diya – which is burning non-stop for 107 years (in 2020). The flame is referred as Akhand Jyoti and was brought to the temple from the famous Kamakhya Temple in Assam .   "We call this 'Akhand Jyoti' (uninterrupted flame). It has become a flame of faith as it has been burning incessantly in front of the idol of Goddess Durga here. We aptly called it Akhand Vasini Temple," said Basukinath Tiwary, the main priest of the temple.  It was Basukinath's father late Vishwanath Tiwary, who brought the flame from Kamakhya in Assam to Patna in June 1914, after completing elaborate prayers and rituals. He converted a room in the house near the famous 'Golghar' a dome-shaped granary built by the British, into sanctum sanctorum and placed the flame there.   The priest also reveals that another 'ghee ...

Chandi Sthan at Munger in Bihar is believed to be one of the 52 Shakti Peethas in India . It is believed that when the body of Goddess Sati got decimated, the left eye of her fell at Munger and the place is since then a place of worship of Chandi. The temple is famous for eye cure. The main temple is located inside a small cave, it is said that the cave was built after inverting a big vessel or karahi. Legend also suggests that Ma Chandi Sthan is also known as Vikrama Chandi. It is said King Vikrama, an ardent devotee of Ma Chandi, got his wish of being associated with Her fulfilled and thus the deity came to be known as Vikrama Chandi. The most famous festival observed here is the Navratri (September / October) festival. Puja and rituals are offered to the eye of Goddess Sati. There are also murtis of various forms of Goddess Shakti here. Devotees who have various eye ailments find relief after visiting the Munger Chandi Sthan.

Scientists, secularists, skeptics, atheists and devotees all are unable to explain about the unnatural phenomenon of gods talking at night at Raj Rajeshwari Tripura Sundari at Buxar in Bihar. Various sounds are heard at night from the temple. Devotees and locals believe that the deities in temple talk to each other at night. What is even more baffling is that the sounds are heard only when there is no living being in the vicinity of the temple. So it is during night that the sounds are heard. Raj Rajeshwari Tripura Sundari was built around 400 years ago. It is tantric temple dedicated to various forms of Goddess Shakti. Main deity worshipped in the temple is Raj Rajeshwari Tripura Sundari. Various forms of Mother Goddess Shakti including Goddess Tripura, Dhoomavati, Bagalamukhi, Tara, Kali, Chinnamasta, Shodashi, Matangi, Kamala, Ugra Tara and Bhuvaneshwari are worshipped here. Thus temple is also dedicated to Dasa Mahavidyas. The Bhairav worshipped in the temple are Dattatr...

Durga Mandir at Jichho at Bhagalpur is of not great antiquity but is famous because the murti of Goddess Durga worshipped is highly powerful and is also a wish fulfilling deity. The temple is located at Jichho in Bhagalpur, Bihar. It is believed that the presence of Goddess Durga at Jichho help in overcome a huge storm that hit the region. The most important festival observed here is the Durga Puja. It is spread over ten days. Special jagran rituals are observed during the period. Tuesday and Friday attract maximum crowd to the temple. It is believed that prayers offered at the feet of Goddess will be answered. She is thus considered as a deity who is kshipraprasadini - one who blesses immediately. People arrive in the shrine to find to relief from serious illness. She fulfills the desires of devotees like new job and early marriage. She is also propitiated for defeating enemies. Animal sacrifices were held here before but now people make other offerings like red...

Brahma Kund at Rajgir in Nalanda, Bihar, is an important spiritual center in Hindu religion. A holy pond here named Brahma Kund gains spiritual significance especially during Mal Maas or Adhik Masa – the extra month in Hindu lunar calendar.   This extra month is known as Purushottam Maas and is dedicated Lord Vishnu. Story of Brahma Kund at Rajgir Legend has it Raja Vasu, a mind born son of Lord Brahma, performed a maha yajna (great sacrifice here). All gods and goddess in Hindu pantheon were present at the yajna. All the saints, holy persons, demigods and demons too participated in the penance. There was only a single pond and it was impossible for all the divine beings to take a holy dip. To solve the problem Brahma created 22 ponds and 54 springs to fill the ponds. According to the Ramayan, Vasu was the fourth mind born son of Brahma and he established the city by the name of Vasumati here. Spiritual Significance of Rajgir Brahma Kund Snan The pond was creat...

Sheetala Devi Temple at Agam Kuan is dedicated to Goddess Shitala Mata. The mandir is located near the famous archeological site of Agam Kuan near Patna, Bihar. The shrine is located around 8 km from Patna Junction Railway Station. The murti of Mother Sheetala worshipped in the temple is carved out of black granite stone. The vehicle of mata is an ass and the murti rides on it. Mother holds broom in one hand and khappar in another. Goddess Goriya, sevika of the deity is on her right side of the main murti, while on the left is the marble murti of Angar Mata, sister of Sheetla Mata. Unique offering – Devotees release pigeons for fulfillment of desires. Women assist in performing Solah Shringar on the murti of Sheetala Devi worshipped in the temple. Childless couples offer prayers and seek the blessings of Mother. Newlywed couples perform Chauthari Puja by offering cold and stale food. The temple attracts maximum devotees in the month of Ashada (June – July). Tu...

Bhadeshwar Nath Mandir is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located atop a hillock near Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur, Bihar. The temple is around 7 km from Kahalgaon. One has to climb more than 100 rock cut uneven stairs to reach the shrine. Bateshwar Nath temple is on the banks of Ganga River. The place is highly auspicious because River Ganga flows northward here. Atop the hill, one first has the sight of a huge murti of Nandi. There are eleven Shivlings in the shrine. Therefore the temple is also known as Ekadash Mahadev Baba Hadishwar. The temple is unique for the presence of Goddess Parvati with Shiva. One of the Shivling is in Arhanarishwara form. There are three caves atop the hill. The eleven Shivling are found in one of the caves. The most auspicious period here is the Shravan month. Special rituals and pujas are held during the period. One can also see numerous murtis of gods and goddesses strewn on the hill. Archaeological Survey of India Site and Rising Water ...

Vishnupad Temple in Gaya in Bihar is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and it is famous for the after death rituals in Hindu religion. This Vishnu temple is unique as the footprint of Srihari is worshiped in the temple – Vishnupad or Vishnu Path – pad or path means feet. This ancient temple is located on the banks of Falgu River. It is believed the first shrine here was built during the Treta Yuga. Bhagavan Sri Ram and Mata Sita had visited the place. The present structure was built in the 18th century AD by Ahilya Bai Holkar. In the sanctum sanctorum or garbha griha, of the shrine, a 40 cm long footprint of Lord Vishnu is imprinted on a rock. This is the main form of Vishnu to which worship is offered here. The main sanctum is octagonal in shape and faces east. The tower rises up to 100 feet. Akshayabat, a banyan tree, in the temple complex is sacred. Shradh rituals are held here. Story of Vishnu Temple at Gaya There are numerous legends associated with the temple. All of which h...

Mandar Pravat is located in Banka District in Bihar. The holy mountain is around 45 km south of Bhagalpur city. It is believed that this Mandar Parvat was used by Devas and Asuras during the churning of ocean, or Samudra Manthan, mentioned in Hindu Puranas. There is a Lakshminarayan Mandir located on the foothill of the mountain. The temple s surrounded by paapaharini kund (sacred water body). It is believed by people here that the Mandhar hill is erected atop Kurma Avatar – the tortoise incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Other holy places atop the hill are Sita Kunda and Narasimha Cave. Head of Madhu Demon can be seen near the cave. Legend has it that Bhagavan Sri Ram, Mata Sita and Lakshman visited the cave during their exile period in the Ramayana. In the Samudra Manthan, Snake Vasuki was used as the churning rod. The patterns that are visible on the mountain is believed to have been created by the serpent when the churning took place between the Devs and Asuras. A ...

Ma Katyayani Temple at Khagaria is considered a Shaktipeeth. Legend has it that the right arm of Goddess Sati fell here. The best way to reach the shrine is by train. Badal Railway Station is located nearby. The temple is located between the Kosi and Bagmati rivers. The most important festival observed here are  Navratri  and Durga Puja. Monday and Friday are the auspicious dates in a week. Hundreds of earthen pots of different color can be seen in vicinity of the shrine. The pots are offerings made by devotees. Animal sacrifice is no more practiced here. Instead symbolic offering of coconuts are done here. A small temple of Shri Pad is also situated in the temple courtyard.

Baba Mahendranath Temple at Siwan in Bihar is famous throughout the region as people get relief from diseases after offering prayers here. People offer bells to the temple and bells of various size and shapes can be found in the temple premises. The shrine was built more than 500 years ago by King Mahendra Veer of Nepal. Legend has it that King Mahendra Veer of Nepal who was suffering from leprosy was on his way to Varanasi. He rested for a night at Siwan. Lord Shiva came in his dream and told that water in a nearby pond can cure him. The king bathed with the water from the pond and was cured. Next night he had another dream in which Shiva told him about a Shivling under a peepal tree. The king got the Shivling retrieved and he built a beautiful temple which is now known as the Baba Mahendranath Temple. The temple is built using Lakhori blocks and surkhi chuna. The sanctum sanctorum is carved out of a single rock. The main sanctum has a big dome with a gold kalasha and...

Chhoti Patan Devi Temple at Patna in Bihar is an ancient shrine and is dedicated to Goddess Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati. The temple is located east of Patna Railway Junction. The popular belief is that a part of the right thigh of Goddess Sati fell here (Badi Patan Devi Temple here claims it is the spot where the thigh fell). Hence, the Chhoti Patan Devi Temple is also regarded as a Shaktipeetah. Choti Patna Devi temple is to the south-east of the famous Sikh temple of Harmandir, which is the site of the birthplace of Guru Govind Singh. Apart from the murtis of Goddesses, there are murtis of Ganesha, Hanuman, Shivling, Goddess Durga and of several other gods and goddesses in Hindu pantheon. It is claimed by some that the pat or clothes of Sati, wife of Shiva, fell from the sky at this place. In the northern compound of this temple there is a big image of the Sun-god, though broken into two parts. People suffering from chicken pox and small pox arrive at the shrine ...

Mahasaya Dyodhi Temple at Bhagalpur in Bihar is dedicated to Batuk Bhairavanath. The mandir is spread over 51 acres of land. The main murti worshipped in the temple is made out of crystal. Legend has it that the murti of Bhatuk Bhairavnath was hidden under the mud base of a pond. The estate in which the temple stands belonged to Raja Amarnath Ghosh. Rani Padmavati, wife of Raja Amarnath, had a dream in which Bhairav came to her dream and told the exact location of the murti. During the excavation of the murti, nose of it was damage. The damaged area was filled with silver. The temple has Rajasthani style of architecture. There were rumors that Batuk Bhairavanath murti was disappearing at night. Devotees then tied the murti with iron chains. It can be still seen in the temple.

Baba Budhanath Mandir is located on the banks of Uttar Vahini Ganga River at Bhagalpur in Bihar. Budhanath Temple is one of the nath temples in India. It is believed that the Shivling worshiped here is Swayambhu and was consecrated by Sage Vasishta during the Satya Yuga. The Shivling is mentioned in the Shiva Purana as Baba Bal Vridheshwar Nath. The Shivling remained underground until Mahant Balwanand Giri discovered it around 200 years ago. The temple also has murtis of Ganesha, Goddess Parvati, Nandi, Radha Krishna and Ma Bhavani. Ma Bhavani has a special temple in the complex and many believe that she is Ma Chandi of Munger who arrived here through the river. Tuesday and Saturday are special days in a week here. Goats are sacrificed on the days. Rudrabhishek and special Aarti are performed in the shrine during Shravan month. The temple attracts more than a million devotees during the month. 

Pooran Devi Temple is located at Purnea in Bihar. It is dedicated to Goddess Pooran Devi, a fierce manifestation of Mother Goddess Shakti. This is an unusual temple in which goat sacrifice is practiced to appease the deity. Mother Goddess Pooran Devi is worshipped in Pindi form here. She is believed to be the combined Shakti of nine forms of Durga. Lord Shiva is also worshipped here in Shivling form. The most important festival observed here is the Durga Puja. A pair of elephant trunk is kept in a separate room. It is believed that a Sant removed it from an elephant which belonged to an arrogant Nawab. People who have their wishes fulfilled sacrifice goats at the shrine.

Badi Patan Devi Temple, at Patna in Bihar, is one among the 52 Shaktipeethas. The temple is located near Harmandir Sahib in Patna. The popular belief is that right thigh of Goddess Sati  fell here. Legend has it that when the body part of Goddess Sati touched the ground here three Goddesses – Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati – appeared. All the three goddesses are worshipped at the Badi Patan Devi Temple. Black stone murtis of the three goddesses are worshipped in the main sanctum sanctorum. The goddesses are in standing posture. Their attire is sari and crown. Murti of Vyom Bhairav represents Shiva in the sanctum. Devotees make offering in a big havan kund found in front of the sanctum. A murti of Mother Goddess sitting on a lion is found on the Verandah behind the main sanctum. A large bell is also found here. Tuesday is the most auspicious day in the temple. Pujas are performed here as per Vedic and Tantric tradition. The most important festiva...

Sun Temple at Handiya in Nawada in Bihar is popularly known as Surya Narayan Temple and is believed to have been constructed in the Dwapara Yuga, when Sri Krishna was present on earth. Handiya Surya Narayan Temple is located around 6 km southwest of Rajgir. The temple has numerous ancient murtis and a sacred pond. It is the believed that the original shrine was constructed by Jarasandha during the Dwapara Yuga. It is said that daughter of Jarasandha was cured of leprosy after taking holy dip in the pond near the Sun Temple. The murti worshipped in the temple is of Surya on a chariot with seven horses attached to it. There is also a small shivling in the sanctum sanctorum. The dome of the temple is noted for a Surya Chakra and three kalasha of brass. The most important day in the temple is Sunday. Thousands of people who are afflicted with leprosy visit the shrine on the day. The take holy dip in the pond and then offer prayers in the temple. They again return to the p...