Bari Patan Devi Temple, Patna,
Bihar
Bari Patan Devi Temple is a Hindu
Temple dedicated to Goddess Sakthi, located in Patna City in Patna District of
Bihar, India. The Temple is situated on the banks of River Ganges. This Temple is
one of the oldest and the most sacred temples of Patna, the capital city of
Bihar state in India. This ancient temple was originally called as Maa Sarvanand Kari Patneshwari. This temple is
considered as one of Shakti Peethas in Indian
Subcontinent. Being one of the 51 Shakti
Peethas of Hindu Mythology, this temple is one of the holiest
sites for devotees of the Shakti sect of Hinduism.
Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
History
The Temple had been established
by Guru Goraknath of the Nath Sampradaya. The existing temple here is said by
to be constructed King Vikramaditya. King Suheldeo of Sravasti had renovated
the temple in the 11th Century CE. The Royal family of Balrampur, is
today the caretaker of the temple.
The Temple
This is a north facing temple
situated on the banks of Ganges River. The Temple is facing towards the sacred
Hindu river Ganges. There is a portico of dimension 1.5' x 15' at the entrance
of the Temple. There is a room of about 8' x 8' housing Mahakali (12"),
Maha Lakshmi (6"),
Maha Saraswathi
(12") and Bhairav (3") immediately after the
portico. All the idols are kept on simhasans (thrones) of about 4 square in
cross section and have a height of about 7 feet.
The goddesses are attired
in sarees.
The idols of the temple are all made up in black stone. Another interesting
aspect of the temple is the strange stone image that was found in a tank near
the Bari Patan Devi Temple, Patna. It has been kept in a niche in the eastern
verandah of the temple and is now worshipped as a goddess by the temple
priests.
The temple remains open from morning 06.00 am to 10.00
pm in the night.
Festivals
Navratri that falls two times in
a year – one in the month of March or April and other in the September or
October month depending on the Hindu calendar, is among the major festival
here. Navratri are celebrated for over 9 days, with some people not eating any
type of food that is derived from the soil for these nine days. Special
ceremonies and rituals are carried during these days. Vijayadashami mela or
fair is quite popular here and is celebrated with great devotion and harmony.
Every year on Chaitra Panchami
the deity of Pir Ratan Nath is brought from Dang in Nepal to the Devi Patan Temple
where it is worshipped along with the Devi. Tuesday is considered a special day
for all devotees and a large number of worshipers visit the temple. Makar
Sankranti, Sharad Purnima, Deepawali, Somvati Amavasya, Ram Navami and
Shivaratri are some of the other important festivals being celebrated here.
Usually newly married couple or new born babies are
brought to the temple for seeking the blessings of the deities. It is said that
whenever there is an epidemic of small pox in the city, people pray to Patan
Devi by offering sweets to the deities. This practice is prevalent even to this
day in Patna. On fulfillment of wishes, people offer gifts and sarees in the
temple and promises are also made before the deity.
Connectivity
The Temple is located at about 1
Km from Gulzarbagh Railway Station, 9 Kms from Patna Junction Railway Station,
10 Kms from Mithapur Bus Stand and 15 Kms from Patna Airport. The Temple is situated
on the outskirt of the city of Patna, near to Mahatma Gandhi Setu. It is
located at Maharajganj locality. It is easily reachable by private cabs or
autos. Patna is well connected to rest of India by all means of transport.
Location
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