Choti Patan Devi Temple, Patna, Bihar

Choti Patan Devi Temple, Patna, Bihar

Choti 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 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. This temple is situated in the Chowk area of Patna City.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/05/patan-devi-temple-patna-legends.html

History

This temple was once considered as the main presiding deity of Patna. Over the years it has slipped to the second position of eminence, after the Bari Patan Devi temple, as city's presiding deity, with epithet 'Choti' (smaller) to the more popular one, the Bari (bigger) Patan Devi. But a historian called Buchanan was very specific in stating that it was this very temple (Choti Patan Devi) which held the primary position as the city's presiding deity during 18^th and early 19^th century. The present temple does not seem to be of any great antiquity. The images inside the temple, if Buchanan is to be believed, were installed by Man Singh, the famous general of the Mughal emperor Akbar.

The Temple

This temple faces the south-east direction. This temple also has the same goddess as in Bari Patan Devi temple. There is also a big idol of the Sun god, broken into two parts located at the northern compound side of the Choti Patan Devi temple. The Idol is very likely from early medieval temple dated to 9^th Century CE. Fragments of doorjambs and lintels found in this temple belonged the bygone temple.

There are also small images of the Sun, Vishnu, Ganesha and few other Hindu deities in the western compound of the temple. There is also an image of Devi Parvati made out of black stone in a standing position, in the temple complex. The image of Devi Parvati is believed to be 100 years old. She is also in the Standing pose and located to the north. There is also a temple of Lord Shiva built in 1950 to the right side of Devi Parvati statue. This temple is in an open space and there is a courtyard in front of it.

Temple Opening Time

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.

Prayers

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 Patna Saheb Railway Station, 11 Kms from Patna Junction Railway Station, 12 Kms from Mithapur Bus Stand and 19 Kms from Patna Airport. The Temple is situated on the outskirt of the city of Patna, near to Harmandir Sahib, birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, 10^th Guru of Sikhism.  This temple is situated in the Chowk area of Patna City. It is easily reachable by private cabs or autos. Patna is well connected to rest of India by all means of transport.

Location