The Mundeshwari Devi Temple is located at Kaura in Kaimur district in the state of Bihar, India on the Mundeshwari Hills. It is an ancient temple dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva and Shakti and is considered one of the oldest Hindu temples in Bihar. It is also considered as the ‘oldest functional’ temple of the world as rituals have been performed here without a break.
Maa Mundeshwari Devi Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Shakti and is positioned in the Mundeshwari Hills. The temple also has deities of Ganesha, Surya and Vishnu. It is Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected monument since 1915 and information plaque at the site indicates the dating of the temple to 625 CE and Hindu inscriptions dated 635 CE were found in the temple.
Around the seventh century AD, Shaivism became the prevalent religion and Viniteswara, which was a minor deity, emerged as the presiding deity of the temple. The Chatur Mukhalingam (Lingam with four faces) representing him was accorded the central place in the temple, which it holds even now.
After this period, the Cheros, a powerful aboriginal tribe and the original inhabitants of the Kaimur hills, ascended to power. The Cheros were worshippers of Shakti, as represented by Mundeswari, also known as Durga. Mundeswari was made the main deity of the temple. However, Mukhalingam still occupied centre stage in the temple. So, the image of Durga was installed in a niche along one wall of the temple, where it resides to this day, while the Mukhalingam survives as the subsidiary deity, though in a central position.
The festivals of Ramnavami and Shivrartri hold special charm at the Mundeshwari temple and the temple is visited by a large number of pilgrims each year, to soak in the spiritual glory.
Architecture:
Located atop Pawanra (original Prawara) hill on the height of 182.8 meters at a distance of 12km from Kaimur district headquarters Bhabua, the temple with earliest specimen of nagara style of temple architecture has been declared the oldest Hindu temple of the country by the scholars in a national seminar organized by Bihar State Religious Trust Board at Patna in the year 2008.
The sculptures decorative figures, carvings and fragment scattered around hillock are classic example of Gupta style and indicate that the place was once a cultural centre of great importance and magnitude.
The temple is unique with its octagonal plan, bold masonry and beautiful carvings. There is some fine latticed stone work on the northern window and the temple door facing the porch, is a fine specimen of architecture with various figures of dancers and musicians.
The chaitya windows, kirtimukhas and lotus medallions etc show the clear influence nagara style. The full size idol of goddess Mundeshwari, installed in the eastern sub chamber of the temple, has a great impact on devotees.
A number of statues and rock carved figures on the eastern slope of the hill, reveal that the place was once the site of a cluster of temples and educational institutions and Mundeshwari Bhawani temple was the main shrine.
Religious Signification:
Religious folklore says that Chanda and Munda who were full brothers and chieftains of demon Mahishasura were rulers of the area. Mahishasura fought decisive battle with Goddess Durga as mentioned in Durga Shaptshati. Munda made goddess Mundeshwari Bhawani temple while his younger brother Chanda made Chandeshwari temple at top of Madurana hill near Chainpur.
This temple is known to the world for its mysterious animal sacrifice, called Ahinsak Bali (meaning: non-violent sacrifice). Here no animal gets killed while sacrificing. This type of sacrifice is not seen anywhere else. This temple instead of killing the animal, the priest lays down the animal and keep a flower on it, while chanting mantras. As the flower is kept, the animal falls into unconsciousness and doesn’t get up till the time the flower is there. After the pooja or rituals get finished, the flower is removed, and the animal wakes up again. How and why this happens is a mystery. Though the devotees, who visit this place believe it a blessing from Maa Mundeshwari.