sacrificial goats Archives

16/Aug/2022

There are many miraculous and mystical temples in India. In this post, we will discuss a wonderful mysterious temple, named Mundeswari Temple which one cannot help but be surprised to know.

The Temple:

There is a village called Bhavya in the Kaimur district of Bihar. This temple is one of the oldest in India and is located on the hill of Kaimur village. 608 stairs have to be climbed to reach the temple. Only then is the vision of Goddess Mundeswari Devi and Panchamukhi Shiva highly awakened, the seat of Shiva-Shakti. The temple is surrounded by a beautiful natural environment. One has to wonder how it was possible to build such a high and beautiful stone temple on the hill.

Now let’s talk about the goddess. This goddess is mentioned in the Markandeya Purana. According to priests and local elders, the goddess appeared here to kill Chanda and Mukta. The goddess was named Mundeshwari after killing first Chandra and then Munda. Even though our mother kills demons, she is merciful to devotees. Whatever can be wished for in absolute devotion to the mother, one gets the benefit. That’s why mother is always so crowded. Now let’s talk about the miracle of the goddess.

Legend:

Many people come every day to witness the grace and miracles of the Goddess. Mundeswari Devi is part of Goddess Kalika. So, there is a custom of goat sacrifice in the worship of the goddess. Common people swear to the goddess. If the vow is fulfilled by the grace of the goddess, the mother sacrifices a goat to Mundeswari. Mundeswari Temple is 1900 years old.

Mundeswari Temple became famous for some miracles. In fact, this temple has a tradition of animal sacrifice. Goats are sacrificed in this temple as a sign of respect to the mother to appease the goddess, but no weapon is required to sacrifice goats in this temple and the blood of the animal sacrifice is on the temple ground. Not a single drop fall. Some flower leaves and some grains are used in the yupkastha given here. Devotees take sacrificial goats and enter the temple and keep them at a designated place.

Then when the time for sacrifice arrives the temple priest brings the animals one by one before the idol of the goddess. Bells started ringing loudly. Shouting the name of Maa Mundeswari repeatedly all around started giving victory. Then the priest takes a flower and some grains of rice from the idol’s feet and places them on the animal’s body. After a few moments, the creature passed out. No movement whatsoever, no signs of life in the goat’s body.

It is common to see that when a goat is being bathed and taken to the stable, the goat becomes very agitated and tries to run away with a pitiful shriek. But nothing of this sort happens in the Mundeshwari temple.

Rather, the goat tries to eat flowers and fruits without fear. Flowers and some grains of rice are given to the goat’s body and it remains unconscious for a while. At that time the priest again went to the idol and sprinkled a flower from Mother Mundeswari’s feet and some rice from the offering over the dead animal. The sacrificial goat stood up again as soon as it was touched by the flowers and atap rice. This is how the priest performed the goat sacrifice. This miracle is probably not seen in any other temple till now. Many experts have also witnessed such amazing phenomena in this temple. But to date, no one has found any scientific reason for this phenomenon.

Now let me tell you about the five-faced Shiva in the temple. This five-faced linga changes its color twice a day. Whether it is winter or summer, his color changes in the afternoon and evening every twelve months. No one could find the reason for this.

The Architecture of Mundeshwari Temple:

Mundeswari Temple erected in a delicate, octagonal design and made out of stone. constructed in Nagara style, it’s the first instance of that style in Bihar. All across the four flanks covered with big gates or windows, and small niches for the event of statues on the other four sides. The tower which destroyed earlier is under renovation by the Union Ministry of Culture, the ASI. A roof has previously erected. The interior walls have niches and hardy moldings which sculpted with vase and foliage designs.

Sculptures of Dvarapalas, Ganga, Yamuna, and other murtis at the door of the temple. The main gods Devi Mundeshwari and Chaturmukh(four-faced) Shiva Linga, all at the sanctum sanctorum of the Mundeswari Temple. Unusual-designed stone vessels installed, along with the Shiva linga at the center of the sanctum, and the Devi Mundeshwari seen with ten hands holding symbols riding a buffalo(Mahishasura Mardini). Other statuettes of Lord Ganesha, Lord Surya, and Lord Vishnu sculpted too.