Among the famous Bihar temples that adhere to Jainism and Buddhism are:
- Bodhi Temple
- Maha Bodhi Temple
- Ratnagar Temple
- Peace Pagoda
- Buddhist Stupa I
- Buddhist Stupa II, etc.
Some of the major Bihar temples are:
- Bodhi temple: This temple is located in Patna and was constructed by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC.
- Maha Bodhi temple: Located in Gaya. This temple was constructed in the 5th or 6th century BC.
- Pathar Ki Masjid: Location of this temple is in Patna. This temple was constructed by Parvez Shah in 1621 AD.
- Sher Shah Suri Masjid: Patna houses this masjid. The mosque was constructed in 1545 AD by Sher Shah Suri.
- Harmandir Takth Gurdwara: This Gurdwara is situated in Patna and was built in somewhat in 1839 AD.
- Bodhgaya Temple: Emperor Ashoka constructed this temple at 3rd century in Gaya.
Aranya Devi Temple
Aranya Devi Temple is located in the Chowk area, 3.2 kilometers away from Arrah railway station. Rickshaws, carriages and horse-drawn ekkas are the available means of communication at Arrah railway station. Passenger buses run through Arrah from Patna to Varanasi. Aranya Devi is the Goddess of Sakama-bhakti. She is said to fulfill whatever desires are expressed by the devotee.
Description: Aranya Devi Temple in Bihar is reconstructed on modern lines. Marble and mosaic work adorn the temple. Aranya Devi Temple faces the east. It has a round dome. There is a courtyard at the entrance of Aranya Devi Temple of Bihar and there are two porticos or verandas to the west and the north. There are three bells in the west portico. There is a Shiva linga, a well, and a charity box in the west portico.
Durga Temple
he state of Bihar like any other places in India is a land full of temples, one of the most notable among them being the Durga Temple. These temples which you find spotting the entire area of Bihar are the testimonials of the rich culture, heritage and overall the deep faith of the people towards religion.
The Durga Temple in Bihar, as the name suggests is a temple enshrining Goddess Durga. The goddess is believed to be the Giver of 'Shakti' or strength. People come here to pray before the Devi and firmly believe that this will take away all the adversities in their lives and bring them eternal happiness.
Mandar Hill Temple
The Parasnath temple of Bihar is located at the top of the highest hill in the Giridh district which is also known as Parasnath hills. The height of the hill on which Parasnath Temple of Bihar stands is about 4480 feet. The temple is just 90 kilometers away from Hazaribagh. You can take any local transport from Hazaribagh such as bus or taxi to reach Parasnath Temple.
Mundesvari temple
Mundesvari temple is situated on the top of a hill which is nearly 603 feet high lying in the village Ramgarh in the state of Bihar in India. The actual temple site is close to Bhabua, a sub-divisional headquarters of Shahabad district in Bihar. The temple site is popular to the devotees not only living in the state but outside as well. The reason behind such a popularity of the Mundesvari temple in Bihar is its outstanding architectural pattern as well as the natural beauty of the surroundings in which it is nestled.
Mundesvari temple in Bihar is taken to be the ancient most evidence of the Nagara style of temple architecture that have been so far discovered in the state of Bihar. This peculiar type of temple architecture owes its origin to the Magadha region in Bihar. However, there is no other temple in this state which belong to this particular style of architecture. Here lies the significance of the Mundesvari temple in Bihar. The temple however does not exist in the intact form and much of it is broken. As regarding the time period, this is the oldest of all the temples found in the state of Bihar at present.
Parasnath Temple
Parasnath Temple in Bihar is one of the very popular Jain temples in India. It is not too old and the name of the temple, Parasnath temple, has been kept after Parsvanath, the 23rd Tirthankara of Jains who achieved Nirvana here.
The Parasnath temple of Bihar is located at the top of the highest hill in the Giridh district which is also known as Parasnath hills. The height of the hill on which Parasnath Temple of Bihar stands is about 4480 feet. The temple is just 90 kilometers away from Hazaribagh. You can take any local transport from Hazaribagh such as bus or taxi to reach Parasnath Temple.
Parasnath temple at Bihar perfectly reflects the teachings of Jain saints or munis through its simple architecture. The temple is built completely of marble and its walls bears some writings from Jain teachings. Though the Parasnath Temple of Bihar is not too old but the idol that is kept in the main temple is very old.
Every year thousands of Jain pilgrims visit this place and on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, the Parasnath temple seems to be a crowded fair. Apart from Parasnath temple, there are many more Jain temples belonging to Digambers and Svetambers, which too attract lots of tourists every year.
Do visit the Parasnath temple in Bihar for you would be mesmerized by its neighboring beauty and the cool and serene environment. The place is a perfect venue for meditation or yoga that gives you an extreme mental peace.
Vishnupad Temple
Think yourself watching the 40 cm long footprint of the Lord Vishnu in front of your eyes! This may be a dream to many but your wish can be virtually fulfilled at Vishnupad Temple of Gaya.
There is a myth about the Vishnupad Temple of Bihar. It is that this temple was built on the footprints of the Lord Vishnu. Even the big footprints of the lord also could be seen inside the temple. The footprints are imprinted in hard rock and has been surrounded by a basin made of silver plates so that nobody can touch it. The Vishnupad Temple at Bihar is located on the bank of the Phalgu River which flows in Gaya. This temple was constructed by the Indore Queen Ahilya Bai in 1787.
There are a number of shrines and images inside the Vishnupad Temple. There is a small but beautiful Narshima Temple inside the courtyard. This temple has a beautifully curved door frame. There is a Vishnu Temple adjoining the Narshima Temple on the northern side. The Vishnu Temple is made of stone built pillars and brick walls. The eastern side of the courtyard is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The deity of Shiva resides here in the form of Phalgwisvara who is the lord of the river Phalgu on the bank of which the Vishnupad Temple is situated.
A flight of 1000 stone steps will take you to the top of the Brahmajuni Hill which is situated at a distance of 1 km, south-west of the Vishnupad Temple. A view from the top of the hill will give you the scope to enjoy a clear and beautiful scenery of the temple.
Mahabodhi Temple
The Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya is a sacred pilgrimage place for the Buddhists. The Bodh Gaya city is located 405 km far from Patna and 7 miles south of Gaya. The platform below the Bodhi tree is called Vajrasana where Lord Buddha used to meditate.
The Mahabodhi Temple Complex of Bodh Gaya, has recently entered into UNESCO's list as one of the sites of the World Cultural Heritage which is one of the holy sights and is related directly to the life of the Lord Buddha. This temple was constructed by emperor Ashoka during the 3rd century BC. The Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya is one of the earliest Buddhist temples of India made completely in brick and exists from the late Gupta period.
It is believed that Lord Buddha got enlightenment in this place. The diamond throne that is lying between the Bodhi tree and the Mahabodhi temple shows the real spot of Buddha's enlightenment. There is an eye catching image of the Buddha placed on the wall of the temple and his footsteps are curved in hard stone. Visitors come here not only to visit this sacred place but also to enjoy the architectural beauty of the temple.
A description about the Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya can be found in the writings of Hiuen Tsang, a Chinese traveler. Tsang came down in India in 637 AD and wrote about this temple describing its beauty. The Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya is a representation of the architectural genius. This temple stands as one of the rare examples of India which are made of complete brick walls. The site of the walls and the temple will reveal stories related to the life of the Buddha.
This is not only a holy Buddhist pilgrimage but also a representation of the architectural beauty of the 3rd century BC.
Bari Patan Devi Temple
The name of the city Patna has been derived from the name of the Bari Patan Devi Temple. This temple is situated at Maharajganj, more or less 6 miles east from the Patna Junction railway station.
According to the Hindu mythology it is believed that the right thigh of Devi Sati fell in Magadha and it is said that the part of the body of Sati fell in both Maharajganja and Chowk. Later on the Bari Patan Devi Temple, Patna and The Choti Patan Devi Temple were built at these places. According to the Tantra Charumani the small images of the Bari Patan Devi Temple, Patna are the Goddess Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati who once protected Putraka, who was the founder of Pataliputra. A strange stone image has been found in a tank near the Bari Patan Devi Temple, Patna. That image has been kept in the eastern veranda of the main temple where this stone is being worshiped regularly.
The Bari Patan Devi Temple, Patna is facing the northern side. All the statues of the Bari Patan Devi Temple of Patna are made of black stone. All the goddess are kept on a simhasan (throne) which is about 4 square and is having a height about 7 feet.
Devotees can go and visit the temple at any time of the day. Even people from any cast or creed are allowed to visit this sacred place. The temple remains open from morning 6 am to 10 pm at night. Tuesday is a special day for the devotees and a large number of worshipers visit the Bari Patan Devi Temple at Patna mainly on Tuesdays. Promises are being made before the Goddess and on the fulfillment of the wishes devotees offer gifts and sarees in the temple.
Mahaparinirvana Temple
Kushinagar which is situated 55 kms far from Gorakhpur is a sacred Buddhist pilgrimage. It is that place where Buddha at the age of 80 got Mahaparinirvana which is a state of permanent bliss. The reclining statue of Lord Buddha is well known all over the world.
The temple along with the statue of the Mahaparinirvana Temple, Kushinagar is a sacred place for the Buddhist devotees since this place contains the Stupas where Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana, the state where permanent bliss is attained. The Mahaparinirvana Temple of Kushinagar is situated behind the Nirvana Stupa. As Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana here, so the statue facing towards the west side and reclining towards the right represents the Mahaparinirvana.
Since it has a historical background thus the Mahaparinirvana Temple in Kushinagar is visited by a large number of tourists and devotees every year. The Buddhists from all over the world come here to offer their prayers.
The Buddhist pilgrims as well as visitors from all over the world come to visit this sacred historical place Mahaparinirvana Temple, Kushinagar every year.
Last Updated on 27 June 2013
