The Patan Devi temple, also known as Maa Patneshwari, is one of Patna’s most revered and historic temples located in Patna City in the state of Bihar. It is listed as one of Goddess Shakti’s Siddha Pithas. According to Puranic legend, Lord Vishnu severed Devi Sati’s “right thigh” with his “Sudarshan Chakra,” causing it to fall here.

The goddess Durga is said to live in the old temple, which was formerly known as Maa Sarvanand Kari Patneshwari. It is widely acknowledged that the name Patna derives from the Bari Patan Devi Temple. Patan Devi is one of Patna’s oldest and most revered shrines.

Story Behind Patan Devi Temple

The goddess of Dakshayani, Sati, Parvati, or Durga—Hinduism’s most influential woman and most powerful deity—is referred to as Shakti. Durga Devi, Mahakali, and Gowri are the three main manifestations of Shakti, the power goddess. She is Adi Shakti’s avatar.

Sati was the Prajapati Daksha’s daughter, and she married Lord Shiva despite Her father’s wishes. Prajapati Daksha once put together a massive yagya, but he didn’t call his daughter and son-in-law. Sati was very saddened by Her father’s actions. When she got there, her father ignored the Sati and insulted her. She could not bear the insult of his husband (Lord Shiva) and she jumped into the fire of Yagya and committed suicide. She passed away, but her body didn’t burn. Lord Shiva had taken His Virabhadra Rupa out of rage. Daksha’s head was cut off by him, but in the end, He forgave him by bringing him back to life.

Lord Shiva, devastated, had taken Sati’s body and wandered the universe. Finally, Lord Vishnu used His Chakra to break the Sati’s body into pieces. Each body part transformed into Shakti Pitha. The temple had emerged where the body part had fallen to the ground. In order to safeguard the Shakti Pitha, Lord Shiva created 51 Bhairava for each one.

According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that the right thigh of Devi Sati fell in Magadh and it is said that the part of the body of Sati fell in both Maharajganj and Chowk areas in Old Patna city. At these places, the Badi Patan Devi temple and the Chhoti Patan Devi temple were built.

History of Patan Devi Temple

Many historians believe that an early medieval temple was built here sometime between the 9th and 11th centuries A.D. and that these fragmentary stray sculptural/structural relics are only ruins. These were most likely reinstalled in a new temple built by Man Singh between the 16th and 17th centuries. However, reliable information on this subject is severely lacking.

Architecture of Patan Devi Temple

Bari Patan Devi –  Bari Patan Devi – The Bari Patan Devi Sanctuary in Patna faces the Ganges River to the north. The statues in the temple are all made of black stone. At the temple’s entrance, there is a portico. Following that are the rooms for the gods Bhairav, Mahakali, Maha Lakshmi, and Maha Saraswati. Every one of the symbols is kept on simhasans (privileged positions) that are approximately 4 square in cross-section and have a level of approximately 7 feet (2.1 m). The first three goddesses all wear saris.

Choti Patan Devi –This temple is located in Patna’s Chowk area and was once considered the city’s main presiding deity. With the nickname “Choti” (smaller) in comparison to the more well-known Patan Devi temple, it has slipped to second place as the city’s presiding deity over the years. However, a history expert named Buchanan was certain that it was this sanctuary (Choti Patendevi) that stood firm on the essential footing as the city’s managing divinity between the eighteenth and mid-nineteenth centuries.

The current sanctuary does not appear to be a magnificent artefact. According to Buchanan, the images were installed inside the temple by the well-known Akbari general Man Singh.

Facts about Patan Devi Temple

• According to Hindu sacred books, it is believed that the right thigh of Devi Sati fell in Magadh and it is said that the part of the body of Sati fell in both Maharajganj and Chowk areas in Old Patna city.
•  At these places, the Badi Patan Devi temple and the Chhoti Patan Devi temple were built.
• The Tantra Charumani says that the Goddesses Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati are represented by the small images in the Bari Patan Devi Temple in Patna.
• The name of the city Patna is widely believed to have been derived from the name of the Badi Patan Devi Temple.
•  According to legends, these Goddesses 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.
• It is believed that Mother Sita was disturbed by the condemnation during the Ramayana period, at this place the earth had sat in the lap of Mother and went into the earth.

Famous Festivals In Patan Devi Temple

Millions of people visit this temple every year to celebrate all of the festivals that are held here. Some major festivals held here are

• Navaratri (Summer) – They celebrate other Navaratri in the fortnight of the Chaitra (March-April). Every nine days they worship Navadurga (nine Durgas).
• Durga Puja (Winter) – Another popular festival celebrated at the Surkanda Devi Temple is the Ganga Dussehra festival. Ganga Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day of the waxing moon in the Hindu month of Jyeshtha (May-June).
• Apart from these festivals, the temple also celebrates other Hindu festivals like Diwali, Holi, and Janmashtami.

How To reach Patan Devi Temple

There are two Patan Devi temples in Patna, we would suggest you visit both these temples.

Nearest Airport: The nearby Airport is the Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport and it is 24 km from the temple.

Nearest Railway Station: The nearby Railway Station is Patna Junction and it is 20 km from the temple.

Bus/Cab Service: The place can be easily reached from the Patna Bus Station. The temple is just approx 10 km from the Patna Junction Railway Station. Rickshaws, taxis and many more transportation facilities are available at Patna, Gulzarbagh and Patna City Railway stations.

How to reach Choti Patan Devi Temple

Devotees travelling the Ashok Raj Path should cross the street within 100 feet of the path that connects them to Hajiganj in the Chowk police station area to reach the temple. From Patna Sahib station, the method for arriving at Choti Patnadevi is arranged in the wake of arriving at Chowkshikarpur, Mangaltalab turns through Kalisthan Street.

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