Ambika Bhawani Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Jayprakash Narayan Airport in Patna is about 57 km from the temple.

• By train

  Aami has its own railway station. Chhapra Junction, the main station of Saran district, lies about 37 km west.

• By road

  The village lies on NH 19 and connects with the major cities of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Why devotees come here

Ambika Bhawani Temple at Aami in Saran district, Bihar, is an old Durga shrine known as Ambasthan. It stands about 37 km east of Chhapra and 4 km west of Dighwara, on the bank of the Ganges.

Legend says Maharaja Daksha and King Surat practised asceticism at Aami. Tradition holds that the Durga Sapt Sati story took place here, and that Durga appeared to present gifts to Raja Surath. The old shrine is known as Ambasthan. The temple is considered a Shakta pitha, a sacred seat of Shakti.

The ancient Markandeya Purana mentions the place as Ambika Ashthan. The building is an old fort-like structure on the bank of the Ganges, in standard north Indian temple style. The central shrine houses the main idol of Ambika, and a yagya kunda, a sacred fire pit, is used for ritual acts. A statue of Mahishasur Mardini stands in the temple.

Aami Temple is listed first among the places of tourist interest in Saran district. Devotees come from far away to pray during the Navratri of April and October. Beside the temple is a garden and a deep, broad well that keeps water all year. Other festivals listed for the temple are Durga Puja, Aami Mela, Shivaratri and Dussehra.

Festivals

• April and OctoberNavratri

  Devotees come from far away to pray at the temple.

Tips for your visit

• A garden and a deep, broad well lie beside the temple, and the well keeps water all year.
• Pilgrims say water offered here vanishes into the yagya kunda, the fire pit used for ritual acts.

Questions people ask