Why devotees come here
Mundeshwari Temple stands on the Mundeshwari Hills at Ramgarh village in Kaimur, Bihar, near the Son River. It is claimed to be the oldest functional Hindu temple in the world, and the Archaeological Survey of India has protected it since 1915.
The temple is dedicated to Shiva and Shakti, and Devi Mundeshwari is worshipped here. A legend says her name was later linked to the mythical demon Mund. Large numbers of pilgrims visit each year, and Ramnavami and Shivratri hold special charm here. The temple sits 608 feet (185 m) up on the Mundeshwari Hills, on the Kaimur plateau near the Son River.
The Archaeological Survey of India dates the temple to 108 AD, but historians dispute this. Many argue that the existing architecture and sculptures are no older than the 6th to 7th century. Historian Buckee most likely dates the octagonal shrine to the sixteenth to seventeenth century. It reuses doorways and moldings from seventh-century temples on the hilltop. Shaivism became the prevailing religion here around the seventh century AD.
The temple is built of stone on an octagonal plan, which is rare. Its tower, called the shikhara, has been destroyed, and a roof was built during renovation. Carved figures of Dvarapalas, Ganga and Yamuna decorate the entrance door jambs. Inside, the sanctum holds Devi Mundeshwari and a four-faced lingam of Shiva.
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