We are at Mundeshwari Mata temple in Bihar, there is a huge crowd. Those whose wishes have been fulfilled, those people have also brought goats for sacrifice with them.
In Navratri, sacrifices are made here to fulfil the vows. Devotees reached the sanctum sanctorum with the cheers of the mother. One gave the goat he had brought with him to the pundit (PRIEST) for sacrifice.
Now the sacrifice has to be made. The pandit picked up the goat, but it is getting soggy. Pandit picked it up forcefully and placed it in front of the mother for sacrifice. Some chants were uttered, loudly chanted to the mother, and all the devotees also chanted. The goat was laid at the feet of the mother. Panditji is continuously reciting the mantra. A few seconds passed and the goat fell unconscious.
He was lying for a few minutes as if he was in a very deep sleep. Then Pandit shouted at the mother. Touching the idol took a necklace, recited the mantra and threw it hard on the goat. The unconscious goat woke up. Panditji picked it up and returned it to the devotee who had brought it. The sacrifice is done. Neither the goat’s neck was cut off, nor was there a torrent of blood.
This unique sacrifice is of Mundeshwari Mata Temple in Bhabua, Bihar. It comes after Sasaram, 200 km from Patna. This temple is also special because it is the oldest temple of Mata in the country in terms of structure. It is believed to be around the 5th century.
It was first seen by a shepherd during the 6th century. This temple is known for its history as well as for the bloodless sacrifice that takes place here. Goats are not killed here. Simply by mantras, one is made unconscious for some time. This is considered a sacrifice.
There is a temple of Maa Mundeshwari at a distance of about 200 km from Patna, the capital of Bihar. Which is about 14 kilometres from Bhabua’s headquarters of Kaimur district, on Panwara hill in Rampur Panchayat located in Bhagwanpur block. This hill is 600 feet high.
There are two ways to reach the temple from below. First by stairs, second by winding road, which goes up to a height of 524 feet. After both these paths, the stairs are then climbed to the temple.
The temple is open every day from sunrise to sunset. After two years of the Corona period, there is a huge crowd of devotees on this Navratri. Along with Bihar, devotees from UP are also reaching for the darshan of the mother.
Devotees visiting the temple keep a vow. When their wish is fulfilled, they come to sacrifice the goat. According to Pintu Tiwari, the priest of the temple, first, the resolution of the devotee who fulfils the vow is made at the Havan Kund. There is a goat along with the family members.
After this, they take the goat to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. In the sanctum sanctorum, the goat is placed under the feet of the idol of Mother Mundeshwari. Mantras are recited, after which the goat becomes unconscious. After worshipping the mother, the goat itself stands up.
This is his sacrifice. There are many devotees who leave the goat after sacrificing it. Whereas, some take it home and sacrifice it and then eat it as prasad. No one here has any information about when this sacrificial practice started.
Priest Pintu Tiwari explains that the history of this temple is such that no one will be able to give accurate information about it.
Right now there is only the sanctum sanctorum of the temple on the hill. Whereas earlier temples were built all around here. It was a big structure. It was demolished by the Mughal rulers. Its remains lie here even today.
According to the belief, two demons named Chand and Munda used to live here. They harassed people, hearing whose call the mother came to earth and killed both the asuras.
Mother first killed Chand. Seeing this, Mund hid on this hill while fighting with his mother. But after reaching this hill, Mother Goddess also killed Mund. Since then this place became famous as Mata Mundeshwari Devi.
Gopal Krishna, treasurer of Maa Mundeshwari Temple Trust Committee, says that this temple was seen in 635 BC when the shepherds of the area used to come to the hills.
The design in which the temple was built is in the Naga style. This style is centuries old. No one knows anything about whose reign was at that time.
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