Aranya Devi Temple, Arrah: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{Infobox religious building

| name = Aranya Devi Temple

| native_name = Maa Aranya Devi

| image = Aranya Devi Temple, Arrah.jpg

| caption = Maa Aranya Devi

| religious_affiliation = [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]]

| established =

| deity = [[Aranyani]] (believed)<ref>{{cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|title=The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths|year=2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|location=India|pages=28|isbn=9780143415176|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pNmfdAKFpkQC&q=The+Religions+of+India%3A+A+Concise+Guide+to+Nine+Major+Faiths+page+28&pg=PA28}}</ref>

| country = [[India]]

| state = [[Bihar]]

| district = [[Bhojpur district, India|Bhojpur]]

| location = [[Arrah]]

| map_type = India Bihar

| map_size = 250

| map_alt = India's Bihar state in light yellow

| map_caption = Position in Bihar

| coordinates = {{coord|25.5678967|84.6729917|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}

| website = {{URL|https://www.maaaranyadevi.com/|Aranya Devi Temple Official Website}}

}}

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At present, due to the dilapidated condition of the temple building, a new multi-storey building is under construction by demolishing the old one.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/city/patna/bihar-aras-2-oldest-landmarks-to-get-a-facelift/articleshow/95414080.cms|title=Bihar: Ara's 2 oldest landmarks to get a facelift|website=[[The Times of India]]|language=English|date=10 Nov 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/bihar/bhojpur/arrah/news/new-temple-of-aranya-devi-will-be-built-108-feet-high-130194341.html|title=सार्वजनिक प्रदर्शन:108 फीट ऊंचा बनेगा आरण्य देवी का नया मंदिर|website=[[Dainik Bhaskar]]|language=Hindi|date=2022}}</ref>

==History & Legends==

==Mythology==

The temple established in 2005 is situated at the Sheesh Mahal Chowk at north-east end of the city. The temple goddess is widely considered to be the presiding deity of the city. It is said that when Lord [[Rama]], [[Lakshmana]] and Maharishi [[Vishvamitra]] were going to [[Janakpur]] via [[Buxar]] for the Dhanush Yagna, Maharishi Vishvamitra had told Lord Rama and Lakshmana about the glory of Aranya Devi. Thereafter, they bathed here in the [[Ganges]] and worshipped Goddess Adishakti and then crossed the Sonbhadra river.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://hindi.news18.com/videos/news18-bihar-jharkhand/top-news-of-april-2022-big-news-of-april/arrah-story-of-aranya-devi-mandir-where-rama-did-shakti-worship-before-sita-was-cast-4182265.html|title=Arrah: Aranya Devi Mandir की कहानी, जहां सीता वरण से पहले राम ने की थी शक्ति पूजा|website=News18|language=Hindi|date=9 April 2022}}</ref>

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Where the big statue installed in this temple is said to be the form of Saraswati, the smaller statue is said to be the form of Mahalakshmi.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/bihar/ara/ara-aranya-devi-temple-renovation-jeeyar-swami-laid-foundation-stone-watch-video/videoshow/92129256.cms|title=आरा में आरण्य देवी मंदिर का जीर्णोद्धार, जीयर स्वामी ने किया शिलान्यास, बोले- सौभाग्य की बात|website=Navbharat Times|language=Hindi|date=10 Jun 2022}}</ref> In this temple, in the year 1953, apart from Shri Ram, Lakshman, Sita, Bharat, Shatrughan and Hanuman ji, the idols of other deities were installed.

[[File:AaranyaDevi.jpg|thumb|262x262px|Is it Buddha or Aranya Devi?]]

== History ==

Over the time, many people have claimed that this site is actually a Buddhist site<ref>{{Cite web |title=Is it Lord Buddha or Aranya Devi? |url=https://twitter.com/anarkaliofara/status/1717447341517525396 |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |language=en}}</ref>. On 25th October, 2023, a person went to the disputed site and by mistake the reality is claimed to have been exposed. On the Bottom Left part of the Idol, there seemed to be a head of lord [[The Buddha|Buddha]].

The [[Bhim Army]] has also taken cognizance of this fact and demanded an ASI Survey on the disputed place.

This has been the story of all the major Hindu Temples of India. For example, [[Jagannath Temple, Puri|Jagannath Puri]] is also believed to be a [[Buddha Vihar, Kalaburagi|Buddha Vihar]] and '''not''' a temple. [[Sabarimala Temple|Sabrimala]] also has similar claims. Similarly, other places like [[Konark Sun Temple|Konark]] has clear proof of being a Dhamma Chakra which is appropriated as a Hindu Temple.

Thus, Authentic facts can only be inferred once an ASI Survey is conducted on the disputed site.

== References ==