Located on the Ramgarh hills of Kaimur district, the Mundeshwari Devi Temple is a historical treasure. According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the temple inscriptions date back to 108 CE, making it the oldest continuously functional temple in India, where rituals have been performed without interruption for nearly 2,000 years.
1. The Octagonal Plan
The temple is built in a rare octagonal plan using stone slabs, representing the early Nagara style of temple architecture. The walls contain beautifully carved niches depicting Hindu deities like Ganesha, Surya, and Vishnu.
2. The Deities
The main sanctum houses a rare four-faced Panchamukhi Shivalinga and Goddess Mundeshwari. The temple has been a major center of Shaivite and Shakta worship since the Gupta period.
3. The Bloodless Sacrifice
One of the unique features of the temple is the bloodless animal sacrifice ritual (Sankalpa), where goats are brought before the deity, flowers are showered, and the animal is temporarily put to sleep and released unharmed. We explain how to reach Mundeshwari from Bhabua.
