Aranya Devi Temple, Arrah

Aranya Devi Temple is a Hindu temple located in Arrah of Bihar in India. Ara, the headquarters of Bhojpur district is named after the goddess of this temple. The goddess established here is considered to be the presiding deity of the city and is the deity of the people there.

According to Devi Bhagavata Purana, this temple, recognized from Satya Yuga to Kali Yuga, is also a Siddh Pitha along with 108 Shakti Pithas. The building of the temple is not very old but there is a description of worship from ancient times. Many legends are prevalent about this temple established in 2005. It is associated with the Mahabharata period. It is also linked to the context of Lord Rama's visit to Janakpur.

At present, due to the dilapidated condition of the temple building, a new multi-storey building is under construction by demolishing the old one.

History and legends
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.

The story is also that there was only the idol of Adishakti at that place in ancient times. There was a forest around this temple. The Pandavas stayed in Arrah during their exile. Pandavas worshiped Adishakti. The goddess indicated in a dream to the eldest Pandava Dharmaraj Yudhishthira that he should install the statue of Maa Aranya Devi. Then Dharmaraj Yudhishthir installed the statue of Aranya Devi here. King Mayurdhwaj used to rule this place in Dvapara Yuga. During his reign, Lord Krishna came here with Pandu's son Arjuna. Shri Krishna, testing the king's charity, asked the king for the meat of his son's right organ for his lion's food. When the king and queen started tearing their son apart for meat with a saw, the goddess appeared and gave them darshan.

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. In this temple, in the year 1953, apart from Lord Ram, Lakshman, Sita, Bharata, Shatrughna and Hanuman, the idols of other deities were installed.