In Madhepura, Bihar, near the Parwane River, the Singheshwar Sthan is a holy place where people come to pray to Lord Shiva, known here as Singheshwar Nath, the granter of desires. Singheshwar Sthan, tied to the legendary Shringi Rishi is believed fulfill all kinds of wishes through true devotion.
History of Singheshwar Sthan
The Singheshwar Sthan is believed to date back to the Treta Yuga, linked to Ramayana tales. Local tradition holds that Shringi Rishi, the sage who performed the Putreshthi Yajna for King Dasharath, meditated here and established a Shivling, making it one of Madhepura’s oldest temples. Some say the Shivling is self-emerged, a divine gift from the Treta era. A merchant named Hari Charan Choudhury built the current temple about 200 years ago, though its roots go much further back.
Ancient texts like the Varaha Purana mention it, and British records from the 1800s noted its crowds. After India’s freedom in 1947, a local trust took over, with renovations in the 1990s to keep its old look. Saints have long sung Shiva’s praises here, making it famous across Mithilanchal and Nepal. Today, thousands visit singheshwar sthan madhepura for blessings.
Architecture of Singheshwar Sthan
The temple is built in that old North Indian style, strong and simple, made from local stone and bricks that give it a grounded, earthy feel. The main sanctum has the Shivling, it’s small but feels very powerful. People leave silver and gold offerings around it. The dome is low with a kalasha on top, like many temples in Bihar. The walls have carvings of Shiva and some floral patterns, faded over time but still visible.
In the courtyard, stone pillars show lotus designs and scenes from Ramayana. The entrance gopuram is simple, with old Shiva paintings that are faded but still respected. Inside, there are etched images of Durga and other gods, adding to the holy feeling. Nearby, the Shiv Ganga pond is used for ritual baths. There are seven old havan kunds, now in ruins, where Shringi Rishi used to do yajnas. Some marble floors were added during renovation, but the place still keeps its old, humble feel, making visitors feel close to Shiva.
Legends of Singheshwar Sthan
The temple has many old stories people still talk about. One says Shringi Rishi, after doing the Putreshthi Yajna for King Dasharath to bless him with sons, stayed here to worship Shiva. The Shivling, called Kamnalinga or “wish-fulfiller,” was placed here, believed to grant the wishes of devotees. Another tale from the Varaha Purana mentions a cow pouring milk on the Shivling, showing its divine power, which led locals to make a shrine. People believe praying with faith brings health, children, or success.
Locals also tell of miracles, like childless women having kids or sick people getting better after worship. The seven old havan kunds, now called Satokhar, are said to hold Shiva’s energy. Bathing in the Shiv Ganga pond before prayers is thought to cleanse the soul.
Rituals and Festivals
The temple becomes very lively during festivals, filled with devotion. Mahashivratri, around February or March, is the biggest celebration with night-long bhajans, milk offerings to Shiva, and a fair lasting about a month, attracting devotees from Bihar and even Nepal. During Sawan, in July or August, people light lamps daily and perform Ganga jal abhishek. The name Singheshwar Nath is believed to mean that no wish goes unfulfilled. Many visitors pray for children or good health, and when their wishes are granted, they offer bel leaves, milk, and coconuts. Even a simple pot of water is said to please Baba.
There’s also a custom of offering silver tridents or bells to baba singheshwar sthan, believed to bring faster blessings, though he is said to be pleased with just Ganga jal. The Shivratri fair, one of the largest in Bihar, has stalls and animal trading, making the temple grounds very lively. The Shiv Ganga pond draws devotees for ritual baths, thought to cleanse sins. People offer milk, bel leaves, fruits, and prasad wrapped in leaves, sprinkled with sandalwood.
Information for Travelers
Hours and Entry: Open every day, summer: 4:30 AM to 10:00 PM; winter: 5:00 AM to 9:30 PM; Shivratri and Sawan till 11:00 PM. It’s free to enter, but pujas cost ₹20–150. No photos in the main sanctum. You can see the Shivling from outside, and bathing in the Shiv Ganga pond is allowed before prayers. Only those in traditional clothes like dhoti or saree get close to the Shivling. Inside, smaller shrines for Durga and others have seven akhand jyots burning ghee.
How to Get There:
By Air: Patna Airport is the closest, around 200 km away. Flights come from Delhi in about 1.5 hours and from Kolkata in roughly 1 hour. From the airport, taxis usually take near 4 hours to reach the temple.
By Train: Dauram Madhepura Station sits 8 km away. Trains go to Patna in about 4 hours and Saharsa in about 1 hour. You can catch an auto-rickshaw from the station to the temple.
By Road: The temple is roughly 200 km from Patna via NH 107. Buses and shared autos run often. Parking is limited, there isn’t space right at the temple gate.
Best Time to Visit: October to March is cool, 10–25°C. Weekdays are quiet. Shivratri and Sawan see 50,000–2 lakh visitors, so come by 4 AM to avoid crowds.
Nearby Attractions
Nayanagar Durga Sthan: 35 km away, a Durga temple for wish fulfillment.
Kosi River: Around 20 km from the temple, quiet place to enjoy nature and the river.
Madhepura Museum: About 6 km away, has local old items and history displays.
Final Words
Singheshwar Sthan in Madhepura is very special to devotees. It mixes old Ramayana stories with strong faith of devotees towards Lord Shiva. The temple is seen as a place of Shiva’s blessings in Bihar, and many consider it a must-visit when exploring the state’s holy sites.
