Places of Attraction
Place of Attraction
| Sr.No | Place Name | Description | Photo Gallery |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MAHTHIN MAI MANDIR | A branch of the Harihoban Rajputs once ruled Bihiya. According to tradition, in 1528, the scion of the Bihiya Harihobans, whose name is given as either Ram Pal Singh or Bhopat Deo, raped a local Brahmin woman named Mathin or Mahini, in line with the custom of “taking of dola”, which allowed the local Rajput lord to sleep with a lower-caste woman on her wedding night.Mathin then committed suicide, but not before laying a curse upon the Harihobans, who eventually left Bihiya and moved to Ballia across the Ganges. A temple called the Mathin Dai was built in Bihiya in her memory. This legend still resonates with women of the region,especially Dalit women, as it encapsulates the sexual violence long perpetrated by upper-caste men against lower-caste women. When The Imperial Gazetteer of India was published in 1885, it mentioned the existence of Bihiya as a village of Shahabad district, with a station on the East Indian Railway. Bihiya was mentioned as being a center of local trade. A Bihiya Canal was also described, branching off from the Arrah Canal. Bihiya was first listed as a nagar panchayat town in the 1980s. |
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| 2 | GAYATRI MANDIR ARA | Gayatri is the personified form of the Gayatri Mantra, a popular hymn from Vedic texts. She is also known as Savitri, and bears the epithet of Vedamata (mother of the Vedas). Gayatri is often associated with Savitr, a solar deity in the Vedas. According to the Skanda Purana, Gayatri is another name of Saraswati, and is the consort of Brahma.Shaivite texts identify Mahagayatri as the consort of Shiva, in his highest form of Sadasiva, with five heads and ten hands. |
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| 3 | Belaur Surya Mandir | Belaur Sun Temple is located in Belaur village of Bhojpur district, 75 km from the capital Patna. Chhath fast has its own special significance in this temple. This temple is situated in the middle of Bhairavanand Pokhar of the village. According to Pintu Chaudhary, media in-charge of Surya Mandir Vikas Samiti Trust, performing Chhath in this pond has its own special significance. Here people come from far and wide to perform Chhath and ask for vows. At the same time, after the fulfillment of the vow, the devotees again come to the temple and perform Chhath. This tradition has been going on for decades.
President of Surya Mandir Vikas Samiti Trust Madheshwar Sharma said that this temple was built in 1506 by the then king Bawan Subwa. The temple fell into disrepair in later years. Mouni Baba (Karvasin) resident who came here in the year 2007 renovated the temple. Since then thousands of devotees from many states come here every year to perform Chhath. Madheshwar Sharma told that Mouni Baba had meditated at this place for 12 years before the renovation of the temple. |
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| 4 | HERITAGE PLACES OF ATTRACTION IN ARA | HERITAGE PLACES OF ATTRACTION IN ARA | 1-Place of Attraction |