Chaumukhi Mahadeva Temple is located at Kamman Chapra in Vaishali district of Bihar. It is a 4th Century temple which is dedicated to Hindu God Lord Shiva. The shrine is also known as "Vikramaditya Chaumukhi Mahadev Mandir". The main deity has 4 faces and attracts many devotees. It is a lingam built of black stone with four faces of Lord Shiva carved on it. This black basalt, four-headed Shivalingam is called "Chaumukhi Mahadeva" which was discovered when a reservoir was being dug.
The temple lost its prominence during the 5th Century AD as a result of the attack of foreign invaders. The Shivalingam was rediscovered around 150 year ago while digging a well in the region. People have now built a temple around the Shivalingam.
Legends of Chaumukhi Mahadeva Temple
Legend has it that temple existed during the "Ramayana" period. Bhagavan Sri Ram, Lakshman and Sage Vishwamitra visited the temple while on their way to kingdom of Janaka.
It is believed that Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavir stayed in the shrine. There is a local tradition that the limits of the ancient city are marked by four Shivalingams at its four corners, of which the two northern ones are still visible, while the two southern one are hidden and hence are called as "Gupta Mahadevas".
Structure of Chaumukhi Mahadeva Temple
The north-western shrine and the lingam are quite modern but may be marking the site of an earlier Shaiva shrine. The north-eastern lingam is an ancient Chaumukhi Mahadev, i.e. a four-faced lingam that stands inside a pit and evidently represents the remains of a brick temple.
The murti worshipped in the Chaumukhi Mahadev Temple is a very rare one. It faces south – the third eye of one of the faces is open and it faces south. The temple is a midpoint between Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi and Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar.
Celebrations at Chaumukhi Mahadeva Temple
The most important festival in the temple happens during Shivaratri, Shravan month and Shravan Purnima.
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