Overview
Patan Devi Temple, in Patna, Bihar, also known as Maa Patneshwari, is the oldest and among the most sacred temples in the city, and one of the 51 Siddha Shakta pithas. According to Puranic legend, Sati's right thigh fell here after Vishnu's Sudarshana Chakra dismembered her body. The temple complex comprises two linked shrines: Badi Patan Devi in Maharajganj and Chhoti Patan Devi in Chowk.
History
Patan Devi Temple is said to date back to the Mauryan era, around 300 BCE, under Emperor Ashoka, making it one of the more anciently dated sites referenced on this platform. The present buildings likely date from between the 9th and 11th centuries CE, with major repairs carried out by Man Singh, a general under the Mughal Emperor Akbar, during the 16th-17th centuries.
Spiritual Significance
The city of Patna's own name is widely believed to derive from Badi Patan Devi Temple, giving this Shakti Peetha an unusually direct and well-documented relationship to the naming and identity of a major Indian state capital, distinct from most other Shakti Peethas covered on this platform.
Scriptures & Texts
Editorial note: Scripture references below are based on widely cited scholarly and traditional sources. Specific verse citations should be independently verified before publication.
Patneshwari's identification with Sati's right thigh is documented in Puranic and Shakti Peetha Stotram literature. Specific verse-level citation requires expert verification before publication.
Prayers at Patan Devi Temple, Patna
जय अम्बे गौरी, मैया जय श्यामा गौरी
नमो नमो दुर्गे सुख करनी।नमो नमो अम्बे दुःख हरनी॥
अयि गिरिनन्दिनि नन्दितमेदिनि विश्वविनोदिनि नन्दिनुते गिरिवरविन्ध्यशिरोऽधिनिवासिनि विष्णुविलासिनि जिष्णुनुते।
ॐ अस्य श्रीचण्डीकवचस्यब्रह्मा ऋषिः अनुष्टुप् छन्दः
ॐ अस्य श्रीअर्गलास्तोत्रमन्त्रस्य विष्णुर्ऋषिः अनुष्टुप् छन्दः
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये
Pilgrimage Information
When to visit: October to February offers the most comfortable weather; Navratri draws the largest crowds.
Getting there: Located within Patna city, which has its own airport and major railway station.
Family Suitability
Well suited to families of all ages, given the easy urban access and lack of any trekking requirement.
Accommodation
Patna offers a full range of accommodation, being the capital of Bihar.
Local Services
Full urban services are available throughout Patna.
Do’s & Don’ts
Do
- Visit both linked shrines, Badi Patan Devi in Maharajganj and Chhoti Patan Devi in Chowk, given their shared identity as one Shakti Peetha.
- Learn about the temple's direct connection to the city's own name.
- Dress modestly, as at any active Hindu temple.
Don’t
- Don't visit only one of the two linked shrines without being aware the other exists as part of the same Shakti Peetha tradition.
Nearby Sacred Locations
- Popular Shakti Peeths of India (overview)
This platform's overview of the wider pan-India Shakti Peetha cluster.
Preservation
As a historically significant temple within a major state capital, Patan Devi Temple benefits from ongoing Bihar state heritage and temple-trust conservation investment.
Giving Back
Support the temple through its own official trust donation channels, and use registered guides for a respectful, well-informed visit to Patna.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-07-10. Scaffolding content: This page was seeded with well-known public information for development purposes and is pending full editorial review before publication.