Nawada Bhagwati Sthan

Nawada Bhagwati Sthan, located in Navada village approximately 5 kilometers northwest of Benipur in Darbhanga district, is one of the 52 revered Shakti Peethas in India and holds a special place in Mithila's spiritual landscape. According to the Devi Bhagavat Purana and Matsya Purana, this sacred site marks the spot where the left shoulder (Vama Skandha) of Goddess Sati fell when Lord Shiva, grief-stricken by her self-immolation at Daksha's yajna, carried her charred body in a state of divine anguish. The temple's historical establishment is attributed to Raja Hayahatta approximately 600 years ago, who installed the original murti of Jagadamba at this location. A remarkable aspect of the temple's history involves a devoted sadhu from Havidih village in the Baheri block, who, after years of daily worship, was divinely inspired in his old age to carry the original murti to his village, where it continues to be worshipped to this day. What makes Nawada Bhagwati Sthan truly unique is that the temple now practices 'Nirakar' (formless) worship—devotees venerate the sacred throne (Singhasan) itself, which is shaped like an ear, symbolizing the body part of the Goddess that sanctified this ground. Archaeological evidence suggests that the throne and other artifacts at the site date back to the Gupta period, indicating the temple's ancient origins that predate even Raja Hayahatta's formal establishment. The temple gained significant prominence in the 13th century and has been a continuous center of devotion, with pilgrims visiting throughout the year, particularly during Navratri and Durga Puja. The Nawada Bhagwati Sthan represents a profound synthesis of Puranic mythology, medieval royal patronage, and living folk traditions, embodying the Maithil understanding of the divine feminine as both immanent and transcendent