Module 4: Hindu pilgrimage and sacred geography

📖 Chapter 2 of 7 🧩 Module 4 of 7 ⏱️ ~2 min read 💡 16 MCQs

Topic Part 1 of 2

Concept

Subtopic 4.1: Rivers, sun temples and shrines

Gaya, on the Phalgu (ancient Nairanjana), is the centre of pind daan. Devotees visit the Akshayavat, Brahmayoni Hill and the Sun Temple. The Vishnupad Temple, with Vishnu's footprints, was rebuilt in 1787 by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore.
The west-facing Deo Sun Temple is in Aurangabad district and is central to Chhath. Other sun temples stand at Gaya, Patna and across Magadha.
Someshwar Nath at Areraj in East Champaran is a Shiva temple of the Shravani Mela. Ajgaibinath stands on a rocky island in the north-flowing Ganga at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur; pilgrims draw water here for the yatra to Baidyanath Dham. One question in this paper marks the printed pair "Ajgaibinath – Bhagalpur" as not correctly matched, while another names Bhagalpur as the temple's district. Thawe in Gopalganj is the shrine of Thawe Bhawani. Kali Sthan and Annapurna Mandir are in Patna.
At Rohtasgarh, Raja Man Singh built or renovated the Mahadev, Harishchandra and Rohtasan temples. Mandar Hill in Banka is the mythic churning rod and carries Hindu, Jain and Buddhist carvings. Harihar Nath at Sonepur stands at the Ganga-Gandak confluence. The wooden Nepali Temple is at Hajipur. Ram Janaki Temple at Sitamarhi marks Sita's birthplace. Chaumukhi Mahadev is in Vaishali.

⭐ Key Points

Vishnupad at Gaya was rebuilt by Ahilyabai in 1787. Gaya stands on the Phalgu.
The Deo Sun Temple is in Aurangabad. Thawe is in Gopalganj and Ajgaibinath is at Sultanganj.
Mandar Hill is in Banka. The Nepali Temple is at Hajipur and Ram Janaki Temple at Sitamarhi.
Rohtasgarh's Mahadev, Harishchandra and Rohtasan temples are linked with Raja Man Singh.

📌 One-line Q&A

Question: Who rebuilt the Vishnupad Temple? Answer: Ahilyabai, in 1787.
Question: On which river is Gaya? Answer: the Phalgu.

Topic

Questions

MCQs

Answer this question, then use Next.

Question 20: Where is the pilgrimage site of Thawe located?

Thawe is in Gopalganj. It is a Shakti peeth of Durga (Thawe Bhawani).

Question 21: Which world-famous temple is situated at Areraj in East Champaran district?

The Someshwar Nath Shiva temple at Areraj draws Kanwariyas during the Shravani Mela.

Question 28: The famous Ajgaibinath Temple is located in:

Ajgaibinath is at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur, on a rocky island in the north-flowing Ganga.

Question 33: Which tourist attractions are situated in Rohtasgarh?

Raja Man Singh, Mughal governor in Akbar's reign, built or renovated these temples.

Question 35: Where is the Vishnupad Temple, a sacred place of Hindus, located?

Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore rebuilt the present temple in 1787 in black granite. It houses Vishnu's footprints.

Question 36: What is worth seeing for tourists in Gaya city?

For pind daan, devotees bathe in the Phalgu and visit the Akshayavat, the Sun Temple and Brahmayoni Hill.

Question 37: On the banks of which river is Gaya city situated?

Gaya stands on the sacred Phalgu, historically called the Nairanjana.

Question 84: In which of the following towns is the Sun Temple situated?

The ancient west-facing Deo Sun Temple is in Aurangabad district and is central to Chhath. Other sun temples stand at Gaya, Patna and across Magadha.

Question 85: Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

This question's key marks the pair Ajgaibinath–Bhagalpur as the one that is not correctly matched. The temple stands at Sultanganj, which lies in Bhagalpur district, and another question in the paper names Bhagalpur as its district.

Question 87: Where in Bihar is the historic Nepali Temple located?

This wooden pagoda-style Shiva temple at Hajipur, on the Ganga and Gandak, was built by a Nepalese commander.

Question 92: To whom does the credit for constructing the Vishnupad Temple in Gaya go?

Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore reconstructed the present temple in 1787.

Question 96: Match the temples with their locations. Temples: A. Harihar Mandir, B. Ram Janaki Mandir, C. Chaumukhi Mandir, D. Annapurna Mandir. Locations: 1. Patna, 2. Vaishali, 3. Sitamarhi, 4. Sonepur.

Harihar Mandir is in Sonepur, Ram Janaki Mandir in Sitamarhi, Chaumukhi Mandir in Vaishali and Annapurna Mandir in Patna.

Question 97: In which district is Mandar Giri, famous for Buddhist and Jain sculptures as well as Hindu mythology, located?

Mandar Hill in Banka is revered as the churning rod of the Samudra Manthan and carries Hindu, Jain and Buddhist carvings.

Question 98: Match the tourist spots with their districts. Spots: A. Ram Janaki Mandir, B. Imambara, C. Nepali Mandir, D. Mamu-Bhagne Mazar. Districts: 1. Sitamarhi, 2. Patna, 3. Hajipur, 4. Vaishali.

Ram Janaki Mandir is in Sitamarhi, the Imambara in Patna, the Nepali Mandir in Hajipur and the Mamu-Bhagne Mazar in Vaishali.

Question 103: Where is the famous Ram Janaki Temple situated?

The Ram Janaki Temple at Sitamarhi marks the birthplace of Sita.

Question 107: Match the religious places. Places: A. Vishnupad Mandir, B. Harimandir Sahib, C. Vishwa Shanti Stupa, D. Nepali Mandir. Locations: 1. Gaya, 2. Patna, 3. Rajgir, 4. Hajipur.

Vishnupad is in Gaya, Harimandir Sahib in Patna, the Vishwa Shanti Stupa in Rajgir and the Nepali Mandir in Hajipur.

Question 1 of 16

One-liners

Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.

Who rebuilt the Vishnupad Temple?

Ahilyabai, in 1787.

On which river is Gaya?

the Phalgu.

Question 1 of 2