A wave of devotion and excitement swept through the Naya Basti area of Madhavbari, as an ancient Shivling believed to be over 100 years old was unearthed during the reconstruction of a local mandir. The discovery, made at Holi Chowk behind the Durga mandir, has since transformed the site into a spiritual hub, drawing hundreds of devotees who have gathered to witness the sacred find and offer prayers.
For the last 15 days, the mandir committee had been overseeing renovation work at the small Bholenath mandir tucked behind the more prominent Durga mandir. As labourers worked to remove the mandirs old flooring, they began dismantling the foundation brick by brick. According to Santosh Kumar, a key member of the mandir committee, approximately seven layers of bricks were removed when the workers stumbled upon something unexpected; a Shivling, perfectly intact and embedded in the earth.
“It was a moment that gave all of us goosebumps,” said Santosh. “As soon as we saw the Shivling, we stopped all work. People from nearby homes rushed to the mandir, and in no time, the entire Holi Chowk area was filled with chants of ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and ‘Bam Bam Bhole.’ It felt like a divine blessing.” Word of the discovery spread quickly across the locality, and by evening, hundreds had gathered around the site. Some offered flowers and poured water over the Shivling as part of their spontaneous worship.
Locals believe the Shivling is part of the area’s spiritual history and was possibly buried during earlier renovations or hidden during times of turmoil. “It is not just a piece of stone; this is our heritage, our belief,” said 70-year-old Devki Nandan, a lifelong resident of Madhavbari. “To us, it’s a sign that Bholenath has chosen to bless us again.”
The mandir committee, moved by the overwhelming response of the community, has announced plans to preserve and reinstall the Shivling within the mandir itself. A special ceremony, complete with Vedic rituals and the presence of learned pandits, will be held to reinstall the Shivling in a newly designed sanctum. Additionally, the committee shared plans to transform the modest mandir into a grander spiritual complex that reflects the ancient roots of the site. “Our aim is to not only protect the Shivling but also to build a mandir that matches its glory and history,” said Rajeev Sharma, another committee member. “This will become a center of devotion for generations to come.”
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