Maa Van Devi Temple in Bihta, Bihar, is a centuries-old shrine associated with local folklore about a sacred forest and a restriction on entering the area after sunset. The temple, where the deity is worshipped as a sacred pind, became the inspiration for Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia’s The Vvaan: Force of the Forest.
The film has brought renewed attention to a relatively lesser-known religious site near Patna. Its unusual traditions, oral history and stories surrounding the forest have become central to the curiosity around The Vvaan.
But what is known about Maa Van Devi Temple Bihar, and which parts belong to documented history versus local folklore?
Where Is Maa Van Devi Temple in Bihar?
Maa Van Devi Temple is located near Bihta in Patna district, approximately 35 kilometres from Patna. The shrine is associated with the area around Amhara, Raghopur and Kanchanpur villages.
Unlike many famous temples, the shrine does not centre on a conventional sculpted idol. Maa Van Devi is worshipped in the form of a sacred pind, which remains the central object of worship.
The temple’s rural setting is also important to its identity. Local accounts describe the surrounding area as having once been covered by dense forest.
That connection between the shrine and the forest is one of the key elements that attracted the makers of The Vvaan.
How Old Is Maa Van Devi Temple?
Maa Van Devi Temple is generally believed to be around 350 to 400 years old, with local traditions placing its origins around the 16th century. However, the exact historical date has not been independently established through definitive archaeological records.
This distinction is important.
The temple’s age and origin are largely preserved through oral history, religious tradition and local folklore rather than a confirmed archaeological timeline.
That means the 400-year-old description should be understood as a traditional account associated with the shrine rather than a precisely verified construction date.
What Is the Legend Behind Maa Van Devi Temple?
According to local folklore, the story of Maa Van Devi is connected to a devotee named Vidyanand Mishra from Raghopur and his devotion to Maa Vindhyavasini of Vindhyachal.
The popular version of the story says that Mishra regularly travelled to Vindhyachal to worship the goddess. As he grew older, making the long journey became increasingly difficult.
According to the legend, Maa Vindhyavasini appeared to him in a dream and instructed him to bring a portion of her sacred pind closer to his home.
Mishra is believed to have followed those instructions and established the sacred pind in the forest near his village.
At the time, the shrine was reportedly not a large temple. The sacred object was housed in a simple hut.
Because the shrine stood in a forested area, the goddess gradually became associated with the name Van Devi, meaning the goddess of the forest.
The connection between Maa Van Devi and Maa Vindhyavasini remains part of local religious tradition and folklore rather than independently established history.
How Did the Simple Shrine Become a Temple?
Local accounts describe the temple as having developed gradually from a small shrine into the structure that exists today. One important phase is associated with saint Bhagwan Das Tyagi, who reportedly visited Amhara in 1958.
According to these accounts, Tyagi played a role in giving the structure around the sacred pind a more formal temple form.
Another significant phase of construction reportedly began on February 12, 1997, when local devotees undertook further development of the shrine.
Despite these changes, one distinctive feature has remained.
The deity continues to be worshipped as a sacred pind rather than through a conventional idol.
That unusual form of worship is one of the details that sets Maa Van Devi Temple apart from many better-known temples.
Why Is Nobody Allowed Into the Temple After Sunset?
One of the most intriguing traditions associated with Maa Van Devi Temple is the reported restriction on entering the temple and surrounding forest after sunset.
According to local belief, the temple closes in the evening and the priest leaves the premises. People are traditionally not expected to remain inside the temple or enter the surrounding forest after dark.
Local folklore says that Maa Van Devi is believed to remain or move around the premises during the night.
This belief has contributed significantly to the shrine’s mysterious reputation.
However, there is no established evidence proving that supernatural activity occurs at the temple after sunset. Reports describe the restriction as a longstanding religious and cultural tradition rooted in local folklore.
This distinction is particularly important when discussing the temple’s “mystery.” The supernatural elements belong to the belief system and oral traditions surrounding the shrine.
How Did Maa Van Devi Temple Inspire The Vvaan?
The folklore surrounding Maa Van Devi Temple became the starting point for The Vvaan: Force of the Forest. Writer Arunabh Kumar visited the shrine and spoke with local residents, priests and villagers while researching the stories associated with it.
Kumar has spoken about being drawn to the story of a forest where people were traditionally forbidden from going after sunset.
He subsequently shared the idea with director Deepak Kumar Mishra. The concept eventually reached producer Ektaa Kapoor, leading to the development of the film.
This gives The Vvaan a distinctive starting point: rather than being presented as a historical account of the temple, the film uses its folklore, atmosphere and supernatural traditions as cinematic inspiration.
What Is The Vvaan About?
The Vvaan: Force of the Forest is a fantasy adventure mystery starring Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia. The film draws from the folklore surrounding Van Devi and places those elements within a fictional cinematic story.
The film is directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra and written by Arunabh Kumar. It blends folklore, mystery, fantasy and action.
The temple’s real-world traditions therefore provide the cultural foundation, while the film expands that material into a larger fictional narrative.
Why The Vvaan Has Brought Attention To a Lesser-Known Bihar Temple
The connection between The Vvaan and Maa Van Devi Temple has introduced a wider audience to a lesser-known part of Bihar’s religious and folk traditions.
The shrine’s appeal comes from several unusual elements:
| Feature | What is known |
|---|---|
| Location | Near Bihta, Patna district, Bihar |
| Distance from Patna | Around 35 km |
| Age | Traditionally estimated at 350–400 years |
| Form of worship | Sacred pind rather than a conventional idol |
| Origin story | Connected in folklore to Maa Vindhyavasini |
| Forest connection | The shrine is associated with a formerly forested landscape |
| After-sunset tradition | Entry into the temple and forest is traditionally restricted |
| Film connection | Inspired the folklore behind The Vvaan |
Why It Matters
The interesting connection between The Vvaan and Van Devi Temple is not simply that a film used a real location or name. The movie has drawn from a living body of local folklore that has been passed down through generations.
That makes the temple relevant beyond the film itself. It offers a glimpse into how regional traditions and oral storytelling can become the foundation for mainstream Indian cinema.
The Vvaan: Force of the Forest is scheduled to release in theatres on September 25, 2026.
FAQ Section
What is the story of Maa Van Devi Temple?
Maa Van Devi Temple’s origin is linked through local folklore to devotee Vidyanand Mishra and Maa Vindhyavasini of Vindhyachal. The story says a sacred pind was brought to the forest near his village after a divine dream.
Where is Maa Van Devi Temple located?
Maa Van Devi Temple is located near Bihta in Patna district, Bihar, around 35 kilometres from Patna.
Is Maa Van Devi Temple really 400 years old?
The temple is traditionally believed to be around 350 to 400 years old, but its exact age has not been established through definitive archaeological records.
Why is Maa Van Devi Temple closed after sunset?
Local tradition restricts entry into the temple and surrounding forest after sunset. Folklore says Maa Van Devi is believed to remain in the area at night, although there is no evidence establishing supernatural activity.
Is The Vvaan based on a real story?
The Vvaan is inspired by the real folklore surrounding Maa Van Devi Temple in Bihar, but the film itself is a fictional cinematic story rather than a historical account of the shrine.
