India
oi-Madhuri Adnal
Siddharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia’s ‘The Vvan: Force of the Forest’ has brought attention to the lesser-known Maa Van Devi Temple near Bihta in Bihar’s Patna district.
The temple, believed to be around 350 to 400 years old, is associated with local folklore and traditions that became part of the inspiration behind the film. During the research, the film’s writer visited the shrine and spoke to priests, villagers and local residents about its history and beliefs.
The ancient Maa Van Devi Temple near Bihta, Patna district, Bihar, known for worshipping the goddess as a pind and restricting forest entry after dark, served as inspiration for the film ‘The Vvan: Force of the Forest’.
Where is Maa Van Devi Temple?
The Maa Van Devi Temple is located near Bihta, around 35 km from Patna.
Unlike temples where the deity is represented by a traditional idol, Van Devi is worshipped here in the form of a sacred pind. The shrine is located amid a forest, which is also linked to the name Van Devi, meaning the goddess of the forest.
The story behind Van Devi
According to local folklore, the shrine is associated with a devotee named Vidyanand Mishra from Raghopur, who is said to have worshipped Maa Vindhyavasini and regularly travelled to Vindhyachal.
As he grew older, the journey became difficult. The local story says that the goddess appeared to him in a dream and asked him to bring a portion of her sacred pind to his village.
Mishra is believed to have followed the instruction and installed the pind in a forest near his village. Worship initially took place at the site in a small hut.
Over time, the shrine developed into a temple, while the tradition of worshipping the deity as a sacred pind continued.
The belief after sunset
Another belief associated with the temple concerns the forest after sunset.
According to local tradition, people are discouraged from entering the forest after dark. Once the temple closes in the evening, the priest is also said to leave the premises, with no one staying inside overnight.
It was this particular belief that caught the attention of ‘The Vvan’ writer Arunabh Kumar during his visit to the temple.
How the temple inspired ‘The Vvan’
While researching the story, Arunabh Kumar visited the temple and spoke to local priests, villagers and residents. In an interview with ANI, he said the belief about people not entering the forest after sunset stood out to him.
Kumar later discussed the idea with director Deepak Kumar Mishra before presenting it to producer Ektaa Kapoor. According to Kumar, Kapoor was interested in the concept.
The folklore surrounding Maa Van Devi Temple eventually became one of the starting points for ‘The Vvan: Force of the Forest’.
The film develops these elements into a fictional story, while the temple itself remains rooted in the local traditions and folklore of the area.
