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On
the eastern embankment of Benusagar tank in the Singhbhum district
of Bihar, there is a sacred place called Devasthan, where invaluable
sculptural pieces from the ruined temples are placed by the
archeological department. It houses in its enclosure several remains
of ancient temples both in mutilated and well preserved condition.
Among them, there are eight phallic emblems of Siva together with
foundations of four temples. The materials used for them were bricks
and stones - chlorite and laterite as well. The existence of eight
lingas prove that there were eight Siva temples in the past with all
the Saivate gods enshrined in a befitting manner in the side niches.
Though regular worship is not conducted, nor periodical festivals
are celebrated, the Ashtasambhus preserved in the Devasthan are
drawing the attention of theists and religionists. Despite their
glory is obscured and chronicles are silent, the novelty of the
number and oddity deserve reverent attention and visitation for
adoration.
It
lies 10 km off Majgaon in the Singhbhum district of Bihar accessible
by four wheelers from several towns nearby.
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