Mundeshwari Temple

The Mundeshwari Devi Temple (IAST: Muṇḍeśvarī) is a Hindu temple, located at Ramgarh Village, 608 feet (185 m) on the Mundeshwari Hills of Kaimur plateau near Son River, in the Bhojpuri region of Indian state of Bihar. It is an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected monument since 1915.

It is an ancient temple which is believed to be dedicated to the worship of the goddess Durga and god Shiva, and is claimed as the oldest functional Hindu temple in the world. The findings also established that here was a religious and educational center spread over the hillock and Mandaleshwar (Shiva) temple was the main shrine. The Mandaleshwari (Durga) was on the southern side. The temple was damaged and the idol of Mandaleshwari (degenerated Mundeshwari and later connected with the mythical demon Mund) was kept in the eastern chamber of the main temple.

The ASI and Bihar State Religious Trust Board have claimed the temple as dating to 108 CE making it the oldest Hindu temple in the world. However, although Mundeshwari is likely to have been an important ancient site of pilgrimage with prior religious establishments, it is argued by historians of Hindu temple architecture that the existing architectural elements and sculptures are not older than the 6th-7th century, and the present octagonal shrine may have been built or rebuilt as recently as the 16th-17th century, although incorporating elements from earlier temples that existed at the hill.