Dungeshwari Cave Temple

✎ Dungeshwari cave temples, also known as Mahakala caves, is situated 12 km north-east of Bodhgaya, in Gaya District, Bihar.

✎ Dungeshwara temple was built in 7th and 10th century A.D. by Sakya prince.

✎ Gautama Siddhartha is believed to have piously meditated at this place for 6 years before he went to Bodhgaya for the final realization.

✎ Two small shrines are built to commemorate this phase of Buddha.

✎ A golden emaciated Buddha sculpture memorizing the rigid penance is enshrined in one of the cave temples and a large (about 6’ tall) Buddha’s statue in the other.

✎ A Hindu goddess deity Durgeshwari is also placed inside the cave temple.

✎ This temple is also popular as Sujata Sthan for local people.

✎ It is believed that when Buddha was doing his self-mortification, he became frail, feeble and starved then a village woman named Sujata offered him food. Buddha accepted her offerings and consumed the food; his explicit approval presented him with a divine truth that neither extreme self-indulgence nor self-abasement is the right way to attain enlightenment. Buddha attained the knowledge that following the middle path will lead to attaining the supreme nirvana. This temple stands as a symbol commemorating this event.

✎ Timings of the temple are 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

✎ Entry is free for all people in this temple.