Shitala Devi Temple, Agam Kuan (Patna)
Shitala Devi, with the Saptamatrikas (seven mother goddesses) temple · Patna (Gulzarbagh), Patna, Bihar, India
The Shitala Devi (Shitla Mata) Temple stands beside Agam Kuan, the ancient 'unfathomable well', a short distance south-west of Gulzarbagh railway station in Patna, Bihar. The Bihar Directorate of Archaeology describes the site as famous for two relics wrapped in legend: the well, linked with the emperor Ashoka, and the temple of Shitala Devi.
The temple houses an image of Shitala Devi together with the pindas (aniconic stone forms) of the Saptamatrikas, the seven mother goddesses. It remains an active place of worship.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Shitala Devi Temple, Agam Kuan (Patna)
The Directorate of Archaeology calls Shitala the goddess of smallpox, and says the temple is revered not only for protection from smallpox but also by devotees seeking the fulfilment of all kinds of wishes. Wikipedia adds that chickenpox is also associated with her worship here.
The shrine and the well are treated as one sacred place. Incredible India notes that families seek the goddess's blessing before marriages and journeys, and that devotees toss flowers and coins into the well, which is regarded as auspicious. The district administration records that although the well water is venerated, it is never drunk.
The temple remains a prominent shrine in the city: in October 2026, IANS reported that the former chief minister Nitish Kumar prayed at the Sheetla Mata Temple in Agamkuan as part of a round of Patna's major temples.
Heritage
History of Shitala Devi Temple, Agam Kuan (Patna)
The age of the temple building is not recorded in the sources consulted, but the site around it is old. When Alexander Cunningham visited in 1879–80 he reported several ancient and medieval sculptures here, including a Yaksha in the Mauryan style; the Directorate of Archaeology notes that its whereabouts are now unknown.
In the 1890s the explorer L. A. Waddell identified Agam Kuan with the 'hell' that, according to Chinese pilgrims of the 5th and 7th centuries, Ashoka built to torture prisoners. A popular legend holds that Ashoka threw 99 of his brothers into the well to win the throne; Wikipedia notes that no skeletal remains have been found to support this. A Jain legend tells of the monk Sudarshana, thrown in by a king named Chand, who was found seated on a lotus floating on the water.
Local belief, recorded by the Patna district administration, holds that the well reaches down to Patala, the netherworld. Incredible India adds that Mughal officials are said to have thrown gold and silver coins into it as offerings. The site is protected by the Bihar Directorate of Archaeology.
Architecture and sacred features
The well that gives the site its name is circular, a little over 20 feet across and recorded as 105 feet deep, according to the Directorate of Archaeology. The top 44 feet are lined with finely worked brick and the lower 61 feet are held by a series of wooden rings. Eight arched openings at regular intervals just above ground are its most distinctive feature; Incredible India notes that the roofed structure over the well dates from Akbar's reign.
The Shitala Devi temple adjoins the well. The sources consulted do not describe its architecture in detail.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
This is an active temple within a protected archaeological site. Dress modestly, follow the instructions of the priests and site staff, and do not damage the structure of the well. Confirm current darshan timings with the temple or the Bihar Directorate of Archaeology before visiting.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
Location
How to Reach Shitala Devi Temple, Agam Kuan (Patna)
The site is a short distance south-west of Gulzarbagh railway station, on the road to Panch Pahadi, according to the Bihar Directorate of Archaeology and the Patna district administration. Incredible India lists Patna Junction as the main railway station and Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport as the nearest airport.
Location: Patna (Gulzarbagh), Patna, Bihar, India
Nearest airport: Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport, Patna (per Incredible India)
Nearest railway station: Gulzarbagh (a short distance north-east, per the Bihar Directorate of Archaeology); Patna Junction is the main station
More in Hindu temples in Bihar · Shitala Devi, with the Saptamatrikas (seven mother goddesses) temples · Temples in Patna Rural Block · Temples in Patna District
Questions
Shitala Devi Temple, Agam Kuan (Patna): Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Shitala Devi temple in Patna?
It is at Agam Kuan, a short distance south-west of Gulzarbagh railway station on the road to Panch Pahadi.
What is Agam Kuan?
Agam Kuan, meaning 'unfathomable well', is an ancient circular well linked by legend to Ashoka. The Bihar Directorate of Archaeology records it as 105 feet deep, with brick lining above and wooden rings below.
Which deities are worshipped at the temple?
Shitala Devi, along with the pindas of the Saptamatrikas, the seven mother goddesses.
Why do devotees visit the Shitala temple?
The Directorate of Archaeology describes Shitala as the goddess of smallpox. The Directorate of Archaeology notes that devotees also come to seek the fulfilment of their wishes, and families seek her blessing before weddings and journeys.
Is the Agam Kuan water drunk?
No. According to the Patna district administration, the water is venerated but never drunk. Devotees instead offer flowers and coins into the well.
Did Ashoka really throw his brothers into Agam Kuan?
That is a popular legend. Wikipedia notes that no skeletal evidence has been found to support it.
Sources and attribution
- Directorate of Archaeology, Government of Bihar — Archaeological Sites – Agam Kuan, Patna (archived 2016)
- District Administration, Patna (NIC) — The Explorations and Excavations at Patna: Agamkuan, Kharaunia & Stone Trough (archived 2015)
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) — Agam Kuan, Patna
- The Hans India (IANS) — Nitish Kumar visits prominent temples in Patna, prays for Bihar's prosperity and harmony (18 October 2026)
- Wikipedia — Agam Kuan
Further reading: Shitala Devi Temple, Agam Kuan (Patna) on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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