The Vvaan: All about the 400-year-old Devi temple in Bihar that inspired the film

Actors Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia’s upcoming film The Vvaan: Force of the Forest has brought attention to a little-known temple in Bihar. The film draws inspiration from the folklore surrounding the Maa Van Devi Temple near Bihta, a shrine associated with stories of a sacred forest, mysticism and a long-standing restriction on entering the area after sunset.The film’s makers have also spoken about their visit to the temple while developing the story. Writer Arunabh Kumar and director Deepak Kumar Mishra visited the shrine, where they spoke to priests, villagers and local residents about the legends associated with Van Devi.But what is the story of the temple, and how did it inspire The Vvaan? Here is everything you need to know.Where is Maa Van Devi Temple?Maa Van Devi Temple is located near Bihta in Patna district, around 35 km from Patna. Unlike most of the well-known temples, the shrine does not have a large idol of the goddess. Van Devi is worshipped in the form of a sacred pind, which is the central object of worship. Ektaa Kapoor and Arunabh Kumar at Maa Van Devi temple in Bihta. Photo: Instagram The temple is surrounded by a rural landscape that was once believed to be covered by dense forest. Its relatively secluded setting and local legends have made it a popular destination for those interested in Bihar’s religious traditions and folklore.How old is the Van Devi Temple?The shrine is believed to be around 350 to 400 years old. Some accounts, including those cited by the filmmakers, trace its origins to the 16th century. However, there is no confirmed archaeological record to establish the temple’s exact age. The 16th-century origin is therefore part of the shrine’s oral history and local tradition.Over the years, the temple itself has undergone changes, while the stories surrounding the deity have continued to be passed down through generations. Arunabh Kumar at the temple. Photo: Instagram What is the story behind Van Devi?According to local folklore, the story of Van Devi is connected to a devotee named Vidyanand Mishra from Raghopur.Mishra is said to have been a devoted worshipper of Maa Vindhyavasini at Vindhyachal. As he grew older, travelling to Vindhyachal became increasingly difficult for him.Legend says that the goddess appeared to him in a dream and instructed him to bring a portion of her sacred pind to his village.Following the goddess's instructions, Mishra is believed to have brought the sacred pind back and established it in the forest near his home. At the time, the shrine was not a grand temple. The pind was reportedly kept inside a simple hut.As the shrine was located in the middle of the forest, the goddess came to be known locally as Van Devi, meaning the Goddess of the Forest.The story also explains the temple's connection with Maa Vindhyavasini of Vindhyachal, although this remains part of local religious tradition and folklore.From a hut to a templeThe shrine gradually developed from its humble beginnings.A significant chapter in its modern history is linked to saint Bhagwan Das Tyagi, who is said to have visited Amhara in 1958 for a yajna. Local accounts credit him with helping give the structure around the sacred pind a more formal temple form.Further development took place decades later. On February 12, 1997, local devotees began another phase of construction and development at the shrine.Despite these changes, one distinctive feature has remained: the goddess continues to be worshipped as a pind rather than through a conventional idol. The Vvaan makers recently visited the Van Devi temple. Photo: Instagram Why is nobody allowed into the temple after sunset?One of the most intriguing traditions associated with Van Devi is the restriction on entering the forest and temple after sunset.According to local folklore, people were traditionally warned against entering the forest after dark. Over generations, the restriction became an important part of the story surrounding the shrine.Once the temple closes in the evening, the priest leaves and nobody is believed to remain inside the premises.Local belief holds that Maa Van Devi herself is then present in the temple and moves around the premises at night. This has contributed to the shrine's mysterious reputation.There is, however, no evidence establishing that supernatural activity takes place there after dark. The restriction is better understood as a long-standing local tradition, closely tied to the folklore and religious beliefs surrounding the temple.How did the temple inspire The Vvaan?The folklore surrounding Van Devi became the starting point for The Vvaan: Force of the Forest.Writer Arunabh Kumar has spoken about visiting the temple and researching the stories associated with it. He said he spoke to local residents, priests and villagers to understand the legends surrounding the shrine.In an interview with ANI, Kumar said the story of a forest where people were forbidden from going after sunset caught his attention. He later shared the story with director Deepak Kumar Mishra.The two eventually took the idea to producer Ektaa Kapoor, who, according to Kumar, felt that the story had the potential to become a big-screen film. The filmmakers' visit was therefore not simply about the temple's physical appearance. They were interested in the oral traditions, beliefs and supernatural folklore that have grown around the shrine.The Vvaan takes inspiration from this world of folklore and transforms it into a cinematic story. The film, however, should not be treated as a historical account of the temple or its legends.For visitors, the Van Devi Temple offers a glimpse into a lesser-known part of Bihar's religious landscape, one where a sacred pind, an old forest tradition and generations of local storytelling continue to shape the identity of a shrine.The Vvaan releases in theatres on September 25.- EndsPublished By: shweta keshriPublished On: Sep 24, 2026 14:06 IST