What Is the Story Behind the Darbhanga Shyama Mai Temple

The Shyama Mai Temple, also called Rameshwari Shyama Mai Mandir, is one of Bihar most unusual and revered shrines. Located in Darbhanga, it is dedicated to Goddess Kali and holds a story that blends royal devotion with tantric tradition.

Shyama Mai

The temple's origin traces back to Maharaja Rameshwar Singh, a former ruler of the Darbhanga Raj and a devoted follower of Goddess Kali. According to local belief, after he died in 1933, his cremation was performed at this very spot. His son and successor, Maharaja Kameshwar Singh, later built a temple directly over his father's funeral pyre—an act considered rare in Hindu tradition, where cremation grounds are usually kept separate from places of worship.

Inside the sanctum, a large idol of Kali stands flanked by Mahakal and Ganapati on one side and Batuk Bhairav on the other. Local legend, drawn from the Mithila Ramayana, links the deity to Goddess Sita, said to have taken Kali's fierce form after the demon Sahasranand was slain.

Shyama Mai Temple

Today, the temple remains a major pilgrimage site, especially during Navratri, drawing devotees who follow both Vedic and Tantric worship practices.