Patna: A 32-foot-tall statue of Lord Shiva in Samkuda village, Masaurhi block of Patna, has become a centre of devotion and tourism during Sawan. The towering sculpture was created by Sanjeev Kumar, a resident of Samastipur and a student of Patna Art College, who began work on it during the Covid lockdown.
Sanjeev was stranded in the village when travel restrictions were imposed nationwide. Inspired by faith, he decided to create a statue of Shiva, beginning with the idea of a simple figure that eventually expanded into a 32-foot-tall masterpiece. “People come from far and wide to see the statue and offer their prayers. It is believed their wishes are fulfilled here,” Sanjeev said.
The journey of this site began in 1992 with the installation of a small Shivling alongside Shri Ram Vatika. Vinod Baba, priest of the temple, said the Shivling became a source of faith and worship for nearby villages, prompting the idea to build a grander statue. “There is no Shiva statue of this height anywhere in the district. It has become a temple of faith, especially crowded on Mondays and purnima,” he said.
After completion, a Pran Pratishtha ceremony was organised. Since then, thousands of devotees from Patna, Jehanabad, Nawada, Ara, Gaya and Hajipur visit the statue every Monday and on purnima to participate in Rudrabhishek rituals. The site also features a grand statue of Nandi Maharaj. Locals believe whispering their wishes into Nandi’s ears reaches Shiva directly.
