At this temple, drunk visitors are punished — blood oozes from nose and ears

Bhagalpur (The Uttam Hindu): In Sardoh village, about five kilometers from Bihar's Bhagalpur district, lies an ancient Badi Kali temple, renowned far and wide for its beliefs and mysteries. The most prominent belief here is that anyone who enters the temple premises under the influence of alcohol or any other intoxicant will incur the goddess's wrath and face some untoward incident.

There's a warning written at the temple entrance: "Entry to the temple of Maa Kali while intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol is strictly prohibited." Locals firmly believe that anyone who breaks this rule falls mysteriously ill, the cause of which is beyond even the understanding of doctors.

Village resident Vinay Jha says he has seen people ignore this warning many times. Some people have drunk alcohol and suddenly become dizzy, while others have started bleeding from their noses and ears. When they were taken to a doctor, no clear cause of their illness could be found. People believe that Goddess Kali herself punishes those who come drunk. This is why the atmosphere here is always filled with purity and devotion, and even people from nearby villages don't dare break this rule.

There's a festive atmosphere at the temple these days, as the annual Maa Kali puja is scheduled to take place in 10 days. The temple and surrounding area are ablaze with lights, and artisans are busy decorating the pavilion and archways day and night. Shekhar Suman, who personally renovated the temple, says that thanks to the goddess's grace, the temple is even more magnificent than before. This year, artists and priests from various states will participate in the puja. Besides, Bhojpuri cinema's famous singer, Chhaila Bihari, will also perform at the bhajan evening.

While the temple punishes indiscipline, the Mother Goddess also showers her unending blessings on those who truly worship her. Locals recount a woman cleaning the temple daily and praying for the release of her jailed husband. Within a few months, her husband was released without any recommendation. In another incident, an elderly man prayed for the health of his ailing wife and lit a lamp at the Mother Goddess's feet for 11 days, after which his wife miraculously recovered.

This temple is not just a place of worship, but a living symbol of devotion and discipline, which gives the message that only pure mind and true devotion are accepted in the court of the Goddess.