Ranchi Nag Temple Jharkhand

Ranchi Nag Mandir is located atop the Tungri Hill (locally known as Pahari Mandir) in Ranchi, the capital city of Jharkhand. To reach the temple, devotees must climb about 468 steps to the top of the hill.The main deity of the Nag Mandir is Nag Devta (Serpent God), worshipped in the form of a serpent idol inside a cave.

The Nag Mandir, according to local belief, is over 500 years old and was originally worshipped by tribal priests. Over time, Hindu Brahmin priests also began conducting rituals, symbolizing a harmonious blend of tribal and Vedic traditions.

This temple is part of the larger Pahari Mandir complex, which also houses a Shiva Lingam, along with shrines of Hanuman, Kali, and Durga. Devotees offer milk, turmeric, incense, and flowers to the Nag Devta to seek protection from snake afflictions and for blessings related to health, fertility, and prosperity.

Architecture

The Nag Mandir is a natural cave shrine located just below the main Shiva temple. The hilltop is dotted with several temples built in traditional North Indian Nagara-style architecture, but the Nag shrine itself retains a rustic and sacred charm. The pathway to the shrine is steep and lined with hand railings, and there are open platforms for rituals and rest. The hill also has flagpoles for hoisting the national flag on Independence Day and Republic Day, a unique tradition.

Sthalapurana

Long ago, the Tungri hill where the temple now stands was a quiet and untouched place surrounded by forests. The tribal communities living in the area believed that a powerful pair of serpents—a Nag and a Nagin—lived inside a cave on the hill. These serpents were not ordinary snakes but were considered divine beings sent to protect the land and its people. The tribals worshipped them with great devotion, offering milk, turmeric, flowers, and incense.

According to the legend, the serpents would occasionally appear during special days such as Nag Panchami. It is believed that the Nag and Nagin protected the area from drought, disease, and misfortune. Their presence brought blessings of fertility to women and prosperity to families. The hill became sacred, and people began visiting the place regularly to offer prayers.

Over time, as Hindu traditions spread in the region, the hill became associated with Lord Shiva, who is closely linked to serpents in Hindu mythology. A Shiva lingam was installed on the hilltop, and a temple was built above the serpent cave. However, the worship of the Nag Devta continued as an important part of the rituals.Tribal priests, known as Pahans, performed the initial puja to the serpents, and then Brahmin priests performed the Shiva rituals. This showed a beautiful blend of tribal and Hindu customs.

The cave shrine where the Nag and Nagin were believed to reside became known as the Nag Mandir. Devotees believed that anyone who prayed sincerely at the cave would be cured of snake-related fears, black magic, infertility, and other afflictions. People say that even today, during Nag Panchami, serpents appear in or around the cave to bless the devotees.

The main festivals celebrated at the Ranchi Nag Mandir include Nag Panchami, Shravan month, and Maha Shivaratri. During Nag Panchami, devotees offer milk and prayers to the serpent deity in the cave shrine. In the holy month of Shravan, worshippers climb the hill with sacred water to offer it to Lord Shiva, also praying at the Nag Mandir. On Maha Shivaratri, special rituals and night-long prayers are held at the temple.