Every year, as India prepares for the joyous festival of Makar Sankranti, a mesmerizing phenomenon unfolds at the Madhusudan Temple on Mandar Parvat in Bihar’s Banka district. Just one day before the sun’s transition into Capricorn, the sacred kund—or pond—adjacent to the ancient temple mysteriously drains completely, leaving devotees in awe.
Nestled amidst the lush hills of Mandar Parvat, this site holds profound religious significance. Legends tie it directly to the epic Samudra Manthan, where gods and demons churned the ocean using the mountain as the churning rod. The Madhusudan Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, stands as a testament to this divine event, drawing pilgrims from far and wide.
Eyewitnesses describe the event with wonder. ‘It’s like magic,’ says local priest Pandit Ramakant Sharma. ‘The water level starts dropping rapidly around noon on the eve of Sankranti and by evening, the kund is bone dry. No pipes, no outlets—just gone.’ Scientists have puzzled over this for decades, proposing theories from underground aquifers to seismic activity, but no definitive explanation exists.
The phenomenon repeats unfailingly each year, synchronized precisely with the celestial calendar. Post-Sankranti, the water returns gradually over days, replenishing the kund to its full depth of over 20 feet. Devotees believe it’s Lord Vishnu’s leela, a divine play to remind humanity of cosmic rhythms.
Mandar Parvat itself is a treasure trove of mythology and archaeology. Ancient texts like the Mahabharata reference it, and geological surveys confirm its unique soapstone composition, ideal for the mythical churning. Nearby caves house rock-cut idols, adding layers to the site’s enigma.
As Makar Sankranti approaches, thousands flock here for holy dips and rituals. This year’s event promises heightened excitement with improved facilities and cultural programs. Whether divine intervention or natural wonder, the vanishing kund continues to captivate, bridging faith and science in an eternal dance.