HildaCorley2963 at 12:20, 30 April 2026

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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Agam Kuan
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| settlement_type = Archaeological
| image_skyline = Agam Kuan.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Agam Kuan
| nickname =
| location =
| pushpin_map= India Bihar#India
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption= Location of Agam Kuan
| coordinates = {{coord|25|35|53|N|85|11|48|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[India]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Bihar]]
| subdivision_type2 = Metro
| subdivision_name2 = [[Patna]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body = [[Patna Municipal Corporation]]
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total =
| population_as_of =
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 800007
| registration_plate =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Agam Kuan''' ("unfathomable well") is an ancient well and archaeological site in [[Patna]], [[Bihar]], India. It is said to date back to the period of [[Maurya Empire|Mauryan emperor]], [[Ashoka]] (304–232 BCE). It is circular in shape, lined with brick in the upper {{convert|13|m}} and wooden rings in the remaining {{convert|19|m}}.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

The Agam Kuan is set within an archaeological site identified by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] which also contains the adjacent [[Shitala Mata Temple, Patna|Shitala Devi temple]] where the [[Shaktism|Shakti]] deity [[Shitala]] Devi is venerated. Inside this temple, the [[Pinda (riceball)|pindas]] of the [[Saptamatrikas]] (the seven mother goddesses) are worshipped. The temple is widely revered for its belief in curing [[smallpox]] and [[chicken pox]].

==Location==
Agam Kuan is situated close to the [[Gulzarbagh]] railway station,<ref name=doa/> on the way to [[Panch Pahadi]], on the outskirts of Patna, [[Bihar]] [[States and territories of India|state]]. It is east of Patna and south-west of [[Gulzarbagh Station]].<ref name=Patna>{{Cite web|url=http://dc-patna.bih.nic.in/Brief_History/ExploExcav.aspx |title=The Explorations and Excavations at Patna: Agamkuan, Khaaunia & Stone Trough |publisher=National Informatics Centre |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402111944/http://dc-patna.bih.nic.in/Brief_History/ExploExcav.aspx |archive-date=2 April 2015 }}</ref> India

==According to the legend==
During the 1890s, the British explorer, [[Laurence Waddell]], while exploring the ruins of [[Pataliputra]], identified Agam Kuan as the legendary well built by [[Ashoka]] for the purpose of torture before he embraced [[Buddhism]],{{Sfn|Vishnu|1993|p=173}} as part of [[Ashoka's Hell]] chambers.{{Sfn|Kapoor|2002|p=4741}} The torture practice was also reported by Chinese travellers (most probably [[Fa Hien]]) of the 5th and 7th centuries A.D.<ref name=doa>{{cite web |title=Agam Kuan |url=http://yac.bih.nic.in/Da-01.htm#AgamKuan |publisher=Directorate of Archaeology, Government of Bihar, official website |access-date=15 September 2008 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181914/http://yac.bih.nic.in/Da-01.htm#AgamKuan |url-status=dead }}</ref> The well is stated to have been used to torture convicts by throwing them into the fire that used to emanate from the well. Ashoka's Edict no. VIII makes mention of this well, which was also known as "fiery well" or "hell on earth".{{Sfn|Vishnu|1993|p=173}} Another popular legend states that this was the well where Ashoka threw 99 of his elder half-brother's heads and put the heads in the well to obtain the throne of the [[Mauryan Empire]].<ref name=doa/> However, in [[archaeological]] surveys, no evidence of head bones or a skeleton has been discovered from the well, which contradicts the Buddhist Sinhalese legend.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.35492|title=Annual Report Of The Archaeological Survey Of India|last=Blakiston|first=J. F.|date=1928 |pages=34–36}}</ref>

According to a myth, the well has a subterranean link with the [[Patala]] ([[Underworld|netherworld]]) or hell; this was inferred on the basis that a saint found a heavy log in the well which was supposed to have been lost in the sea. Another geo-hydrological link suggested that Agam Kuan is connected to the [[Ganges river]].<ref name=Patna/>{{Sfn|Sinha|1999|p=34-35, 59}} {{Sfn|O’Brien|p=17}} The site is also connected with several [[Jain]] legends, the most notable of them being that of a Jain monk, Sudarshana, who, when thrown into the well by a king named Chand, floated to the surface and was found seated on a lotus.<ref name=doa/>

[[File:Statue of Matrikas found near Agam Kuan, Patna, 1895.jpg|thumb|Statue of Matrikas found near Agam Kuan.]]
Visitors throw coins into Agam Kuan,{{Sfn|Sinha|1999|p=59}} as it is still considered auspicious. It is used for many religious ceremonies, especially [[Hindu]] weddings.<ref name=doa/> Although it is venerated, the well waters are not consumed.<ref name=Patna/> Offerings of flowers and coins are thrown into the well usually during summer months as the well's history is linked to "heat and hell". Dating to Mohammedan rule, the Mughal officials offered coins of gold and silver to Agam Kuan.{{Sfn|Sinha|1999|p=34-35}}

==Features==
The structure is {{Convert|105|ft}} deep, circular in plan, with a diameter extending over {{Convert|4.5|m}}. It is brick-encased in the upper half to a depth of {{Convert|44|ft}} while the lower {{Convert|61|ft}} are secured by a series of wooden rings. Covered with moss, the surface structure, which now covers the well and forms its most distinctive feature, has eight arched windows.<ref name=doa/> The well was refurbished during the reign of [[Emperor Akbar]] and a roofed structure was built around the well. {{citation needed|date=August 2021}} This circular structure has been fitted with eight windows which are well placed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://yac.bih.nic.in/Da-01.htm|title=Brief description of important archaeological sites/monuments among protected ones:Agam Kuan, Patna|publisher=Directorate of Archaeology, Government of Bihar|access-date=15 September 2008|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181914/http://yac.bih.nic.in/Da-01.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Grounds==
[[File:Shitala Devi Temple.JPG|right|thumb|upright|The Shitala Devi temple]]
In addition to the Agam Kuan, the archaeological site features a temple, as well as several ancient and medieval sculptures. The [[Shitala Mata Temple, Patna|Shitala Devi temple]] is adjacent to the well, and is dedicated to [[Shitala Devi]], which houses the pindas of the Saptamatrikas (the seven mother goddesses). The temple is widely venerated for its belief in curing smallpox and chicken pox, and it is also visited by devotees for wish fulfilment.<ref name=doa/>{{Sfn|O'Malley|1924|p=193}} The temple's female priest is an uncommon practice.{{Sfn|Sinha|1999|p=34-35}}

A statue of [[Yaksha]] of the [[Mauryan]] art period stands guard outside the temple. It was described earlier by [[Alexander Cunningham]] when he visited the site in 1879–80.<ref>[http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO000001003U0210C000 British Library] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209012150/http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO000001003U0210C000 |date=9 February 2012 }} "A. Cunningham ([[Alexander Cunningham]]) wrote (after his 1879-80 tour), 'When I saw the two statues in the New Indian Museum at Calcutta, I then remembered that a broken statue of a similar kind was still standing at Agam Kua, just outside the city of Patna, adorned with a new head and a pair of roughly marked breasts, so as to do duty for the great goddess Mata-Mai...The Agam Kua is a very large and very old brick well...The broken figure is said to have been found in this well, and it seems probable therefore that the two statues were also found either at or near the same place."</ref> This artefact is not traceable in the present day.<ref name=doa/>

==See also==
*[[Patan Devi]]
*[[Mahavir Mandir]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|last= Kapoor |first=Subodh |title=The Indian Encyclopaedia: Mahi-Mewat|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mc6C5dVHbGAC&pg=PA4741|year=2002|publisher=Cosmo Publications|isbn=978-81-7755-272-0}}
*{{cite book|last=O’Brien|first=Derek |title=Derek Introduces: 100 Iconic Indians|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YMOeAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT17|publisher=Rupa Publications|isbn=978-81-291-3413-4}}
*{{cite book|last= O'Malley |first=Lewis Sidney Steward |title=Bihar And Orissa District Gazetteers Patna|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a-QaOP5nK-MC&pg=PA193|year=1924|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-7268-121-0}}
*{{cite book|last= Sinha |first=Nishi |title=Tourism Perspective in Bihar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=puVMrtgd7kAC&pg=PA59|year=1999|publisher=APH Publishing|isbn=978-81-7024-975-7}}
*{{cite book|last= Vishnu |first=Asha |title=Material Life of Northern India: Based on an Archaeological Study, 3rd Century B.C. to 1st Century B.C.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zaJ5oyrqBakC&pg=PA173|year=1993|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=978-81-7099-410-7}}
{{Patna}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Bihar]]
[[Category:Maurya Empire]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Patna]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Patna]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Patna]]
[[Category:Water wells in India]]
[[Category:Ancient Indian archaeological sites]]

Agam Kuan - Revision history

HildaCorley2963 at 12:20, 30 April 2026