The Shiva Temple at Devalsari, built in the 1600s, stands amidst tall deodar trees. Six centuries ago, this land, then used for growing jowari, was owned by Pujaldi, Bangseel, Kinsu, and Theek villages.
Legend has it, a sadhu asked a chowkidar for land to build a kutiya during jowari season. When refused, he declared, “By tomorrow, your jowari will become deodar trees,” and left.
The next morning, the jowari field had turned into deodar trees, with a shivling, idols, and an oak tree in the center. Locals wanted to build a temple, but it was never completed.
The Mysterious Transformation: Deodar and Divine Signs
In a dream, the sadhu revealed himself as Lord Shiva, proclaiming, “This place is Devalsari. The deodars will be preserved, and one day, a temple named Koneshwar Mahadeo will be built here.”
Two hundred years later, a man struck the shivling with an axe, but it bounced back, hitting his head. He walked away with the axe in his head, and when removed, he died instantly.
A temple was built using 60 wood pieces from Baikal ki Jhadi for key structures, with deodar wood for the rest. The yellow tilak is from deodar flowers. In 2014, the temple's rotted woodwork was refurbished.
The Kaalratri festival alternates between Bangseel and Devalsari, with Pujaldi managing food for Devalsari. While most temples in Jaunpur are dedicated to Nag Devta, Devalsari hosts a Lord Shiva temple.