Another legend tells of the Jain monk Sudarshana, who was thrown into the well by King Chand but reportedly floated to the surface seated on a lotus.
Perhaps it has something to do with its nature, but since ancient times, people have thrown offerings into the well. This practice is rooted in the belief that the well holds spiritual power and can influence one's destiny. Mughal officials were said to have thrown gold and silver coins into the well as offerings, a testament to the well's perceived importance. Devotees consider Agam Kuan auspicious and toss flowers and coins into it.
Despite the passage of time, Agam Kuan continues to be a place of reverence and wonder, drawing visitors and devotees alike to its enigmatic waters.
Mystical wonders of the well
To gaze into the shadowed depths of Agam Kuan is to unlock a gateway into the realm of mysteries.
Eight arched windows provide glimpses of its deep waters, which run 65 feet deep into the earth's embrace.
During Emperor Akbar's reign, a roofed structure was constructed over the well. The upper half's sturdy brick craftsmanship gives way to an ingenious system of wooden rings lining the bottommost 19 metres - a masterwork of ancient engineering. Yet the well's eerie secrets, cloaked in centuries of myth and lore, truly captivate the imagination.
Beliefs abound that these waters hold an arcane connection to the holy Ganga, almost 1800 kilometres amid the Bay of Bengal's restless tides. Whispered tales speak of hidden subterranean passageways lurking beneath the well's floor, leading to an underworld riddled with labyrinthine tunnels.
It is also said that the water of Agam Kuan never dries up, and its level remains the same at any time of the year. Locals around the place also suggest that the water inside the well keeps changing, and there are nine wells within the well where Emperor Ashoka used to keep his treasure.
The spiritual connection
Despite its dark past, Agam Kuan holds profound spiritual significance for the locals. As part of an ancient temple complex dedicated to the revered Goddess Sitaladevi, the well is regarded as a sacred site, a conduit of divine energies. Devotees flock here with unwavering faith in the goddess's powers, seeking deliverance from afflictions and solace in her divine grace.
The rituals surrounding Sitaladevi's worship are intertwined with Agam Kuan's mystical waters. The well serves as a hearth around which major life events like marriages are celebrated, with families seeking Sitaladevi's divine grace before embarking on new journeys. While the rational mind may question such beliefs, Agam Kuan transcends its historical legacy for the local faithful.