Ashtabhuja Temple is an important religious site in Vindhyachal, a small town near the holy city of Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Ashtabhuja, also known as Devi Nandini, who is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of knowledge, music, arts, wisdom, and learning.

The temple is in a valley between the two folds of the Vindhyachal mountains. To reach the temple, one must climb a hill and descend 200-odd steps. The journey to the temple is an adventure, as one has to pass through the rocky terrain surrounded by lush green forests.

Ashtabhuja means “the one with eight arms” in Sanskrit, and the deity is depicted with eight arms holding various weapons and symbols, including a sword, bow, arrows, conch, and a book. The Goddess is also known as Nanda and Yogmaya and is believed to have been born to Nand and Yashoda in Gokul, where Lord Krishna grew up. According to legends, Ashtabhuja predicted the end of Kamsa, the evil king, and then flew away to Vindhyachal to live.