The Living Stone: At the heart of the Rankini Mandir  in Jadugora is a simple black stone worshipped as the deity. Local belief holds that this is a “living stone” that increases in size every year.

Tribal Roots: Historically, the deity was worshipped by the local Bhumij tribes. According to legend, a tribal man spotted a girl transforming into a goddess to slay a demon; she later appeared in his dream, directing him to build a temple on that spot.

Ancient Rituals: The site has a complex past; historical records and local lore suggest that human sacrifices (narabali) were performed here until the British administration intervened and stopped the practice around 1865.