Exploring Guwahati’s Ancient Temples and Their History

It was a great experience to visit Guwahati, the sprawling city alongside River Brahmaputra in Assam. Acknowledged as Assam’s largest city and for having country’s best tea estates and sacred sites starring shrines of Shiva and Vishnu, Guwahati serves as the gateway to the Northeast for several itineraries. On a beautiful morning, I set out to explore some of the most-spoken about temples of Guwahati. It was a bright day with a mildly clouded sky, and our touring got underway with a cup of authentic Assamese tea.

At 9 AM, it was still early, and the streets were prospering with an unmixed-aroma of freshly baked bread and other breakfast items, promptly urging an appetite. Some typical breakfast dishes worth tasting in Guwahati are Lucchi Ghugni (Poori Sabji), Khola Sapori Pitha (Assamese pancakes), Ghila Pitha (sweet rice pakora), boiled eggs with spices or omelettes with parathas and Goja, the Assamese samosas. As for the temples, I visited the 18th-century Navagraha Temple with the astronomical centre with planetary shrines, Umananda Shiva Temple and Balaji Temple.

Umananda Temple, Guwahati

The 16th-century temple of Umananda is situated on peacock island in the middle of River Bramhaputra and can be reached, by ferries or steamers. It takes 45-minutes of smooth sailing and remarkable waterscapes to arrive at Umananda, the smallest populated river island. This island was renamed as Peacock by a British officer who deemed, that the formation of this islet matched the ‘spread out and apart’ feathers of a peacock. Built on Bhasmacala mountain, Umananda Devaloi temple is devoted to Lord Shiva and is environed, by spectacular scenery.

Umananda originates from ‘Uma’, meaning Lord Shiva’s wife and ‘Ananda’ meaning happiness. For the best experience, come here on an Amavasya that falls on a Monday or Siva Chaturdasi, an annual multicoloured festival. The temple itself is a small installation that was originally-built in 1694 by King Gadadhar Singha, the most powerful ruler of the Ahom dynasty. I was pleased to observe the eminent stone sculptures and carvings from the early medieval period.

Especially the Achaturbhuja stone female figure besides rock-cut structures of a cave and Lord Ganesha. The original temple was devasted in 1897, by an earthquake and was later restored by a wealthy merchant who engraved the interiors of this Shiva temple with Vaisnavite proverbs. It’s a temple layered with fascinating history and beliefs.

Shri Adityali Navgrah Devalaya

The 2nd-temple I visited was Shri Adityali Navgrah Devalaya. Navagraha (nine planets) temples are devoted to nine celestial bodies keeping in consideration the astral bodies of Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, North Lunar Node and South Lunar Node. The temples at this venue hold shrines devoted to Navagrahas, however, independently.

The nine temples also endure nine Shiva lingams in the centre, typifying Sun. Ahom King Rajeswar Singha built this Navagraha temple in the late 18th century. I concluded my visit to Shri Adityali Navgrah Devalaya, by taking a brief stop at the Guwahati Planetarium, a one of its kind astronomical research centre. This Planetarium employs Japanese Goto GX starfield projector featuring 60 special-effects in the propinquity of a dramatic, sky theatre, surround-sound system.

Tirupati Balaji Temple

Lastly, I visited the famous Tirupati Balaji Temple of Guwahati. Set above 2 acres of land, and draped in an angel white colour, this majestic temple is a holy shrine dedicated to Lord Venkateswara. Balaji Temple’s unique architectural design precedes its calm vibes. The temple architecture features Drāviḍa-style South Indian influence, invariably characterised by a square-chambered sanctum topped by a pyramidal cupola, and each story outlined by a rampart of miniature shrines.

The entrance is marked, by a small Ganesha temple, and after a short walk, you will arrive at the main temple that holds Lord Balaji’s idol weighing four tonnes. Dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, this Balaji temple was built-in 1998, as the replica of the original Tirupati Balaji Temple. It has a 70 feet Rajagopuram, an Ardha Mandapam, a Maha Mandapam and a Sanctorum.

A few other temples surround the main temple. These are built-in the memory of Goddess Padmavathi and Garuda, the flight-bird or Vahana of Lord Balaji. A recent addition to the temple complex is Yagasala, to empower devotees to perform Yagnas. The campus also has a large beautiful park. It’s here, I sat and enjoyed the simple, yet delicious Upma for the prasad. On my way back, I stopped at the main-market to buy traditional Nepali jackets, woollens and caps.

Spread the love

 

 

 

 Tweet