Lord Shiva is reported to have strewn the Vibhuthi, Holy Ashes here imparted Wisdom to Parvati and sat in meditation.
Read my Post on Vibuthi, Shaivaite mark and Tiruman, the Vaishavavite mark.
“Siva is said to have resided here in the form of Bhayananda.
According to the Kalika Purana, in the beginning of the creation Siva sprinkled ashes (bhasma) at this place and imparted knowledge to Parvati (his consort).
It is said that, when Siva was in meditation on this hillock,
Kamadeva interrupted his yoga and was therefore burnt to ashes by the fire of Siva’s anger and hence the hillock got the name Bhasmacala.
This mountain is also called Bhasmakuta. The Kalika Purana states that Urvasikunda is situated here and here resides the goddess Urvasi who brings Amrit (nectar) for the enjoyment of Kamakhya and hence the island got the name Urvasi Island.
The presiding deity of the temple is Umananda (Tatrasti bhagavan sambhu- ruma- nandakarah Prabhu). It is believed that, worship here on the Amavasya day when it falls on Monday brings the highest bliss. The Siva Chaturdasi is the most colourful festival that is held here annually. Many devotees come to the temple on this occasion for the worship of the deity.
History of the Temple
The temple of Umananda was built in 1694 A.D. by the Bar Phukan Garhganya Handique by the order of King Gadadhar Singh (1681- 1696), one of the ablest and strongest rulers of the Ahom dynasty. The original temple was however immensely damaged by a devastating earthquake of 1897. Later, it was reconstructed by a rich local merchant who chose to inscribe the interior part of a Siva temple with Vaisnavite slogans.
The Strcuture of the Umanand Temple
The temple has inherited some rock-cut figures, which speak passionately of the masterly skill of the Assamese craftsmen. The sculptures here show that the worshippers there followed all the principal Hindu gods. We find representations of Surya, Ganesha, Shiva and Devi (with a scorpion as emblem) in addition to those of Visnu and his ten incarnations (avatar).
Journey to Umanand Temple in Guwahati Airport : The nearest airport is at Guwahati. From where you have to take a ferry to the Pea Cock Island to visit the temple.
Railhead : The closest railhead is at Guwahati, From here you have to take a ferry to the Pea Cock Island in the middle of the river Brahmaputra. The railhead at Guwahati is connected to almost all the major cities of India.
Road Transport :Guwahati is linked to all the major cities of Assam and nearby states. One can easily Guwahati by road from any part of the state.
Water Transport : As the temple resides in an Island amidst the Brahmaputra River, one has to take a ferry to reach the temple. The ferries are arranged by the state tourism department for the tourists from all the parts of India and world.
Staying near the Umanand Temple in Guwahati
Guwahati offers several private hotels ranging from luxury to budget-friendly ones. Fish is a major delicacy in Assam and one can savour mouthwatering curries in and around Paltan Bazar at cheap rates. There are excellent accommodation facilities in and around Guwahati in Assam.
I posted an article on this with the intention of posting some more on the subject.
Somehow I never got around dong it.
Reason was I wanted to get to know further details on Shakti worship and Tantra Shastra.
Though I am reasonably with the Tantra Shastra I had reservations.
Now , as it happens when I think of writing some thing, the reference books keep coming to me, with out my seeking them.
I have now two excellent references.
So the post.
Shati Peethas Locations
Apart from worshiping God as an Impersonal principle, Hinduism treats them as Personal Gods with Human Attributes.
Thus one would find Upanishads,Purusha Suktha efining or describing th Brahman as the Ultimate Reality,we also have Narayana Suktam,Sri Suktam,Vishnu Suktam,Durga Suktam, Rudra and Chamaka, not to speak of the innumerable Slokas.
In the case of Shaki or Devi Worship, the worship has gone into greater lengths and as a personal God, her Body parts are reported to have been scattered over a wide area, after the Self immolation of the Sati Devi at the Daksha Yaga.
There are various and differing versions as to the number of parts that have fallen.
Further explaining the importance of these four Pithas, the “Brihat Samhita” also gives the location of these Pithas as (In Sanskrit) “Rushikulya* Tatae Devi, Tarakashya Mahagiri, Tashya Srunga Stitha Tara Vasishta Rajitapara” (Rushikulya is a holy river flowing on the foot hill of the Tara Tarini Hill Shrine”-The Astashakti and Kalika Purana.
Apart from this there are Fifty two Shakti Peethas spread over India,Bangladesh,Sri Lanka,Tibet and Pakistan.
According to the Pithanirnaya Tantra the 52 peethas are scattered all over India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and Pakistan. The Shivacharita besides listing 52 maha-peethas, speaks about 26 more upa-peethas. The Bengali almanac, Vishuddha Siddhanta Panjika too describes the 52 peethas including the present modified addresses. A few of the several accepted listings are given below.One of the few in South India, Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh became the site for a 2nd-century temple.
There is also a version which states that there are 64, 108.
Locally known as Bhramari Devi. In Jalpaiguri near a small village Boda on the bank of river Teesta or Tri-shrota (combination of three flows) mentioned in Puranas
First relating to Brahmanda Purana, one of the major eighteen Puranas, it mentions 64 Shakthi Peetha of Goddess Parvati in the Bharat or Greater India including present day India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Another text which gives a listing of these shrines, is the Shakthi Peetha Stotram, written by Adi Shankara, the 9th-century Hindu philosopher.[10]
According to the manuscriptMahapithapurana (c. 1690 – 1720 CE), there are 52 such places. Among them, 23 are located in the Bengal region, 14 of these are located in what is now West Bengal, India, 1 in Baster (Chhattisgarh), while 7 are in what is now Bangladesh.
Rishi Markandeya composed the ‘Devi Saptashati’ or the seven hundred hymns extolling the virtues of the Divine Goddess at the shaktipeetha in Nashik. The idol is also leaning a little to the left to listen to the sages composition. The Saptashati or the “Durga Stuti” forms an integral part in the vedic form of Shakti worship.
Preserving the mortal relics of famous and respected individuals was a common practice in ancient India – seen in the Buddhiststupas which preserve the relics of Gautama Buddha. It is believed by some[citation needed] that these 64 peethas preserve the remains of some ancient female sage from whom the legend of Kali could have emerged and then merged with the Purusha – Prakriti (Shiva Shakti) model of Hindu thought.
Despite the politicians having divided India, none can severe the Religious bond between India and Pakistan. One of the 52 Shakti Peetas is in Hinglaj, Balochistan province about 250 km north of Karachi. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ekTB3SCBng The Teertha. An important stop during the pilgrimage is the mud volcano called ‘Chandrakup’ (Bengali:…
One of the Shakti Peetas is Shakti Sugandha, where the Devi’s Nose had fallen. This is one of the rare Temples where the Shadow of The Temple Falls on the River Sunanada . Shiva is worshiped here as Triyambak, Generally the Shadow of the temple is not expected to fall…
Lecture on Sri Lalita Sahasranama. This sahasranama is used in various modes of worship of the Divine Mother such as parayana (recitations), archana, and homa. A different but less popular version[2] of the Lalita Sahasranama can also be found in the purva bhaga of the Narada Purana. The names are organized as hymns, or stotras,…
Explanation from The six Systems of Indian philosophy, Vedas and interpreting the ancient texts in modern scientific terms including Quantum.To join WhatsApp+919480591538
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