Brahmaputra Pushkar

After a day in Shillong we reached Guwahati saw Purva Thirupathi Balaji temple and Bhimashankar jyothirlingam and stayed at Hotel Prag Continental.

The next day early morning we took auto and went to near by Jaganath temple and took a holy dip in the Brahmaputra flowing at the backside of this temple there are steps to get down in to the river . Then we changed our dresses at adjacent cloak room and left back to the Hotel .

After having breakfast we again came as a group in the mini van bought flowers diyas and offered our tributes to river Brahmaputra and then went to Jagnath temple and opposite to it a few steps to climb is a Sukleshwar temple of Lord Shiva .

Having the divine dharshan of both Jaganath and Sukleshwar we went to Umananda temple .

As our tour group was of 32 members our organizer arranged a boat and we travelled to Umanand temple.

This temple is a must visit as it is located on an island called “Peacock Island” in the middle of the Brahmaputra river in the northern part of Guwahati. One has to go in a ferry or boat to reach this temple which is seen on a hillock called Bhasmachala or Bhasmakuta.

One has to climb more than 150 steps to reach the temple. One can book ferry ride from Uzan Ferry Ghat (Kachari Ghat) managed by Inland Water transport. The fee is 20/- per person. This official boat service is available from 7.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. One can go to Umananda from Shukleswar Ghat and Fancy Bazar Ghat also. The ferry ride gives you a beautiful view of the flowing Brahmaputra River with distant view of hills and greenery. The journey takes just 15 to 20 minutes to reach the foot of the Bhasmakuta hill.

While climbing steps one can see an abundant number of trees and different kinds of birds also. According to bird-watchers there are nearly twenty species of birds in this area. The golden langurs one of the rarest type of monkeys are seen on this island only.

As per legend this island was created by Lord Shiva to make His spouse, Uma happy. So this place is called Umananda. The British people named this island as peacock island as the shape of the island looks like splayed feathers of a peacock. This island is regarded as the smallest river island in the world. Lord Shiva while doing penance here was disturbed by Kama’s arrows. So Shiva became angry and burnt him to ashes with his blazing third eye. So this hill is named as Bhasmachal or Bhasmakut.

The temple of Umanada was built in Kamarupa style with a red colored dome. One has to descend a few steps to see the Lord as the sanctum is at a deeper level. Only diya were lit with that lamps the priest showed us the lingam form .The passage to the sanctum is very narrow and every time five to six devotees are allowed to climb down the steps. Inside the sanctum a tiny Shiva Ling is seen with a pedestal on the ground level. The priest there told us the Lingam is Swayambu and its Arthanari (both lord Shiva and Goddess Shakthi form) .The sculptures of Ganesha, Shiva and Devi (with a scorpion as an emblem) are carved on the rocky walls of the temple showing the architectural skills of the local sculptors . The temple is crowded during Mondays and Mahashiva ratri. During Shiva Chaturdasi a colorful festival is held here. People believe that pooja offered to Lord Shiva on Monday with Amavasya Thithi brings highest merit and bliss to the devotees. The temple timings are from 6.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Near the entrance of the temple premises there is Ganesha’s shrine with a big sculpture of a rat in sitting position facing the idol of Ganesha in the shrine. There is a Hanuman temple beside the temple. Another Shiva shrine called Chandrasekhara shrine is seen beside the main shrine. The dasavataras of Vishnu are seen on the outer walls of newly constructed temple walls. The calm surroundings with beautiful scenes of trees and birds makes one feel very happy and relaxed.

After the dharshan we relaxed in the temple complex and again travelled back on the river Brahmaputra by boat .

After having lunch started to Guwahati airport to reach Chennai .

Taking Holy dip
Brahmaputra Pushkar
Offered our tributes
Entrance of both Jaganath and Sukleshwar mandir
Jaganath temple
Steps to Sukleshwar mandir
Sukleshwar mandir
Boating in Brahmaputra to Umanand temple
Climbing the steps
Entrance of Umanand temple
Mushigha vahana
Lord Ganesha

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thirunangur 11 Divyadeshams

Image
11 Cholanadu Divya Desams in and around Thirunangur near Seerkazhi. Deities from each of the Thirunangur temples go out on a street procession on Garuda Vahanam and come together at Mani Mada Koil in Thai maasam (mid January) Sthalapuranam Angered at not being invited for the Yaagam conducted by Parvathi’s father Dakshan , Lord Shiva performed the Rudra Thaandavam (dance) in a place called Ubaya Cauvery (between Cauvery in the South and Mani River in the North) , a few kms South East of Seerkazhi . So aggressive was his performance that for every hair that fell down on the ground, a new form of Lord Shiva emerged. And very quickly 11 forms of Lord Shiva were each performing the Rudra Thaandavam. Sensing a possible damage to the world as a result of Lord Shiva’s fury , Lord Vishnu appeared here before Shiva as Paramapatha Naathan . Softened by the presence of Lord Vishnu , Rudra requested Vishnu appear in just as many forms . Lord Vishnu is said to have acceded to this request and provi...
Read more

Nava Dwaraka

My recent Nava dwaraka trip along with Bav nagar koliyac  Nishkalang Mahadev beach temple and Diu and Daman Gangeshwar Porbandar Kirti mandir and many other sub temples near Somnath , old and new Somnath temple and Nageshwar jyothirlingam. First day we saw  Kankroli Dwaraka here the deity is Lord Krishna named Dwarakadesh. The significance of the temple here is every 1 hour the temple will be closed for 15 minutes to decorate the Lord and kept open for an hour and again the same thing repeats and it's considered as Shyam bogh dharshan. We were lucky enough to see the arathy dharshan of the Lord Dwarakadesh. The next dwaraka was at Nathdwara named Srinath Dwarakadesh . In both the temples they follow the same Shyam bogh dharshan. Here a closed room with wooden doors with silver carvings are done and this room was considered sacred as Lord krishna himself has played here with his friends and there is a Balakrishna shrine too inside the temple complex. Both these temples a...
Read more

Pazhayaseevaram Lakshmi Narasimhar temple

Image
Srimat Payonidhi Nikethana Chakra Pane, Bhogeendra Bhoga Mani Rajitha Punya Moorthe, Yogeesa Saswatha Saranya Bhabdhi Potha, Lakshmi Nrsimha Mama Dehi Karavalambam Oh Great God Lakshmi Nrsimha, Who lives in the ocean of milk, Who holds the holy wheel as weapon, Who wears the gems of the head, Of Adhisesha as ornaments, Who has the form of good and holy deeds, Who is the permanent protection of sages, And who is the boat which helps us cross, This ocean of misery called life, Please give me the protection of your hands. Pazhaiya Seevaram is located on the  Kanchipuram – Chengalpattu State Highway SH 58 and it is about 16 km from Chengalpattu and about 20 km from Kanchipuram.  While going from Chengalpattu, one can reach Pazhaya Seevaram 5 kms before Walajabad. There are lots of buses available from Kanchipuram to this Temple. Nearest Railway Station is located at Kanchipuram, Chengalpet and Walajabad. Nearest Airport is located at Chennai. After having our dharshan at Padalathr...
Read more