Holy
Pilgrimage – Assam
State
Negheriting Shiva Doul
The Negheriting Shiva Doul is a Shiva temple in Dergaon, Assam. Situated on ahillock at about one and half km north from the National Highway 37 in the Golaghatdistrict of Assam, the temple was first constructed by the Kacharis during 8th – 9th century AD. Later due to natural calamities it came into destruction. In 1687 it was re-constructed by Ahom king Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha. The famous architect assigned to the job was Ghanashyam Khonika
History
It is believed
that the stones used to construct the temple were existed in the bank of river Dihing.
Due to natural calamities the temple was destroyed and the remains were found
in deep forest called Gajapanemara. Knowing somehow about the ruined temple and
theShiva linga, Ahom king Susenpha then built the temple right on that
foundation and established the linga.
However, as the Dihing river changed the course, the temple was again destroyed
and merged into the river water. A devotee of lord Shiva found the ruined temple
and the linga in the shallow water of river Dihing,[2] now this place is known as Sheetal Negheri.[2][3] Ahom king Rajeswar Singha brought the
linga from the river and reconstructed the present temple and established the
linga in it.[2]
]Architecture
The main temple is
surrounded by four other temples namely the Bishnu, Ganesh, Surjya and Durga
temple.[1][2][3][4] A Banalinga of 3 feet in diameter is established
in the main temple.[2][3] According to legend a Rishi named Urba wanted to establish a
second Kashiright
on this place for which he collected lots of Shiva lingas there.[3]
]The name
The place where
the temple is located was once the habitat of a peculiar bird locally known as Negheri. From this name the
place has come to be known as Negheriting.[2]
Maintenance
A priest named
Bhudhar Agamacharji was appointed by king Rajeswar Singha for proper maintenance of the temple
and also for the rituals to be performed. The Agamacharji family still performs
worship and other maintenance works regularly.[1][4] Customs of performing songs and dances
called Deonati were prominent there in the temple.[3]
The Monkeys
One of the attractions
of the temple is the monkeys. The temple is the house of the rhesus monkeys where a sizeable population of this
species is there.
. Hatimura Temple
The Hatimura Temple is a shakti temple, located at Silghat, Nagaon district of Assam. It was built during the reign of Ahom king Pramatta Singha in 1667 Sakabda (1745-46 AD). It used to be an important center of Shaktism in ancient Assam. The presiding goddess isDurga which is known here as Mahisamardini. Human sacrifice was said to be made at the temple’s altars
Silghat
Silghat (Assamese: শিলঘাট) is a town located on the southern banks of the Brahmaputra, inNagaon district, Assam. It is 48 km northeast of Nagaon. Major points of attraction include the Hatimura Temple and huge Samantagiri hillock. The nearest airport is at Saloni, 10 km from Tezpur. Jakhalabandha Railway Station is the nearby railhead. National Highway 52passes through the town
Nalbari Hari Mandir
The history of the Nalbari Hari Mandir is
correlated with the Ras Mahotsav being organized in Nalbari district since the
last century. The evolution of the Hari Mandir is been a saga of decades. To
elaborate about the history of the Hari Mandir, we should have to go through
the history of the Ras Puja in Nalbari.
It was year 1931, under leading of the then
Engineer Amar Kundu of Nalbari Public Works Department
(PWD) and Veterinary Assistant Naren Basu and some of the local people Gadamalla
Barua, Dandiram Mahajan, Rabi
Mahajan, Tanuram Das,Keertiram Thikadar, Padmapani Dutta and Bhairab Choudhury organized a meet at the official
residence of engineer Kundu. Their issue of meet was about to organize Ras Puja
at Nalbari. Though they weren't able to organize Ras Puja in the same year, but
in the next year they were able to organize the Puja at the free space of the
PWD Engineer Amar Kundu's official residence. In
1933, Ras Puja Comity was formed to organize the Puja. In that year, with the
help of public donation, the Ras Puja was orgaznied publicly at the Hatkhola
(old) of Nalbari. At that time the Ras Puja was initiated religiously and was a
occasion of 3 days.
Soon after few years, the Ras Puja became
popular and the organizers had to think about a new place for the Puja, as the
need of wider place arrised. The organizers and the local people searched for a
permanent public plot to maintain the continuty of the Puja. Finally the
permanent public plot found at the Dag No 584 of Nalbari town, with the
grateful help of the then Sub-Deputy Collector Krishna
Ram Medhi, and this is the plot till existing with current age. The
plot was a private ownership property of which revenue was pending for many
years. With a negotiation with the plot owner and Ras Puja comity, witnessed by
the then Mouzadar Pratap Narayan Choudhury, the ownership
of the plot was transferred to the Hari Mandir. In year 1939, the foundation of
the Mandir (currently the old mandir) was imposed with the 4 wooden post of
Shal donated by Priyanath Kabiraz of Alengidal. In year 1946 the Ras
Puja was shifted from the Hathkhola (old) to the plot of the Hari Mandir.
Late Damahuram Mahajan played the prime role in the construction
of the Hari Mandir (old), which was completed in in 1965. With help of his
donation the Puja Mandap was constructed in 1968.
Coming through a saga of several decades, the
Hari Mandir of Nalbari becomes a self made history now. Starting from a small
Ras Puja comity in the last of the 1930's, now it becomes the biggest
religious, spiritual & cultural place of the Nalbari district. More than
the boundary of the district, the Ras Mahotsava festival organized by the
Mandir comity is one of the biggest Ras Puja festivel of India. In year
2008, Nalbari Hari Mandir organized the Dimond Jubilee of Ras Mahotsava, which
is rare in religious & cultural history in not only the Assam, but also in the India too. Now
a days, the Mandir become a religious, social & spiritual place to organize
festivals, with it's wide range of management. Since last few years, the Hari
Mandir is being a place of public interest to celebrate Marriage Ceremony too.
Now a days, the Hari Mandir is not only
famous for the Ras Mahotsava but for it's wide range of religious, cultural
& social activities. The Hari Mandir has played always a prime role in the
dramatic development of the famous Mobile Theater of Assam.
The Mandir is located at the center place of
Nalbari town, touching the NT Road
and touching the North Frontier Railway track on it's north side. The current
campus of the Mandir is of 7 Bigha, 1 Katha & 9 Lesa land. A Commity formed
by the member's opinion is to operate the tasks as termed and imposed Bye Law.
The Bye Law was been accepted with amendment and common opinion by the General
Assembly held in October 5, 1998, which was been recognized in the General
Assembly that was held in November 7, 1978. For the management of the Mandir,
there should be One President, 2 Vice President, One General Secratary, 2
Assistant Secretary and 18 Executive members, elected from the Life Time
Members or yearly members. At least 16 members should be elected from the life
time members from the above 24 Executive members. Next to it, the above 24
member can include 4 co-opted members from the life time or general members.
The total number of members of the Commity will be 28. The Mandir Commity is
aimed to work for the religious and social development as well as with the
development and preservation of the land & property of the Mandir,
determined Bye Law. According to the Bye Law, the Logo of the Mandir has been
symbolized with an letter in the
center blooming lotus encircling with the phrase "Nalbari Hari
Mandir". And the flag of the mandir is of Assamese Pat silk, including the
logo at the center point, and 3:2 in dimension according to the Bye Law.
One can be a general member of Hari Mandir,
by subscribing the membership fees of Rs 51.00, if he is belongs to Hindu
community and completed 18 years of his age. To be a life time member one must
be over 35 years old and be respectful to Hari Mandir and to subscribe the life
time membership fees of Rs 251.00. However, it is not necessary to donate, be a
member; any Hindu people has the right to attend any occasion or festival
organized in the Hari Mandir campus. The Nalbari Hari Mandir is completely an
organization of Hindu people, it is an public organization.
Assam, may, the entire india needs most
today, is the spirit of harmonious living and concerted efforts on our part,
meant at well being of the common people at large the wide sense of dedicaton
and humanism. Hari mandir has been working hard for materialisation and
realisation of the single undevided cultural entity that this sacred institution
stands for spreading the sinwes of friendship, brotherhood, fraternity,
humanity, peace and unity to far flung places of the country. Hari mandir,
Nalbari, now becomes the biggest religeous, spiritual, cultural and important
place of integration of the state of Assam. The celebration of the holy Ras
festival of Hari mandir, is one of the populest festival in India. In addition
to celebration of Ras festival, the Durga puja, Lakshmi puja, Saraswati puja,
Janmastami of lord Krishna, Sri Sri Maha Vishnu Jagya(sacrefice), the
Madbhagawat camp, the Geeta camp, perfomance of Ozapali, Dhulia, Shivaratri,
celebration of birth anniversary of Srimanta Sankardev and Sri Sri Madhab Dev,
two saints of the 15 century, Sankirtan, Viswakarma puja, recitation of Srimadbhagawat,
Nam Prasanga by both male and female groups have been arranging regularly in
the premises of the mandir. During the days of Ras Mahotsava various groups of
mobile theatres namely Suradevi theatre, Nataraj theatre, Purbajyoti theatre,
Kohinoor theatre, Abahan theatre, Rupkonwer theatre, Aparupa theatre, Hengul
theatre, Srimanta Sankardev theatre, Rajlakshmi theatre, Ashirbaad theatre,
theatre Bhagyadevi, Bardoichila theatre, Chitralekha theatre etc have been
performing their show in aid of the mandir since the decade of 1960. In
addition to that arrangement of gift coupon draws, exhibition of circus, magic
shows etc have been made in aid of the mandir complex. A music school also
under the principalship of Sri Nandeswar Saikia Bayan has been maintaining by
the executive comity of the mandir in the mandir complex. Different free
medical campus such as eye camp, health camp, camp for diabetic patients etc
have been arranging every off and on by the mandir management comity. Among
those personalities who attended the campus of the mandir were Srimad
Sankaracharyya of Kanchipuram peetha, Satradhikar late Chandra Kanta Mishra,
Sri Karuna Kanta Kalita, Padadhikar, Srimanta Sankardev Sangha, his excellancy
the honourable governor of Assam & Meghalaya, Sjt Tarun gagoi, Chief
Minister of Assam who contributed an amount of Rs 25 Lakhs for the construction
of the cultural complex of Sri Sri Hari Mandir from the govt. exchequer
prominent donar late Udayasankar Pujayapad Sri Hembhai, eminent artist Dr.
bhupen hazarika, receipent of dada falke award, prominent scholar Dr Mamoni
Roycham Goswami, Gyanpith Awardee, Dr Bhabendra Nath saikia, Dr Lakhinandan
Bora, both Sahitya Academi Awardee. It is pertinent to mention here that the
owner of M/S R.K Mines of Jaipur, Rajsthan has has kindl donated 4000 sq. feet
marble to the Vishnu Mandir of Sri Sri Hari Mandir. Late Narayan ch. mahajan,
ex president of the management comity of Hari Mandir had constructed the brick
wall of the eastern side of the mandir and donated the same to the mandir. The
services rendered by late Bali Mistri & late Rahi Mstri at the time of
construction of the mandir cannot be forgotten. The Guru Asana of the Namghar
was made by late Matia mistri of Jajiabari, one late Laghanubham Das, a carter
alongwith some of his associates had filled up the mandir campus at their own
expenses. The glorious dimond jubilee of Sri Sri Hari Mandir has been
celebrated with various colourful functions in the year 2008.
The Hari Mandir is not only famous for the
holy Ras mahotsava of lord Krishna but for the holy Ras mahotsava of lord Krishna but for its wide range activities in the field of
religion, culture and social works. The mandir is located at the center of
Nalbari town touching the N.T.
Road on its eastern side and North East Frontier
Railway track on its northern side. The area of the present mandir campus is
comprised of 7 bighas and 9 lechas of land. The Hari Mandir has possessed and
owned 22 bighas, 1 katha and 7 lechas of landed properties. Initially the
images of the Ras puja were made by late Ambika Nath Goswami and his brother
renowned Sanskrit scholar late Adya Nath Goswami, later on the images were made
by one Paban Paul and one Nitai Paul, since 1965 the various images of Ras
mahatsava have been making by sri Aswini paul his son Bikram paul and Sri
Makhar Paul and his groups. Prominent Artist Sri Adya Sarma and late Suran Roy
had surprised the over all construction works of the Vishnu Mandir syncronising
with the celebration of Ras Mahatsava the celebration committees have been
publishing a souvenier in every year since 1985 wherein different articles
depicting the very essence of holy Ras Mahatsava. The management committee of
sri sri hari mandir was constituted for the first time in the year 1940 at the
general meeting held on 9-9-1940 wherein Late Debendra Nath Bhattacharyya was
elected as secretary of the committee. The next management comity was
constituted on 19-12-1943 in the public meeting held and Late Hari Narayan
Dutta Barua was selected as secretary of the comity. Later on LateDutta Barua
resigned from the post of secretary and Late Dr. Girish Choudhury was selected
as secretary in his place. But due to the sudden demise of Dr. Girish Choudhary
prominent artist Late Suren Roy was selected as secretary of the management
comity temporarily. In the next general meeting a full fladged management
comity was formed with Late Narayan Ch. Kalita Mahajan as the president, Late
Dr. Nripendra Malla barua as secretary and Late Suren Roy and Late Ramen Barua
as Asstt. Secretaries. The draft constitution of the management comity of Hari
Mandir, nalbari was submitted on 6-9-1970 in the general meeting for the first
time for its acciptence. The meeting had adopted a resolution directing the
comity to place the same in the next general meeting for acceptence after
threadbare discussion among those person who were involved with the
establishment of the Hari Mandir since very inception were Sahitya Ratna Late
Hari Narayan Dutta Baruah, Late Mahendra Narayan Choudhury, Late Angad Sen
Barkakoty, Late Pua Ram das, Late Upendra Narayan choudhury, Late Santi Malla
Barua, Late Hari Charan Pathak, Late Nila Ram Mahajan, Late Chandi Ch. Sarma,
late Nabin Ch. Talukdar, Late Upen Patgiri, Late Hari Patgiri, Late Banti Ram
Member, Late Hem Barma Mazumdar, Late Pratap Goswami, Late Kalpa Nath Sarma,
Late Kanak Sarma etc.
Transport
Nalbari is on NH 31 in North and connected to Hajo Doulashal Road in South. It has a Railway Station
Billeswar Devalaya, Nalbari District
Bagurihati Basanti Mandir, Nalbari District
These above two temples can be visited in Nalbari Districts
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My
humble salutations to the great devotees
, wikisources and Pilgrimage tourist guide for the
collection )
0 comments:
Post a Comment