Manikarneswar Devalaya

Manikarneswar Devalaya
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DeityShiva
Location
StateAssam
CountryIndia
Manikarneswar Devalaya is located in Assam
Manikarneswar Devalaya
Location in Assam
Geographic coordinates26°12′26″N 91°44′53″E / 26.2071353°N 91.7480039°E / 26.2071353; 91.7480039
Architecture
CreatorRajeswar Singha
Completed1755 C.E.
Monument(s)1
Inscriptions1782

Manikarneswar Devalaya (Assamese: মণিকৰ্ণেশ্বৰ দেৱালয়), situated at the top of Manikhalaya hill in Assam, North Guwahati is a temple dedicated to god Shiva. The present brick temple was built by Ahom King Rajeswar Singha[1] in 1755 C.E. upon a star-shaped ground plan of a stone temple of the 10–11th century and made arrangements for regular worship at this temple.[2] [3]

The temple's shikhara got destroyed in the earthquake of 1897 and is currently roofed with a tin.[4]

Legend

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According to local legend, when god Shiva was roaming with the body of his wife Sati after Daksha yajna, he rested under a bel tree situated on the Manisaila hill. According to another legend from Kalika purana, after Narakasura looted invaluable precious stones from beneath the sea, heaven, and earth, he deposited them in the shape of a mountain. The mountain thus came to be known as 'Manikarneswar'.[5]

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References

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  1. ^ Chaudhury 1964, p. 41
  2. ^ Sharma 2015, p. 98
  3. ^ Das, Barasha (28 July 2021). "Guwahati Gyan | Manikarneswar Devalaya". Guwahati plus.
  4. ^ "Protected Archaeological Sites and Monuments". Directorate of Archaeology.
  5. ^ Sharma 2015, p. 97- 8

Bibliography

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  • Chaudhury, P.D. (1964), Archaeology in Assam: An Introduction, Assam (India): Government of Assam in the State Department of Archaeology
  • Sharma, Navamallika (2015), Ancient temples of guwahati city religious activities and socio economic life pattern of the temple serving people a study in social geography, Gauhati University