View source for Umananda Temple

{{Short description|Shiva temple in Assam, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
|name              = Umananda Temple
|image             = Chandrasekhar Temple, Umananda.jpg
|map_type          = Guwahati
|pushpin_map_label = 
|year_completed    = {{start date and age|1694}}
|caption           = Umananda Temple
|deity             = [[Shiva]]
|location          = [[Guwahati]]
|state             = [[Assam]]
|creator           = Constructed by [[Garhgayan Sandikai Borphukan]] on the orders of [[Gadadhar Singha]]
|festival          = [[Mahashivaratri]]
|coordinates       = {{coord|26|11|47|N|91|44|43|E|display=inline,title}}
}}
[[File:Entrance of Umananda Devalaya.jpg|thumb|Entrance of Umananda Temple]]
{{Hinduism}}
'''Umananda Devaloi''' (Pron: ˈʊməˌnændə ˈdeɪvəˌlɔɪ) is a [[Shiva]] temple located at the [[Umananda Island]] (Peacock Island) in the middle of the river Brahmaputra, Assam.

[[Brahmaputra]] just opposite the office of the Deputy Commissioner of [[Kamrup Metropolitan district|Kamrup]] or the Kachari Ghat in [[Guwahati]].

It is known as smallest inhabited riverine island in the world. Country boats that are available on the bank of Brahmaputra take the visitors to the island. The mountain on    which the temple has been built is known as Bhasmacala. It was built in 1694CE in the order of Ahom King [[Gadadhar Singha]] but was broken down by an earthquake in 1867.

==Legend==
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.

==Presiding Deity==
The presiding deity of the temple is Umananda (Tatrasti bhagavan sambhu- ruma- nandakarah Prabhu). The name 'Umananda' comes from the two Hindi words, namely 'Uma', which was another name for Lord Shiva’s wife and 'Ananda' which means happiness. In fact, Peacock Island is one of the smallest inhabited island.

==History==
Evidence of a stone temple belonging to the post-Gupta period can be seen on the site. The site has stone sculptures and carvings belonging to the early medieval period. Achaturbhuja stone female figure still exists here besides rock-cut figures of Ganesha and a cave.

Brick temple of Umananda was built in 1694 CE by the Bar Phukan Garhganya Handique by the order of King [[Gadadhar Singha]] (1681–1696), one of the eldest and strongest rulers of the [[Ahom Dynasty|Ahom]] dynasty. The temple was desecrated by the [[Mughal Army]]. Aurangzeb later conferred jagir to the temple when Gauhati came under his control.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aurangzeb: Religious Policies |url=https://southasia.ucla.edu/history-politics/mughals-and-medieval/aurangzeb/religious-policies/ |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=MANAS |language=en-US}}</ref>

The original temple was however immensely damaged by a devastating [[1897 Assam earthquake|earthquake of 1897]]. Later, it was reconstructed by a rich local merchant who chose to inscribe the interior part of a Siva temple with Vaishnavite slogans.
<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/43033/15/15_chapter%20v%20%20temple%20management%20system%20and%20administration%20in%20the%20land%20of%20kamakhya.pdf | title=Temple management system and administration in the land of Kamakhya | access-date=2024-07-06}}</ref>

==Structure==
The temple has inherited some rock-cut figures. The sculptures here show that the worshippers there followed all the principal Hindu gods. Representations of Surya, Ganesha, Shiva and Devi (with a scorpion as emblem) in addition to those of Visnu and his ten incarnations (avatar) are found here. The main shrine is reached by a flight of steep steps. The Umananda temple was crafted by the Assamese workmen. Aside from Lord Shiva, there are 10 other Hindu Gods whose idols reside in the shrines.

== Gallery ==
<gallery class="center">
File:Peacock Island , Photo by Vikramjit Kakati 2012.jpg|
File:A view of Umananda.JPG|
</gallery>

==See also ==

* [[Hindu pilgrimage sites]]
* [[National Geological Monuments of India]]
* [[List of Hindu temples]]
* [[Tourism in India]]
* [[Yatra]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Hindu Temples in Assam}}
{{Worship in Hinduism}}
{{Hindudharma}}
{{Assam}}
{{Tourism in India}}
{{Geography of India}}
{{Geography of India by state or territory}}
{{Monuments in India}}

[[Category:Shiva temples in Assam]]
[[Category:Kamrup district]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Guwahati]]
[[Category:Hindu pilgrimage sites in India]]
[[Category:Tourism in Assam]]