dance of destruction Archives

01/Oct/2022

Location

Ugratara Temple, an important Shakti temple dedicated to Tara (Goddess) located on the western side of Jur Pukhuri in the center of Guwahati city in Latasil. Legend has it that the navel of Sati, the first wife of Shiva, is related to this temple.

History

The present temple of Ugratara built in 1725 AD by the Ahom king Shiva Singh, who three years earlier excavated a pond, known as Jur Pukhuri, which lies to the east of the temple. The tank still exists, although the upper part of the temple destroyed by a devastating earthquake. However, it rebuilt by a private citizen.

The Temple

There is a description of a Shaktipeeth named Dikkarvasini in Kalika Purana. There are two forms of Dikkarvasini, Tikshna Kantha and Lalita Kantha. The sharp Kantha is black and belted, which also called Ugratara or Ekajata. Beautifully attractive is Lalita Kantha, also known as Tamreshwari. The shikhara of the temple is 50 feet high.

There is no idol of her in the sanctum sanctorum of Ugra Tara. A small pit filled with water considered a goddess. There is a Shivalaya next to the Ugratara Temple and a pond behind both temples. There is a shivalaya beside the temple and there is also a pond behind both the temples.

Though no idol here in this temple, it known that ‘Ugra Tara’, known for its fierce and fearful form. This form of Goddess is very fierce and fearful, on top of a flaming pyre, Shiva in the form of a corpse, or Shiva in the form of consciousness, the Goddess is standing in an anticipatory posture. Goddess Ugra Tara is full of tamo qualities and helps her seekers-devotees to guide and get rid of the most difficult situations.

Mainly the worship of Goddess done by Veera-char or Tantric method to attain salvation, but worship with devotion is the best, Bama Khepa, the supreme devotee of Goddess, also proved this.

Whatever knowledge spread here and there in the entire universe, when they gather together, the form of this goddess formed and all that knowledge is the original form of this goddess, due to which one of her names is also Neel-Saraswati.

The abode of the goddess is the ghastly maha-crematorium, where the pyre is always burning and on top of the fiery pyre, the goddess is standing naked or wearing a bagambar. The goddess adorned with garlands of skulls and bones and wears snakes as ornaments. The three-eyed goddess appears to be extremely fearful in her fiery star form.

Legend of Ugratara Temple, Guwahati

Various legends related to the Ugratara temple circulated among the public. The temple considered an important Shakti Peeth by many believers. According to mythological tradition, Goddess Sati immolated herself after insulting her father Daksha in a yagna. Lord Shiva in agony and sorrow, carried the burnt body of Sati to the whole universe and then performed Tandava (dance of destruction).

Seeing this many deities got scared and ran to Lord Vishnu for help. Vishnu listened to their prayer and with his Sudarshana Chakra broke Sati’s body into pieces and she fell to the earth. It said that the navel of Sati fell at this place, where the Ugratara temple situated.

Different descriptions of Shaktipeeths found in different Puranas. According to Kalika Purana, the major Shakti Peethas centered on and around the famous Kamakhya Shakti Peeth. One of that peethas called Dikkara Vasini. Two known forms worshiped among the devotees of Dikkara Vasini, Tikshna Kantha, and Lalita Kantha. The sharp throat said to be black and mushy and also called Ugratara or Ekajata. Ugratara Temple Guwahati, dedicated to this form of Dikkara Vasini.

According to another legend, it said that Yama, the god of death, complained to Lord Brahma about no human coming to hell from Kamrup because of the purity of the Kamrup region. Yama said that people are not sent to hell even after committing a sin.

Lord Brahma then took this command to Vishnu who then took it to Shiva. Lord Shiva then ordered Goddess Ugratara to drive away all the people living in Kamakhya. Goddess Ugratara then sent her army to bring the people. On their way, the army placed its hand on sage Vashishta, who became enraged as his attention was getting distracted and cursed Goddess Ugratara and Lord Shiva.

From then on, all the Vedic sadhanas thus performed were abandoned in Kamarupa and Goddess Ugratara became the goddess of Vamachar practice and thereafter her entire army became Mlechha. Goddess Ugratara is also associated with Buddhism. It is popular as a Shakta shrine and the deities themselves are associated with Ek-Jata and Tika-Kanta.

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