Dirgheswari Temple, Guwahati

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Dirgheswari Temple is a temple situated in the northern banks of the river Brahmaputra in Guwahati, Assam.

Built by Ahom king Swargadeo Siva Singha, Dirgheswari temple is considered as a Shakti Peethas for Shakti Worship. Many ancient images made on rocks existed along with the temple. The main attraction of Dirgheswari temple is the annual Durga Puja celebrations, in which devotees from far of places use to attend.

Since ancient times, Dirgheswari was a prominent place of Worship for the followers of Shakti cult of Assam. It is said that when Sati, the first wife of Lord Shiva died, Lord Shiva, in his grief was carrying her dead body around the world. In order to pacify Shiva, Lord Vishnuand other Gods decided to get rid of the body of Sati, which had become a source of sorrow for Mahadeva. Lord Vishnu instructed his disc, Sudarshan Chakra, to cut the body of Sati into several parts. The Sudarshan Chakra acted as instructed, and the pieces of Sati’s body were scattered in different parts of the world. While her genitals fell in Nilachal Hill, on which the famous Temple of Kamakhya is situated, another body part of Sati fell in Sitachal hill. From that time onwards the place is considered sacred by the people.

Located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra and linked by a motorable road, this shrine is considered as one of the supreme Devi Tirthas of the state. Isolated and lying at the foot of a range of hills, it has several rock-cut images which can be traced to the 11th to 12th century A.D. This is one of the few temples where buffalo sacrifice is done annually during Durga Puja. On the north of North Guwahati there is a hill named Natuancha. Here Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvoti and other gods resided. This was alternative of Kailash dham, the abode of the Lord Shiva. Here Beula, the traditional chaste got her husband's life back by gaining a boon from Lord Shiva after pleasing him with her charming dance and music. The Dirgheswari Dewalaya in the Dirgheswari hill or 'Sita parbati' exist beside this. The great hermit Markanda had his hermitage here. Lord Shiva also happened to carry on his shoulders his wife's dead body (Sati) over this site hills when one of Sati's limb fell here the Dirgheswari temple was built.                                                

Chennakesava Temple-Belur

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Chennakesava Temple-Belur

The Chennakesava temple, originally called Vijayanarayana temple, was built on the banks of the Yagachi river in Belur, by the Hoysala empire king Vishnuvardhana.  Belur, which was an early Hoysala capital,  is in the Hassan district.

History :-

Beautiful Belur the Quaint little town set elegantly on the banks of river Yagachi amidst lush surrounding was earlier Known as Velapuri. It was chosen as the capital of the Hoysalas, after the sacking and destruction of their capital at Dwarasamudra (Halebid), by the Delhi Sultans. The Hoysalas Ruled this region between 44 th and 13 th centuries. They were great patrons of art and architecture and builts a number of magnificent shrines during their 300 years regin. The temples and monuments at Belur are indeed the best Hoysala creations, showcasing their amazing architecture and sculptures in full glory Belur was highly revered for its magnificient shrines and came to be Known as “modern vaikunta (heaven) of the earthe”.
The Hoysala temples are characterized by typical star shaped ground plan and are usually ste on a platform. They are compact, squat structures and are more human in scale as compared to other soaring shrines of the south. Ornately carved shrines indicate the music and dance were highly regarded by the Hoysalas and were used to express religious fervor. The temples at Belur are carved out of soap stone (steatite), quarried from Tumkur, About 200 Kms away. This stone is extremely easy to chisel, but attains iron-like fitness when exposed to the atmosphere. To maintain the shine of the temple, the stone is treated with a chemical wash and then wax polished once in ten years.

Today this small town basking in the warmth of its luxurious greenery and glorious past is regarded as “one of the jewels” of South India architecture. Its temple have become rich repositories of ancient Hindu culture.