About Ugratara Temple Assam in India :
Ugratara Temple is an important Shakti shrine, located in the eastern part of the Guwahati city, in Uzan Bazaar. The temple serves as an important pilgrimage center of the state and attracts tourists from far and wide. It was constructed in 1725, by King Shiva Singh of Ahom Kingdom. He also excavated a tank, known as Jorepukhuri, in the east of the temple. However, the present temple has undergone a number of renovations and modifications, after its upper section was destroyed by a devastating earthquake. These reconstructions were undertaken by a private citizen.
The residing deity of the Ugratara Temple is Goddess Ugra Tara, who is considered to be another form of Goddess Parvati. The legend has it that the temple was constructed on the very spot where the naval of Sati fell on the earth, after her death. Hence, the place is considered to be an important shakti shrine in India and is regarded as very sacred by the thousands of devotees who come to visit the place every year. The temple is also connected to Buddhism and related to Eka Jata and Tiksna Kanta of the Buddhist pantheon.
The main festival celebrated in Ugratara temple is Navaratri or the festival of nine nights. During this time, devotees from far and wide come to offer their prayers and seek blessings of the Mother. An important ritual observed during the festival is the sacrifice of animals, like bulls, buffaloes, wild boars, goats etc. There is also another ritual of offering one’s own blood to the Mother. However, an interesting fact is that, generally, the females of all the species are exempted from sacrifice. Apart from this, special prayers are also offered to the Goddess every Friday.
Sightseeing near Ugratara in Guwahati :
Kamakhya Temple
Guwahati is particularly famous for its Kamakhya temple located atop the Nilachal hill, at a distance of 10 km from the railway station. Known to be the most revered among the tantrik shrines of Shakti worship in the world, Kamakhya, was built in the 10th century by the Koch king, Naranarayan. Animal sacrifice is a common practice here to appease the Goddess.
Bhubaneshwari Temple
Above Kamakhya is another small temple, Bhubaneshwari, from where one can have a bird’s eye view of the Guwahati.
Shiva Temple
The Shiva temple of Umananda, reached by motor boats and public ferries from Umananda Ghat, stands on an island in the middle of the Brahmaputra.
Navagraha Temple
Atop a hill in east Guwahati is the Navagraha temple – the “temple of nine planets,” – an ancient seat of astrology and astronomy. Housed in a red beehive-shaped dome, the central lingam is encircled by further nine representing the planets (graha) – Sun (Surya, Ravi), Moon (Chandra, Soma), Mercury (Buddh), Venus (Sukra), Mars (Mangal), Jupiter (Brhaspati) and Saturn (Sani). Two more were added, Rahu and Ketu, the dragon’s head and the dragon’s tail, or the ascending and descending nodes of the moon.
Located: Uzan Bazaar, Guwahati
Built By: King Shiva Singh
Built In: 18th century
Dedicated To: Goddess Ugra Tara, an incarnation of Goddess Parvati