The Bhairabi Temple is located in Assam, a north eastern state or province of India. More specifically, this temple is situated on the outskirts of Tezpur in a district called Sonitpur. This temple is dedicated to goddess, Bhairabi. It is famous among the locals by the name of Maithan and Bhairabi Devalaya. The Bhairabi Temple is considered to be a place of scenic beauty and a bridge to reach the Divine.
History of Bhairabi Temple
There is no record of the date of establishment of this temple. What is known is that, from 5000 BC the goddess was worshipped by Usha in Dwapar Yuga. Usha is the primary creator of this temple. She is known to be the daughter of mighty Asura King, Banasura of Dwapar Yuga. She used to pay offerings at the feet of the goddess.
Managing Body of Bhairabi Temple
Bhairabi Temple belongs to the family of the Borthakur`s of Tezpur. More specifically, this temple belonged to Shri Dilip Borthakur, Shri Barenya Ranjan Barthakur and Shri Aditya Prakash Barthakur. It is presently handled by the government through the office of the District Deputy Commissioner.
Architectural Design of Bhairabi Temple
Bhairabi Temple is a representation of the Assamese style of architecture. The interior of this temple is adorned with sculpted idols. The carvings in the temple are charmingly odd. 9th century art work is evident on the stone carvings. A very long staircase acts as the entrance to the temple. It will lead one up from the approach road to the temple itself. This temple is also a home to inscriptions, which are recognized as written in Sanskrit.
This temple is known to be a victim to earthquake, which made it structurally fragile. It has consequently tilted slightly. A nearby building suffered damage to the west and south sides of the second and third stories, thereby damaging the pillars and roof of the temple. After this tragic incident, religious ceremonies or daily prayers were no longer performed in the temple.
Worship of the Deity of Bhairabi Temple
Bhairabi Temple is considered to be a sidhapitha, where people offer their prayers to the goddess and express their desires to receive her blessings for their fulfillment. The goddess, Bhairavi is worshipped here as one of the Mahavidyas of Ma Durga Devi. The prayers are offered with other relevant materials. There are a plethora of local stalls near the temple, which sell goods required to properly worship the goddess. They are incense, incense sticks, earthen lamps, flowers, petals and sweets. Apart from these offerings, sacrificial offerings of goats, ducks and pigeons are considered to be performed regularly in the temple.
Festival of Bhairabi Temple
Bhairabi Temple is known for the celebration of Durga Puja in a very impressive way. Durga Puja is celebrated throughout the state of Assam as one of its important religious festivals. This is because of the presence of huge number of Bengali Hindus and a large number of Assamese Hindus of Shakta sect of Hinduism. Vaishnavite Hindus dominate the population of Assam. For the Bengali Hindu society, this festival is the most significant socio-cultural event.
Other Places of Attraction near Bhairabi Temple
Kamakshya Devalaya Temple, Shidheswar Mandir, Army Elephent Cinema Hall, Bakulguri Namghar, Hari Temple and Hazara Pukhuri are some of the other places of attraction near the Bhairabi Temple. The Kolia Bhomora Setu across the Brahmaputra River and the Bamuni hills in the vicinity of the main shrine of the temple can be delightfully viewed and are known to add "winsome" grace to this pious place.
Visiting Information
The nearest airport to Bhairabi Temple is Tezpur Air Force Base Airport. It is situated at a distance of about 5 km from Bhairabi Temple. The nearest railway station to this temple is Amguri Railway Station. This railway station is located at a distance of about 30 km from Bhairabi Temple.
Related Articles:
Durga Temples in India
Indian Regional Temples
Krishna Temples in India
Shiva Temples In India
