Assam - Pilgrimages and Temples

Religious Traditions of Assam:

- Shakti Peetha → Kamrup Kamakhya (Kamagiri Shakti Peetha)
- Jyotirlinga → Kamrup Bhimeshwar Dham (Bhimashankara Jyotirlinga)

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1.

Devi Tradition of Assam:
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)
(Kalika Purana)
(Yogini Tantra)

• Kamrup Kamakhya → Devi abides in Kamrup Kamakhya as Kamagiri Shakti Peetha.

Devi also abides in Kamrup Kamakhya as Dasha Mahavidyas:
(1) Kali
(2) Tara
(3) Tripurasundari
(4) Bhuvaneshwari
(5) Tripurabhairavi
(6) Chinnamasta
(7) Dhumavati
(8) Bagalamukhi
(9) Matangi
(10) Kamalatmika).

• Kamrup Dirgeshwari → Devi also abides in Kamrup as Dirgeshwari.
• Kamrup Ugratara → Devi also abides in Kamrup as Ugratara.

Others:
• Kamrup Urvashi Kunda → Kamrup Urvashi Kunda is located in the Umananda Island.

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2.

Shiva Tradition of Assam:
(Shiva Purana)

• Kamrup Umananda → Lord Shiva abides in Kamrup as Umananda who is the Bhairava of Devi Kamrup Kamakhya.
• Kamrup Bhimeshwar Dham → Lord Shiva protected devotee Sudakshina from the atrocities of demon Bhima and abides as Bhimashankara Jyotirlinga (identified with Kamrup Bhimeshwar Dham).
• Kamrup Manikarneshwar → Lord Shiva abides in Kamrup as Manikarneshwar.
• Kamrup Shukreshwar → Lord Shiva abides in Kamrup as Shukreshwar on the Shukreshwar or Itakhuli Hill. Sri Shukracharya is said to have founded this Shiva Lingam.
• Kamrup Baneshwar → Lord Shiva abides in Kamrup as Baneshwar.

Others:
• Kamrup Navagraha Temple → Kamrup Navagraha Temple is situated on the Chitrachal Hill. Each Graha is represented as a Shiva Lingam.

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3.

Vishnu Tradition of Assam:
(Yogini Tantra)

• Kamrup Ashwakranta (Ashwaklanta) → Lord Vishnu abides in Kamrup as Sri Anantasayi Vishnu in Ashwakranta (Ashwaklanta). It is said that the horses of Sri Krishna took rest here.
• Kamrup Janardhana → Lord Vishnu abides in Kamrup as Sri Janardhana.
• Kamrup Pandunath → Lord Vishnu abides in Kamrup as Sri Pandunath. Lord Pandunath is associated with the legend of Lord Vishnu killing demons Madhu and Kaitabha placing them on his lap. Also. the Pandavas are said to have visited this place.

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4.

Hayagriva Tradition of Assam:

• Kamrup Hayagriva Madhava → Lord Hayagriva abides in Kamrup as Hayagriva Madhava on the Monikut Hill.

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5.

Kurma Tradition of Assam:

• Kamrup Ashwakranta (Ashwaklanta) → Lord Kurma abides in a temple near Kamrup Ashwakranta (Ashwaklanta) as Kurma Janardhan.

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6.

Sages and Assam:

• Vasishtha (Kamrup Basishtha Ashram) → Sage Vasishtha performed penance in Sandhyachala Hill near Kamrup (to regain his form which he had lost due to a curse).

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7.

Saints and Assam:

• Sankara Deva (1449 - 1568 CE) (Nagaon Bordowa Than) → Sri Sankara Deva who propagated the Ekasarana Dharma (surrender to Sri Krishna) was born in Bordowa Than in Nagaon of Assam.

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8.

Sacred Geography of Assam:

Mountains:
☗ Nilachal Parvat → Kamrup Kamakhya
☗ Umananda Parvat (Bhashmachala Bhashmakuta) → Kamrup Umananda
☗ Dakini Parvat (Daini Pahar) → Kamrup Bhimeshwar Dham
☗ Shukreshwar Parvat (Itakhuli Parvat) → Kamrup Shukreshwar
☗ Monikut Parvat → Kamrup Hayagriva Madhava
☗ Chitrachal Parvat → Kamrup Navagraha Temple
☗ Sandhyachal Parvat → Kamrup Basishtha Ashram

Rivers:
▬ Brahmaputra flows → Kamrup Umananda
▬ Basistha flows → Kamrup Basishtha Ashram

Lakes:
◼ Saubhagya Kunda → Kamrup Kamakhya
◼ Bhairavi Kunda → Kamrup Kamakhya
◼ Durga Kunda → Kamrup Kamakhya

Islands:
◆ Shailadwipa (Umananda Island) → Kamrup Umananda

1. Pilgrimages and Temples of Devi: (Assam)

-- Kamrup - Kamagiri Shakti Peetha [Devi Kamakhya] (SP-17) - The Yoni (Generative Organ) of Devi had fallen

-- Kamrup - Ugratara - A famous pilgrimage


2. Pilgrimages and Temples of Lord Shiva: (Assam)

-- Kamrup - Umananda - Bhairava of Devi Kamrup Kamakhya

-- Kamrup - Manikarneshwar - Located on Manishaila Hill near the Umananda Hill

-- Kamrup - Shukreshwar - Shukracharya is said to have founded this Shiva Lingam

-- Kamrup - Baneshwar - A famous temple


3. Pilgrimages and Temples of Lord Vishnu: (Assam)

-- Kamrup - Ashwakranta - The horses of Sri Krishna are said to have rested here

-- Kamrup - Janardana - A famous temple

-- Kamrup - Pandunath - Lord Vishnu killed demons Madhu and Kaitabha; Pandavas prayed to Devi Kamakhya for victory

-- Kamrup - Hayagriva Madhava - Lord Vishnu killed demons Jwarasura, Hayasura and others when sage Aurva prayed to him


4. Other Pilgrimages and Temples: (Assam)

-- Kamrup - Basistha Ashram - Sage Vasistha performed penance here worshipping Lord Vishnu

-- Kamrup - Urvashi Kunda - Located in the Umananda Island

-- Kamrup - Navagraha Temple - Located on the Chitrachal Hill