Shri Shri Athkhelia Namghar
Sri Sri Athkheliya Namghar Entrance
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictGolaghat
Location
LocationGhiladhari
StateAssam
CountryIndia
Athkheliya Namghar is located in Assam
Athkheliya Namghar
Location of Sri Sri Athkheliya Namghar
Geographic coordinates26°28′N 94°05′E / 26.47°N 94.09°E / 26.47; 94.09
Architecture
CreatorGadapani
Completed1681 AD
Website
athkhelianamghar.org

Sri Sri Athkheliya Namghar or Sri Sri Athkhelia Namghar (Assamese: শ্ৰী শ্ৰী আঠখেলিয়া নামঘৰ) is a prominent pilgrimage place of Assam and North Eastern India. It is located at Bosa Gaon, Golaghat, Assam where the three rivers - Ghiladhari, Matrang and Kakodonga meet.[1] It was constructed by king Gada Pani in the year 1681 AD.[2] Before 1970s, temple was called Sri Sri Athkheliya temple but later, it was renamed as the Sri Sri Athkheliya Namghar due to the influence of Vaishnavism.

Etymology

Sri Sri Athkheliya is named after the eight kuris or "neighbourhoods" or "parts". As the people of these eight kuris together have formed a society and have carried out religious works together there, the place received the name of Sri Sri Athkhelia Namghar.[1][3] According to Axom buronji or "the history of Assam", the Ahom kings, leaving those who knew systematic farming, to engage in expansion based farming, started the paik system. The groups above the paiks were called khels. Some such royal persons, or post-holders settled in neighbourhoods: the name of the khels were decided upon the 'post' of the post-holder.[4]

Before 1970, Sri Sri Athkheliya Namghar was known as Sri Sri Athkhelia Hori Mandir. Even now on its entrance, the inscription reads "Sri Sri Athkheliya Hori Mandir". After 1970, it was renamed as the Sri Sri Athkheliya Namghar.[5]

History

The definite answer to when and how the Sri Sri Athkhelia Namghar was made is unknown. According to Edward Gait's 'History of Assam', the Kachari kingdom's extended from the river Kalang to the river Dikhou.[6] In the year 1600, the area went under the Kacharis.[2] So, according to that, a Kachari king established a Hori Mandir or Shiva temple at the place to worship. In the buronji too, the foundation of any namghar at that place is not mentioned. Moreover Gadapani is not known to be too fond of Vaishnavism. Perhaps due to some natural calamity, the temple got destructed. And the place turned into a forest. According to folk sources, the temple reappeared after rituals conducted by a sage.[5] As people got attracted, worship restarted. Also, an idol of Shiva has been found in a tea garden, about 5 to 7 km away. According to experts, it was made in the 9th century, i.e. before the arrival of the Ahoms.[7]

According to tales, the land of the Sri Sri Athkhelia Namghar was once an ashram of some unknown kulasheel sage.[8]

After Swargadeo Loraroja, illegally ascended to the throne of the Ahom empire, Gadapani Kowar or Godadhor Singha, in disguise, roamed at the hills. Once he saw the ashram and stayed there for a few days. It is said that the soldiers of loraroja, in search of Gadapani reached there, but as there were too many trees, and the path was full of spider-webs, they didn't expect to find any human there and went back. When Gadapani came out, he saw footprints and realised that the soldiers came searching him.[3] The sage once told Gadapani, that he will become the king. Gadapani too, promised that if that happens, he will make the sage his minister. Time passed, and in 1681 AD, Gadapani became the king. Gadapani sent his men to search for the sage, so that he fulfills his promise. But nobody ever found the sage again. No one knows what happened to the sage. But, Gadapani gave the duty of taking care of the ashram to eight paik families nearby the ashram.[5] As time passed by, the families turned into kuris, and as the eight kuris were associated with the holy place, the name became Athkuriya and later on Athkheliya.[2][3]

With time, that mandir or temple turned into a namghar, due to the influence of Vaishnavism.

Location

Sri Sri Athkheliya Namghar (26°28′N 94°05′E / 26.47°N 94.09°E / 26.47; 94.09) is located at Bosa Gaon, Ghiladhari, Golaghat, Assam. The place is about 18 km away from Golaghat city. Starting their journey from the Naga hills, the three rivers join at a place very nearby the Sri Sri Athkheliya Namghar. The Matrang river meets northward flowing Ghiladhari river and finally both join the Kakodonga river nearby.[9]

Transportation

Airway

Jorhat Airport lies about 60 km away from the centre.[10]

Railway

The Forkating railway station is about 12.8 km away from the centre.[10]

Road

Golaghat is well connected by roads from all parts of Assam. Golaghat city is about 20 km away from the centre and it takes about 40 minutes by bus to reach Sri Sri Athkhelia namghar from Golaghat city.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 "শ্ৰী শ্ৰী আঠখেলীয়া নামঘৰৰ বিষয়ে". Merrylook Technologies Private Limited. শ্ৰী শ্ৰী আঠখেলীয়া নামঘৰ. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 "শ্ৰী শ্ৰী আঠখেলীয়া নামঘৰৰ ইতিহাস". Merrylook Technologies Private Limited. শ্ৰী শ্ৰী আঠখেলীয়া নামঘৰ. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 "বুৰঞ্জী প্ৰসিদ্ধ শ্ৰী শ্ৰী আঠখেলীয়া নামঘৰ". বুৰঞ্জী প্ৰসিদ্ধ শ্ৰী শ্ৰী আঠখেলীয়া নামঘৰ. সম্পাদক, সম্পাদনা সমিতি, শ্ৰী শ্ৰী আঠখেলীয়া নামঘৰ: 30 to 41. 2013.
  4. শ্ৰী যোগেন শইকীয়া (2013). "উপক্ৰমনিকা". বুৰঞ্জী প্ৰসিদ্ধ শ্ৰী শ্ৰী আঠখেলীয়া নামঘৰ. সম্পাদক, সম্পাদনা সমিতি, শ্ৰী শ্ৰী আঠখেলীয়া নামঘৰ: 22, 23 and 24.
  5. 1 2 3 শ্ৰী যোগেন শইকীয়া (2013). "শ্ৰী শ্ৰী আঠখেলীয়া নামঘৰৰ ইতিবৃত্তৰ মূল তথ্যৰে ঐতিহাসিক ভেটিৰ এক অনুসন্ধানমূলক পৰ্যালোচনা". বুৰঞ্জী প্ৰসিদ্ধ শ্ৰী শ্ৰী আঠখেলীয়া নামঘৰ. সম্পাদক, সম্পাদনা সমিতি, শ্ৰী শ্ৰী আঠখেলীয়া নামঘৰ: 113 to 131.
  6. History Of Assam by E A Gait পৃষ্ঠা: ২৪৮-২৪৯
  7. স্মৃতিগ্ৰন্থ; বৰহোলা উচ্চতৰ মাধ্যমিক বিদ্যালয় সোণালী জয়ন্তী
  8. "বুৰঞ্জী প্ৰসিদ্ধ শ্ৰী শ্ৰী আঠখেলীয়া নামঘৰ". বুৰঞ্জী প্ৰসিদ্ধ শ্ৰী শ্ৰী আঠখেলীয়া নামঘৰ. সম্পাদক, সম্পাদনা সমিতি, শ্ৰী শ্ৰী আঠখেলীয়া নামঘৰ: ৩০ৰপৰা ৪১ পৃ্ষ্ঠা. 2013.
  9. "অতিৰিক্ত". বুৰঞ্জী প্ৰসিদ্ধ শ্ৰী শ্ৰী আঠখেলীয়া নামঘৰ. সম্পাদক, সম্পাদনা সমিতি, শ্ৰী শ্ৰী আঠখেলীয়া নামঘৰ: ২৯ পৃ্ষ্ঠা. 2013.
  10. 1 2 3 "শ্ৰী শ্ৰী আঠখেলীয়া নামঘৰৰ অৱস্থান". www.assaminfo.com. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
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