Ugratara Devalaya

Ugratara Devalaya is a significant Hindu temple located in Guwahati, Assam, Northeast India. Situated in the Lotaxil (Latasil) area, to the west of the Jor Pukhury tanks, it is a prominent Shakti shrine dedicated to the goddess Ugratara. The temple is a focal point for devotees and holds considerable religious and historical importance in the region.

Legend and Mythology

According to local legend, Ugratara Devalaya is connected to the navel of Sati, the first consort of Lord Shiva. The temple also features in the Sthala Purana, which narrates a story where Rishi Vasishtha, while meditating, was disturbed by Ugra Tara's army. Angered, Vasishtha cursed Ugra Tara and Shiva, leading to a shift in religious practices in Kamarupa, with Vedic sadhanas being abandoned and Ugra Tara becoming associated with Vamachara sadhana.

Architectural and Religious Uniqueness

A distinctive feature of Ugratara Devalaya is the representation of the goddess. Within the sanctum sanctorum (garbhagriha), there is no idol or image of Ugratara. Instead, a small pit filled with water serves as the divine symbol of the deity. The temple complex also includes a Shivalaya (temple dedicated to Shiva) and a pond located behind both shrines.

Historical Context

The present structure of Ugratara Devalaya was constructed in Saka 1647 (1725 CE) under the patronage of the Ahom king Siva Singha, as confirmed by an inscription at the site. However, evidence suggests that the religious establishment existed prior to the construction of the current building. A copper-plate inscription from Saka 1637 (1715 CE) records a land grant to the temples of Kamakhya, Pandunath, and Ugratara, reinforcing its antiquity.

Some scholars have proposed an even earlier origin for the shrine. Kanak Lal Barua identified the stone enclosure around the site with Durjaya, the capital of the Kamarupa Pala king Ratnapala, suggesting that a temple of Ugratara might have been built within the citadel by Ratnapala or his successor Indrapala. Maheswar Neog also linked the site to the early worship of Ekajata or Ugratara and attributed a later reconstruction to these Pala rulers, although direct inscriptions supporting this attribution are yet to be discovered.

Worship and Offerings

Ugratara is generally worshipped in a manner similar to the goddess Kamakhya. She is known to favor offerings such as liquor, flesh, Modaka, coconuts, and sugar cane.