Owing to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, the administration of the Umananda Devalaya in Guwahati has decided to keep the doors of the temple shut till October 31.
The entry of the visitors has been restricted keeping in mind the prevailing COVID-19 situation and rising water level of the Brahmaputra, Devalaya Managing Committee secretary Anil Kumar Bhattacharya informed.
“The Devalaya was closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The decision to extend the closure till October 31 has been taken in view of the pandemic and rising water level of the Brahmaputra,” Bhattacharya said while to the media.
Umananda Devalaya is a Shiva temple located at the Peacock Island in the middle of the river Brahmaputra. It was built by the Ahom King Gadadhar Singha (1681–1696), who was a devout Shaivite. It is known as the smallest inhabited Riverine Island in the world.
According to ancient mythology, Lord Shiva is said to have resided here in the form of Bhayananda. According to the Kalika Purana, at the beginning of creation, Shiva sprinkled ashes (bhasma) at this place and imparted knowledge to Parvati (his consort). It is said that, when Siva was in meditation on this hillock, Kamadeva interrupted his yoga and was therefore burnt to ashes by the fire of Siva’s anger and hence the hillock got the name Bhasmacala.
