Umananda island Temple

Overview : Umananda Devaloi is a Uma Nanda,i.e. God Shiva temple located at the Peacock island in middle of river Brahmaputra.It lies just opposite to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup or the Kachari Ghat in Guwahati.It was built by a devout Shaivaite, the Ahom King Gadadhar Singha during 1681 to 1696. Bhayananda is the form in which Shiva resided here. A legend from the sacred Kalika Purana says, at the beginning of the universe creation, Lord Shivaji sprinkled sacred ashes called Bhasma here and imparted sacred knowledge to Parvati. One more story according to Hindu myths is, while Lord Shiva was meditating at this mountain area, the sex God, Kamadeva disturbed him. In anger Lord Shiva burnt Kamadeva into ashes and hence it got the name Bhasmacala. It is also known as Bhasmakuta. As per the holy Kalika Purana, sacred Urvasikunda is also located here where Urvashi lived. She is the Goddess who brings nectar especially for the fun of Kamakhya.Thus it has got the name Urvasi Island. If a person worships at this place on Monday when its an Amavasya, they will be blessed by Lord Shiva. Every year,the Shiva Chaturdasi festival is celebrated with great zest and zeal.