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Sadiya is an important Place in the North Lakimpur district
of Assam. It was originally included in the North Eastern Frontier Agency
and was later transferred to Assam. It now forms the Inner Line of NEFA
regulations.
The Legends
Sadiya was the capital of the Chutiyas, a Mongolian tribe, who were
reigning there at the beginning of the 13th century AD. There are numerous
legends connected with the origin of the Chutiyas and how the capital came
to be called Sadiya.
The Chutiya dynasty claimed descent from 'Bhismak', the father of
'Rukmini', consort of Sri Krishna. One Birapal, a descendant of the
Bhismak line was ruling at Sonagiri. He had no children and therefore his
queen Rupavati offered penances to Kubera, the God of Wealth, to bless
them with a child. Kubera appeared in the form of her husband and had
coition with her. Then she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. He was
named Gaurinarayan.
When he came of age, he succeeded his father in 1244 AD and assumed the
name Ratnadhvajapala. He was a great conqueror and the Chutiyas living in
hills and the Raja of Kamata acknowledged his supremacy. He then turned
his arms towards the kingdom of Gaur and sent emissaries to the king
demanding the token of his friendship.
The King of Gaur accepted his friendly proposal and agreed to forward to
Ratnadhvaj pots of Ganga water in exchange for regular supply of water
from 'Arasuramakunda'. A son of Ratnadhvaj was also kept with Gaur Raja
for study. Unfortunately, the prince died in Bengal and being ignorant of
the funeral customs of the Chutiyas, sent the corpse to Ratnadhvaj.
Ratnadhvaj was then building a palace at Sindhuksetra.
As the corpse was received by him there the city was named Sadiya (place
where the corpse was given). The religious practices of the Chutiyas were
'ghastly' in character. They worshipped different forms of Kali with the
help of their tribal priests called Deoris. A dreadful conception of Kali
came to be developed during this period. In this form, she was worshipped
by the Chutiyas and was popularly known as "Kesai Khati" (eater
of the raw flesh) because of the annual sacrifice at her temple.
The Various Forms Of Goddess Tamresvari
Her temple was at Sadiya and she was called Tamresvari Devi or "the
Goddess of the copper temple. Dr. Kakati considers that she is the same
goddess as Dikkaravasini whom the Kalika Purana describes as the presiding
deity of northeastern Assam.
The goddess Dikkaravasini has two forms "Tiksna Kanta"
(dreadfully attractive) and "Lalita-Kanta" (gracefully
attractive). Tiksna Kanta is black, potbellied and with one lock of matted
hair ("Eka-Jata"). She is also called "Ugra Tara". Her
attendants are 'Bhaga', 'Subhaga', 'Chamunda', 'Karala', 'Bhisana', and
'Vikala' - all dreadful names.
She is to be worshipped in general like goddess Kamakhya, but her most
delectable offerings consisted of strong spirituous liquor, human
sacrifice, 'Modaka', flesh, curry, coconuts and sugarcane. These
sacrifices were offered both on regular occasions and also to avert
calamities, such as cholera, small pox, etc.
The Human Sacrifice Ritual The human sacrifice at the Tamresvari
temple was an annual feature. Generally, the criminals who were sentenced
to capital punishments were given for the purpose. But when none were
available, a particular clan was expected to produce a victim and in
return certain privileges were granted to it.
When a woman of this clan became pregnant, the astrologers were called on
to ascertain the sex of the child. If they predicted that it would be a
boy, the mother was carefully tended, and the child was anointed, as soon
as it was born, with a paste made of turmeric and a kind of pulse. It is
said that when necessity arose, a volunteer was called for, and was
usually forthcoming; if not, a victim was taken by force.
For sometime he was kept at the temple and fed sumptuously, until he was
in sufficiently plump condition to suit the supposed taste of the goddess.
He was then shaved, anointed with the same paste as at birth and adorned
with gold and silver ornaments and the sacrifice ceremony was conducted
before the image of the goddess. Here he prostrated himself and was
promptly decapitated by the 'Bar Deori', or high priest. The head was
added to a heap of skulls that were piled in view of the shrine. At
present no one has heard of human sacrifices made at the altars of the
temple and this practice has been given up.
The Tamresvari temple commanded respect from a majority of people and
counted amongst its votaries all the hill tribes in the vicinity, Ahoms
and the Hindus of Assam. Instances show that pilgrims frequently visited
this sacred shrine from regions far more remote including Tibet and China,
who brought offerings to the great goddess.
Layout Of the Temple
The temple of Tamresvari is one of the oldest and was once the
flourishing center of tantric religion. It now stands in a ruined state in
the over-grown jungle about seven miles from Sadiya. The temple is
described as a small stone building, nearly square, but without cement,
the stone joined by iron pins not clamped. The roof was of copper, but it
has fallen in. The interior is eight feet square. The whole is enclosed
within a brick wall, 130 feet by 200 feet.
The walls of the temple were decorated with sculptural representation,
which included human figures, animals, birds, flowers, geometrical
designs, etc. There was also the representation of 'Mithuna' (erotic)
sculptures.
Sadiya is an important Place in the North Lakimpur district
of Assam. It was originally included in the North
Eastern Frontier Agency and was later transferred to Assam.
It now forms the Inner Line of NEFA regulations.
The Legends
Sadiya was the capital of the Chutiyas, a Mongolian tribe, who were
reigning there at the beginning of the 13th century AD. There are numerous
legends connected with the origin of the Chutiyas and how the capital came
to be called Sadiya.
The Chutiya dynasty claimed descent from 'Bhismak', the father of
'Rukmini', consort of Sri Krishna. One Birapal, a descendant of the
Bhismak line was ruling at Sonagiri. He had no children and therefore his
queen Rupavati offered penances to Kubera, the God of Wealth, to bless
them with a child. Kubera appeared in the form of her husband and had
coition with her. Then she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. He was
named Gaurinarayan.
When he came of age, he succeeded his father in 1244 AD and assumed the
name Ratnadhvajapala. He was a great conqueror and the Chutiyas living in
hills and the Raja of Kamata acknowledged his supremacy. He then turned
his arms towards the kingdom of Gaur and sent emissaries to the king
demanding the token of his friendship.
The King of Gaur accepted his friendly proposal and agreed to forward to
Ratnadhvaj pots of Ganga water in exchange for regular supply of water
from 'Arasuramakunda'. A son of Ratnadhvaj was also kept with Gaur Raja
for study. Unfortunately, the prince died in Bengal and being ignorant of
the funeral customs of the Chutiyas, sent the corpse to Ratnadhvaj.
Ratnadhvaj was then building a palace at Sindhuksetra.
As the corpse was received by him there the city was named Sadiya (place
where the corpse was given). The religious practices of the Chutiyas were
'ghastly' in character. They worshipped different forms of Kali with the
help of their tribal priests called Deoris. A dreadful conception of Kali
came to be developed during this period. In this form, she was worshipped
by the Chutiyas and was popularly known as "Kesai Khati" (eater
of the raw flesh) because of the annual sacrifice at her temple.
The Various Forms Of Goddess Tamresvari
Her temple was at Sadiya and she was called Tamresvari Devi or "the
Goddess of the copper temple. Dr. Kakati considers that she is the same
goddess as Dikkaravasini whom the Kalika Purana describes as the presiding
deity of northeastern Assam.
The goddess Dikkaravasini has two forms "Tiksna Kanta"
(dreadfully attractive) and "Lalita-Kanta" (gracefully
attractive). Tiksna Kanta is black, potbellied and with one lock of matted
hair ("Eka-Jata"). She is also called "Ugra Tara". Her
attendants are 'Bhaga', 'Subhaga', 'Chamunda', 'Karala', 'Bhisana', and
'Vikala' - all dreadful names.
She is to be worshipped in general like goddess Kamakhya, but her most
delectable offerings consisted of strong spirituous liquor, human
sacrifice, 'Modaka', flesh, curry, coconuts and sugarcane. These
sacrifices were offered both on regular occasions and also to avert
calamities, such as cholera, small pox, etc.
The Human Sacrifice Ritual The human sacrifice at the Tamresvari
temple was an annual feature. Generally, the criminals who were sentenced
to capital punishments were given for the purpose. But when none were
available, a particular clan was expected to produce a victim and in
return certain privileges were granted to it.
When a woman of this clan became pregnant, the astrologers were called on
to ascertain the sex of the child. If they predicted that it would be a
boy, the mother was carefully tended, and the child was anointed, as soon
as it was born, with a paste made of turmeric and a kind of pulse. It is
said that when necessity arose, a volunteer was called for, and was
usually forthcoming; if not, a victim was taken by force.
For sometime he was kept at the temple and fed sumptuously, until he was
in sufficiently plump condition to suit the supposed taste of the goddess.
He was then shaved, anointed with the same paste as at birth and adorned
with gold and silver ornaments and the sacrifice ceremony was conducted
before the image of the goddess. Here he prostrated himself and was
promptly decapitated by the 'Bar Deori', or high priest. The head was
added to a heap of skulls that were piled in view of the shrine. At
present no one has heard of human sacrifices made at the altars of the
temple and this practice has been given up.
The Tamresvari temple commanded respect from a majority of people and
counted amongst its votaries all the hill tribes in the vicinity, Ahoms
and the Hindus of Assam. Instances show that
pilgrims frequently visited this sacred shrine from regions far more
remote including Tibet and China, who brought offerings to the great
goddess.
Layout Of the Temple
The temple of Tamresvari is one of the oldest and was once the
flourishing center of tantric religion. It now stands in a ruined state in
the over-grown jungle about seven miles from Sadiya. The temple is
described as a small stone building, nearly square, but without cement,
the stone joined by iron pins not clamped. The roof was of copper, but it
has fallen in. The interior is eight feet square. The whole is enclosed
within a brick wall, 130 feet by 200 feet.
The walls of the temple were decorated with sculptural representation,
which included human figures, animals, birds, flowers, geometrical
designs, etc. There was also the representation of 'Mithuna' (erotic)
sculptures.