Guwahati Aswaklanta Temple, Assam

Address

Doul Govinda Rd, North Guwahati,

Kamrup District,

Assam 781031

Moolavar

Lord Vishnu

Introduction

Aswaklanta Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Guwahati City in Kamrup District of Assam, India. This Temple is situated on the bank of the mighty Brahmaputra River.

Puranic Significance

Aswaklanta Temple was built by the Ahom King Shiva Singha in 1720. The temple was damaged in the great earth quake of Assam in 1897. But it was repaired in 1901 under patronage of Lord Curzon, then viceroy of Assam. Earlier, there was a Kunda or a sacrificial space in the spot, which has been washed away by the River Brahmaputra.

Many tales and legends surround the famous Aswaklantha temple. According to one of the legends, Lord Krishna was riding a horse, searching for the evil Narakasur to punish him. On his way, his horse felt tired on the particular place where the present Aswaklanta temple is situated. The meaning of the word Aswa means ‘horse’ and Klanta means ‘tired’ in the Assamese language. And hence the place came to be called Aswa-Klanta.

Another legend attached to this place states that the horses that belonged to Arjuna, during the kurukshetra war, were made to stay back in this place from entering battle field. This was a conspiracy to ensure that Abhimanyu, Arjuna’s son was killed in the battle field without any timely help. The name of this conspiracy plan was ‘Abhikranta’ in Assamese. From this word, the place was named ‘Aswa-krata’ which later became Aswaklanta in their local language. The ancient temple of Aswaklanta provides a visual treat for its visitors. A beautiful view of the majestic Brahmaputra river with the Guwahati city in its background is seen from the temple. The Aswaklanta temple was damaged in the great earthquake of Assam which occurred in the year 1897. However, it was renovated under the supervision the then Viceroy of Assam, Lord Curzon.

In the ancient times, there was a Kundra (a place of sacrifice) which was located near the temple. It was later eroded by the Brahmaputra River and does not exist anymore. The temple consists of two images, one of Lord Janardana and other of Lord Anantasai Vishnu. The Lord Anantasai Vishnu image is a fine art specimen dating back to the eleventh century. The temple has numerous stone inscriptions inscribed around it.

Special Features

The temple is situated by the bank of mighty Brahmaputra. The Uphill temple consists of two images, one of Lord Janardhana and other of Lord Anantasayi Vishnu. The image of Anantasayi Vishnu is a fine art specimen dating back to the 11th century. The temple walls have beautiful stone inscriptions on them. Formally there was a Kunda, a place of sacrifice near the temple. Now this Kunda does not exist because it was eroded by the river Brahmaputra