Ashvakranta
-Assam
The
Ashvakranta
temple in
Guwahati in
Assam is an ancient one and is associated with the legend of Krishna slaying the
demon
Narakasura.It
is believed that Ashvakranta is the site at which
Krishna
camped with his horses and army before he killed the demon Narakasura, hence the
name Ashvakranta.
The temple enshrines an image of Krishna
(Vishnu) in the
Anantasayana
or the reclining posture, where Vishnu is shown reclining on the serpent Adi
Sesha, with Bhrahma seated on a lotus emanating from his navel. The four armed
Vishnu is flanked by
Mahalakshmi
(or Mahamaaya) and the demons
Madhu and Kaitabha. Two rows of Naaga Kanyas
are portrayed as worshipping Vishnu. (See also
Indalur
in Tamilnadu, portraying Anantasaayee associated with the legend of restoring
the Vedas from the demons Madhu and Kaitabha).
Legend has it that Naraka,
the son of
Krishna was appointed ruler of Assam. He fell into bad ways
and began tormenting mortals and the Gods, especially under the influence of
another demon
Bana.
The sage
Vashishta
visited Kamarupa Desa with the intention of worshipping Kamakhya Devi. Naraka
stopped him from doing so and hence the sage cursed him that he would be killed
by his own father Vishnu.
As
Narakasura's
attrocities increased, Vishnu (Krishna) invaded Kamarupa (Pragjyotishapura) and
vanquished the demon. Upon being slain, the remorseful demon pleaded with
Krishna, that his death would be celebrated with fanfare by humanity, in the wee
hours of the new moon morning in the month of
Libra. This
legend forms the basis of the grandest festival in India
Deepavali -
the festival of Lights. This legend is a popular one in South India.
Also
located near Guwahati is
Vasishtashrama
or the hermitage of
Vasishta,
where he is believed to have carried out penances meditating upon
Shiva.
Legend has it that Indra along with heavenly damsels, rendered the nearby
streams impure, and incurred the wrath of Vasishta. As a result of which he was
born on earth as a mortal, who later on rose to be the founder of the
Ahom
dynasty of Assam.
