Chaturdasha Temple, Agartala –
The Temple
The
temple follows Bengal Aatchaalaa architecture. The dome architecture around the
temple reminds the traces of Buddhist culture. This temple was built in honour of fourteen
deities, together called the Chaturdasha Devata. The fourteen deities
worshipped at the Chaturdasha temple Tripura are called Burasa,
Lampra, Bikhatra, Akhatra, Thumnairok, Sangroma, Bonirok, Twima, Songram,
Mwtaikotor, Mailuma, Noksumwtai, Swkalmwtai and Khuluma in Kokborok. These
deities are the local forms of Hindu gods and goddesses namely Brahma, Vishnu,
Shiva, Durga, Lakshmi, Kartikeya, Saraswathi, Ganesha, Samudra, Prithvi, Agni,
Ganga, Himadri and Kamadeva.
The
idols were originally tribal but were later inducted into Hindu customs. The
typical characteristics of the idols that distinguish them from other temples
are their form that signifies tribal influence. The deities are worshipped in
the form of heads only i.e. none of the idols have any trunk with hands and
legs. The formations of the idols start from the shoulder upwards up to the
crowns that sit on the top of their heads. The idols are made of alloy except
one which is made of silver. This idol is of Lord Shiva. The fourteen deities
were originally worshipped by the royal family of Tripura.
The
custom of worshipping only these fourteen gods and goddesses have been
prevalent for a long time, and there is no other God that the people of this
region worship. It is this reason there are no other shrines in the vicinity of
this temple. They all have equal stature as far as the worship at the temple is
concerned and are worshipped with equal reverence and together during the
festivals. These deities are ceremoniously worshipped during Kharchi Puja.
There is a lake beside the temple and overall it is a very beautiful place.
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