Hindu Temples of India: Doul Govinda Temple, Guwahati, Assam

Doul Govinda Temple, Guwahati, Assam

Doul Govinda Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in North Guwahati in Kamrup District of Assam, India. The temple is one of the most revered shrines of Lord Krishna. It is situated on the northern banks, on the foot hills of Chandra Bharati hill at Rajaduar, North Guwahati. The temple is open and accessible all the year round, but one can enjoy the thrill of a river cruise as well as walking on white sands of the beaches of Brahmaputra, from the month of November to April.

Legends

According to the legends, the idol of Lord Krishna housed in the sanctum sanctorum was found miraculously. Once, it was rumored that a cow, used to free herself and enter the dense forest of the Sandhya-Jhar, located near the hamlet of Jekeria in Rongia Subdivision of Kamrup district on every predawn. Every day, the cow used to stop near a Birina grass bush and milk used to flow spontaneously from her udder. When the Sadaar Administrator Gargaram Barooah heard this event, he himself went there on elephant's back to witness the whole episode. He later on ordered to dig the place and the beautiful idol of Lord Krishna playing the flute was found. Later on, this idol was consecrated in the Deul Govinda Temple on the Holi utsav.

History

The first original structure of the temple was built over a hundred and fifty years ago and it was again renovated in 1966. Presently, the Doul Govinda temple is managed by a committee of 25 members.

The Temple

The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Krishna. This temple is one of the most revered shrines of lord Krishna in Guwahati. There is a Namghar (Assamese place of worship) in the temple premise. This Temple is well known for its immense scenic beauty. The Temple consists of sanctum, Doul and the two open halls with other adjunct sheds is on a strip of high land cut out and levelled on the northern slope of the Chandra Bharoti hillock. Whereas the main Mandir of the sanctum and the open hail in the front and the Douls to the eastern side are all concrete structures, the second open hall in front of the Douls is of Assam type roof.