Negeritid/Negheriting Shiva Doul Sital Pathar Gaon,Assam

The Negheriting Shiva Doul is a Shiva temple at Dergaon in Assam, India. Situated on a hillock at about one and half km north from the National Highway 37 in the Golaghat district of Assam.This is a national protected monument declared by Archaeological Survey of India. the temple was first constructed by the Dimasa Kacharis during 8th – 9th century CE. Later due to natural calamities it came into destruction.In 1765 it was re-constructed by Ahom king Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha.The famous architect assigned to the job was Ghanashyam Khonikar.

History

It is believed that the stones used to construct the temple were existed in the bank of river Dihing. Due to natural calamities the temple was destroyed and the remains were found in deep forest called Gajapanemara. However, as the Dihing river changed the course, the temple was again destroyed and merged into the river water. A devotee of lord Shiva found the ruined temple and the linga in the shallow water of river Dihing, now this place is known as Sheetal Negheri. Ahom king Rajeswar Singha (1751–1769) brought the linga from the river and reconstructed the present temple and established the Shivalinga in it.

Architecture

The main temple is surrounded by four other temples namely the Vishnu, Ganesha, Surya and Durga temple. This is a Panchayatana temple consisting of the main shrine with the main tower surrounded by four subsidiary shrines at the four corners dedicated to Devi Durga, Ganesha, Surya and Vishnu, which is an example of Panchayatana cult under one foof. A Banalinga of three feet in diameter is established in the main temple. According to legend a Rishi named Urba wanted to establish a second Kashi right on this place for which he collected many Shiva lingas there.

The place where the temple is located was once the habitat of a peculiar bird locally known as Negheri. From this name the place has come to be known as Negheriting.