26th Mar 2011
The Negheriting Shiva Doul is a Shiva temple in Dergaon, Assam. Situated on a hillock at about one and half km north from the National Highway 36 in the Golaghat district of Assam. The Negheriting Shiva Doul dates back to 8th - 9th century A.D. during the reign of the Kacharis. After destruction due to natural calamities, Ahom king Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha reconstructed it in 1687. The famous architect assigned to the job was Ghanashyam Khonikar. A priest named Bhudhar Agamacharji was appointed by King Rajeswar Singha for proper maintenance of the temple and also for the rituals to be performed. The Agamacharji family still performs worship and other maintenance works regularly. Customs of performing songs and dances called Deonati were prominent there in the temple.
It is believed that the stones used to construct the temple 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. Knowing somehow about the ruined temple and the Shiva linga, Ahom king Susenpha then built the temple right on that foundation and established the linga. 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 brought the linga from the river, reconstructed the present temple, and established the linga in it.
The beautifully ornamented Shiva Doul is surrounded by four smaller Douls in its four corners. The Shiva Doul consists of the 'Bana linga' that is 3ft in diameter. The four smaller douls are dedicated to Vishnu, Surya, Ganesh and Durga. A Banalinga of 3 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 word Negheriting comes from the name of a bird. The place where the temple is located was once the habitat of a peculiar bird, which is locally known as Negheri. The temple is the house of the rhesus monkeys in a sizeable population.