State : Assam in India.
Significance : The Pilgrimage centre.
Location : Situated at a distance of 10 miles from
Guwahati, the commercial capital
of Assam.
Know Vasisthasrama in Assam
Vasisthasrama in Assam is an important pilgrimage of Assam, situated about
10 miles to the east of the town of Guwahati.
The hermitage of Vasistha (Vasisthasrama) is situated amidst a beautiful
natural surroundings. There are three streams called Sandhya, Lalita and
Kanta located at this place. A bath here is said to increase longevity. A
temple of Siva is also attached to the hermitage of Vasistha. This is also
an ideal picnic spot for the picnickers.
The devotees visit Vasisthashrama and take bath in the stream nearby to
wash off their sins. The present temple in Vasisthashrama, which is
incidentally the last Ahom monument in the neighbourhood of Guwahati, was
built in the second half of the 18th century by King Rajesvar Singh of the
Ahom dynasty.
The Legend Says
There are many legends about sage Vasistha. There is also a legend that
connects Vasistha with the origin of the Ahom kings.
It is said that, Vasistha used to do his 'sandhya' (evening prayer) in a
stream near his hermitage. One day, God Indra with his queen Shachi and
other heavenly women came down from heaven and began playing in the same
stream. As a result of this amorous sport the water of the stream became
impure. Seeing all this sage Vasistha grew furious and cursed Indra, saying
that he would have sexual intercourse with a Daitya woman. Indra was at once
transformed into a normal man and had sexual intercourse with a woman. He,
however, granted a boon to that woman saying that the son in her womb would
become a king. He was the progenitor of the Ahom dynasty.
According to some legends Vasistha was initiated into the secrets of the
Sakta practices and got spiritual success. It is probable that Vasistha came
down at Sandhya Kala (evening), after he was not allowed to enter the
Kamakhya temple and meditated on Shiva.
Journey to Vasisthasrama
Airport : The nearest airport is
Guwahati, from where you have to
take a taxi to reach the hermitage.
Railhead : To reach the hermitage of the sage Vasistha, you
have to take a train to Guwahati,
from where you can pick a taxi to reach the hermitage.
Road Transport : There are no regular buses to
Vasisthasrama. The visitors have to make use of the taxis and other means of
transport from Guwahati to reach this sacred place.
Staying near Vasisthasram (Guwahati)
Guwahati offers several private
hotels ranging from luxury to budget-friendly ones. Fish is a major delicacy
in Assam and one can savour mouthwatering curries in and around Paltan Bazar
at cheap rates. There are excellent accommodation facilities in and around
Guwahati in Assam.
