भारत सरकार- 735 views
THE CARVINGS, INSCRIPTIONS, AND PILLAR ON URVASHI ISLAND
(GUWAHATI)
Guwahati, a sprawling city of Assam, is known for its rich culture and traditions. Located alongside the Brahmaputra River, this city is also known for its holy sites like, the Kamakhya Temple and the Umananda Temple. While the former is dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya, the latter temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, stands on the Umananda Island or the Peacock Island in the Brahmaputra. Peacock Island was so named by the Britishers for its shape. Not far from Umananda is Urvashi Island which is smaller. This island is popularly referred to as a ‘winter nymph’ as it remains submerged during the monsoons and reappears only in the winter months.
Urvashi Island
The Carvings Inscriptions and Pillar on the Urvashi Island
Link: http://asiguwahaticircle.gov.in/carvings%20inscription.html
Urvashi Island is so called as the belief is that Urvashi, the celestial nymph, used to reside here. It is said that she was called upon to pay obeisance to the Goddess Kamakhya for whom she used to take nectar. Therefore, the island, being the abode of Urvashi, came to be known as Urvashi Island. Although this unique island is not marked by the remains of a temple, engraved outlines on rocks seem to suggest the ground plan of a temple. The visibility of the island depends on the amount of rainfall. When the Brahmaputra River recedes after the monsoons, the island of Urvashi with its rock-cut sculptures of Hindu deities becomes visible, and remains approachable till the end of spring.
According to archaeologists, the origins of these sculptures could go as far back as the 11th century CE. These sculptures include a panel with ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, sculptures of Lord Shiva, and a seated image of Ganesha. Additionally, on a lone rock overlooking the river is a female form that some historians describe as that of Urvashi, the celestial nymph. The sculpture, however, does not face the Nilachal hill where the Kamakhya temple is located; instead it looks out northward. The rock inscriptions are engraved in late Brahmi and Nagari characters.
The panel with the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu
https://ignca.gov.in/online-digital-resources/archaeological-sites/assam/urvashi-island/
Although the island gets submerged during the rainy season, the one structure that stands tall on this island throughout the year is a pillar made of brick and mortar. It is said that this pillar though not an archaeological piece, has been built to act as a guide for boats to avoid the rocks underwater during the monsoons. From Urvashi Island, the Umananda Island is clearly visible. It is said that the two are closely inter-connected. Every year during spring, priests from the Umananda Island come over to the Urvashi Island to perform certain rituals and offer prayers.
डिजिटल भविष्य के लिए स्वयं को तैयार करने की आवश्यकता को पहचानते हुए, ‘भारतीय संस्कृति’ पोर्टल, संस्कृति मंत्रालय द्वारा एक पहल है। यह एक ऐसा प्लेटफ़ॉर्म है जो पूरे भारत की विभिन्न रिपॉज़िटरियों और संस्थानों से सांस्कृतिक प्रासंगिकता के डेटा को प्रस्तुत करता है।
