🪔 Negheriting Shiva देवालयं

Negheriting Shiva

Golaghat, Assam

The Negheriting Shiva Doul is located on a hillock nearly one and a half km north of the National Highway 37 in the Golaghat district of Assam. The temple was first built by the Kacharis during the 8th – 9th centenary AD. However, it was damaged many times in natural catastrophes and the existing form of the temple was built by the Ahom king Rajeswar Singha. The magnificently adorned Shiva Doul is adjoined by four small Douls in the four corners. The Shiva Doul includes the ‘Bana Linga’ that is around 3ft in diameter, whereas, the tinier douls are dedicated to Ganesh, Vishnu, Durga, and Surya.

Architecture of Temple

As per the ancient records, Negheriting Shiva Doul was first constructed by the Kacharis in the 8th – 9th centenary A.D. However, the natural catastrophes induced much damage to the temple. Thus, in 1687 it was re-built by Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha, the Ahom king. The construction duty was assigned to the renowned architect Ghanashyam Khonikar. It is said that the stones used for constructing the temple were picked from the banks of the Dihing River. The temple remains were found in the Gajapanemara forest. Later during 1439-1488 another Ahom king Susenphaa built the shrine on the previous construction and established the Shivalingam there. However, when Dihing River shifted its course the temple was again devastated. Much later a passionate follower of Bhagwan Shiva found the remains of the temple and the Shivalingam immersed in the depthless waters of the river. The place is currently attributed to Sheetal Negheri. The Ahom king Rajeswar Singha (1751-1769) then eventually regained the lingam from the river and rebuilt the modern temple where he re-established the lingam.