Date built 1461 Year built 1461 | Creator Madhavdev | |
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Website www.dhekiakhowabarnamghar.org | ||
Dhekiakhowa Bornamghor (Assamese: ঢেঁকীয়াখোৱা বৰ নামঘৰ) is a namghar in Jorhat, Assam, that was established by saint-reformer Madhavdeva in 1461. He kindled an earthen lamp in 1461, which has been burning since then being religiously re-fueled by the priests till date. It is located at Dhekiakhowa village of Jorhat, 15 km towards the east of Jorhat town, 3.5 km away from National Highway 37. It is called a Bornamghar because of its historical association and large campus.
Contents
The namghar is situated in a complex of facilities spread over 13 bighas of land. The namghar and other facilities are maintained by a managing committee with donations from devotees. Besides the maintenance of the complex, the managing committee sponsors various social and cultural programs.
There is an anecdote after the name of Dhekiakhowa namghar. Guru Madhavdeva after taking up the duty of reforming people and spreading the Ekasharan Nam Dharma came to stay in this small and very poor village. He took shelter for the night at the hut of an old woman, who served him a rice with Dhekia Saak (believed to be poor man's veggy, but a very popular and tasty one). The old woman was very embarrassed to have served the Saint guru like this but he was immensely pleased by the dinner. So he started a namghar there and given the responsibility of kindling the earthen lamp to the old woman. That is why the namghar was later khown as Dhekia khowa namghar.The place is inevitably named after the Namghar itself.
A lot of visitors and devotees gather in the namghar everyday, especially during the sacred month of Bhado (August–September), for this month being the Death Anniversaries of both the gurus Srimanta Sankardeva and Madhavdeva
dhekiakhowa bornamghar temple assam
Legend
There are many stories associated with this Bor namghar. It is said that the main pillar of the namghar is made of a Sal tree. One night one of the bhakats (monk) of the namghar saw in his dream that the river near the Bor namghar ( known as Dhekiakhowa jaam ) is flowing in opposite direction and is carrying a Sal tree mean to be for the construction of the Bor namghar. Next day when people saw that dream to be true, they made the main pillers of the Bor namghar from the tree.
A Vaishnavite lamp in Dhekiakhowa Bor Namghar lamp is said to have been kept burning since 1461.