Tamreswari Temple
Non-Hindu temple in India / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tamreswari temple (also Dikkaravasini) is a temple for the tribal goddess called Kecaikhati[7] is situated about 18 km away from Sadiya in Tinsukia district, Assam, India. The temple was in the custody of non-Brahmin tribal priests called Deoris.[8][9] Some remains suggest that a Chutiya king built a wall or the temple itself in the year 1442.[10][11] There were four different kinds of Deori priest who looked after the temple. The Bar Bharali and the Saru Bharali collected dues of the temple and provides animals for sacrifice. The Bar Deori (Deori Dema) and the Saru Deori (Deori Surba) performs the sacrifice and sung hymns.[12] The temple was dedicated to Kechaikhati/Pishasi (kechai means raw and khati means eat), a powerful tribal deity or a form of the Buddhist deity Tara,[13] commonly found among different Bodo-Kachari groups.[14][15][16][17][18][19] The worship of the goddess even after coming under Hindu influence was performed according to her old tribal customs.[20]
Tamreswari Temple | |
---|---|
Religion | |
Affiliation | Ethnic religion |
District | Tinsukia district |
Deity | Kechai-Khati/Pishasi (tribal goddess)[1][2] (equivalent to Nang Hoo Toungh)[3] |
Location | |
Location | Sadiya |
State | Assam |
Country | India |
The temple was abandoned during the reign of Suhitpangphaa (1780 - 1795), when the Ahom kingdom was attacked by the Konbaung dynasty of Burma.[21] Scholars assert that Kesaikhaiti is equivalent to the Tai-Khamti female deity Nang Hoo Toungh.[22]