The Legends
There many legends about sage Vasistha which make him
stand 'at the cross-roads of political and social changes'
in Assam. There is also a legend that connects Vasistha
with the origin of the Ahom kings.
The story goes that Vasistha used to do his 'sandhya' 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. At
this the sage grew wroth 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.
This story has been differently repeated in different chronicles.
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 to Sandhyacala after
he was refused entry into the Kamakhya temple and meditated
on Shiva.
Many devotees visit Vasistha Ashrama and take bath in the
stream nearby to wash off their sins. The present temple
in Vasistha Ashrama, 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. In its plan and other architectural
features this modest temple closely resembles the other
temples in the region.
How to Get There
Road:
Guwahati City buses ply to Vasistha Ashrama from G. N. B.
Road and Station Road Junction.
|
