GUWAHATI: The doors of Umananda Devalaya in Guwahati will remain shut till 31. The entry of the visitors has been restricted keeping in mind the prevailing COVID-19 situation and rising water level of the Brahmaputram, informed Devalaya Managing Committee secretary Anil Kumar Bhattacharya.
Talking to media persons, Bhattacharya said that the Devalaya was closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The decision to extend the closure till October 31 has been taken in view of the pandemic and rising water level of the Brahmaputra.
Umananda Devalaya is a Siva temple located at the Umananda Island (Peacock Island) in the middle of the Brahmaputra.
According to the mythology, Siva is said to have resided here in the form of Bhayananda. According to the Kalika Purana, in the beginning of the creation, Siva sprinkled ashes (bhasma) at this place and imparted knowledge to Parvati. It is believed that when Siva was in meditation on this hillock, Kamadeva interrupted his yoga and he was therefore burnt to ashes by the fire of Siva’s anger and hence the hillock got the name Bhasmacala.
