Chaturdasha Temple is a Hindu temple in Agartala, Tripura, India, and features the Tripuri dome patterned after the roofs of village huts in Tripura. The dome is surmounted by a stupa-like structure which reveals traces of Buddhist influence. This temple was built in honour of fourteen deities, together called the Chaturdasha Devata. Devotees visit the temple for the kharchi festival. Old Agartala is 6km away from the present Capital City of Agartala where the Temple of fourteen Gods is located. Before 1770 A.D the images of Fourteen Gods were in Udaipur in two Temples beside Tripureswar Bhairab Temple. In 1770 A.D Maharaja Krishna Kishore Manikya being defeated by Shamsher Gaze, shifted his capital from Udaipur to Old Agartala and the images of Fourteen Gods were also taken to the capital and installed in a new Temple. Capital was once more shifted to the present Agartala in 1840 A.D. but the images of Fourteen Gods remained in the same Temple at Agartala.
On the occasion of the special puja of the Fourteen Gods known as ‘Kharchi Puja’, a grand mela or fair is held for 7 days in and around the Old palace. It is a popular religious shrine where thousands of devotees across the country assemble to celebrate Kharchi Festival with great pomp.
The worship of the Fourteen Gods has an old history and legend associated with it. During the time of Mahabharata, Trilochana, a contemporary of Yudhisthira, was the king of Tripura who used to worship these Fourteen Gods as Royal deities. The tradition continued with all the subsequent Kings of Tripura. Kharchi Puja observed during the month of Ashar (July) is very famous in Tripura. Animal sacrifices offered by the devotees are an integral feature of Kharchi puja. Inside the temple the images of Fourteen Gods do not consist of full body- only the images of heads of the Gods are there.
HAVELI MUSEUM: the additional for the tourist attraction at Old Agartala is a museum of living cultural heritage i. e. Haveli Museum.
According to traditions, the origin for the worship of these deities was contemporary to the setting of the Mahabharata, during the reign of Yudhishthira. They state that the god Shiva, after the death of Tripur (one of Tripura's legendary ancient kings), promised to grant a son and heir to his widow. However, the god stipulated that worship of the Chaturdasa Devata be duly and regularly observed in the kingdom in return. Historically, it is believed that the indigenous Tripuri people of Tripura had adjusted their native culture and religion with that of Hinduism when the latter's influence reached the region. The non-Brahman high priests, the Chantai, continued to minister their rites and rituals, but absorbed the important Hindu deities, resulting in their national pantheon transforming into the Chaturdasa Devata, with the deities being identified with a corresponding...
Read moreThere are many temples in the state of Tripura but among many one that stands out for being the collective temple for gods and goddesses is the Chaturdasha Temple. The name literally suggests the abode of fourteen or 14 deities. The Chaturdasha Temple is located just about 8 KM away from the hustle and bustle of the capital city of Tripura, Agartala. The specialty of the Chaturdasha Temple is that it was built by the Manikya Dynasty King, Maharaja Debbarma Manikya during his reign in the early day of the Manikya Kingdome.
The fourteen or 14 deities who are worshipped in the Chaturdasha Temple were sacred gods & goddesses of the royal lineage which were later incorporated in the Hindu prayer & rituals. The 14 deities are built in tribal design and are named in local Kokborok language. The principal deities are Brahma, Shiva, Durga, Vishnu, Lakshmi, Kartikeya, Ganesha, Saraswati, Samudra, Prithvi, Ganga, Agni, Kamadeva and Himadri who are called Burasa, Bikhatra, Akhatra,Lampra,Thumnairok, Bonirok, Twima, Sangroma,Songram, Mwtaikotor, Noksumwtai,Mailuma, Khuluma and Swkalmwtai respectively in the local dialect. The Chaturdasha Devata Temple is a magnificent piece of art that admixes harmoniously the tribal beliefs with Hindu myths to grant the travelers a true sense of faith.
The Khirchi Puja is a grand mela held here in the month of July with religious fervor and devotion with lakhs of people participating in the celebrations.
There is a lake beside the temple and overall it is a very beautiful place. The temple is not open after noon and visitor can only get darshan of the Gods after 8...
Read moreTripura, a state in Northeast India, is home to several ancient temples dedicated to various gods and goddesses. Here are 14 notable temples in Tripura:
Tripureswari Temple: Dedicated to Goddess Tripureswari (Kali) Bhuvaneswari Temple: Dedicated to Goddess Bhuvaneswari (Durga) Durga Bari Temple: Dedicated to Goddess Durga Lakshmi Narayan Temple: Dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi Chaturdasha Temple: Dedicated to 14 deities, including Shiva, Vishnu, and Durga Bishnu Mandir: Dedicated to Lord Vishnu Kali Bari Temple: Dedicated to Goddess Kali Krishna Mandir: Dedicated to Lord Krishna Rama Krishna Mandir: Dedicated to Lord Rama and Krishna Siva Mandir: Dedicated to Lord Shiva Jagannath Mandir: Dedicated to Lord Jagannath (Krishna) Ganesha Mandir: Dedicated to Lord Ganesha Kali Mandir: Dedicated to Goddess Kali Mahadeva Mandir: Dedicated to Lord Shiva
These temples showcase the rich cultural heritage and spiritual significance of Tripura, reflecting the state's history and...
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