In Guwahati, there’s a temple where you don’t bow before a deity, but to a mystical Chakra engraved on a rock by divine force! Interesting, right? While most pilgrims flock to the famous Kamakhya Temple, few know of the Chakreshwar Temple where the ancient chakra is.
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Located at Kalipur, it is said to be a mark left by Lord Vishnu’s Sudarshan Chakra, one of the most powerful weapons in Hindu mythology. Legend has it that when the chakra dismembered Goddess Sati’s body, one part of the chakra struck this very spot, leaving an indelible impression on the stone.
The journey of Chakreshwar Temple began not with a grand vision of a king or sage, but from a simple woman who had a dream. She saw the great Sudarshan Chakra, embedded in the rock, calling for a temple to be built in its honour. She then approached Jyotish Kalita, a man from her locality, urging him to take on the task.
Sceptical at first, after much thought, he decided to take on the challenge. The year was 1994, and with little more than faith, he began the construction of the temple. It took him six long years to complete the temple, until, in 2001, Chakreshwar Temple was finally inaugurated.
As visitors step inside the temple, they are immediately drawn to the heart of the shrine—the large rock where Lord Vishnu’s Sudarshan Chakra is imprinted.
To one side of the temple lies Laxmi Ghar, a small but equally sacred place dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, Vishnu’s divine consort. Here, the ancient trees stand tall, some of which are older than the temple itself. These trees are allowed to grow freely, untouched by the hand of time.
The temple grounds offer more than spiritual enlightenment. At a peaceful viewpoint just behind the temple, visitors can sit beneath the trees, listening to the rhythmic flow of the mighty Brahmaputra River.
The River Scale Pillar and Vishnu’s Statue
A curious feature of the temple is the River Scale Pillar, which acts as a measuring marker used to track the rising waters of the Brahmaputra during the monsoon season. At the top of this pillar stands an intricately carved statue of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, their serene expressions untouched by the changing tides.
From this point, on clear days, one can see Peacock Island in the distance, home to the famous Umananda Temple, yet another treasure of Guwahati.
At the edge of the temple grounds stands the statue of Narasimha, one of Lord Vishnu’s most fearsome incarnations. Narasimha, which is half-lion, half-man is the fourth avatar of Lord Vishnu. There are also Durga, Shiva, Ganga and Hanuman idols built on the rocks.
Chakreshwar Temple is more than just a place of worship; it is a story, a legacy of faith brought to life
by the will of a community and the divine guidance of a dream. It is a place where history, spirituality, and nature converge into something far greater than the sum of its parts.