Chaturdasha Temple – Agartala

 

Chaturdasha Temple is located near old Agartala of Tripura State.

The Chaudda Devata Mandir is the popular name for the temple. The fourteen gods revered at the Chaturdasha Temple Tripura are referred to in Kokborok as Burasa, Lampra, Bikhatra, Akhatra, Thumnairok, Sangroma, Bonirok, Twima, Songram, Mwtaikotor, Mailuma, Noksumwtai, Swkalmwtai, and Khuluma. These gods and goddesses are the regional representations of the Hindu gods and goddesses Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Durga, Lakshmi, Kartikeya, Saraswati, Ganesha, Samudra, Prithvi, Agni, Ganga, Himadri, and Kamadeva.

The temple consists of a Nat Mandapa and Garbhagriha. The top of the dome is crowned with Kalasa (pitcher) including Pataka (flag). The deities are worshipped in the form of heads only i.e. none of the idols have any trunk with hands and legs. The formations of the idols start from the shoulder upwards up to the crowns that sit on the top of their heads.

As per legend and the description in the royal chronicles regarding Chaturdasha temple history, King Tripur was killed by Lord Shiva because of his irreligious acts and conduct. Harabati, the widow of Tripur, had gone to bathe in the river when she saw the fourteen Gods being chased by a wild buffalo and taking refuge in a cotton tree. Harbati helped the gods to kill the wild buffalo and save themselves. The fourteen gods and goddesses were so pleased with Harabati that they came to stay in the royal palace at Udaipur and were worshipped there. The sacrifice of a wild buffalo at the Kharchi festival has come down as a tradition since then. The city of Udaipur fell to Muslim invaders under the command of Samser Gaji. The Muslim invaders occupied the city and the Tripuri king had to shift his capital to Agartala on the banks of the river Haora. It is said that when King Krishna Manikya Debbarma set up a new capital at Agartala after leaving his original capital Udaipur behind, the gods and goddesses also wanted to leave the place and come with him to his new adobe. The king took their request to heart brought them to Agartala and installed them at the newly built temple.

Timings

8.00 am to 12.00 noon

How to reach the Temple

12 km from Agartala Railway Station

8 km from Agartala Airport.