Negriting Shiva Temple
Temples of North Eastern India

The historic Negriting Shiva temple is located on a hillock at a distance of about 20 km from Golaghat in Assam.

The present structure of the temple dates back to the 18th century ruler Rajeswar Singh, who rebuilt the temple after the destruction of the original temple (built by Pratap Singh of the 17th century) by floods. This temple was held in high regard by the Ahom rulers.

The Bana Lingam enshrined in the sanctum of the temple is embedded in the center of a large slab on which are carved a number of Shiva Lingams. The goshta images in the temple walls house well sculptured images. Also in this temple are four subsidiary shrines to Ganesha, Durga, Vishnu and Surya.

Legend has it that this temple was worshipped by a Sage by name Aurvya Muni. It is believed that there was a stone temple at the very site of the current temple, even during the remote past, and that Aurvya Muni, wanting to raise the status of Shivsagar to that of Varanasi, brought in a large number of Shivalingams and offered worship to them. It is believed that a number of them are still buried under the land.

Also on the banks of the Shivsagar lake is the Shiv Dol temple. There is also a temple dedicated to Devi at Gaurisagar, near Shiv Sagar. This temple resembles the Shiv Dol temple in construction.