Temple of Madhupur Dham to attract visitors

 

 

COOCH BEHAR, Dec. 27: The famous temple of Shankar Dev at Madhupur Dham in Cooch Behar is going to be thoroughly renovated. State tourism department has allocated Rs 25-lakh for the purpose, according to the District Planning Officer, Cooch Behar, Mr Sunil Agarwala. The plan is now under consideration of Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad.

 

With the fund extended by the tourism department the main temple will be renovated. Kitchen and toilet facilities inside the temple complex will be improved and the pond will be cleaned. A new dormitory will also come up there to accommodate devotees and visitors.

 

The existing temple at Madhupur Dham was established in 1964 with financial assistance of the last Maharaja of Cooch Behar, Jagaddipendra Narayan, Assam state government and followers of Baishnav cult preacher Shankar Dev. Maharaja Narendra Narayan or Maharaja Nara Narayan was the actual founder of the Shankara Mandir there. The temple is situated at a distance of ten-kilometre from Cooch Behar town.

 

Baishnav cult preacher Shankar Dev had to face difficulties at Assam when he was preaching Baishnavism there. The king of Assam expelled him from his kingdom. Shankar Dev had to take shelter of Maharaja Nara Narayan of Cooch Behar in sixteenth century. During his stay at Madhupur he translated Shrimad Bhagavat. He had breathed his last at Madhupur.

 

Madhupur Dham is a must see for Baishnav devotees from Assam. During the Raas Mela of Cooch Behar numerous visitors come to visit the temple. Dol Yatra and other religious festivals also attract devotees here.

 

The lat remains of Shankar Dev, the inkpot and pen used by him, Narayani Mudra (coin), a handwritten scripture of the Bhagavat, footwear and other holy items are there inside the temple. The 15.5-metre high temple is also an attractive example of architecture.

 

The tourism department not only sanctioned fund for renovation of the Shankar Dev's temple but also for development of Raas Mela Ground in Cooch Behar town. It allocated Rs 25-lakh to improve the large ground. District Planning Officer, Mr Agarwala said the fund would be used for developing the ground and constructing boundary walls. All the illegal encroachments will be evicted. A bamboo-market is running on the ground round the year. It will also be removed from here. Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad will implement the entire plan, Mr Agarwala said.

 

Another proposal was under consideration of the tourism department. The Rs 75-lakh plan is for setting up of a Tourist Reception Centre in Cooch Behar. In the proposed centre there will be a tourist information centre and a few guest rooms to accommodate tourists, the DPO said. []