Turtles are offered in this 100 year old temple of Lord Vishnu, it has a very special connection with Buddhism.

Lord Vishnu incarnated 10 times to save the universe. Lord Vishnu saved the universe by taking the form of a turtle during the churning of the ocean and then took the incarnation of Matsya to kill the demons. Different forms of Lord Vishnu are worshiped across the country, but in Assam, Lord Vishnu is present in a unique form, where his head is of a horse and the lower part is of a human body. But this temple is not only a symbol of the faith of Hindus, but is also a center of attraction for Buddhism. It is believed that just by visiting this temple, all the negative powers go away and all the wishes of the devotees are fulfilled. Let us know about this temple of Lord Vishnu…

100 year old Hayagriva Madhav Temple
Amidst the lush green hills of Hajo in Assam, there is the Hayagriva Madhava Temple, dedicated to the Hayagriva incarnation of Lord Vishnu, which is said to be more than 100 years old. This ancient temple holds immense spiritual significance for both Hindus and Buddhists and attracts pilgrims and travelers alike. This is because people of Hindu religion believe that here God had incarnated as Hayagriva to kill the demons named Madhu and Kaitava. The demons named Madhu and Kaitava originated from the dirt in the ears of Lord Vishnu, while the people of Buddhism believe that Mahatma Buddha had attained Nirvana at this place. This is why the temple is a center of faith for people of both religions.

Unique tradition in the temple for centuries
A unique tradition has been followed in the temple for centuries, in which black soft-shelled turtles are offered to please Lord Vishnu in the temple. There is a freshwater pond in the temple, where devotees release turtles. After the wishes are fulfilled, the devotees bring turtles as Prasad, but the irony is that the black soft shell turtles fall in the protected category, which are rapidly becoming extinct. Environmentalists believe that devotees bringing turtles from the forests and offering them in the temple is like playing with nature. However, this tradition is still being followed today.

Intricate carvings at Hayagriva Madhava Temple
The Hayagriva Madhava Temple has intricate carvings and sculptures, which narrate fascinating mythological stories and depict various gods and goddesses. In the sanctum sanctorum, mainly the idol of Hayagriva incarnation of Lord Vishnu is worshiped and pulses, rice and pumpkin vegetable are offered as Prasad. Many things are said about the construction of the temple. Some people believe that the temple was built by King Raghudev Narayan in 1583, while some historians believe that the temple was built by the kings of the Pala dynasty during their time.