Unakoti- the unexplored divine land of lord Shiva

By Ratnadeep Choudhury

‘Incredible India’ – Pilgrimages across the largest democracy in the world definitely adds to the list of factors going into making India truly incredible. Indian are largely religious, their affinity to religious places and pilgrimage is king size. Amarnath, Badrinath , Kedarnath shrines are hot pilgrimage and tourist destinations for Indian , it would be rather fair to say that these holy shrines of Hindu Mythology attract a large chunk of foreign tourist. But there are many shrines, temples or caves which have special references in epics of Hindu Mythology remains unnoticed, unexplored and off course unheard. In this land of sanths and fakirs, lord Shiva has always had a special place in the heart of his devotees but many religious sites having close connection with Bhole Baba seems to have been forgotten. One such site is Unakoti- the land of one less than a crore god and goddess. Situated on a hillock, Unakoti in kailashahar subdivision of North Tripura houses ancient stone sculptures, rare rock cut curved images of various God and Goddesses of Hindu Mythology, scenes depicting life of lord Shiva. This rock cut sculptures mingled in the Divine greenery on the hillock grasped in eternal peace can certainly turn into a hot spot for tourism and pilgrimage. Unakoti, a 178 Km drive from state capital Agartala is also a wonderful site for tourist who love to trek up the hills. Night stay in the Uttermegh government tourist lodge amid the serenity of the rock cut images of Gods and Goddesses brings about a soothing feel of spirituality. Once you visit this mighty hillock, you will certainly admit that the place is blessed by the myth of Lord Shiva. According to the Archeological Survey of India (ASI), Unakoti dates back to the 8th-9th century, if not earlier. Archeologists are yet not certain about its date of origin but they claim that Unakoti is the biggest bas-relief sculpture in India. According to Hindu mythology, when Lord Shiva was proceeding to Kashi along with one crore God and Goddesses; he made a night halt at this place (Unakoti). He (Shiva) asked all the God and Goddesses to wake up before sun rise and proceed to Kashi. It is said that in the morning except himself no one else got up, forcing Lord Shiva to set out for Kashi by himself and cursing the others to become stone images. Lord Shiva’s curse fell upon them; as a result we have one less than a crore stone images carvings at Unokoti. These carvings are located at a striking landscape forest area with green vegetation all around, which adds to the beauty of the carvings.The most imposing sculpture is the huge 30 feet high rock cut image of Lord Shiva carved in a vertical rock face. The colossal image in grey stone has an elaborate embroidered head. A small, rock-strewn stream flows near the central Shiva. Just about fifty metres downstream from the huge Shiva image, among scattered rocks are the three imposing images of Lord Ganesha. There is a huge figure of the four - armed seated Ganesha and on its side two standing figures of Sarabhuja Ganesha with three tusks and the Asthabhuja Ganesha with four tusks- a rare sight to behold. Dating back to the ancient Buddhist and Hindu periods, these sculptures include figures of Lord Shiva, Shri Ram, Hanuman and Ganapati. All the images found at Unokoti are of two types, rock carved figures and stone images. Among the rock cut carvings, the central Shiva and gigantic Ganesha are certainly masterpiece. The central Shiva known, as “Unokotiswara Kal Bhairava” is about 30 ft high including an embroidered head dress which itself 10ft high. On each side of the head-dress of the central Shiva thre are two full size female figures - one of Goddess Durga standing on a lion and another female figure on the other side. In addition three enormous images of “Nandi Bull” are found half buried in the ground. There are various others stone as well as rock cut images at Unokoti. In all likelihood UNESCO would declare it as world heritage site. There is another myth associated with this enchanting place. Myths revealed that Unokoti is the unfinished dreams of a dream sculptor, who wished to make it a place of pilgrimage of a crore of deities. His dream remained incomplete for just one image - thus the site was called Unokoti. It is said that if there would have been a crore of Gods and Goddess Unokoti would have been a Koti Tirtha like Varanasi.One can find an exquisite blending of myth, religion and nature at Unakoti. A tourist can reach Unakoti in various ways. One can fly to Agartala and start via road for Unakoti. One can also take a helicopter ride from Agartala to Kailashahar, district headquarters of North Tripura, Unakoti is only 10 Km from there. In the month of April “Ashokastami Festival” takes place at Unakoti, thousands of pilgrims visit this spot. That is the best time to visit this divine land of lord Shiva, which is still unexplored.