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[Full title: Materials in Billeswar Devalaya (1) Architectural Feature]

Introduction鈥擫ike other Devalayas i.e. Kamakhya of Kamrup and Balilecha of Nalbari etc. in Assam, Billeswar Devalaya also possesses a large number of tangible materials. With the help of these the physical stature of the Devalaya is being maintained. The materials enlisted below are used by the people engaged with the various activities of the Devalaya with a view to maintaining the long lasting traditions and customs. By the observance of these traditions and customs the sacredness of the Billeswar Devalaya is attained.

The materials available in the Devalaya may be classified on the basis of their application. They are: Materials for Worship: Puspa Patra, Gacha, Tami Argha, Bata, Kahor Kahi, Kahar Bati, Roopor Thal, Madhu Porko, Hum Bari, Jala Sankha, Sankha, Ghanta, Borkah, Taal. Apparels worn by the purohits: Namaboli, Ranga Dhoti, Bel Pator Mala on head. These materials either donated by the royal families in ancient times or donated by the devotees in recent times. There are no documents to prove these statements. These are just stated by the interns of the Devalayas.

Architectural Feature鈥擜lthough there are twenty types of structural provisions of temples in the ancient classics, and forty five types of temples in Agni Puran, however on the basis of the structural pattern of the topmost part of the temple, they are classified into three types nowadays. They are Nagar, Dravid, and Beshar. (Neog et al: 2013: 68). According to As Dr. Pradip Sarma tells in his book, Assomor Sesh-Madhyajugiya Mandir-Sthapatya, the superficial structure of the Billeswar Devalaya is similar to 鈥楴agar type鈥� to some extent. But the entire structure is dissimilar to the temples of Ahom regime. The sanctum sanctorum of Billeswar Devalaya measures 1.72 m x 1.72 m. The measurement of the intermediate space (Antaral) is 1.59 m x 1.89 m. The size of the porch (Mandap) is 236 m x 256 m. The size of the portico (Mukhamandap) is 1.48 m x 1.24 m. The Billeswar Devalaya is constructed in the method of Trirath-Pancharath slightly deviating from the tradition of Trirath or Pancharath during the period of 1521 AD. The antiquity of this Devayala may be traced out form the stone structure of the basement.

The temple is in a Pacca structure with 35 ft in height (its Kalasha i.e., top was once engraved with gold), the main Shiva Linga is placed about 10 ft in deep from the general level of the ground i.e., from the present offering place. The house, in which Shiva Linga and Yoni Pitha lodged, is about 5 feet 4 inches on all the four sides. The Garbhagriha is connected with Sabhaghara through an Antarala. Originally, there was a 50鈥橷100鈥� Sabhaghar i.e., Prayer Hall attached to the temple, which was damaged in the great Earthquake of 12^th June, 1897, now replaced with a new one. The main Shiva Linga is rest on the Yoni Pitha, and the visible portion of the Linga is about 28 inches in circumference on the top and about 30鈥� in height. The circumference is gradually increasing towards downward. Devi Pitha is about 2.75 ft in length and Diameter is about 2 ft. It is generally believed that the Linga and the Yoni pitha were made here. It seems that the sockets of the Linga and Pitha have losen considerably resulting Linga portion to sink. The steps to the main place of Linga or Antar-Griha are five in numbers and about 4ft 2 inches in height. The perimeter of the temple is about 54ft. The temple is having four numbers of steps from four different directions. The main Linga is under water now for about last few decades, which had been slightly injured towards southern end while one of the priests of the temple Rupnarayana tried to remove the Linga to a better location from the nearby Birina roots. Almost similar Shiva Linga i.e., Linga with Devipitha is recovered at Upar-Langtha near Barpathar about 15 Kilometers, Golaghat district by Hemendranath Datta, Director, Archaeology Assam, Guwahati, now in possession of one Sri Kusharam Bora. (Phukan: 2004: 290-291)

Except than King Nagakhya, the Ahoms also had a role in constructing the Devalaya. It is assumable that the royal authority exploited the local artisans in constructing the Devalaya which is evidenced by archaeological findings. In 1767 the temple was newly constructed by King Laksmisimha from ruins. In the year of 1997, a terracotta sculpture (27x401/2cms) representing Mahishmardini was discovered while clearing an old tank at a depth of 4 ft below the ground level in a village situated about 4 km to the south of Belsor. The piece of sculpture was collected by Dr. Manoranjan Dutta, then Civil SDO of Nalbari and a scholar on sculpture, was handed over to the Assam State Museum authority on 06-09-97. (Barman: 1998:17)