Nazira Mothiachiga, Sivasagar
The most important feature of a Sattra and Namghar is the Manikuta, which houses the valuable properties, attached east of the Namghar. It is referred to as the sanctum sanctorum in which the Guruasana (a wooden tetrahedral structure with four carved lions) is placed containing the main object of worship. It is pyramidal in shape with a square basement firmly standing on four pillars. There are seven steps in the Guruasana. In the basement of each pillar, there is an elephant on the tortoise. The seven lions on each elephant sum up twenty-eight representations of the seven heavens or Sapta Vaikuntha. According to the Holy Scriptures, it is believed there are seven heavens, seven earths, and seven hells, and each earth is carried on the back of a tortoise. The tortoise is represented as the earth's stand, and the elephant is represented as 'Paap' or evil deeds. The elephant, because of its heavy mass considered as one's evil deed, so in order to overcome, purify, and dominate the evil deeds. The lion motif is placed over it as a sign of strength and domination, i.e., good over evil.
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