Tucked away in the quiet folds of Assam’s legendary Mayong village lies a humble yet deeply powerful Shiva shrine – a place where myth, nature, ritual, and community all meet in a single sacred space. It is not a grand temple of towering spires or marble walls. Instead, it is intimate, earthy, and alive – the kind of place where the divine feels close enough to touch.

Here, beneath the shade of old trees and surrounded by scattered boulders that feel as ancient as the land itself, the worship of Shiva continues in its most traditional and elemental form.

The First Glimpse of Colour and Art

The approach to the shrine is vibrant and welcoming. Bright pink and yellow walls display striking murals – Shiva riding Nandi in one, and a stylised Ganesha in another. The bold colours contrast beautifully with the natural green canopy overhead, giving the temple an almost mystical glow. The murals are not just decoration; they are expressions of devotion painted by local hands – raw, expressive, and filled with soul.

As you climb the stone steps toward the sanctum, bells hang from the roof like a string of blessings, catching shafts of sunlight that make them shimmer softly.

The Temple Built into Nature Itself

What makes this shrine unique is how seamlessly it blends into its natural surroundings. Behind the worship space rises a wall of large rounded rocks – untouched, unshaped, and ancient. These boulders form the backdrop of the temple, giving you the sense that Shiva himself resides in the raw earth, not just in ornate structures.

Shiva Shrine of Mayong

In Mayong – a land of shamans, healers, and ancient spells – this connection between nature and spirituality feels especially deep.

Inside the Sanctum

Inside, the focus of the shrine is a cluster of Shiva Lingas, each adorned with fresh flowers and leaves, with brass vessels suspended above them for abhishek. Banana leaves are used as offering plates, and traditional lamps flicker gently beside them. A sacred fire pit sits at the centre – blackened from countless rituals. The smell of burnt wood, incense, and fresh flowers fills the air, creating a sensory experience that feels timeless.

The space is small, simple, and powerful – the way village temples often are. Nothing ornamental; everything is meaningful.

I took the opportunity to wander inside the sanctum. There was a large havan kund; I took some ash from the smouldering pyre and rubbed it on my head. There was a Shiva Linga and a huge ardhanarishvara–like image of Shiva next to the havan kund, and then there was a damru along with bel leaves and rudraksh – a very Bhole Baba place.

As I sat to meditate, I attracted some curious monkeys who ran almost towards me. A few of them perched on the rocks next to the temple and ogled at me from afar as I sat silently saying my prayers to the Lord. The fire crackled softly and the main priest of the temple smiled as he saw me absorbed in my meditation. I chanted “Shambhu Shambhu” and continued for some time.

I was given a banana and a laddoo by the temple pujari, which I duly ate. The monkeys came from the mango trees outside the temple.

The hidden Shiva shrine near Mayong is for those who appreciate quiet power – the kind that comes from ancient stones, flickering fire rituals, and the simplicity of pure devotion.