TRADITIONAL INDIA - KAMAKHYA TEMPLE by Durba Devi

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The Kamakhya Temple is situated on the Nilachal Hill in the western part of Guwahati, Assam. It is a very sacred temple for the Hindus and counted among the 51 ‘Shakti Peethas’ of Hindu Mythology, and visited by millions of devotees across the world.

How to reach Kamakhya Temple

Guwahati is the gateway to the North East of India. It is the largest city in the region. Direct Public buses are available from different places in Guwahati. The busses stop at the base of the hill, popularly known as Kamakhya Gate. From there shared vehicles are available to the temple. The spectacular view surrounding the complex of Kamakhya Temple is breathtaking. As you wind your way up to the Nilachal Hill to the temple, you’ll come across spectacular views of Guwahati. Standing at 562ft above it surely holds an air of mystery about the place.

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The interesting story surrounding the Origin of the Temple

According to the Mythology, Sati, the wife of Lord Shiva took her life at the ‘Yagna’ ceremony that had been organized by her father Daksha, because she could not bear the insult at her husband by her father in front of every Devas. When Lord Shiva heard the news, he came there and destroyed the ‘Yagna’. In the rage of losing his beloved wife, he started ‘Tandav Nritya’ with the burning body of Sati. To save the Universe and bring back the sanity, Lord Vishnu ran his ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ and cut Sati’s lifeless body into 51 pieces. These pieces fell on earth at various places and came to be known as ‘Shakti Peethas’. Sati’s female genitalia or ‘Yoni’ fell on the spot where Kamakhya Temple stands today, forming one of the many ‘Shakti Peethas’.

Inside the Temple

Garbhagriha
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The temple consists of four chambers: garbhagriha and three mandapas locally called calantha, pancharatna, and natamandira aligned from east to west. The Garbhagriha of the temple is a dark room below the ground level. Inside the garbhagriha, there is a yoni-shaped rock, about 10 inches deep, that is considered the main deity. It usually remains covered with flowers and other offerings. 

Tour to Kamakhya Temple

The Ambubachi Mela

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Ambubachi Mela is the most celebrated annual festival at Kamakhya Temple. It is celebrated generally during the monsoon season. It is believed that the Devi Kamakhya, the Mother Shakti, goes through her annual cycle of menstruation during this period. Therefore, the annual celebration of Ambubachi marks the yearly menstruation course of goddess Kamakhya.The spiritual Ambubachi Mela is also known as Tantric Festival. This time the temple attracts thousands of tantra devotees or religious priests from different parts of the country to worship Goddess Kamakhya. During the Ambubachi Mela, the temple remains closed for three days. After three days, the temple doors are reopened, and the devotees are allowed to enter the temple. Devotees then visit to seek the blessings of the Goddess, and Prasad is distributed among them. Many devotees from across the world come to visit the temple, seek the Goddess’s blessings and receive the special ‘Rakta Bastra’ as Maa Kamakhya’s blessing.

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With all its mysterious grandeur and picturesque locale, the Kamakhya Temple is one of the most astounding structures, not only in Assam but also in the whole of India.