Prapti Borah
History and Mythology associated with Kamakhya Temple : "O powerful gurus, with the body of Sati, the Fifty-One Shakti Pithas were established. Among them, Kamarupa is the best." This depiction of Kamarupa or Kamakhya Sri Kshetra's importance is told by Lord Mahadeva Shiva himself in Adhyaya twelve of Devi Mahabhagavata Purana, titled "Kamarupadi Mahatamya Varnanam". The Kamarupa or Kamakhya site is revered in the Shakta Puranas and Tantric traditions as the most sacred and powerful of all the 51 Shakti Pithas. According to legend, these fifty-one holy places were created during Devi's incarnation as Sati, and the tragic event of her self-immolation in her father Daksha's yajna fire after he insulted Mahadeva. Shiva, filled with grief and anger over the loss of his beloved, wandered the universe, performing Tandava, causing the three realms to shake. To stop the destruction, Sri Vishnu divided Sati's body into 51 parts, which fell across the map of India, giving rise to the Shakti-Pithas, where Devi resides in all her divine glory.
Kamarupa, the Prayagjyotishpura of ancient India, is located in the North Eastern state of Assam. It was once the residence of powerful rulers. The month of June marks the pinnacle of India's rich cultural heritage, as devotees of Jagadamba, the universal mother, celebrate the festival of Ambubachi. It is a holy place devoted to Goddess Kamakhya, a potent manifestation of the divine feminine. Drawing pilgrims and worshippers from all over India, it is located on the Nilachal Hill in Guwahati, Assam.
The Sanskrit phrase 'ambuvaci', from which the local Assamese word 'ambubachi' or 'ambubasi' is derived, literally means 'the issue forth of water', alluding to the swelling of the earth's water at the advent of the monsoon.
The majority mistakenly believe that this festival celebrates the menstruation of goddess Kamakhya, but in reality, it is the menstruation of Mother Earth as a whole. Despite this, Kamakhya continues to be the main focus of the celebrations because it is the location of the goddess's yoni, or genitals.
Exploring the Spiritual Significance of Ambubachi
It is believed that according to the Devi Mahabhagavatam, when Shiva lamented his separation from Shakti, Lord Brahma and Vishnu invited him to Kamarupa, where the goddess' Yoni had fallen, and thus Trailokyamohini, the great enchantress of three realms, was stationed there with all of her creative energies. Shiva used the force of his Tapas to summon the highest goddess, who appeared in front of Adiyogi and informed him that She would return as Parvati to fulfill Umapati Shiva's longing to be one with Shakti again. Thus, after hearing Devi's words, Shiva joyfully came to stay in Kamarupa, becoming the Shakti Pitha the most important Tirtha for Shiva-Shakti worshipers.
Due to the fact that Kamarupa is the location of the most active form of both Purusha and Prakriti (Shiva and Shakti), it is of utmost importance in the devotional system of Tantric and Shakta worshippers, who gather in Guwahati to commemorate Devi's fertility and auspiciousness during Ambubachi.
The Sacred tradition continues for 4 days
The phrase "Ambubachi" is derived from the combination of two words: Ambu, referring to water, and bachi, meaning spoken with, linking the four-day celebrations to the forthcoming of nurturing monsoon showers and the progeny of the great mother. According to Shakta beliefs, Goddess Kamakhya menstruates between the seventh and tenth days of the month of Ashadha, indicating that her regeneration abilities as the divine feminine are at their greatest. This period of goddess Kamakhya's "menstruation" coincides with the advent of the first rains and an increase in the water levels of the fabled Brahmaputra River.
“Ambubachi” means “spoken with water”, and it implies that the rains expected this month will make the earth fertile and ready for procreation. Daily worship is halted during this time. All agricultural work, such as digging, plowing, sowing, and transplanting crops, is forbidden. Widows, Brahmacharis, and Brahmins avoid cooked foods on these days. On the fourth day of Ambubachi, household items, utensils, and clothes are washed, cleaned, and purified by sprinkling sacred waters. After cleansing, worship of Goddess Kamakhya begins, followed by other rituals. Following this, entry to the shrine is considered auspicious.
Rituals and Practices observed during the festival
The entrances to Kamakhya's sanctum sanctorum are closed for the first three days of the Ambubachi Mela because the menstrual goddess rests during this time. Cooking meals, tending to ranches, reading sacred books, and any other activity that requires the presence of Shakti (energy, creative deeds) is halted. On the fourth day, Devi awakens from her resting place and distributes an unparalleled Prasada to her devotees.
This Prasada incorporates Angodaka (body liquid) from the holy spring attached to the shrine, as well as Angabastram, the fabric that covers the Yoni while she is menstruating. For devotees of Shaktism, this offering is the ultimate gift from the goddess, and it is placed inside one's home as a source of vital energy. She is the supreme deity for Sadhus and householders, rich and poor, who flock to Kamakhya for a taste of this tremendous Prasada. "Kamakhya Kamasampati, Kamakhya Moksha eva cha": She is Kama (passion) and Moksha (deliverance from Kama).
Animal sacrifice is used in most of the ceremonies held in this complex. Offering a goat or buffalo as a sacrifice is regarded as customary at the Kamakhya temple. Within this temple complex, it is strictly forbidden to sacrifice female animals. Also well-known at the temple is the Vashikaran tantra. It is a ritualistic practice used by tantric practitioners to facilitate the experience of attraction to others. When someone wants someone to positively agree with him and his interests, they engage in this practice. The Vashikaran technique can be used to persuade someone else to share one's opinions. It is said that this ritual can help people heal their relationships and get closer to one another. It's thought to prevent divorces and help bring a great deal of wealth and prosperity into one’s life.
Celebrating and honouring the divine feminine
Numerous goddesses, including Parvati, Saraswati, Durga, and Lakshmi, are revered in Hindu mythology. These goddesses represent vital aspects of life, such as wealth, power, love, and education. They are adored for their generosity, bravery, wit, and kindness. These attributes still hold true today as they did in the past. Knowing about these goddesses enables us to comprehend how people regard the feminine aspect of the divine both historically and currently. It's also evident how this regard influences our perceptions of women and the spiritual realm. Examining the rites and festivity dedicated to these goddesses teaches us about the cultural reverence for female divinity and its implications for contemporary conceptions of gender and religion.
The Hindu religion and culture revolve around these feminine deities. People preserve their customs and values by celebrating them. Hindu myths glorify strong female deities. The goddesses Parvati, Saraswati, Durga, and Lakshmi represent love, wisdom, strength, and wealth, respectively. These goddesses are honored in unique festivals and customs. This demonstrates the significance of both male and female gods in Hinduism. It also demonstrates how these goddesses influence human behavior and thought. Hinduism honors both female and male deities. Their religion relies heavily on this alignment. The goddesses empower people in their day-to-day lives; they are more than just emblems. For example, many people worship Lakshmi for good luck during Diwali, the festival of lights. This celebration is full of color, lights, and joy, and it brings families and communities together.
Similarly goddess Kamakhya is considered as one of the manifestation of Parvati and is celebrated in the auspicious day of Ambubachi. . In Hindu culture, the Kamakhya Temple holds immense importance due to its association with Goddess Kamakhya, who is believed to embody Shakti, the divine feminine energy. Hindu mythology considers Shakti as the primal source of creation and regenerative power. During this festival the temple premises are considered to be more pious than any other regular days. Devotees from all around the globe gather in the temple to seek the Holy Mother’s blessings. Considering this to be a woman’s power to give birth, the deity and temple of Kamakhya is a celebration of this ‘shakti’ within every woman.
Nature worshipping
According to the Hindus faith all living things are sacred because they are equally a part of God, as is the natural world. Hindus believe in showing respect for all life forms and considers the Earth as Mother and all the living or procreating things as Mother Nature. As goddess Kamakhya is worshipped as the Yoni form during Ambubachi which is the source of life and procreation, it is regarded as a natural phenomena. This magnificient celebration of the great goddess, in all her feminine glory, as the source of all life forms, takes place in the context of an illustrious ancient tradition of festivals of this kind celebrated throughout India which honors womanhood, fertility, and the capacity of Prakriti, the female element, to give life. The Bindu (source) that creates, maintains, and destroys she Srishti, whose legends are like a never-ending divine stream that sustains the entire being of this country, permeates every particle of Kamarupa, the great goddess in Hinduism.
The majority mistakenly think that this festival celebrates the menstruation of goddess Kamakhya, but in reality, it is the menstruation of Mother Earth as a whole. Despite this, Kamakhya continues to be the main focus of the celebrations because it is the location of the goddess's yoni, or genitals. At this time, farmers refrain from tilling the land because they feel that doing so would be like upsetting Mother Earth's menstrual cycle. People do not worship their family deities and cover them with a cloth, even in their homes.
Local faiths and beliefs
The vast bulk of Assamese Hindus engage in a custom known as "Tuloni Biya." When a girl reaches puberty, she participates in this ritual. It is a phase in which a girl becomes a woman. In many Indian cultures, the process of blossoming or flowering—which is, in fact, a very significant stage preceding the appearance of fruits, in this case children—is associated with puberty. When a girl hit puberty in Assamese communities, she was supposed to undergo a month-long period of seclusion. She was forced to stay in a room with a proper space that was covered in hay for her. She was not allowed to touch anything or anyone else for seven days. After which an adequate amount of rituals are to be followed particularly by the girl as well as the family members involved. On the seventh day, the girl would be given another ritual bath in front of the banana tree. This time, all of the women from the family and neighbourhood would be present, and after her bath, her days of isolation would be over. Then, after the girl received her ritual bath, she would be dressed like a bride, and a big feast would be organized by the family, friends, and neighbors, and the girl would be offered gifts by everyone.
Kamakhya as a pilgrimage destination
Kamakhya Temple, an ancient Shakti Peeth in Guwahati, is one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage sites. It is the main temple in a complex dedicated to the ten Mahavidyas. The Shakti Temple of Mother Goddess Kamakhya, perched on top of the Nilachal Hills overlooking the Brahmaputra River, is 8 kilometers from Guwahati's railway station. The inscription on the Allahabad pillar of Samudragupta mentions the greatest shrine of tantric Shaktism. During Ambubashi and Manasha Puja, devotees from all over India gather at this sacred site, making it a popular pilgrimage destination for devotees seeking blessings and divine intervention.
The absence of a traditional idol makes Kamakhya Temple stand out from other Hindu temples where shrines of the deities are worshipped. Rather, the yoni, a representation of the female reproductive organ, is worshipped as the primary deity of the temple. What sets Kamakhya Temple apart from other Hindu temples is the absence of a conventional idol. At Kamakhya Temple, the yoni, which stands for the divine feminine energy, is the center of devotion and worship. It is revered as the wellspring of creation and the force embodied by Goddess Kamakhya. In an effort to obtain the yoni’s blessings for protection, fertility, and wealth, devotees offer rituals and prayers to her. Hinduism's veneration of the yoni emphasizes the value of femininity and the divine elements of creation.
This temple is linked to numerous myths and legends. This is the location where, according to a popular legend, Sati’s reproductive organ is said to have settled on Earth, following her demise. However, there is also a widely held belief that this temple is connected to the Goddess Kali. Ambubachi Mela is one of this temple's main celebrations. The festival is held annually to honor Goddess Kamakhya's yearly menstruation. Additionally, it is said that a natural spring flows through the yoni in the middle of June, which is also an Ahar month.
Tantric worship and its essence
With a strong foundation in tantric traditions, Kamakhya Temple emphasizes, explores, and harnesses divine energy through rituals and practices. The worship and rituals carried out at the temple, where followers seek heavenly blessings and enlightenment, heavily incorporate tantric principles. At Kamakhya Temple, tantric priests referred to as "Ojhas" or "Maithuns" perform a variety of rites and ceremonies invoking the power of Godddess Kamakhya. Mantra chanting, offering flowers, incense, and other sacred objects, as well as symbolic gestures, are common components of these rituals. The goal of tantric practices is to reawaken people's latent energies and establish a connection between them and the goddess' divine presence.
For decades, the Kamakhya temple has been known for its black magic practices. The temple has been in the spotlight for its special puja to remove and prevent black magic. This puja is performed by Sadhus and Aghoris who live within the temple grounds. This puja includes rituals that assist people who are experiencing problems related to black magic. These sadhus can be found anywhere in the complex. It is believed that there are ten mahavidyas here. The Kamakhya temple also performs puja to ward off dark spirits and ghosts. These tantric pujas aid in the removal of negative energies from one's surroundings. It comes to life, especially during ambubachi mela, when thousands of tantric pilgrims visit the temple shrine. In addition to demonstrating their strength, these tantrics assist those in need. During these pujas, animals like goats, pigeons, buffalo, etc. are sacrificed. Kama rupa is thought to be the source of the majority of Kaul tantras. It is thought that a tantric must visit Kamakhya and make offerings and prayers to the goddess Kamakhya in order to reach full power. A person who is blessed with marriage, children, wealth, etc. can also benefit from tantra.
Serves as a tourist spot
Ambubachi Mela is one of the largest congregations in eastern India. Every year in June, the Kamakhya temple celebrates its most important festival. It's more of an austerity ritual, a Shakti-themed festival. The belief is that Kamakhya represents the mother cult, Shakti. During Ambubachi, which lasts from the seventh to the tenth day of the Hindu month of "Asadha," the shrine's doors are closed to all visitors because it is believed that Goddess Kamakhya undergoes her annual menstrual cycle. On the twelfth day, the doors are ceremonially opened, and a large fair takes place on the temple grounds. The Ambubachi Mela represents womanhood and the divine feminine, and because the goddess’ menstruation is considered a natural and sacred process, the festival provides a platform to address taboos surrounding menstruation while also promoting women’s awareness and empowerment. The location and the myth concerning the temple plays a significant role in attracting numerous tourists from all across the globe. The Brahmaputra river that flows alongside the temple is another eye catching entity which is equipped with ferry arrangements outright for the pilgrims as well as the tourists. During the festival it is observed that the water in the river turns blood red which is an unique and unusual occurrence.
Archaeological facts about the Kamakhya temple
The architectural style of Kamakhya Temple is well-known for its unique blend of ancient and modern elements. The temple's exterior is adorned with elaborate carvings, sculptural details, and centuries-old Assamese architectural features. The temple is a remarkable architectural marvel because it has maintained its historical and cultural significance despite numerous renovations and modifications over the years. Kamakhya Temple's unique shikhara (spire), mandapas (pillared halls), and elaborate patterns on its walls and ceilings define its architectural style. The complex of temples consists of several shrines, pavilions, and courtyards, all of which exhibit distinctive architectural features and exquisite craftsmanship. The temple is made more charming and alluring by the use of locally produced materials like terracotta, wood, and stone, which reflect the rich cultural legacy of Assam.
The temple features a polygonal dome on a cruciform base and is designed in a hybrid style sometimes referred to as the Nilachal type. The garbhagriha, the temple's inner sanctuary, is a tiny, naturally occurring underground cave that is accessible via a set of steep steps. The cave is a ten-inch-deep vagina-shaped fissure in the rock rather than a statue of the goddess Kamakhya. The fissure, known as matra yoni, is constantly filled with water from an underground spring that never goes away. It is revered as the goddess Kamakhya and is adorned with silk saris and fresh flowers. For a mere few seconds, pilgrims must stand in line for several hours in order to see the goddess.
Sacred ponds and wells are strewn throughout the grounds of Kamakhya Temple. The religious and spiritual significance of these bodies of water is profound for both devotees and tourists. There are numerous ponds and wells within the temple complex, each with a special story and importance. The elaborate carvings and architectural elements that adorn these ponds and wells contribute to the temple's heavenly ambiance. The purifying properties of the sacred ponds and wells at Kamakhya Temple are revered by devotees, who believe they possess divine powers. In order to cleanse and purify their spirits, pilgrims often make ceremonial ablutions and pray close to these bodies of water. In the temple premises, the holy waters are also utilized in a variety of religious rites and ceremonies.
Mysterious tunnels and caves hidden beneath the hallowed grounds of Kamakhya Temple are cloaked in enigma and intrigue. It is thought that these subterranean passageways contain long-forgotten mysteries and secret rooms that stretch back to the temple's original construction. The temple's intricate network of caverns contributes to its enigmatic atmosphere, drawing in curious tourists and spiritual seekers from all over the world. The meaning and function of the mysterious caverns and tunnels beneath Kamakhya Temple are the subject of many myths and conjectures. Some people think that ancient mystics and sages used these subterranean rooms as hallowed places for meditation and spiritual reflection. Some people conjecture about the presence of treasures and relics that are hidden deep within the temple complex. These myths continue to pique people's interest and stimulate their imaginations.
Benefits of visiting the Kamakhya Temple
There are a variety of benefits of visiting the revered Kamakhya temple, depending on the individual and their point of view. Indeed, no one has ever left the location disappointed. One can experience the sanctity of the location and find the utmost peace, just like in any other Hindu or Buddhist temple or shrine. Because of the sadhus, tantrics, and locals that surround it, it will be unlike any other pilgrimage or tourist centre. People have the opportunity to encounter the feminine power's divinity and auspiciousness. Even though the devotees may occasionally witness horrific scenes like animal sacrifice or bloodshed, we should try to figure out why the act occurred in the first place and know the relevance. The ambience is such that one may feel as though they have arrived at the home of the goddess owing to the bells, drums, heavenly music, and atmosphere of the temple.
Sources:
Mainstream Weekly (Vol 61 No 17, April 22, 2023) Available at http://mainstreamweekly.net/article13364.html
Ramana Maharshi (2024) Available at https://www.ramana-maharshi.org/celebrating-the-divine-feminine-in-hindu-mythology/
Sarma, Rajib “Religious Tradition and Worship at the Kamakhya Temples’ Complex” April 20, 2018. kamakhya.org. 20 June, 2024
Additional Sources:
1. Devi Mahabhagavatam
2. Kamakhya Tantram with Hindi Commentary
3. The Kalika Purana
