Kamakhya Temple

Kamakhya Temple located at Nilachal Hills in Guwahati, Assam. It is one of the oldest and most revered centres of Tantric practices, dedicated to the goddess Kamakhya.

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About temple: 

1. The temple is centre of the Kulachara Tantra Marga.

2. The temple is dated to the 8th- 9th century with many subsequent rebuildings and the final hybrid architecture defines a local style called Nilachal.

3. It is also one among the oldest 4 of 51 pithas in the Shakta tradition.

4. It was built by Mlechchha dynasty and rebuilt by Koch king Nara Narayan and Ahom kings.

5. It is the main temple in a complex of individual temples dedicated to the ten Mahavidyas of Shaktism.

6. The temple' s innermost shrine has bedrock with a cleft shaped like ' yoni ' . Through that cleft , an underground, natural spring flows out.

7. The temple is a main site of the Ambubachi Mela , an annual festival that celebrates the menstruation of the goddess.

8. The pond water at the backdrop of Kamakhya temple turns all red during Ambubachi Mela. 

9. Kamakhya Temple is believed to house Sari's Vagina and womb which fell on the hill. 

Famous festivals held at temple complex:

1. Ambubachi Mela

2. Manasha Puja

3. Durga Puja is also celebrated annually at Kamakhya during Navratri in autumn.

Famous story of Kamakhya Temple creation: 

                                                                     King Daksha didn't approve of Sati choosing lord Shiva as her husband and therefore didn't invite them for the Yajna. However, when Sati made an appearance, King Daksha, her father insulted her and in a rage, she jumped into the fire.

                                 This made Lord Shiva angry and he started performing the Tandav. Everyone feared for their survival and went to Lord Vishnu who then sent Sudarshan chakra to cut the corpse of Sati into 108 pieces . These pieces fell in different places which then formed the 108 Shakti Peethas. 

                            It is believed that the womb or the Yoni fell in the region where Kamakhya Temple is located today. There is no image of the Goddess in the temple, however, people worship the Yoni. 

               The Kalika Purana , an ancient work in Sanskrit describes Kamakhya as the yielder of all the desires, the young bride of Shiva, and the giver of Salvation.

                               

                             After learning about the great  story of Kamakhya temple creation what first comes in my mind and believed by my heart and also mentioned by Kalika Purana and Yogini Tantra , the Kamakhya Temple is symbolic of the strength or 'Shakti' that is present in every woman.