WHAT IS THE HISTORY & MYSTERY OF MA KAMAKHYA ?WHAT IS IN A NAME?
- Chida nanda
- Jan 30, 2018
- 8 min read
THE MYSTERY OF MA KAMAKHYA ;- 08 FACTS;- 1-Kamakhya is one of the most important goddesses in the history and development of Tantra and Shaktism, but she remains obscure today, somewhat fitting for a goddess presiding over esoteric rites and rituals. Many people have never heard her name, nor do they understand what her name means. But even those who do understand the Sanskrit meaning of her name, and its explanations in various Tantras and Puranas, often do not know the pre-Vedic, hidden history of this truly ancient Mother Goddess. 2-One of the most famous Shakti Peetha Temples in India, the seat of Maha Shakti (supreme energy) this temple is associated with several mysticism and attract thousands of domestic as well as international devotees during the festival of Ambubachi Mela. According to Devi Purana, Sati’s Mahamudra( female reproductive organ) fell in a cave which is worshipped here in the form of a stone. It is believed that from mid June the deity Kamakhya starts menstruating which continues for three long days; during this period no homage is offered to the deity. The temple complex comprises several other temples dedicated to Shiva and different incarnations of Durga. 3- Devotees visiting this temple get rid of ailments and the deity protects them from all evil spirit.They take a dip in Saubhagya Kunda for a bright future & Collect Kamsindur for the wellbeing of the household, business or married life. . 4-Kama means love or desire, and akhya means well-known or renowned. Therefore, in Sanskrit, Kamakhya is literally the Renowned Goddess of Love, or the Renowned Goddess of Desire. Her name is explained in the Kalikapurana, a Tantric text composed at and important to Kamakhya. 5-ACCORDING TO KALIKAPURANA;- Shiva speaks:“As the Goddess has come to the great mountain Nilakuta (Nilachala) to enjoy making love with me (Shiva), she is called the goddess Kamakhya (renowned Goddess of desire), who resides there in secret. “Since she gives love, is a loving female, is the embodiment of love, the beloved, she restores the limbs of Kama, and also destroys the limbs of Kama, she is called Kamakhya.” Kalikapurana 6-Kamakhya ; Kama is often translated as lust or desire, but it is also love. Kama is the name of the God of love, and the urge of love and desire within. She is the eternal, cosmic yoni (vulva, womb, source), from which all things emerged, and to which everything will return. She is worshipped by her devotees as the Adi Shakti, the original, primordial power from which consciousness and being arose. 7-In Hindu terms, she is nothing less than the Brahman, or Infinite Being, from whom Shiva and Shakti emerged and began creating the universe through their vibratory unity. 8-However, although we can see her cosmic supremacy in her Hindu and Tantric mythology and thealogical development, this is not the whole story. The goddess we know as Kamakhya has a history that goes back far beyond the arrival of Brahminical Hinduism and the Sanskrit language in Assam, and it is likely that “Kamakhya” is the closest Sanskrit word to her original name. THE HISTORY OF MA KAMAKHYA ;- 04 FACTS;- 1-History of Kamakhya Devi and Temple Kamakhya temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths and situated on the Nilachal Hill of the Guwahati. It is a sacred and famous Hindu religious place and more popular among tantriks as Mata Kamakhya is known as the goddess of tantras. 2-According to mythology Mata Sati had sacrificed her life in the Yagnya of her father unable to bear the insult of her husband in the presence of all Gods and Goddesses.Lord Shiv was not invited by his father-in-law to attend that Yagnya which was attended by all Gods and Goddesses. 3-After knowing about the death of Mata Sati angry Shiv started doingTandav dance, the dance of destruction, holding his dead wife on his shoulders. That created fear in the entire universe and all Gods requested Lord Vishnu to stop Lord Shiva’sTandav dance. 4-To save this universe from lord Shiva’s anger Vishnu sent his Surdarshan chakra to cut Sati’s body into pieces. And while cutting the body of Mata Sati it fell in 51 different places all over the world and Mata’s Yoni had fallen in Kamakhya and for that reason mata Kamakhyais known as the symbol of women power and energy. THE HISTORY OF MA KAMAKHYA & DAS MAHAVIDYAS TEMPLE ;- 05 FACTS;- 1-The temple of Kamakhya is one of the old temples in India. It was built by king Naranarayan of Cooch Behar in 1665. Images of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are curved on the temple walls. 2-Besides Kamakhya, other temples on Ninanchal Hill include those of Ma Bhuvaneshwari and Ma Bagala also. Five small sized temples are also made in the temple premise dedicating ten incarnations of Mata Kali i.e. Chhinnamasta, Dhumavti, Tara, Bhuvaneswari, Bhairavi and Kali. Mata Matangi & Kamala are with mata Kamakhya/Tripura Sundari. 3-Mata Kamakhya symbolizes female strength and power and she is worshipped by all to get her blessing and fulfilling desired wishes.One of the many places of pilgrimage in India, what makes Kamakhya Devi different is that it has no sculpture to worship, only Kamakhya's yoni mudra.However, in a corner of a cave inside the temple, there is a sculptored image of the yoni of the goddess, which is the object of reverence.What is strange is that a natural spring in Assam keeps the stone moist all the time. 4-Ambuwasi Puja/Fertility festival The temple also has an annual fertility festival called Ambuwasi Puja in which the goddess is said to be going through her yearly menstrual cycle. The temple remains closed for three days and opens up with great festivities on Day 4. It is also said that the river Brahmaputra turns red during this time. Whether it really is blood, or vermilion put by pandits is a question left unanswered. This is what indicates the temple about the bleeding goddess and the temple remains shut. Later, the holy water is distributed among the devotees. 5-There is no scientific proof that the blood actually turns the river red. Some people say that the priests pour vermilion into the waters. But symbolically, menstruation is the symbol of a woman's creativity and power to give birth. So, the deity and temple of Kamakhya celebrates this 'shakti' or power within every woman. THE FOURTEEN SECRETS OF MA KAMAKHYA IN NUTSHELL 1-Kamakhya Devi Temple in Assam is considered one of the oldest among the 52 shakti peeths of India. 2-The temple is situated at the peak of Nilanchal Parvat in the Western direction of Guwahati city. 3-There is no statue, idol or image of Devi in the temple, but in the corner of the cave in the temple, there is sculptured image of the yoni or Vagina of the goddess, which is the object of worship and reverence. 4-The natural divine atmosphere around the temple keeps the stone image moist. 5-The kamakhya Devi temple is a temple complex of individual temples of all ten Mahavidyas. 6-Three Devi as Tripura Sundari, Matangi and Kamala reside in main temple premises and other seven as Baglamukhi, Chinnamasta, kali, Tara Bhairavi and Dhumavati are established in individual temples outside the Kamakhya Devi temple. 7-This temple is one of the significant destination for the gernal Hindu Pilgrimages specially Tantric worhsipper and it is said none tantric get the perfection in his tantra method unless he once visit this temple and worship Maa kamakhya Devi 8-This temple was destroyed and ignored during the tenure of many dynasties and rebuilt or got recognition in several times lastly it was rebuilt in the 17th century by king Nara Narayana. 9-The temple has three main chambers. The chamber in west direction is large and rectangular in shape but not used by general pilgrims for worship. The central chamber is of square shape with a small idol of Devi, a later inclusion. The sculpted images of Nara Narayana are inscribed on the walls of the central chamber. 10-The middle chamber takes step to the sanctum called as Garbha Griha of the temple; it is in the form of cave which consists a Vagina-shaped orifice in the bedrock. 11-In Kamakhya temple the Vagina or yoni of the Goddess fell, so the scripture or image of Yoni is found in the Kamakhya temple, there is water all around this scripture or image of yoni. 12-There was a demon called Naraka who fell in love with Goddess Kamakhya because she was divinely beautiful and wanted to marry her. Goddess put a condition before the demon that if he could build a staircase from the bottom of the Nilanchal Hill to the entrance of the temple within one night, then she would defiantely marries him. 13-Naraka accepted this challenge and tried all with his might and effort to do this daunting and seeming unachievable task. He was almost about to complete the job, right then Devi got panic-stricken seeing the demon work, so she played a trick on him 14-Devi strangled a cock and made it voice like crow to give the untimely impression of dawn to Naraka. Deceived by the trick of Devi, Naraka thought it was a vain job and left his work half way through. Later he somehow came to know it and chased the cock and killed it in a place, the place is now known as Kukurakata, situated in Darrang District in Assam. The incomplete staircase today is known as Mekhelauja path.Later, Naraka chased the cock and killed it at a place known as Kukurakata, situated in the district of Darrang. UMANANDA ,THE BHAIRAV OF MA KAMAKHYA;- 07 FACTS;- 1-Located in between the mighty river the Brahmputra in a Peacock island, Umananda Temple is just opposite side of the famous Kachari Ghat in Guwahati, Assam.It is said ,that we should visit Umananda Temple ,before going ma Kamakhya temple 2-This shiv temple was was built by the famous Ahom King Gadadhar Singha (1681 - 1696), who was was the husband of Sati Joymati a great devout of Shaivite. The original temple was however immensely damaged by a devastating earthquake of 1897. Later, it was reconstructed by a rich local merchant who chose to inscribe the interior part of a Shiva temple with Vaisnavite slogans. 3-In Assamese Uma means Hindu goddess Parvati, the wife of Shiva; and ananda means happiness which is also known as smallest inhabited riverine island in the world. This is one of the mostly visited temple in Assam which is devoted to Lord Shiva. 4-According to the ancient Hindu texts Kalika Purana, lord Shiva is said to have resided here in the form of Bhayananda. In the beginning of the creation Shiva sprinkled ashes (bhasma) at this place and imparted knowledge to Parvati (his consort). It is said that, when Shiva was in meditation on this hillock, Kamadeva interrupted his yoga and was therefore burnt to ashes by the fire of Shiva's anger and hence the hillock got the name Bhasmacala. 5-This mountain is also called Bhasmakuta. The Kalika Purana states that Urvasikunda is situated here and here resides the goddess Urvasi who brings Amrit (nectar) for the enjoyment of Kamakhya and hence the island got the name Urvasi Island. 6- It is believed that, worship here on the Amavasya day when it falls on Monday brings the highest bliss. The Shiva Chaturdasi is the most colourful festival that is held here annually. Many devotees come to the temple on this occasion for the worship of the deity. Maha Shivaratri is widely celebrated in Umananda. Monday is considered to be the holiest day in the temple. 7-To reach the umananda temple , one has to cross the river in a boat. It can be reach from Guwahati and North Guwahati by ferries and steamers from Sukleshwar ghat or Fancy Bazar Ghat. KOTILING MAHADEV MANDIR KAMAKHYA GUWAHATI;- 02 FACTS;- 1-Kotiling is one of the five satellites Shiva Dham on the north side of Kamakhya hill (Neelanchal), dates back to 1565 AD (Archaeological survey). Ling is inside a cave and there are images of Lord Ganesh on the stone. Parushuram kund is on the east side of the entrance. 2-After renovation with steps and shelter for priests and devotees, it has become one of the well known places for Shiva worship. Facing Brahmaputra River on the north, away from civilization makes the place worth visiting. SHIVOHAM..
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