Kamakhya Temple
The doors of the Kamakhya Devi temple reopen to welcome hundreds of devotees to worship the deity. The temple is dedicated to Maa Kamakhya. The sacred shrine of the temple houses the Yoni of Goddess Sati and is considered one of the most respected Shakti Peetha sites. It is a main attraction in Guwahati and people visit it from all over the world. The temple was closed for three days from June 22 to June 26 for the annual Ambubachi Mela. This three-day carnival falls during the Assamese month of Ahaar. Now that the gates are open, people line up to visit the holy site.
Where is the Kamakhya Temple located?
This temple is located on the Nilachal hills in western Guwahati. The temple is the home of the holy shrine (Garbha Griha) and three other chambers which are Calantha, Pancha Ratna and Natya or Nritya Mandir. The outer walls of the sanctuary have carved figurines of gods and goddesses as well as some sculptures.
Take a look at some photos of Kamakhya Temple.
About Kamakhya Temple
The Kamakhya Temple is dedicated to the mother goddess Kamakhya and is believed to have been built between the 8th and 9th centuries. It is one of the oldest and most revered centers of tantric practices. It is the center of the Kalachara Tantra Marga and the site of the Ambubachi Mela. The temple is made of a hybrid architecture which defines the local style called Nilachal.
This place became one of the most important pilgrimage destinations for the people of Bengal during the 19th century. In the temple, the main worship area is the aniconic natural stone yoni to this day. Apart from this, the main temple is surrounded by seven individual temples dedicated to the Mahavidyas of Saktism, three of which are in the main complex.
About Amubachi Mela
According to traditional belief, the temple remains closed for three days as the goddess undergoes her annual menstrual cycle. It is believed that during this period the nurturing and feminine energies of the goddess are transmitted to the devotees. Also, during these days devotees do not perform customary puja. But, on the last day, the pind or yoni shaped structure receives a ritual bath to purify itself after the menstrual cycle. This process is followed by a customary puja and the reopening of the temple doors. Two types of prasad are distributed with the reopening – Angodak and Angabastra. Angodak is the water coming from the stream and represents the bodily fluid, while Angabastra is the cloth offered to the deity.
