Things To Know Before Visiting Maa Kamakhya Temple
The Kamakhya temple is a sacred Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya or the divine Feminine Power. It is considered very holy and is one of the 51 Shakthi Pithas in India. Goddess Shakithi is worshipped in her feminine form and is one of the rare temples in India where Goddess is worshipped during her Menstruation.
The temple is situated at the top of Nilachal Hills, about 8 km away from Guwahati in Assam. Maa Kamakhya Temple is also one of the oldest and most important centers for Tantric Practice and worship. The Temple is said to have significant positive spiritual powers and tantric practitioners often visit Kamakhya temple to obtain spiritual energy.
More details and history about Kamakhya Temple is discussed in the below article. Book your Tour with Travel Angles
Who built Kamakhya Temple?
The ancient name of Assam was Kamarupa. It is believed that the temple was initially constructed during the 4th to 9th century CE by the Varman Dynasty. It has its mention in the Kalika Purana which describes it as a holy centre of Shakthi Worship.However it was destroyed by the invaders, most prominently by Hussein Shah of Bengal around 12th to 16th Century. The temple was completely abandoned after destruction. The Kamakhya temple was later restored by Ahom Kings who were the rulers of Assam till 19th Century.
The present structure was established by the Ahom King Nar Narayan. He made significant changes to the main temple style. It was rebuilt in Nagara (North Indian) and Assamese style. Apart from the main shrine, he also added ten smaller temples for Ten Mahavidyas around the structure.
Significance of Kamakhya Temple as Shakthi Peetha
The Kamakhya temple is considered very pious and sacred and it is one of the 51 Shakthi Peethas in the country. As per Hindu mythology, when Lord Shiva heard about Devi Sati’s sacrifice, he was filled with grief and anger and he began his cosmic dance of destruction – Tandav.
To protect the Universe from destruction by Tandav, Lord Vishnu intervened and he cut Sati Devi’s body into 51 pieces and it fell at different places in the country. The places where her body parts fell are known as Shakthi Peethas.
At Kamakhya temple, it is believed that Satis Devi’s womb and genitalia ( yoni ) had fallen and we thus worship femininity, creation and life cycle here.
Unique Highlights of Kamakhya Temple
A very unique aspect of Kamakhya Temple is that there is no “Idol” of the Goddess here. A Yoni shaped stone which is the symbol of Female Reproductive Organ is worshipped here.There is an underground natural spring below the stone that keeps the yoni moist. It represents the flow of energy and cycle of life.
Maa Kamakhya is worshipped in her divinest form celebrating creation, childbirth and cycle of life. People come here from all over the country seeking blessings of the Goddess for their marriage and children.
Ambubachi Mela
Menstruation is a divine feminine power that creates life.
It is believed that every year Goddess Kamakhya menstruates in June. The Temple celebrates her menstruation by hosting an annual festival and closing the temple for three days and reopening on the fourth day.
This festival is called Ambubachi Mela. The cloth that is used to cover the yoni is called Raktha Bastra and is distributed among the devotees.
This practice itself makes it quite a unique temple that celebrates womanhood and menstruation.
Can We Visit Kamakhya Temple During Periods?
One of the most frequent doubts women have is whether we can visit Kamakhya temple during periods. The answer to the question is YES. Kamakhya Temple celebrates womanhood and menstruation so women can absolutely visit the temple during her periods. It is also equally important to understand the reason behind women not going to temples during their cycle.Temples are epitome of positive energy moving upwards. During menstruation, a woman has negative energy around her and her energy moves downwards. This creates an imbalance in her system and thus they refrain from going to temple.
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Tantric Worship
Kamakhya temple is also known as a center for Tantric Worship and rituals. It is frequently visited by Tantric practitioners, Sadhus and Aghoris who practise it to obtain spiritual powers and blessings from the Goddess. It is also known as temple of Ten Mahavidyas – the ten forms of feminine energy.
Meghalaya’s beauty varies with the seasons, but it offers stunning sights year-round.
The Ten Mahavidyas are
1. Kali
2. Tara
3. Tripura Sundari
4. Bhuvaneshwari
5. Chinnamasta
6. Bhairavi
7. Dhumavati
8. Bagalamukhi
9. Matangi
10.Kamala
The ten temples of Mahavidyas are present inside the premises of Kamakhya Temple and are visited by Tantric Practitioners and devotees of Maha Vidyas.
Also Read About : Meghalaya
Best time to Visit Maa Kamakhya Temple
The best time to visit KamakhyaTemple would be from October to March. The weather would be pleasant and dry during this period unlike monsoons. You can have a calm and spiritual experience during this time with lesser crowds.
Another option would be visiting the temple during the famous Ambubachi Mela in June. It would be very crowded at that time with devotees from across the country attending the festival. However, that can be an entirely different experience of soaking in a divine and celebratory atmosphere. At Northeast Vibes Taxi Rental Service you can experience a Hassle free Experience of the mela.
How to reach Kamakhya Temple?
Kamakhya temple is located on top of Nilachal hills. It is easily accessible by any mode of transport. The temple is situated around 8 km away from Guwahati railway station and takes around 20 minutes to reach.
The nearest airport would be Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport ( GAU ), Guwahati which is around 20 km away from the temple. Prepaid Taxis as well as OLA/Uber are available from both Airport and Railway Station to the temple. You can also reach Guwahati through the many Inter-state Buses operating in the city.
To Conclude
Visiting Kamakhya Temple can be a very enriching and different experience for a devotee due to its unique significance. Married and Childless couples often come here to seek blessings of Maa Kamakhya to have a healthy offspring. It is one of the few or rare temples celebrating Femininity, creation, fertility and the divine powers of a woman.
