preloader

Kamakhya Temple

  • Kamakhya Temple

Temple

Kamakhya Temple

The Kamakhya Temple at Nilachal hills in Guwahati, Assam is one of the oldest and most revered centres of Tantric practices,dedicated to the goddess Kamakhya. The temple is the center of the Kulachara Tantra Marga and the site of the Ambubachi Mela, an annual festival that celebrates the menstruation of the goddess.Structurally, the temple is dated to the 8th-9th century with many subsequent rebuildingsand the final hybrid architecture defines a local style called Nilachal.It is also one among the oldest 4 of the 51 pithas in the Shakta tradition. An obscure place of worship for much of history it became an important pilgrimage destination, especially for those from Bengal, in the 19th century during colonial rule.


Originally an autochthonous place of worship of a local goddess where the primary worship of the aniconic yoni set in natural stone continues till today, the Kamakya Temple became identified with the state power when the Mleccha dynasty of Kamarupa patronised it first,followed by the Palas, the Koch, and the Ahoms.The Kalika Purana, written during the Pala rule, connected Naraka, the legitimizing progenitor of the Kamarupa kings, with the goddess Kamakhya representing the region and the Kamarupa kingdom.


It has been suggested that historically the worship progressed in three phases—yoni under the Mlechhas, yogini under the Palas and the Mahavidyas under the Kochs.The main temple is surrounded in a complex of individual temples dedicated to the ten Mahavidyas of Saktism, namely, Kali, Tara, Tripura Sundari, Bhuvaneshwari, Bhairavi, Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi and Kamalatmika.Among these, Tripurasundari, Matangi and Kamala reside inside the main temple whereas the other seven reside in individual temples. Temples for individual Mahavidyas together as a group, as found in the complex, is rare and uncommon.

During the Ambubachi Mela, the doors of the Goddess Kamakhya Temple remain closed for three days. At this time Goddess Kamakhya goes through the cycle of menstruation. After three days, the idol of Goddess Kamakhya is bathed and other rituals are performed

Address

Nilachal Hill, Guwahati, Assam 781010

Guwahati, Assam

How to reach?

By Air : Guwahati Airport (Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Borjhar)is the nearest airport which is about 20kms away.

By Train: Kamakhya Mata (Kamakhya Railway Station) is located in the Kamakhya metropolitan area. But since then the D-association at Guwahati Railway Station (the largest railway station in Northeast India) has been passed as it is the last part of trains from all major metros and cities in India. The distance between the two train stations is 10 blinks and the distance is 6 km.

By Road: Assam Tourism Development has many buses connecting it with major national highways and other places of Guwahati. Kamakhya Temple is connected to the center of the metropolis by the right road railway. Guwahati joins other corridors in the country including Delhi and Kolkata via air, road and rail.

Where to stay?

The Assam Development Corporation has its own tourist home called as Lalita Kanta Yatri Niwas. It offers excellent lodging as well as a food facility. While the cost of the rooms is moderate, all kinds of modern amenities are present for the visitors to use as well.


Moreover, the presence of many luxuries and budget hotels is also present for travellers at the Nilachal Hills. From lodges to guest homes and a temple run guest house, visitors have lots of choices. One can also decide to put up at Guwahati and travel to the temple by availing public transportation like buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis.

Dress Code

The dress code is strictly arbitrary. Since this is a Hindu temple, you don't have to cover your head, but since this is a religious deity, covering your shoulders and legs is a must. Any decent outfit.

Special Rules

Special

About Kamakhya Temple

According to the history of Kamakhya Temple,  Sati, the daughter of King Daksha married Lord Shiva against his will. The King had organized a Yajna in his kingdom where he invited everyone except Sati and Shiva. Sati was upset but wanted to attend it in spite of Shiva’s disapproval.

At this Yajna, she was greatly insulted by King Daksha. Sati became so angry that she jumped into the Yajna fire and killed herself. When Lord Shiva came to know about this incident, he took Sati’s body on his shoulders and roamed around the universe filled with rage. It is then; Lord Vishnu calmed Shiva and saved the world by cutting the body of Sati into several parts by using the Sudarshan Chakra.


Sati’s body parts fell at different places which became popular as Shakti Peeths. In the famous Kamakhya Temple, devotees worship the womb and the vagina of the Goddess.

It is said that the Goddess of Love, Kamadeva suffered a loss of virility, owing to a curse. Kamadeva sought out the Shakti’s womb and genitals which freed him from the curse. Love gained its potency here and the idol of ‘Kamakhya Devi’ was set up and worshipped.

The Shakti Peeth present at the temple is the yoni of the Goddess.

The significance of the Kamakhya Temple is that Kamakhya Devi is also called as the Bleeding Goddess. The mythical womb and the genitals of Shakti are present in the ‘Garbhagriha’ of the temple. The architecture of  Kamakhya Temple consists of four sections called the Garbhagriha.


In addition, it has three mandapas namely, Calantha, Pancaratna, and Natamandira. Calantha or the western chamber is large and rectangular in shape. This is not used by the general pilgrims for worship. The middle chamber or Pancaratna is square in shape and has a small idol of the Goddess. The last chamber or Natamandira consists of sculpted figures of Naranarayana along with related inscriptions and other gods.

In the month of June, it is said that the goddess bleeds. During this time, the Brahmaputra River near the temple turns red in colour. It might be strange but till this date, there has been no scientific reason as to why the water of the spring turns red. Menstruation is the symbol of a woman’s creative ability. And the Kamakhya temple celebrates this ‘shakti’ present in every woman.


During the Ambubachi Mela, the doors of the Goddess Kamakhya Temple remain closed for three days. At this time Goddess Kamakhya goes through the cycle of menstruation. After three days, the idol of Goddess Kamakhya is bathed and other rituals are performed

05:30 am to 01:00 pm 02:30 pm to 05:30pm

5:30 AM - Snana of the Pithasthana. 6:00 AM -Nitya puja. 8:00 AM -Temple door open for devotees. 1:00 PM -Temple door closed for cooked offerings to the goddess followed by distribution among the devotees. 2:30 PM-Temple door reopens for the devotees and prasad distribution 5:15 PM -Closing of the temple door for the night. 7:30 PM-Aarati of Goddess.

Live Darshan
Donation Link
Prasad/Souvenier Link
Pooja Booking Link
VIP Darshan Booking Link
about