Kamakhya Temple, Assam
Kamakhya Temple, Assam is one of the famous temples of India. Huge number of devotes visit Kamakhya Temple each year. This article is having detailed information about Kamakhya Temple like Location of Kamakhya Temple, Worships and Festivals at Kamakhya Temple and much more about Kamakhya Temple.
Location of Kamakhya Temple
Kamakhya Temple is the one of the most reputed Shakti temple among the Shakti Peethas which is situated on the Nilachal hill or Kamagiri in the west of Guwahati in Assam. About Kamakhya Temple
Kamakhya Temple was built in 1565 by Chilarai of the Koch dynasty
in the style of medieval temples. It is believed that Shakti at Kamakhya Temple is one of the Shakti Peethas and the reproductive organ (vagina or yoni) of the Sati had fallen here during the dance of angered Lord Shiva with the corpse of Sati. The name of this Shakti (Goddess) is Kamakhya. That's why it is called as Kamakhya Temple.
The Kamakhya Temple has a beehive like Shikara with sculptured panels of great attraction. There are images of many Gods like Lord Ganesha and images of Chamundeswari, dancing fitures etc.
There are three main chambers in the premises of temple. The chamber in the western part is very large and of rectangular shape but it is not generally visited by visitors for worship. The chamber on the middle of of square shape and have a small idol of Goddess. There are sculptured images of Narnarayana and other Gods on the walls of this chamber. The middle chamber of the temple leads us towards the sanctum of a temple. This temple has no image of God rather it has a vaginal (yoni) shaped cleft in the bedrock and a natural underground spring flows down from it. Worships and Festivals at Kamakhya Temple
The biggest annual festival which is organized at Kamakhya Temple is Ambuvaci (Ameti) fertility festival which is celebrated in summers. It is believed that Goddess goes through her menstruation cycle during this period. The water of the above mentioned main shrina also turns red during that period (may be because of presence of iron oxide) symbolizing the menstruation bleeding. During this period, the temple is closed for three days and is opened on fourth day for worship. It is believed that it is very unlucky to plant the seeds or till the ground during these three days.
Another annual festival organized in Kamakhya Temple is during Navartas (September- October). Huge numbers of devotees visit Kamakhya Temple during this five day festival.
The worship at Kamakhya Temple still includes sacrifice of animals. Huge numbers of devotees come every morning with their goats to offer it to Shakti, and to yield their all desires.
