Kamakhya Devi Temple Guwahati

Introduction to Kamakhya Devi Temple

The Kamakhya Devi Temple is one among the 51 Shakti Peeths of India. It is an important pilgrimage destination in Assam. This famous shrine is located on Nilachala Hill, the western part of Guwahati. Maa Kamakhya, or Kameswari, is the presiding deity of the temple. Tripura Sundari, Kamala, and Matangi are the other forms of Maa Kamakhya. It is the hub of India's Tantric Shaktism cult.
The Brahmaputra River flows through the northern banks of the Kamakhya Devi Temple. Pilgrims can see Vishnu and Shiva temples near this temple. Pilgrims from all over the world come to worship the powerful deity, Maa Kamakhya.

Legend of Kamakhya Devi Temple

There are different legends associated with the Kamakhya Devi Temple. According to one legend, Prajapati Daksha, the father of Sati, conducted a Yagna without inviting Shiva and Sati. Although Shiva forbade Sati, she went to the Yagna. Daksha started insulting Shiva in front of all his guests after seeing Sati. As Sati could not bear the insults, she jumped into the Yagna fire and immolated herself. When Shiva got to know about it, he became furious. He went to the Yagna spot along with his Ganas, killed Daksha, and destroyed the Yagna.
Overcome by grief, Shiva carried the burnt corpse of his consort and began to dance the Tandava (dance of destruction). To appease Shiva, Vishnu sent his Sudarshana chakra. It severed Sati's body into many pieces, which fell down on earth. The places where her body parts fell became Shakti Peeths.

The place where the Yoni fell was not known initially. Kamadev, the God of Love, searched for it to eliminate a curse on him. He found it on the Nilachala hills. Kamadev built a temple and prayed to Maa Kamakhya. Kamadev later regained his rupa (beauty) after worshipping the deity at this Peetha. As Kamadeva regained his rupa here, the entire place was called Kamarupa (Kamrup), and the deity is known as Kamakhya.

The Architecture of Kamakhya Devi Temple

It is believed that Kamakhya Devi Temple was built during the Mleccha Dynasty, between 8th-9th centuries. Since Kamarupa kings were ardently following the Tantrik cult, the temple became an important destination for Tantrism. Buddhism emerged here around that time. Many Buddhist professors in Tibet were from Kamakhya.
Hussein Sha destroyed the Kamakhya Devi Temple during his invasion. During the 1500s, Koch Dynasty founder Vishwasingha revived the temple from the ruins as a place of worship. In 1565, Vishwasingha's son, Nara Narayan, renovated the temple.

The current structure of the Kamakhya Devi Temple reflects the Nilachala type. It is commonly found in Assam. People can see a hemispherical dome and a cruciform-shaped base in this style. The temple has four chambers aligned from east to west:-

• Garbhagriha: The Garbhagriha or the sanctum sanctorum rests on a base. It has many sunken panels embellished with sculptures of Ganesha and other Hindu divinities. The lower parts of the Garbhagriha are of stone. The shikhara has an octagonal shape and is made of bricks. The Garbhagriha is situated below ground level. Devotees can reach the sanctum by a series of rock-cut steps. Devotees worship a rock fissure in a vulva-shaped depression in the sanctum as Maa Kamakhya. The depression gets water from an underground spring.
• Calantha, Pancharatna, and Nata Mandir are the other three chambers. Calantha is a square-shaped chamber with movable idols of deities and inscriptions carved into the surfaces.
• Panchratna is a large rectangular construction having a flat roof. It has five small spires projecting from its roof.
• Natamandir is an apsidal end with a ridged roof. It is in the Ranghar-type Ahom style. Its walls have inscriptions from Rajewas Singha and Gaurinath Singha.

The Kamakhya Devi Temple complex includes small shrines denoting the ten Mahavidyas.

Festivals in Kamakhya Devi Temple

The Kamakhya Devi Temple celebrates Navratri and Durga Pooja grandly. Ambubachi Mela, Pohan Biya, Vasanti Pooja, and Manasha Pooja are the other important festivals celebrated here.

Benefits of Worshipping at Kamakhya Devi Temple

Devotees believe that worshipping the deity can bestow the boon of a child on childless couples; she can also protect her devotees from the malicious impact of evil eyes.