Kamakhya Devi
(13th Shakti Peeth)
Kaamaropini vikhyaataa
Harikshetre sanaathini
Yonimudra trikhdesee
Maase maase nidarshitaa
Story behind Astadasa Shakti Peethas
Brahma performed Yaga to please Sakthi and Siva to request Sakthi in creation of Universe. Sakthi separated from Shiva emerge in the form of Sati and helped Brahma in creation of universe. Brahma sought to give back Sati to Siva. Daksha, son of Brahma performed Yagna with an intention to get Sati as his daughter. Sati born to Daksha and in due course she wanted to marry Shiva. At that time Brahma saw Prudhvi with bad intention and Shiva cut the fifth head of Brahma with his trident. Daksha got angry and withdrawn marriage of Sati with Siva. But Sati attracted with Shiva and married him. Daksha got hatred on Shiva.
Daksha intended to perform Nireeswara Yaga and invited all the Gods except Siva and Sathi in Kailas. Shiva warned Sati not to participate in the Yaga in the absence of invitation. Sati has gone to Yaga with Nandi and other followers. Sati started yoga which is not possible to the Yogis moving her five elements from their origin. Fire erupted from her grave status of body and she self immolated in the fire.
Enraged to the death and insult of Sati, Shiva in meditation got angry and performed Tandava Nruthya. Shiva has cut some hair from his head in Tandava and thrown on earth. The piece of hair burned and Veerabhadra born with thousand hands, and black body. Veerabhadra is so horrible with three angry eyes, Trident and other weapons in the hands along with skulls in the neck. Siva ordered to destroy the Yaga. Veerabhadra with skulls in his neck destroyed the Yaga and Lord Vishnu opposes him using Sudarsana Chakra. But Veerabhadra swallowed the Chakra and Vishnu given way to take revenge on Daksha. Veerabhadra killed Daksha and returned to Kailash. Daksha was given re-birth after affixing the head of a male goat to the body of Daksha.
Shiva could not bear the separation grief with Sati and left the duty to safe guard the universe. The Gods praised Lord Vishnu and at the request of the Gods, Lord Vishnu used Sudarshana chakra and cut the corpse in to pieces to release Shiva from the worry of the death of Sati. The body parts of Sati fell at several places of the Indian subcontinent and Groin in Trincomalee of Srilanka. The holy places formed are known as Shakti Peet. There is discrepancy in the number of Sakthi Peet as 108, 51and 52 but the 18 Sakthi Peet are familiar as Astadasa SakthiPeeth. The Goddess Dakshayani accompanies with her consort, Lord Bhairava (Shiva) a manifestation of Lord Shiva in all the Shakti Peeth.
Kamakhya Devi Shakti Peetha
The Vagina part of Sati fallen on the Neelachal mountain in Gauhathi of Assam and the colour of the mountain changed into blue. Kamakya, the 13th incarnation of Sathi is said to be reside in this area. Vagina is the creation place of human, and the Sakthi Peeth consider being important among all the Sakthi Peeth. There will be no idol in the temple. There will be a stone construction looks like Vagina. Water will be flow slowly from the stones in all seasons and in all times. The water will change to red colour for three days in the summer season every year. Devotees treat the three days as Menstruation period. The temple will come under the jurisdiction of Koch Behar Sansthan. The local people say that the royal family get curse on entry into the temple and the royal family members will not enter into the temple and did not see the temple.
Legend says that Viswa Simha, the King of Koch Behar lost all his men in a battle and came to Neelachal Mountain along with his brother searching them. They have asked an old lady about the mound at that place. She has informed that the Goddess in the mound having powers and fulfills their requests. The kind requested for arrival of his followers and they arrived to him. The king prayed about the prevailing drought and promised to built temple in that place. The lands became evergreen. The King dogged the mound and Stone of Kamakya Devi came to light. The King enshrined the stone and built a temple with Towers in the shape of bees-hive. Shiva give darshan in the form of Umananda Bhairava on the eastern side to the Neelachal mountain in the midst of Brahmaputra river.
Kamakshi Temple is on the Neelachal mountain and west side to Gauhathi of Assam State. The temple is the in temple complex of other Sikkim Goddess namely Kali, Tara, Shodasi, Bhuvaneswari, Bhairavi, Chinnamasta, Dhoomavathi, Maatamgi and Kamathmika. The temples of Tripurasundari, Maatamgi and Kamala are within the Kamakya Temple and the remaining are separate in the complex. The four temples where the four body parts of Sati fallen namely Bhimala Temple in Puri Jagannadh Temple (Foot), Taratarani Temple in Barampuram (Breast), Kamakya Temple in Gauhati (Vagina) and Kali Temple in Calcutta (face) are main to the Tantrik Devotees. Among the four temples Kamakya is the main temple to Tantriks.
The temple excluding the Oracle will be like Surya Temple in Tejpur. The temple is having four rooms. Three rooms from east to west is the Portico and the fourth is the Oracle. As the temple famous for Thantrick feelings, animal sacrifices are general here including Buffalos. Everyone must circle round the temple after darshan of shrine. There will be a cranny of rocks like Vagina and there will be no idol. The way goes to the Sanctuary is narrow with stone steps. In the Sanctuary, there will a stone having cranny of 10 inch depth oblique from top to bottom on both sides. Legend says touching of the mountain will give immortality. The temple will be closed on evening. Ambubachi Festival will be conducted three days in summer every year. The temple shall be closed in these three days and the priests also not enter into the temple. The temple will be opened on the fourth day in the presence of lakhs of Devotees. The water flow from the temple is in red colour at the time of opening of the temple. Durga Festival in Navaratri and Manasa Puja will be conducted here and Animal sacrifices prohibited at that time.
Kamakhya Devi Temple Timings
There is train and air transport available to Gauhathi from all the Towns and Cities in India. The Temple is at a distance of 20 KM from the Airport and 6 KM from Gauhati Railway Station. Pilgrims may reach to the temple from anywhere in Gauhathi in Taxi or Auto. Separate Bus facility of Tourism of Assam available. The temple kept open from 5-30AM to 1-00PM and from 2-30PM to 5-30PM.
