Kamakhya Temple, Assam, is one among the 52 Shakti Peeths of India. The temple is situated atop Nilachal Hill (800 feet above sea level) in Guwahati cityand is open for visitors throughout the year.The temple had been built in reverence to Goddess Kamakhya or Sati, one of the incarnations of Goddess Durga. The story of origin of the temple very interesting. According to the legend, goddess Sati fought with her husband Shiva to be part of a yajna that her father was offering. purposefully Shiva and Sati was not invited to. After the fight with her husband, Sati headed to the yajna nevertheless, only to be insulted by her father. Unable to bear the insult, Sati leapt into the very sacrificial fire of the yajna. When Shiva came to know about this, his anger crossed all the limits. Carrying his wife's burnt corpse, Shiva, the God of death and destruction went on a rampage which known as 'Tandav '(the dance of destruction). As he was about to destroy the universe, Vishnu sent his chakra and cut the body, in order to calm the aggrieved deity.It is believed that Sati's body parts fell in 52 locations across the country, which are today known as Shakti peeths. Kamakhya is revered as one of them.
It is believed that the sanctum sanctorum (Garvgriha) of the temple houses the mythical womb and vagina of the Hindu goddess. Curiously enough, every year during the month of Ashaad (June), the Brahmaputra river near Kamakhya turns red. It is believed that the goddess 'menstruates' during this period.There is no image or idol of Goddess Shakti in the temple. However, in a corner of a cave inside the temple, there is a sculptured image of the yoni (vagina) of the goddess, which is the object of reverence. A natural spring keeps the stone moist.
This temple was destroyed in the early 16th century and then rebuilt in the 17th century by king Nara Narayana of Cooch Behar. The temple complex has other temples apart from the main one. Individual temples dedicated to the ten Mahavidyas of Saktism: Kali, Tara, Sodashi, Bhuvaneshwari, Bhairavi, Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagala, Matangi and Kamala.Apart from the daily puja offered to the Goddess, a number of special pujas are also held round the year in Kamakhya temple. These pujas are Durga Puja, Pohan Biya, Durgadeul, Vasanti Puja, Ambuvaci and Manasa Puja. The major attraction is probably the Ambuvaci when the temple is closed for three days as it is believed that the Goddess is in her menstrual period. People form different part gather to Guwahati during this period to offer their homage to the mythical goddess. It is said that during those days the water of River Brahmaputra turns red. This is taken as a sign of Devi's feminine cycle.
