Through the ages Kamakhya has remained the most celebrated centre of the Sakti cult in Assam. Instead of an image or iconic representation of the goddess, prayer is offered to a Yonimandala of stone. Several literary works like the Kalika Purana, the Yogini Tantra give different accounts of the Aryan origin of Kamakhya. However Banikanta Kakati and Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi mention Kamakhya as a non-Aryan goddess. The temple was constructed by Koch king Biswa Singha during 1515-1540 A. D.
The present temple was constructed on the earlier temple by Koch King Naranarayana with the help of his brother Chilarai in 1564. Kamakhya temple is associated with different religious cults like Tantricism, Saktism, Saivism, Buddhism and Vaisnavism etc. As a Tantric Pitha, it is related with religious practices like animal scarifies, Kumari Puja, Yantra worship and several other Tantrik rites and rituals. Several religious rituals and festivals like Ambubachi, Devadhani, Durga Puja, Vasanti Puja, Kumari Puja, Punsavan ceremony etc. are observed in the temple Ambubachi is the most popular among these festivals.
Besides Kamkhya temple there are many other Sakti temples like Bhubaneswari temples, Chatrakara temple, Ugratara temple, Dirgheswari temple, Kali temple at Ajara, Kali temple at Baliluha, the Dipteswari temple, the Bhairabi temple, the Mahamaya temple, the Burhi Gosani temple, the Tamreswari temple etc. The Bhubaneswari temple situated at the top of the Nilachala Hills. The worship of Bhubaneswari is of Tantric origin. The Chatrakara temple is situated in the Uzanbazar area at Guwahati. Yogini Tantra mention the temple is situated on an umbrella shaped hillock as a sacred place.
The Essay on Kamkhya Temple
The Kalika Purana, an ancient work in Sanskrit describes Kamakhya as the yielder of all desires, the young bride of Shiva, and the giver of salvation. Shakti is known as Kamakhya. The Kamakhya Temple, which is situated high up on a hill called Neelachal Parbat or Kamagiri in the city of Guwahati, is one of its several religious landmarks, which speaks volumes about the rich historical treasure ...
The Ugratara temple is also situated in the Uzanbazar area. According to the Kalika Purana the naval of sati had fallen in this place when lord Siva, Sati’s husband, journeyed towards the east taking Sati’s dead body on his shoulder. The temple of goddess Dirgheswari is situated at the Rangmahal area of North Guwahati. The mode of worship of the goddess is of Tantric origin. The Kali temple at Ajara is located in the district of Nalbari. The image in the temple is known as Daksinakali. The kali temple at Baliluha is situated in the village of Baliluha of Nalbari district.
Ahom king Siva Singha constructed the temple and donated land to the temple. By the river side of Puthimari near Rangia in the Kamrup district there is a temple of goddess Dipteswari. It is interesting to note that water in the temple never runs insufficient and the image is seen on the surface of the water. The Tamreswari temple, popularly known as the Dikkaravasini temple is situated at eighteen miles away from modern Sadia town in Tinsukia district. According to Hari Nath Sarma Doloi, the river Digaru flowing through Sadia, might have a sanskritized name Dikkara after which the goddess came to be known as Dikkaravasini.
There are various mythological and historical evidences written in literary works like the Kalika Purana, Yogini Tantra, and Assam Buranji of Gunabhiram Barua about the origin of Kamakhya. It is mentionable here that instead of an image or iconic representation of the goddess in the temple, prayer is offered to a Yonimandala made of stone. The Yoipitha and Yonimandala of Kamakhya temple are different froms each other. The Yonipitha is a vast tract of land in which the Yonimandala is situated. The Yonipitha has a length of ‘five crosh’. Inside of the Yonipitha there is the Hill called Nila situated within the Yonipitha.
They are the Brahmasaila, the Nilasaila, the Maniparvat and the Bhasmachala Hills. The Yonimandala is a squire sized red stone. It remains always wet with water that flows from a spring below. The length of the Mandala is one arm and twelve fingers. It is also attracted with a Siva Linga. Saktism, the cult of worshipping the mother goddess as the supreme deity known by various names such as Devi, Durga, Kali, Kalika, Uma, Kamakhya, Tara, Chandi, Chamunda, Vindhyavasini, Sakambhari and so on were centered in and around the Kamakhya temple in ancient Assam.
The Essay on The Sacrifice Of Life iphigenia
A simple definition of sacrifice is to give up something for the sake of something else, whether it is for another human life, for an idea, or even for a belief. "She was 17 years old. He stood glaring at her, his weapon before her face. 'Do you believe in God?' She paused. It was a life-or-death question. 'Yes, I believe in God.' 'Why?' asked her executioner.But he never gave her the chance to ...
However, as literary records like the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Kalika Purana and epigraphical records like the Allahabad Pillar inscription inform Assam was then known as either Kamrupa or Pragjyotisa. According to the Kalika Purana and Yogini Tantra Kamrupa remained the most suitable place for Sakti worship from the ancient period for the practice of magic and witchcraft which were mainly practiced in the Kamakhya. According to the Kalika Purana, Siva was not interested in worldly activities. Brahma, the creator was afraid that if Siva did not marry, then the whole process of creation would come to a halt.
So he engaged Kamadeva the God of love to enchant Siva. By doing this Brahma wanted to convince Siva to marry which would ultimately, help in the process of Creation. Brahma wanted to make the Primal energy to be the wife of Siva. So he told Daksa to worship the mother goddess so that she was born as the daughter of Daksa. At the advice of Brahma, Daksa worshipped the mothers goddess for about three thousand years. Being satisfied the goddess told Daksa that she would take birth as Daksa’s daughter and also marry Siva. But at the same time, she warned Daksa that if she was neglected by Daksa, she would abandon her life.
According to her promise, the mother goddess took birth as the daughter of Daksa. In her youth she worshipped Siva to get him as her husband. Siva was satisfied. He married her and began to stay at the Himalayas. King Daksa was dissatisfied with Siva when he did not get sufficient respect and hounour from Siva. Once he decided to perform a sacrifice without giving invitation to Siva and Sati, his daughter. He had invited everybody excluding Siva and Sati in the sacrifice. Hearing about the performance of the sacrifice, Sati went to the sacrifice alone.
But in the sacrifice Daksa insulted her saying ill of Siva as the Kapalika. He maintained that Sati was merely the Kalpika’s wife. Being neglected by her own father, Sati abandoned her life at the sacrificial fire. When Siva heard of the sudden death of Sati, he became angry and went to Daksa’s house with his follower Birabhadra to destroy the sacrifice. Siva destroyed the whole sacrifice and also beheaded Daksa. But at the request of Daksa’s wife Birini, he transposed the head of a goat to Daksa’s body. With heavy panic, Siva took the dead body of Sati in his shoulder and started his journey towards the east.
The Essay on Siva V. 1138 LLC
This is an actual appeal case regarding a breach of contract, between leasor Ruthiran Siva v. Richard Hess leasee. Ruthiran Siva the owner of commercial property entered into a written agreement with the Hess family and Shahin. The agreement was the Hess family and Shahin would lease the commercial property for a minimum of five years at $4,000.00 per month. However upon the agreed contract the ...
Seeing the anger of Siva, Brahma, Visnu and Sani entered into the dead body of Sati. Visnu started to cut the different parts of the dead body with his Chakra. The parts of the deadbody of Sati, a human incarnation of the mother goddess fell into fifty one places. At each place, there emerged a Saktipitha, a Shrine of Sakti along with a Linga, the phallic representation of Siva. The Kalika Purana mentions the different places where the parts of Sati have fallen in the following way. “Kamrupe Kamagirau nyaptat yonimandlam | Tatraiba nyaptaddhumau purbato nabhimandlam||43||
Jalandhare Stanayugan Svarnaharabhibusitam | Ansagriban Purnagirau Kamrupaotah Sirah||44||” (The genital organ of Sati fell into the Kamaparvata in Kamrupa. The naval portion of Sati fell into the eastern side of Kamrupa. Again, the breast of Sati fell into Jalandhara. The head of Sati had fallen into the last part of Kamrupa. ) The Kalika Purana also mentions five main Saktipithas in which different parts of Sati has fallen. “Katayani Coddayane Kamakhya Kamarupini| Purnesvari Purnagirau Chandi Jalandhare girau||50||” (These five main centres of Saktism are Katyani at Uddiana, Kamakhya at
Kamrupa, Purneswari and Chandi at Jalandhara and Dikkaravasini at the eastern-most part of Kamrupa).
Kamakhya came to be recognized as the most important Saktipitha among the five main one as it is related to the genital organ of the mother goddess. According to the Kalika Purana, as the goddess came to fulfill her sexual desire with Siva in the Nilakuta Hillock, she is named as Kamakhya. The Kalika Purana says, “Kamarthamagota Yasmanamaya Sarddhan mahagirau| Kamakhya procyote nilkute rahogata||1||” Kalika Purana also mentions the other variants of the name of the goddess Kamakhya as Kamada, Kamini, Kama, Kanta and Kamangadayini.
In this respect, the Kalika Purana says- “Kamada Kamini Kama Kanta Kamangadayini| Kamanganasini Yasmat Kamakhya tena cocyate||2||” The Kalika Purana, written in the 10th century A. D. , also relates the story of Naraka, the mythological king of Kamrupa, with the goddess Kamakhya. According to the Kalika Purana, “Rajasvala gatraya gorbhe beeryena potrinah| Yato Yatastato bhuto deva putraohapi so ha surah||7||” (Mother Earth gave birth to Naraka. He was fathered by the Boar incarnation of Visnu. The concept took place during the period of her menstruation. Therefore, he beheaved like a demon)
The Term Paper on Mothers Day
When I was first asked to give a talk on mothers, since it would be mother’s day. I started wondering how Mother’s Day came to be. I was surprised to discover that Mother’s Day has a history longer than Christianity! Ancients celebrated Isis (Mother of the Pharaohs), Rhea (Greek Mother of the Gods), and Cybele (The Great Mother). The worship of these ancient goddesses is similar to the reverence ...
According to the Kalika Purana, Mother Earth gave birth to Naraka at the sacrificial place of Janaka, the king of Mithila, also known as Videha. Mother earth told Janaka that he would have to take care of the son. After the birth of the son, Visnu told Mother Earth that he would be the king of Pragjyotisapura at the age of sixteen. He again said that until he followed the human conduct he would be happy and wealthy. King Janaka adopted the baby-boy born placing its head on a human skull in his sacrificial place. So the sage Gautama named the boy as Naraka.
Mother Earth took care of the boy in disguise of a nurse named Katyayani. Sixteen years later, mother earth brought Naraka to the bank of the river Ganga from where Visnu brought of them to pragjyotisa and Siva dwelt in a secret place. In Pragjyotisa, Naraka killed Ghataka, the kirata king ruling in the region. Then Naraka started to worship Mother Kamakhya on the advice of Visnu. However, at the end of the Dvapara age, Naraka gave up the worship of Visnu and Kamakhya as he came under the influence of Bana, the king of Sonitpura and a worshipper of Siva.
Naraka also prevented sage Vasistha to offer his prayer to the goddess Kamakhya. The sage cursed Naraka that his own father would kill him very soon and until then the goddess would disappear from the Nilachala Hills. Being frightened, Naraka worshipped Brahma who blessed him with five boons. Being empowered by Brahma, Naraka started neglecting all Brahmanical rites and took away the Kundala (ear-rings) of Aditi, the Mother of the gods. Hearing the misesies created by Naraka, Krishna, the incarnation of Visnu at the Dvapara age, killed Naraka in a battle. Thus, Krishna translated Vasistha’s curse into reality.
After the death of Naraka, his son Bhagadatta was enthroned by Krisna as the king of Pragjyotisa. The Yogigni Tantra, written in the sixteen century A. D. , gives a different account about the origin of Kamakhya. According to the fifteenth Patal (Chapter) of the Yogini Tantra, Devi asked Maheswara about Kamakhya and Maheswara answered in the following way. “Ya Kali parama vidya Brahmarupa sanatani| Kamakhya Saibe dibesi Sarbasiddhibinodini||” (Supreme Goddess Kamakhya is not different from Kali) According to the Yogini Tantra, Brahma after creating the Universe, became arrogated at his Creation.
The Essay on Hindu Temple Vishnu Icon Priests
Inside a Hindu Temple The Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple, located in Lanham, Maryland, is unique in that it houses both an icon to Shiva and an icon to Vishnu. Shiva is represented with a stone lingam and Vishnu is portrayed lying upon a bed of snakes. These two icons are the center of the temple and are housed in inner shrines. About twenty other gods are also represented in icons ringing the temple. ...
The goddess then created a fearsome Demon called Kesi from the pride of Brahma. The Demon Kesi tried to swallow Brahma as son as he was born. The Demon Kesi also built a city named Kesipura and started to harass the people of the three worlds. Finding no way of rescue, both Brahma and Visnu started to pray the goddess Kali. Kali asked Brahma to create a hill from the ashes of Kesi. She asked Brahma to do so, so that he can free himself from his sin of taking pride in his creation. Kali, or Kamakhya, killed the Demon Kesi at the request of both Brahma and Visnu.
Goddess Kali told Brahma that in the spot where Brahma and Visnu prayed her to kill the Demon Kesi, would emerge a Yonimandala (yoni circle).
This Yonimandala would emerge for the welfare of Brahma and the whole world. The entire region would be known as Kamrupa. The literary evidences inform us that Naraka was a devotee of Kamakhya. However there is no information in the Kalika Purana about the construction of the Kamakhya temple by Naraka. Only in the Assam Buranji by Raibahadur Gunabhiram Barua mentioned that the Kamakhya temple was constructed by Naraka.
He also tells a story about it. It is stated that being attraction by the beauty of Kamakhya, Naraka wanted to marry her. Goddess Kamakhya told Naraka that she will marry him only if he built a rest house and four stone roads from four sides to the shrine within one night. Naraka started his construction and was about to complete the task. The goddess forged a cock to declare the advent of dawn. Being angry, Naraka beheaded the cock. The road built by Naraka still prevail in the Kamakhya temple and the place where Naraka beheaded the cock still known as Kukurakota Chaki.
Though there are various literary evidences about the origin of Kamakhya, it is difficult to determine definite and specific date and period of the origin of Kamakhya. The Kalika Purana says that the genital organ of Sati fell on a hillock named Kubjikapitha in Kamrupa before the advent of Naraka. As the genital organ of Sati fell on the hill, the hill turned blue. Hence the hill came to be known as the Nilachala. As soon as the genital organ of Sati fell on Nilachala Hill, it turned into a slab of stone which came to be considered as the goddess Kamakhya. Yuan Tsang, who visited Kamrupa during the period of Bhaskar Varman.
The Term Paper on Hinduism Temple Worship
A Religion of Tolerance Hinduism is unique in many ways. One of the most endearing aspects of Hinduism is it's religious tolerance. One devotee may worship Vishnu, another may worship Shiva, and yet another Krishna, while honoring the other's choice and feeling no sense of conflict. Hinduism is a religion of tolerance that allows for different types of worship, and personal expressions of ...
Gives a valuable description of Kamrupa in his book si-yu-hi. According to him, during that period there were several Deva temples in Kamrupa which also prove, the existence of Saivism at that time. All the ruling dynasties of Assam, occupy the Pala king Vaidyadeva, who was a worshipper of Visnu, had worshipped Siva. Therefore, probably during the period of the Varman dynasty, Saivism had a predominant role in the religion of Assam and the glory of Saktism had declined after them. It is mentionable that the Koch king Biswa Singha, who belonged to sixteen century, built a temple on the Nilachala Hills.
There is no sufficient evidence about the construction of the Kamakhya temple before sixteenth century. Only the Assam Buranji of Gunabhiram Barua mentions that Naraka constructed a road by the Kukurakota Chaki on the Nilachala Hills. One day, Biswa Singha during his expedition against the Ahom Kingdom arrived at the Nilachala Hills and came to know that the hills are the sacred dwelling place of Goddess Kamakhya. Biswa Singha worshipped Goddess Kamakhya with great devotion to help him to regain his lost army. He promised her to build a temple of gold in that place. Surprisingly his desire was fulfilled.
Consequently he had constructed a temple on the Nilachala Hills by giving one Rati of gold to every slab of stone according to his promise. Thus Biswa Singha revived the glory of Kamakhya by constructing the temple complex. However temple constructed by Biswa Singha was destroyed by Kalapahar, the powerful general of Nawab of Gauda (Bengal).
Chilarai, the brother of Biswa Singha’s son and successor reconstructed the Kamakhya temple in 1565. According to Raibahadur Gunabhiram’s Assam Buranji, king Naranarayan had brought some Brahmanas from Uttar Pradesh to worship goddess Kamakhya.
Thus Naranarayana and his brother Chilarai took significant roles in the renovation of the temple and also in the spread of Saktism in the region. Chilarai or Sukladhvaja, introduced Durga Puja in the Kamakhya temple. During the period of Ahom role, the glory of Kamakhya enhanced greatly. Siva Singha, the son of Rudra Singha was preached by Krishnaram Bhattacharya, the chief priest of the Kamakhya temple to become a disciple of Saktism. The Nat Mandir of the Kamakhya temple was constructed by king Rajeswar Singha and Gaurinath Singha.
Two inscriptions belonging to the Ahom king Pramatta Singha testify that he constructed the Amratakeswar Mandir and the Daul Mandir of the Kamakhya temple. On the basis of several literary evidences a critical investigation about the origin of Kamakhya can be done. Banikanta Kakati mentions that the word ‘Kamakhya’ has its origin in the Austric Khasi word Kesh, meaning pine trees. After cutting down the pine trees on an around the Nilachala Hills, some hermits started worshipping Kama, a ‘cremation-ground-dwelling goddess. ’ Eventually this goddess came to be known as Kamakhya.
Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi mentions that at the beginning Kamakhya Pitha was the place of mother worship of the non-Aryan people. The concept of mother worship remains important among the Austric Khasi people. Moreover, the Mongoloid Bodo people worshipped the Sakti. Therefore, Kamakhya might, be a place for mother worship of the Bodo and Khasi people in the ancient period. In North-East India the tribal people worship bamboo in some of their festivals instead of an image. The Kamakhya temple also lacks an image. Here also a symbol of Yoni is worshiped. The Yoni represents the creative force of the mother goddess.
The worship of Yoni existed as Linga worship existed among the non-Aryan people in the ancient period. During the age of the prevalence of Tantricism, this worship of yoni was assimilated with the religions beliefs of the Aryan group of people. Being influenced by the Aryan culture, the Yonipitha or the worship of the female genital organ got associated with the worship of Sakti or Devi and Kamakhya became centre for the worship of Yoni. Saktipitha Kamakhya, famous for Sakti worship in India is a meeting ground of various religious cults like Tantricism, Saivism, Vaisnavism, Buddhism etc.
All, these religious cults which exist in the temple are deeply associated with each other and so it is difficult to make a separate study of each of these cults. Saktism enjoyed a strong hold in the religion of Assam from the ancient period. According to Kalika Purana and Yogini Tantra Kamrupa was the most suitable place for the worship of Sakti. Saktism, the cult of worshipping the mother goddess as the supreme deity known variously as Devi, Durga, Kali, Kalika, Uma, Kamakhya, Tara, Chandi, Chamunda, Vindhyavasini,
Sakamabhari and so on, centred in and around the Kamakhya temple in ancient Assam. The Saktipitha Kamakhya came to be recognized as the most important Saktipitha not only among the Saktipithas of Assam but also among the five main Sakti centres in India viz, Katyayani at Uddiyana, Kamakhya at Kamrup, Purneswari and Chandi at Jalandhara and Dikkaravasini at the eastern part of Kamrupa. Saktism is associated with the sacrifices of various animals, human beings etc. Sacrifice of pigeons, ducks, goats and buffaloes are still prevalent in the Kamakhya temple.
Without the sacrifice the worship of Kamakhya is not supposed to be completed. Saktism is also associated with the worship of Yoni in the Kamakhya temple. In the temple, prayers are offered to a Yonipitha of stone in lieu of an image or iconic representation of the goddess. Though there is an image of goddess Kamakhya belonging to much later period main worship is still offered to the Yonipitha in the monobhavaguha (the cave in which the Yoni of the goddess exists).
The sex organ of a female represents creation.
Therefore, Yoni worship means the desire for fertility. Thus, the desire for fertility in the form of Yoni worship got associated in the Kamakhya temple. Saktism has three types of worship viz, Jap, Hom and Tarpan. Jap is the system of worship in which mantras are uttered by the priest to worship the goddess. Hom is system of worship in which items like Ghee, Belpat (wood-apple leaves), Til (serame) and Chaul (rice) are sacrificed in the sacred fire. Tarpan, the worship of the goddess with sixteen upacara is also an important part of Sakti worship in the temple.
The sixteen upacaras are- Asana (seat), Swagata (calling), Padya (protection for foot), Arghya (an utensil made of copper to pour milk or water to the goddess), Asamania (to wash hand and mouth), Madhuparka (mixture of honey, curd, milk, molasses and sugar), Punarasamaniya (again to wash hand and mouth), Snana (bath), bastra (cloth), Abharana (ornaments), Gandha (perfume), Puspa (flower), Dhup (incense sticks) Deep (eathen lamp) and Naibedya (eatable items like gram and fruits offered to the goddess).
The religious festivals observed in the Kamakhya temple are related with the worship of Sakti.
The festivals associated with the Sakti worship are Durga puja, Manasa Puja, Kali Puja, Lakshmi Puja and Saraswati Puja and so on. Durga Puja which is observed in the autumn season is a popular festival of temple. It is observed in the month of Ahin (mid September to mid October) of Assamese calendar and worship is offered according to the Tantric mode. No image of goddess Durga is used in the temple. Sacrifices of animals like goats, pigeons and buffaloes are offered to the goddess during that period. Another important festival observed in the Kamakhya temple is the Manasa Puja or Devadhani festival.
It is observed on the last day of Shaon and first day of Bhada (mid August) of Assamese calendar. The folk goddess Manasa is considered as the goddess of snakes. During this festival different musical instruments are played along with the recitation of the Beula-Lakhindar ballad. Sacrifices of animals are offered to the goddess during this festival. Laksmi Puja is also observed in the Kamakhya temple on the next bright fortnight of Bijayadasami (the last day) of Durga Puja. In this festival sacrifices are offered to goddess Kamala, one of the Dasmahavidyas.
Goddess Kamala is considered as the Laksmi in the Kamakhya temple. Kali Puja is observed in the Kali temple (one of the Dasamahavidya temples) in the Kamakhya temple complex on the next black fortnight of Laksmi Puja. The worship of goddess Kali is performed by giving animal sacrifices. The Sarawati Puja which is also a worship of Sakti is performed on the fifth day of bright fortnight of Assamese Magh (mid January to mid February) month. The Saraswati Puja is performed in the Matangi Pitha (one of the Dasamahavidyas) of the Kamakhya temple in which animal sacrifices are offered to the goddess.
Kamakhya temple is also associated with the worship of folk goddess Sitala in the Sitala temple on the southern side of the Kamakhya temple. Moremover, an image of goddess Sitala also exists in the Kamakhya temple premises. In Assam, goddess Sitala is considered as ‘nature goddess’ who can cure small-pox, one of the common diseases of Assam. Saivism is another important religious cult associated with the Kamakhya temple. In Kamakhya temple, the Mahadeva cult is connected with the cult of Sakti.
The cult of fertility or the worship of the phallus or Linga which was later personified as Lord Siva is also found in the Indus valley remains and Vedic literature. Saivism is one of the oldest religious faiths of Assam. During the period of Naraka Siva dwelt secretly. He was then worshipped by the indigenous Kirata people. Banana the king of Sonitpura followed Saivism. Siva worship was first introduced in early Assam by king of Jalpaiguri (North Bengal) known as Jalpeswara and also had founded a Siva temple by his name. The Chinese traveler Yuan Tsang had given some information about the prevalence of Saivism in Assam.
Yuan Tsang who visited Kamrupa during the period of the Varman king Bhaskar Varman (594-650 A. D. ) mentions in his book Si-Yu-Ki that there were hundreds of Deva temples in Kamrupa. Perhaps those Deva temples mentioned by Yuan Tsang were dedicated to Lord Siva, because he used the word Deva in place of the word Devi. Probably during that period the tradition of mother worship continued in a low profile. The worship of Siva prevailed in Assam from a remote period and it was the popular form of religion amongst both the aboriginals and the Aryanized people.
The popularity of Saivism in ancient Assam is also proved by the copperplates and land grants of the kings appeard in the Kamrupa Sasanavali. The kings of ancient Assam had expressed their allegiance to Saivism through those copperplates and land grants. In the Kamakhya temple the joint worship of Siva and Sakti is prevalent. Tantra also popularizes the worship of Siva and Sakti. According to Tantras, Siva without Sakti is not capable of moving. The joint worship of Siva and Sakti is purely of a Tantric origin. The mother goddess Kamakhya is united with Siva or Mahakala or Kamesa and pairs with Him as Kameswara-Kameswari.
The union of Siva and Sakti is proved by the Dasamahavidya temples existing in the Kamakhya temple. Dasamahavidyas represent ten different forms of Sakti. There are ten Mahavidya temples in the Kamakhya complex. Except Dhumavati, who is represented as widow, the nine Mahavidyas are worshipped with their Bhairavas. The Bhairavas of the Mahavidyas are- Goddess Kali (worshipped with Mahakala), Tara (with Aksaubha), Sodasi (with Kameswara), Bhubaneswari (with Tryamvaka Siva), Bhairabi (with Dakshinamurti), Chinnamasta (with Kavandha), Bagala (with Ekavakltra Siva), Matangi (with Matanga Siva) and Kamala (with Sri Visnu).
There are five Pithas of Panchanana Siva within the Kamakhya temple which proves the existence of Siva cult in the Kamakhya temple. Besides this there are some other Siva temples in the Kamakhya Pitha. Some local festivals observed in the Kamakhya temple are also related with Saivism. One such local festival prevalent in the Kamakhya temple in the Puhan Bia or Punsavan ceremony. This ceremony is one of the ten Hindu Samskaras. It is performed to produce male child. It is observed at the seventh or eight month of the first conception of any remembrance of the Hara-Gauri’s (Siva-Parvati’s) marriage ceremony.
This festival is held on the second or third Tithi of dark fortnight of the Pusya constellation of the Puh or the Magh month (mid December to mid February).
Sivaratri, another religious ceremony performed to worship Siva in the Kamakhya temple on the Krishna Chaturdasi Tithi, i. e. , on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Fagun (mid February to mid March), also proves the prevalence of Saivism. In this occasion non-vegetable Bhoga, made of fish and meat of castrated goat is offered to Kamakhya in the five Siva Pithas (Panchanana).
In this festival a castrated goat is decapitated in the temple.
Tantricism is also associated with the worship of goddess Kamakhya. The shrine in regarded as the perfect place for the practice of the Tantric cult. Tantricism has also a non-Aryan origin and all the elements like the use of magic and charms, the use of wine, the evolting rites the beliefs in the efficacy mantras and sex worship are found in other primitive cultures around the world. One element of the religious heritage of ancient Assam is ‘Fetishism’, a belief in magic which is associated with objects like stones and trees etc. constituting the foundation of Tantricism in Assam with its centre at the Kamakhya temple.
Tantric worship centres round the union of Siva and Sakti. In the Kamakhya temple unified prayer is offered to Siva and Sakti in the forms of Kameswara and Kameswari respectively. As a centre of Tantricism, the Panchamakara i. e. the ‘fifth M’ method is practiced in the Kamakhya temple. These Panchamakara include Madya (alchohol), Mangsa (meat), Matsya (fish), Mudra (signs of seats) and Maithuna (sexual intercourse).
Yantra worship is also an integral parts of Tantrik worship which existed in the Kamakhya temple. In the temple worship is mainly performed on the Srichakra (Yantra) which is considered as principle among the other 960 Yantras.
This Srichakras (Yantras) are actually symbols which the Sadhaka tries to establish god or goddesses in that symbol. Several festivals are observed in the Kamakhya temple at various times. Many of them are related with Tantricism. The Ambubachi festival observed in the Kamakhya temple from the seventh day to the eleventh day of Ahar (within the first fortnight of the month of June) is an example of such festivals. It is believed that this is the period of menstruation of goddess Kamakhya. During this period the temple is closed for the devotees and Visitors.
The temple is re-opened on the fourth day. After the period of menatruation, the productive power of a woman becomes active. Ambubachi is a festivals which signifies the power of fertility. Thus, the concept of fertility is related with mother goddess Kamakhya. This is a Tantrik belief. In the Kamakhya Pitha, the worship of the Dasamahavidyas is also prevalent. These temples are the Kali temple, the Tara temple, the Bhubeneswari temple, the Bhairavi temple, the Bagalamukhi temple, the Dhumavati temple, the Sinnamasta. All the Mahavidyas except Bagalamukhi, are worshipped with red flowers.
The use of wine is the speciality of the worship of the Dasamahavidyas along with Dhyana and Bija-mantra. The Kamakhya temple is also associated with the Buddhist faith especially with the Buddhism or Tantrik Buddhism. The architectural remains of the Natachala Hills indicate the Buddhist influence on the temple. Some Buddhist tradition state that Buddhism entered Kamrupa around the third century B. C. Kalhana’s Rajtarangini also mentions about the prevalent of Buddhism in Kamrupa of the Pre-Bhaskarvarman era. The Bagalamukhi is one of the famous goddess among the Dasamahavidyas and in Kamakhya temple also there is a temple of goddess Bagala.
Bagala is the best example of the assimilation of the Buddhist and the Hindu Tantras. In the Buddhist Tantras, there is a goddess named Bagala or Bogla Dakini. Various Buddhist relies are found on the Nilachala Hills in which testify the Buddhist influence on the Kamakhya temple. All the sculptures are in various shapes. They are on the verge of decay. They depict episodes of Gautam Buddha’s life. Two images of Buddha and Buddhisattava are found on the Nilachala Hills. Moreover, a rock cut image of Buddha under the Bodhi tree was discovered by the side of the old path of the Kamakhya temple.
Some other Buddhist sculptures like Gautama in archery contest, Gautama on hoseback etc. are also found on the Nilachala Hills. Moreover, a broken image of Padmapani Buddha in the form of Dhyana and an image of a mother with a child, probably representing the Buddhist goddess Hariti are found in the temple. Some broken images of elephants and oxen’s are also found in the Kamakhya temple. All these sculpture belong to the seventh or the eight centuries and they signify the existence of the Buddhist cult in the Kamakhya temple. The cult of Vishnu is also associated with the Kamakhya shrine.
According to the Kalika Purana, Mother Earth gave birth to Naraka. Naraka was fathered by the Boar incearnation of Visnu. After coming to Pragjyotispura, Naraka started to worship goddess Kamakhya on the advice of Visnu. This signifies the influence of Vishnu cult over the Kamakhya Shrine. In the Kamakhya temple there is a temple of Vishnu, known as Kamleswar in which both Visnu and Siva Jointly exist and the sonnet form is known as Kambalakhya. There are several stone structures and statues related with the Visnu cult in the Kamakhya temple. These testifies the prevalence of Vishu cult in Kamakhya temple.
There are several stone structures related with the Visnu cult in the Kamakhya temple. In the Nilachala Hills, there is a stone statue of Visnu Vasudeva and three statues of Visnu Krisna. Moreover, there are several stone stuatues of Visnu Balarama, the elder brother of Krisna, carrying a plough in his hand. In the first gate of the main walking path to the Kamakhya temple, a statue of young Balaram is affixed. Balaram is seen as killing Mustika, the wrestler of king Kansa. A rock cut flute playing statue of Krisna Vasudeva is also found in the Kamakhya temple. Moreover, near the main temple of goddess Kamakhya, a Krisna temple exists.
Regular worship is held in the Krisna temple. Some festivals observed in the Kamakhya temple are also related with the cult of Visnu. The Douljatra or Holi, the festival of colour and joy is observed in the temple on the full moon day of the Assamese month Fagun (mid February to mid March).
The Douljatra is a festival related with Lord Krisna. The festival is observed in the Kamakhya temple with pomp and grandeur. Another important festival related with the Visnu cult or Krisna cult is the Janmastami (the birthday of Krishna).
Janmastami is celebrated in the Kamakhya temple on the Krisnastami Tithi (day) of the month of Bhada (i. . on the eight day of the black fortnight between mid-August to mid September).
In this festival, Hom is offered in the Kamaleswar temple. Moreover, animal sacrifices are also conducted in the main Pitha of the Kamakhya temple on this occasion. All these festivals signify the existence of the Visnu cult in the Shrine. The worship of Ganesa is an important part of the religious aspect of the Kamakhya temple. In the temple, a traditional ritual exists in which the devotee can enter the main Kamakhya Pitha after taking permission from the image of Ganesa which is situated near the tank Saubhangakuda.
Stone images of Ganesa are found on the Nilachala Hills in large numbers. The numbers of Ganesa idols discovered on the Nilachala Hills are above fifty. It is mentionable here that most of the Ganesa statues on the Nilachala Hills have two full teeth where the Ganesa images of rest of India are generally single toothed. The Kamakhya Pitha is assimilated with several religious cults like Saktism, Tantricism, Saivism, Buddhism and Vaisnavism etc. However, it is popular mainly as the centre of Sakta Tantricism. On the Nilachala Hills, several families inhabit. They are mainly Brahmanas, Kayasthas, Napits, Dhobas and so on.
All these people are associated with the Kamakhya temple by several professions. The Brahmanas are the Pandas who conduct the worship of Goddess Kamakhya. All these people are live at the Nilachala Hills are followers of Sakta Tantricism. Besides Saktism, they believe in other cults like Saivism and Vaisnavism. As all these religious cults are amalgamated with the worship of the Kamakhya shrine, the people have naturally, become the followers of all these cults. Therefore, there is no distinct sectarian division among the inhabitants of the Nilachala Hills who belong to Sakta, Tantric, Saivite and Vaisnavite sects at the same time.
In the day to day worship of goddess Kamakhya, some important rituals are observed in the temple. The Shrine remain open from dawn to dusk. For the regular worship of the goddess, the main temple is opened in the morning. The Kumari Puja or virgin worship is one of the important religions rituals observed in the Kamakhya temple. There is no specific time for virgin worship in the Kamakhya temple. Virgin worship is mainly performed in the Panchanan temple, in the Dasamahavidya temple and in the homes of the Pandas. In the virgin worship there is no caste division.
But in the Kamakhya temple, preference is generally given to the Brahman girls from the age of five to nine. In this ritual, the selected girl is bathed at first. She is then decorated with new cloths, ornaments and flowers. The priest then imagines the virgin as the goddess and worships her with flower, lamp. Besides this there are several religious rituals associated with the goddess in the Kamakhya temple. Some important religious festivals observed in the Kamakhya temple are Ambubasi, Devadhani, Durga Puja, Vasanti Puja, Durga Deul, etc.
Ambubasi the festival observed during the period of menstruation at Kamakhya i. e. from the seventh to the eleventh day of the month of Ashadha (i. e. the first fortnight of the month of June).
On this occasion red clothes, symbolizing menstruate blood, are worshipped and distributed among the devotees. The festival reminds us of mother earth. Thus, the festival symbolizes the fertility cult, originating probably from the belief of the aboriginals that emphasized on the worship of mother earth for better yield of the crops.
Thus festival of Ambubasi is of much importance as thousands of devotees throng the temple premises for several days even at present. Another important festival observed in the temple on the last day of Shravana and first day of Bhadra (i. e. mid August) is Devadhani in which different musical instruments are played along with the recitation of the Beula-Lakhindar ballad worship of Manasa is held in the Pancaratna temple. The worship of Durga and Vasanti are held in autumn and spring season respectively. Except the time of worship, Durga and Vasanti are not different for they are incarnations of Kamakhya.
Both Dugra and Vasanti are worshipped in the Devipitha according to the instructions of the Kalika Purana and Devi Purana. Accordingly, Laxmi, Saraswati and Ratanti, Kalika Puja, Kali Puja, Sivaratri ‘Brata’, Janmastami, Daul Jatra and local festivals like Pusyabhiseka, Madanacaturdasi and Navana are also regularly held. ‘Durga Deul’ is, however uncommon in the other parts of the country. This festivals is held during the spring particularly a second, third, forth, fifth and sixth day of the bright fortnight. Like Radha Krishna in the Daul Jatra, Kameswara and Kameswari are kept in the swing in their respective temples.
On the evening of the sixth day, Devi Kameswari is taken out in a procession for all these days special worships are held. This is held in the month of Caitra (i. e. , March-April).
There are some fixed procedure one has to observe before entering the shrine. The devotee needs to go to the ‘Saubhagyakunda’, the play resort of Kamakhya and the place of worship of Prajapati by Indra and other gods worship Prajapati. After taking a holy bath in the tank, the devotee needs to approach Ganesha to seek his permission to visit Kamakhya.
Before entering the shrine proper, one has to go to Kambalesvara. After entering the Shrine, the devotee is to worship the mobile image or ‘Calanta Murti’. The image of the Yoni of goddess Kamakhya is at the doorsteps of the ‘Manobhavaguha’. The ‘Pujaris’ or the ‘Pandas’ are the priests, who according to Sastric myth, were brought from Uttar Pradesh by a king named Dharmapala. Gradually they became the mediator between the devotee and the goddess. They get ‘Dakhina’ from the devotees and this has remained now-a-days as the only means they live by.
The Pujaris conduct the whole Puja according to the injunctions of the Kalika Purana. They also perform scarifies of animals on behalf of the devotees. Everyday a number of goats and pigeons and sometimes buffaloes are sacrificed to the goddess. The mother goddess, Kamakhya had a great influence in the minds of the people of Assam from the earliest time till today. The temple of Goddess Kamakhya not only attracts people of Assam but also from all over India and abroad. The goddess Kamakhya became an important Sakti cult in Assam centering round the Kamakhya temple.
REVIEW OF SOME OF THE AVAILABLE LITERATURES A review of some of the literature related to Saktism and Kamakhya temple have been made to get an idea about the socio-religious context of Kamakhya temple. The first volume of The Comprehensive History of Assam, edited by H. K. Barpujari gives us some information about Saktism in Assam. It also gives us some information of the origin of the temple. However, the discussion on Saktism and Kamakhya included in the book is rather short and hence there is a dearth of sufficient information or discussion of the socio-religious context of the temple.
Bani Kanta Kakati, in his book Purani Kamrupar Dharmar Dhara, throws light on different myths related with the origin of Kamakhya. He also gives detailed information about Saivism, Saktism, the conflict between Saivism and Saktism and their consequent union, the system of worshipping Kamakhya and the system of animal sacrifice in the temple, besides discussing a few rites and rituals like Kumari Puja and the previous existence of the ‘Natinee’ system. Though the religious aspect of the temple has found some notable expression in the book, the social context is remains untouched.
Still, it must be mentioned that this literary giant has not discussed all the religious rites and rituals. Hari Nath Sarma Doloi, in his Ph. D. thesis Saktism and Sakta Literature in Assam has thoroughly discussed the history of Saktism, its nature and philosophy in Assam. Moreover, the thesis gives us information about different Sakti temples of Assam. He also gives information about the impact of Saktism on Assamese life and society. However, a critical reading of the thesis develops a feeling that the religious context of Kamakhya needed some extra emphasis.
Moreover, the thesis says little about the social context of the temple. Asamat Saktipuja by Debendra Nath Bhattacharyya informs us about the origin and development of Saktipuja in Assam. It also throws light on cults like Saivism and Tantricism. However, the book only mentions Kamakhya here and there without mentioning anywhere its socio-religious context. Nirmal Probha Bordoloi in her book Devi has focused on the origin of the temple. She has given valuable information about the construction of the temple, besides giving information about various rituals and festivals associated with Kamakhya.
However, all information regarding the rituals and festivals in the book deserves detail discussion. Moreover, the socio-religious context was scarcely discussed there. Kali Prasad Goswami’s Ph. D. thesis Kamakhya Temple: Its Origin, Religious Aspect and Economic Impact discusses the economic impact of the temple on the people associated with it, besides discussing many rites and rituals observed in the temple. However, the rites and rituals of the temple have not been studied from the socio-religious point of view. Saktipith Kamakhyar Aitihasik aru Sanskritik Adhyayan, an M.
Phil dissertation by young scholar Grihalakshmee Talukadar has described the religious rituals in details, but everything has been done from a point of view of culture only. Thus some of the available literature regarding Saktism and Kamakhya establish the fact that the socio-religious context of the temple still stands as an unexplored area. BIBLIOGRAPHY Books: Adhikari, Gajendra. History of. the Temples of Kamrup and TheirManagement. Guwahati: Chandra Prakash, 2001. Barpujari, HK. (Ed. ) Comprehensive History of Assam: Vol. I. Guwahati: Assam Publication Board, 2004 (1990) Barua, BK.
Cultural History of Assam (Early Period).
Guwahati: Lawyers’Book Stall, 1969 Barua, Birinchi Kumar. Asamar Loka Sanskriti. Guwahati: Bina Library, 1989. Barua, Gunabhiram. Asam Buranji. Guwahati: Assam Prakashan Parishad, 1972. Basu, AK. Sakta Geeti Padavali. Calcutta: Orient Book Corporation, 1964. Basu, NN. Social History of Kamrupa: Vol-I, II, III. New Delhi: Northern Book Centre, 1983. Bhandarkar, RG. Vaishnavism, Saivism and Minor Religious Systems. NewDelhi: Asian Educational Service, 1983. Bhattacharya, Debendranath. Asamat Saktipuja. Pathsala: Bani Prakash, 1977.
Bhattacharyya, Mahendra Nath. Shri Shri Kamakhya Teertha. Guwahati: Tara Devi Bhatacharyya, 2000. Bhattacharyya, N. Tantra Bhidhana: A Tantric Lexicon. New Delhi:- Manohar Publishers and Distributors, 2002. Bordoloi, Nirmal Prabha. Devi. Guwahati: Sahitya Prakash, 1986 Chaudhury PC. The History of the Civilization of the People of Assam to the Twelfth Century. Guwahati: Department of Historical and Antiquarian Studies, Government of Assam, 1955 Chatterji, SK. The Place of Assam in the History and Civilization of India Gauhati: Gauhati University Press, 1955..
Chattopadhyaya, SM. TrantrerKatha. Calcutta: Sahitya Sansad, 1983. Das, Narayan and Paramananda Rajbongshi. (Eds. ) Asamiya Sanskritir Kanika. Guwahati: Chandra Prakash, 1998. Das, Surjya. Asamar Dharmiya Paramparat Narabali. Guwahati: Dalimi Prakashan, 1992. Devasarma, Dharani Kanta. Kamakhya Teertha. Guwahati: Kamakhya Pradarshani, 1991. Doloi, H. N. S. Asamat Saktisadhana aru Sakti Sahitya. Barpeta: SB Devi,1983. Gait, E. A. A History of Assam. Guwahati: Lawyers’ Book Stall, 1981. Goswami HC. Kamaratna Tranta (Tr. ) Shillong: Government of Assam, 1928 Goswami Mamoni Roysom.
Cinnamastar Manuhto. Guwahati: Students’ Stores, 2001. Kakoti, BK. Mother Goddess Kamakhya. Guwahati: Assam Publication Board, 1989 Kakoti BK: Purani Kamrupar Dharmar Dhara. In Bani Kanta Kakoti Racanavali Ed. by Maheswar Neog. Guwahati: Assam Prakashan Parishad,1991. Madan TN. India’s. Religions: Perspective from Sociology and History. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. Neog, M. Prascyasasanavali. Guwahati: Assam Publication Board, 1974 Neog, Maheswar. Asamar Dharmar Buranji. : Andhar aru Pohar. Jorhat: Assam Sahitya Sabha, 1998. Neog, Maheswar. (Ed. ) Pabitra Assam.
Jorhat: Assam Sahitya Sabha, 1969. Radhakrishnan, S. Shakti and Her Episodes. Delhi: Eastern Book Linkers, 1986. Sarma, PK. The Principles of Shakti. Delhi: Eastern Book Linkers, 1986. Sastri, Gaurinath (ed. ) Introduction to Tantra: Vol I, II. New Delhi: Cosmo Publications, Division of Genesis Publishing Pvt. Ltd. Sharma, MM. Inscriptions of Ancient Assam. Guwahati: Gauhati University Press, 1979. Singh, Rajnath. Religious Tantricism, Vol. II. New Delhi: Dominant Publishers and Distributors. Tripathi, RS. History of Ancient India. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1987. Theses:
Devi, Minakshi. Kamakhya Dhamar Puja Parvan Aru Utsava Anusthan: Ek Bishleshanatmak Adhyayan. Guwahati: Department of MIL, Gauhati University, 2008 Doloi, HNS. Saktism and Sakta Literature in Assam. Guwahati: Department of Assamese, Gauhati University, 1969. Goswami, Kali Prasad. Kamakhya Temple: Its Origin, Religious Aspect and Economic Impact. Guwahati: Department of Economics, Gauhati University, 1996 Dissertations: Talukdar, Grihalakshmee. Shaktipith Kamakhyar Aitihasik aru Sanskritik Adhyayan. Guwahati: Department of MIL (Assamese), Gauhati University, 2003- 2004
