India’s culture and history are richer than many other nations.  When we talk about history of India, it is not about just the British taking over our country, but in other words what we are addressing as mythology is actually our ancient history. Today people only know India by what they see in western media. Western media is only portraying our country as poor, not safe for women, and there is lists of taboo topics. They also show India as under developed country. But there is other side of the story. In India we worship women as goddess. Talking about taboo topics, where many countries don’t even have even monthly leaves for periods for women. Miscarriage leave was first legalised in India. According to the Maternity Benefit Act of 1961, a woman who go through miscarriage is entitled for paid leave for six weeks immediately following the day of her miscarriage. Talking about the other taboo topic period, where everyone is thinking that periods are impure, India is worshiping womanhood since ancient times. The kamkhya devi temple is the great example of it. It is believed that devi kamkhya bleed just as any other woman during the time of June. It is believed that June is the menstrual time of devi kamkhya.

 

THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF KAMKHYA DEVI TEMPLE:

Deva Sati's father, Daksha, once hosted a "yagya" at his place, but neither devi sati nor Lord Shiva were invited because her father disapproved of her choice to wed Shiva. But devi Sati didn’t listen to him and married Shiva against his Wish.  Devi Sati went to the location where the yagya was being held despite not being invited. Knowing this, her father became angry with her and brutally insulted her. He insulted her husband Lord Shiva. Devi Sati, unable to take her husband's insult, she leaped into the yagya fire. When Lord Shiva came to know about Sati, he became extremely enraged. He started the tandav after lifting the devi Sati's body in his arms. His grief and rage were so intense that the universe soon began to destroy , All of the gods came together to stop him and convince him that this world would end if he didn't stop. But he paid no attention. 


Lord Vishnu performed 51 pieces of devi sati by using his ‘sudarshan chakra‘  to defend the universe at that time. These fragments of her body fell to the various locations in the world that ultimately developed into "Shakti peeths."

Kamkhya devi also known as Kameshwari is the goddess of desire. According to Hinduism Kamkhya devi temple is one of the most important Shakti peeths, this temple is dedicated to devi kamkhya. The temple is located at 800 feet above the sea level on the ninachal hills, Assam where devi sati’s womb was fall. The Ninachal hill is surrounded by the three hills – Vishnu hill , Bramha hill and Shiva hill. The temple is really unique as there is no murti in a grabhgruha. The devotees worshiped the devi’s vulva or yoni. It is also said that this is the centre of the universe where the whole universe was created.

 

                                                                 Map of Shakti Peeths.


STUCTURE OF THE TEMPLE :

The Kamakhya temple's main entrance is exquisitely designed, with basic yet gorgeous sculptures that are embellished with vibrant flowers. The temple features a huge dome that looks out over the charming Nilanchal Hills in the distance. It is particularly decorated during the Ambubachi Festival and Fair, which lasts for three to four days in June.

The kamkhya temple is one of the most beautifully designed temple. The premises of the temple is devided perfectly in four parts. Garbhgruha, Calanta , panchratna and natmandir.

1. Garbhagriha: The Garbhgriha, or main sanctum, is supported by a base with several sunken panels that are ornamented with statues of Ganesha and other Hindu deities. Stone makes up the lower portions of the Garbhagriha, The Garbhariha is located below ground and is accessible by a set of steps carved out of the rock. This area contains a rock fissure that resembles a vulva-shaped depression; it is worshipped as the goddess Kamakhya. The depression is filled with water from a subterranean spring, and all the Garbhagrihas in this temple have this general shape. There is a unsolved mystry that from where the water is coming. And it never dries. The  devotes are given this water as ‘prashad’.

2. Calanta: The Calanta, an atchala-style square-shaped chamber, is located to the west of the Kamakhya temple. Here, along with several other images and inscriptions carved into the surface of the walls of this chamber, are little, movable idols of various Gods and Goddesses.

3. Pancharatna: The Panchratna, a big rectangular building with a flat roof and five little spires sticking out from it, is located to the west of the Calanta.    

4.  Natamandir: The last Natamandir structure, which has an apsidal end and a ridged roof in the Ranghar type Ahom style, is located to the west of the Pancharatna. Rajewas Singha and Gaurinath Singha both left inscriptions on the Natamandir's walls.

In the entrance there is a kund called ‘saubhagyavati kund’. Devotees clean themselves first and then continue their journey to the temple. At the entrance of the main temple there is a Murti of Lord Ganesha. Devotees believes that first they have to take permission from the lord Ganesh to enter to the temple, so the visitors do the ‘aarti’ and take permission to enter the temple.

 


THE AMBUBACHI MELA :

One of the largest gatherings to take place in eastern India is the Ambubachi Mela. Every year, in the month of June, the Kamakhya temple celebrates its most significant festival.

This festival is not just any other ritual or a celebration. It is celebration of womanhood.

It is more of pure and devine ritual than a celebration that is observed with Shakti rites. The Shakti, the mother cult, is said to be represented by Kamakhya. The doors of the temple are closed to visitors during the Ambubachi time, which lasts from the seventh to the tenth day of the Hindu month of "Asadha," as it is thought that Goddess Kamakhya experiences the yearly cycle of menstruation during this time. The doors are ceremoniously opened on the twelve-day mark, and a large fair is conducted on the temple grounds that day.

After Ambubachi is over on the fourth day, household objects, utensils, and clothing are washed, cleaned, and purified by being sprinkled with holy water. Worship of Goddess Kamakhya then begins, followed by other rites. After this, entry into the temple is seen as fortunate.

The Bramhaputra River, which flows next to the temple turns red during the time of June. It is thought that this is a divine occurrence and that the Goddess has her period at this time. Some suggest it's because of the water's rich iron and cinnabar deposits, while others still think it's a miracle! Thus, the river and the temple draw countless worshipers each year during the Ambubachi Mela. Some of the statistics suggests that during the ambubachi festival around 5 lakh to 20 lakh devotes visits the temple and seeks the blessings from Maa kamkhya.

According to Shakti Puraan there is 51 shakti peeths, but there are also theories of 108 shakti peeths because the place where sati’s ornaments was fallen, it is also worshiped as Shakti Peeths.

                                                                Ambubachi mela 

Kamkhya Temple is a Proof that India is way beyond this taboo topic. This is the celebration of female fertility. Not just the Assam but many parts of India celebrates a girl’s first menstrual cycle.thus, menstruation was never a taboo in India it is always a celebration!