The Mysticism Of Kamakhya Temple

Kamakhya Mata: The Deity Of The Tantriks

Kamakhya devi is worshiped as the young bride of Lord Shiva, the one who grants salvation and fulfills all desires. She is one of the most important deity for the tantriks, the others being Kali and Tripura sundari.

The Object Of Worship: The Female Yoni

You wouldn't find an idol in the Sanctum Sanctorum or the garbhagriha. Instead, there is a cleft in the rock bed representing the goddess's yoni which is perpetually wet due to a natural spring. The water from this spring is thought to be extremely potent and powerful. It is believed that the regular intake of this water can even cure diseases.

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The Origin Of All Creation

The yoni of a female is thought to be the doorway to life and hence, Kamakhya is believed to be the center of all creation.

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The Menstruating Goddess

All over India, menstruation is considered to be impure. Girls who are going through that time of the month are often treated as untouchables. But, Kamakhya is where this changes.

Every year, the water in the river Brahmaputra nearby turns red during the 3 days of ambubachi mela when the goddess is thought to be menstruating. At the end of three days, devotees throng to the temple in hopes of receiving the prasad in the form of a cloth wet with the goddess's menstrual fluid.

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The Festival That Celebrates Fertility

Ambubasi/Ambubachi mela is also known as Ameti and as the Tantrik fertility festival. The word Ambubachi has its origins from 'Ambu' which means water and 'bachi' to mean efflorescence. The festival glorifies the power of 'she' and its capability of procreation. The festival receives devotees in huge numbers and is hence, known as the Mahakumbh of the east.

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The Abode Of Occult And Tantrism

It is often thought that the age of tantra and the dark arts have passed but in Kamakhya, it is a way of living. It is all the more noticeable during the ambubachi mela. This period is considered to be the most important time for the Shakti tantriks. They come out of seclusion during this time and display their powers. They also bestow boons and help the needful.

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Origin Of Tantras

Many tantrik texts have been discovered around the region and this suggests that they had a strong base around the Kamakhya temple. Most of the Kaul tantras are believed to have originated in kamarupa. It is a common saying that one is not a complete tantrik unless he pays his respects to Kamakhya devi.

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Tantrism: For The Good And The Bad

It is said that the tantriks and sadhus here are capable of performing miracles. Many people go on a pilgrimage to Kamakhya to be blessed with marriage, children, wealth and other desires. They even claim to be able to cast an evil spell on others but they use this power judicially.

Rituals Involving Animal Sacrifices

Sacrificing goat and buffalo is a common practice here. Though the sacrifice of a female animal is prohibited. Kanya pujan and charity/Bhandara are the other things that are thought to please Mata Kamakhya.

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Cure To Black Magic And Curses

There are Aghoris and sadhus who live around the temple are thought to be capable of removing black magic and curses from people who suffer from it.

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Dasha Mahavidyas

Though the main temple is dedicated to Kamakhya, there is a complex of temples here devoted to the ten Mahavidyas. The Mahavidyas are- Matangi, Kamala, Bhairavi, Kali, Dhumavati, Tripura Sundari, Tara, Bagalamukhi, Chinnamasta and Bhuvaneshvari. This makes it all the more important for the practitioners of Tantra and black magic. It is thought that this place was an ancient Khasi site where sacrifices were made.

Kamakhya temple is a world of its own where the thin line that separates myth and reality fades away. Its a place where magic, faith and myth co-exists. It doesn't matter if you are a believer or not, you must visit the place to truly experience mysticism and the incomprehensible.

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