Kamakhya Devi : The ‘Bleeding Goddess’

While a large percentage of people in India continue to remain aloof when it comes to speaking out loud about menstruation and the issues faced by women, a temple that is well worn with time celebrates one of the most natural biological processes.

The Kamakhya temple is not just a famous pilgrimage site in Assam, but is also a unique temple in the country.

Located on the Nilachal hill in the capital city of Guwahati, the deity of the temple, Kamakhya Devi is revered as the ‘Bleeding Goddess’.

It is believed that the ‘Garvagriha‘ or the sanctum sanctorum of the temple houses the mythical womb and vagina of the Hindu goddess Shakti.

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.
Contrary to the shaming treatment that menstruation gets elsewhere in India, here it is revered as the ability of a woman to conceive.

Considering this to be a woman’s power to give birth, the deity and temple of Kamakhya is a celebration of this ‘shakti’ within every woman.

Story:

The temple of Kamakhya has a very interesting story. It is among one of the 108 Shakti Peeths. The story of the Shakti Peeths goes like this once Sati fought with her husband Lord Shiva to attend her father’s great Yogna.

Despite of Lord Shiva disapproval Sati went to attend the universal Yogna organized by her father. Shiva was not invited and was also insulted by Daksha(Sati’s father). Unable to bear the insult Sati committed suicide. When Shiva came to know that his beloved wife had committed suicide he went insane with rage. He placed Sati’s dead body on his shoulders and did the ‘Tandav’. To calm him down Lord Vishnu cut the dead body with his chakra. The 108 places where Sati’s body parts fell are called Shakti Peeths. Kamakhya temple is special because Sati’s womb and Vagina fell here.

According to many people temple is a place where Siva and Devi Sati had their romantic encounters. As Sanskrit word for lovemaking is ‘Kama’. Kamakhya devi is famous as bleeding goddess.

In the month of June, the goddess bleeds and menstruates and temple remains closed for three days. In ancient times Kamakhya was the place for Tantrikism and black magic cure (still this is followed) . This is the only temple where ten Mahavidyas reside together. The temple also has an annual fertility festival called ‘Ambuwasi Puja’ when Devi goes through her menstrual cycle.

Incomplete stairs and Kamakhya Devi:

There was one demon called Naraka, who fell in love with Kamakhya and wanted to marry her. So the Goddess asked him to built a staircase from Ninanchal Hill to the temple in one night then only she will marry him.

He was almost able to complete it, then Devi played a trick on him and then he left it on half way, the incomplete staircase is known as ‘Mekhelauja path’.

Geological formations within the temple:

The temple’s innermost shrine has bedrock with a cleft shaped like ‘yoni’. Through that cleft, an underground, natural spring flows out. Though this is a geological phenomenon yet is very much symbolic

Several pujas are performed at Kamakhya:

Those include pujas like Vasanti puja, Durgadeul, Madandeul, Pohan Biya, Durga Puja, Ambubachi puja, Manasa puja..

Black Magic and Tantric Puja:

The Kamakhya temple has been famous for black magic for decades. The temple has been in the light for its special puja to remove and curb black magic. This puja is performed by Sadhus and Aghoris who reside inside the temple premises. This puja involves rituals which help people who are suffering from problems related to black magic. These sadhus can be found anywhere inside the complex. It is believed that ten mahavidyas are present here.

The Kamakhya temple also holds puja for repelling dark spirits and ghosts. The puja conducted by these tantric help one to get rid of negative energies surrounding him. It sparks up to life, especially during ambubachi mela when thousands of tantric visit the temple shrine. These tantric helps the people requiring their help and also showcase their power. Animal sacrifices take place during these pujas such as goat, pigeon, buffalo etc. It is believed that most of the Kaul tantras originated from kama rupa. It is believed that for a tantric to be completely powerful, he must pay a visit to Kamakhya and pay his offerings and prayers to the goddess Kamakhya. The tantric can also help to bless people with marriage, children, wealth, etc.

Rituals Followed at Kamakhya Temple:

Most of the ceremonies taking place in this complex involve the use of animal sacrifice. Sacrificing a goat or a buffalo is seen as a common practice in the Kamakhya temple. The sacrifice of a female animal is strictly prohibited in this temple complex. The temple is also known for Vashikaran tantra. It is a ritual practice carried out by tantric to help one to undergo attraction towards others. This practise is carried out when one wants someone to agree with him and his interests in a good way. By using the vashikaran method, one can convince another person to agree with their thoughts. This ritual is believed to help people to come closer to each other and mend relationships. It is believed to prevent divorces and also help to bring a lot of wealth and prosperity to life.

History of Kamakhya Temple:

Kamakhya dates back to the 9th-century where its existence is put down in Tezpur plates of Vanamalavarmadeva of the Mlechchha dynasty. The archaeological evidence states this sanctuary to have been existing since the 8th to 9th century. It is also believed that the earliest temple in the complex was constructed during the Mlechchha dynasty.

It is believed that the Kamakhya temple was destroyed by Kalapahar, a general of Sulaiman Karrani in the sixteenth century. However, recently light has been shed on the fact that it wasn't destroyed by Kalapahar. It fell to ruins when Hussein Shah invaded the Kamata kingdom in the year 1498. It is said that the temple ruins were discovered by Vishwasingha; the founder of the Koch dynasty, upon invasion. He started worshipping at the site and made efforts to revive it to its former glory but only during the reign of his son, Naranarayan the temple reconstruction was completed. The Kamakhya temple was reconstructed using material from the ruins of the original temple that was lying scattered around.

Historical records and evidence provided by epigraphic tell us that the Chilarai built the main temple taking into account the stones from the ruins. He also constructed the brick dome as an innovative measure. The current structural and architectural credit of the temple was during the Ahom times.

References:

https://www.oneworldnews.com/the-unexplored-facts-about-kamakhya-devi/

https://www.thebetterindia.com/114044/the-legend-of-kamakhya-temple-assam-bleeding-goddess-assam/

https://www.holidify.com/pages/kamakhya-temple-black-magic-323.html

https://www.newsgram.com/kamakhya-devi-temple-facts/