India is a land
of mysterious religious places with uncountable temples rich in amazing
architectural beauty. In Guwahati, Assam, kamakhya mela is known
as one of the biggest religious festivals where pilgrims visit from every
corner of our country India whereas some of them come across the world too. Thousands
of devotees and Sadhu-sanyasis gather in the temple premises and its
surrounding areas of river Brahmaputra to become a witness of the bleeding
goddess of kamrup
kamakhya mandir.
The goddess here is a form of shakti – one of
the most important sati pithas of the total 51.
The history of Sati pithas:
The original kamrup
kamakhya history is really interesting. According to the Hindu mythology, once
Daksha – father of Sati (Goddess Shakti) organized a grand yagna and invited
her daughter but didn’t call upon her husband – Lord Shiva. When Sati wished to
attend the yagna, Shiva refused but Sati insisted and both of them came over to
attend the yagna.
Daksha insulted
Shiva which made sati extremely angry and she jumped into the holy fire of the
grand yagna and killed herself.
Shiva became
insane with rage. He carried the dead body on his shoulder and did tandava
nritya – the dance of destruction. Lord Vishnu tried to stop the destruction
and he cut the body of sati into 108 parts with his “sudarshan chakra”.
These 108 body parts got scattered in different areas on Earth.
Guwahati kamakhya mandir is believed as the place where sati’s vagina and
womb fell down. So, this temple set up at the place and is considered as the
symbol of women strength and fertility.
This is why devotees celebrate the menstruation cycle of kamrup kamakhya
devi.
The Mystery of bleeding kamakhaya devi:
As we have said, kamrup
kamakhya temple is known as the sign of women’s natural strength, celebrating
menstruation cycle of Goddess becomes the most famous festival in Assam. In the
middle of June, according to the Assamese month Ahaar, kamakhaya devi gets her
annual menstrual cycle automatically.
The underground
spring water below the yoni-shaped stone in the garbhagriha turns red
automatically. Red water comes out from the garbhagriha through a slim path.
This process ends after three days and the period is called “Ambubachi”. The
temple door is closed for three days. Priests don’t allow anyone to worship kamrup
kamakhya devi because devi remains unclean.
Pieces of
blood-stained clothes are then distributed among the devotees. The devotees are
only allowed to collect these cloths or they can dip their own in the
“blood-red” spring water. Pilgrimages keep these “blood-red” holy pieces of
clothes with them as these are believed to the offerings of good luck.
Ambubachi Mela:
On this
mysterious bleeding occasion, a grand mela is held in the kamuk
kamakhya mandir known as kamakhya mela. On the fourth day at the ending
occasion of devi’s menstruation, the door opens for the devotees and the
festival gets started.
This is indeed a
grand religious festival. You will get to see lakhs of sadhus and tantriks and
their mysterious behaviors who come across the country. Some of them travel
barefooted for miles to attend this holy festival.
Sakti is the major idol of
tantriks which means tantriks travel here for miles to achieve kamrup kamakhya
devi’s blessings. Some of the sadhus gather here to showcase their mysterious
holy power. Lots of common people also join the festival to get devi’s
blessings and to witness these mysterious sanyasis’ powers too.
Is there any scientific significance of Devi’s menstruation?
Well, no
scientific proof is there regarding the red water of the main mandir’s
underground spring whether it is blood or not. Many scientists believe that the
red water is due to the vermillion or iron oxide mixed in the spring water.
Sometimes, it is believed that the priests in the temple mix vermillion in the
water.
