We ended the first day of our trip to Assam by visiting the academic complex of IIT Guwahati. The campus of the institute impressed us all. The next day we decided to begin our trip by a visit to one of the holiest Shakti Peeths in the country, the Kamakhya Temple of Guwahati which is dedicated to the tantric goddesses. There are 108 shakti peeths in the country and the main one is Kamakhya Temple. There are many legends and mythical stories which are associated with this temple.
There are 10 small temples around the main temple which are dedicated to different Goddesses. Kamakhya is a Sanskrit word which signifies Kama or Love making. There are also stories and legends that Kamakhya Devi is the place where Lord Shiva and Sati had love encounters. There are many interesting things about this temple. One among them is the incomplete staircase which is said to be built by Naraka.
There are 10 small temples around the main temple which are dedicated to different Goddesses. Kamakhya is a Sanskrit word which signifies Kama or Love making. There are also stories and legends that Kamakhya Devi is the place where Lord Shiva and Sati had love encounters. There are many interesting things about this temple. One among them is the incomplete staircase which is said to be built by Naraka.
Another important and interesting fact about this temple is that inside there is no image or idol of Goddess Shakti. There is only the yoni of the goddess which is the main object of reverence amongst the devotees. There is a natural spring inside the premises of the temple which keeps the yoni moist. The yoni inside the temple also bleeds during the summers and often referred as the bleeding Goddess. Till date there is no scientific reason established on how the water inside the temple turns red.
The main shrine which is the yoni is situated inside the middle of the main chamber of the shrine. A small staircase leads us to the dark room alongside the natural springs where one could see the devotees offering prayers to the goddess. A symbolic yoni is covered with a red cloth inside the main shrine which is worshipped by all the pilgrims.
The main shrine which is the yoni is situated inside the middle of the main chamber of the shrine. A small staircase leads us to the dark room alongside the natural springs where one could see the devotees offering prayers to the goddess. A symbolic yoni is covered with a red cloth inside the main shrine which is worshipped by all the pilgrims.
It was a very scintillating visit to the Kamakhya Temple. It made me proud on how much we adored Shakti or the feminine aspect of God. After this visit we headed for our next place which was known as the Rang Ghar pavilion of Assam.