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Kamakhya temple is a famous pilgrimage situated at Guwahati, Assam. The temple is located on the Nilachal hill in Guwahati at about 8 kms from the railway station. The Kamakhya temple is dedicated to the tantric goddesses.

Apart from the deity Kamakhya Devi, compound of the temple houses 10 other avatars of Kali namely Dhumavati, Matangi, Bagola, Tara, Kamala, Bhairavi, Chinnamasta, Bhuvaneshwari and Tripuara Sundari.

Kama, the God of Love who was reduced to ashes when his arrow targeted Shiva, later regained his original form (Kamarupa) when he fulfilled his promise and built a temple for Shiva's deceased wife Sati.

Mythology also has it that Narakasura tried to build the path to the temple overnight with a desire to wed Kali but was killed when he failed to do so (He was conned by a cock which heralded day break even before it was really so
           
History has it that the original temple was destroyed by invaders and had to be restructured. King Naranarayan of Cooch-Behar in the late 17th century is credited with building the present temple.


The Kamakhya Temple (Assamese: কামাখ্যা মন্দিৰ) is a Hindu temple  dedicated to the mother goddess Kamakhya, one of the oldest of the 51 Shakti Pitha and one of the 18 Maha Shakthi Peethas

It is Situated on the Nilachal Hill in western part of Guwahati city in Assam,India it is the main temple in a complex of individual temples dedicated to the ten Mahavidyas:  Bhuvaneshvari, Bagalamukhi, Chinnamasta, Tripura Sundari, Tara, Kali,  Bhairavi, Dhumavati,  Matangi  and Kamala.

The story of the Shakti peeths goes like this; once Sati fought with her husband Shiva to attend her father's great yagna. At the grand yagna, Sati's father Daksha insulted her husband. Sati was angered and in her shame, she jumped into the fire and killed herself.

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 or dance of destruction.

To calm him down, 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.

The God of love, Kamadeva had lost his virility due to a curse. He sought out the Shakti's womb and genitals and was freed from the curse. This is where 'love' gained his potency and thus, the deity 'Kamakhya' devi was installed and worshipped here.

Some people also believe that the Kamakhya temple is a place where Shiva and devi Sati had their romantic encounters. As the Sanskrit word for lovemaking is 'kama', the place was named Kamakhya.



Do:

  • Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
  • Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
  • Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
  • Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
  • Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
  • Do maintain silence and recite your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
  • Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
  • Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
  • Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.

Don't s:


  • Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
  • Do not smoke at Temple.
  • Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
  • Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
  • Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
  • Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
  • Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
  • Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
  • Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
  • Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.
  • Do not encourage beggars at Temple.Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.