The Kamakhya Temple is in Guwahati at Nilachal hills. It is one of the ancient and most revered centres of Tantric practices. The Temple is the centre of the site of the Ambubachi Mela and Kulachara Tantra Marga, an annual festival celebrating the Goddess’s menstruation. It is also one of the oldest 51 pithas in the Shakta tradition— Kamakhya Temple Timings: 8 am to 1 pm; 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
Temple is well known as the bleeding Goddess. It appears very beautiful during the evening aarti. Apart from the deity Kamakhya Devi, a Temple compound houses ten other Kali avatars named Matangi, Bagola, Tara, Bhairavi, Chinnamasta, Kamala, Dhumavati, Tripura Sundari, and Bhuvaneshwari.
kamakhya Temple Story:
Contents
- 1 kamakhya Temple Story:
- 1.1 History of kamakhya Temple:
- 1.2 Structure of The Kamakhya Temple:
- 1.3 Festivals At Temple:
- 1.4 kamakhya Temple Timings:
- 1.5 kamakhya Temple Address:
- 1.6 How to reach Kamakhya Temple:
- 1.7 FAQs:
- 1.8 What is so special about Kamakhya Temple?
- 1.9 What is the main secret of Kamakhya Temple?
- 1.10 Why is Kamakhya Temple closed for three days?
- 1.11 Which part of Sati’s body fell at Kamakhya?
- 1.12 Which animals are sacrificed in Kamakhya Temple?
- 1.13 When should we not visit Kamakhya Temple?
- 1.14 Who built the kamakhya temple?
- 1.15 How many temples are there in Kamakhya?
Legends. According to the Kalika Purana, It denotes where Sati used to retire secretly to satisfy her amour with Shiva. It was also where her yoni (genitals, womb) fell after Shiva tandav (dance of destruction) with the corpse of Sati.
History of kamakhya Temple:
The Temple is one of our country’s ancient temples with a long and well-known history. This Temple was built during the Mleccha dynasty in the 8th and 9th centuries. It was destroyed during Hussein Sha’s invasion of the Kamata kingdom.
The ruins remained undetected until the 1500s, when the founder of the Koch Dynasty, Vishwasingha, returned the Temple as a worship site. It was again built in 1565 during the reign of his son.
Structure of The Kamakhya Temple:
Shikhara and Garbhagriha of Temple:
The Garbhgriha, or main sanctum, rests on a base with several sunken panels embellished with the sculptures of Ganesha and other Hindu deities.
Calanta:
The first to the west is the calanta, a square chamber of type atchala. The entrance to the Temple is generally via its northern door, which is of Ahom-type dochala.
Pancha Ratna:
The Pancha Ratna to the west of Calanta is large and rectangular, with five smaller shikhara and a flat roof of the same style as the main shikhara.
Natamandir:
Towards the Pancharatna west side is the last structure of Nata mandir. It has a ridged roof and an apsidal end of the Ranghar type Ahom style.
Festivals At Temple:
- Ambubachi Mela
- Manasha Puja
- Durga Puja
- Navaratri
- Lakshmi Puja
- Kali Puja
- Saraswati Puja
- Teej
- Shakti Peetha
- kumari puja
| April | Sri Sri Manasha Devi Puthi Opening Ceremony, Chaitra Sangkarnti, Bohag Bihu and Halkhata (Assamese new year’s day) |
| May | Puja of Sri Sri Grammya Devata |
| June | Satha Brata, Ambubachi Mela |
| July | Daksinayan Sangkranti and Puja of Sri Sri Dakshina Kali Devi |
| August | Sri Sri Manasha Devi Puja and Debaddhani Festival, Lalita Saptami and Puja of Sri Sri Latitakanta Devi, Puja of Sri Sri Joyadurga Devi |
| August/September | Janam Astami (Birth day of Lord Krishna), Pitri Tarpan |
| September | Sri Sri Manasha Devi Puthi Closing Ceremony, Sri Sri Biswakarma Puja |
| September/October | Nabamyadi Kalparambha, Sharadiya Sri Sri Durga Puja from Krishna Navami to Shukla Navami |
| October | Sri Sri Lakshmi Devi Puja |
| November | Sri Sri Kartik Puja |
| November/December | Dhannya Sedan, Navanna |
| December/January | Puhan Biya (Marriage Day of Devi Kamakhya) |
| January | Pousha Sangkarnti (Makara Sangkranti), Sri Sri Ratanti Kali Puja |
| January/February | Sri Sri Ganesh Puja, Sri Sri Saraswati Puja |
| February/March | Maha Shiva Ratri, Gopal Doul (Holi Utsav) |
| March/April | Shiva Doul, Durga Doul, Sri Sri Basanti Puja, Sri Sri Raj-Rajaswari Puja (from Chaitra Amavashya to Purnima) |
Temple Entry Fee:
- General public – Free
- For defence, police and paramilitary forces – INR 10
- Special Entry – INR 101
- Direct Entry – INR 501
kamakhya Temple Timings:
Here are the Temple Timings:
| Day | Timings |
| Monday | 8 am to 1 pm; 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 8 am to 1 pm; 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 8 am to 1 pm; 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm |
| Thursday | 8 am to 1 pm; 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm |
| Friday | 8 am to 1 pm; 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am to 1 pm; 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm |
| Sunday | 8 am to 1 pm; 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm |
- Morning 5:30 am – Snana of the Pithasthana
- 6:00 am – Daily Nitya puja
- 8:00 am – Temple doors open
- 1:00 pm – kamakhya Temple door closed for food offerings to the Goddess.
Tourist places near kamakhya Temple:
Fancy Bazaar:
Fancy Bazaar is a unique bazaar with tiny shops trading silk fabrics, handmade toys, Cane and Bamboo Products, and home decor. This famous Bazaar is next to the Central Railway station in Guwahati. This is near Sukreswar Temple.
Umananda Temple:
It was built on Bhasmachala Hill. And ‘Umananda’ comes from two Hindi words, ‘Uma,’ another name for Lord Shiva’s wife, and ‘Ananda,’ which means happiness.
Sukreswar Temple:
The Sukreswar Temple is a Shiva temple in Assam. The Temple is located on the Itakhuli hill (Sukreswar) on the south bank of river Brahmaputra in Panbazar, Guwahati city. Near the Temple, the compound has a flight of steps to the river.
Tilinga Mandir:
The Tilinga Mandir is a famous Shiva temple in ‘Bordubi town’, i.e. 7 km from Tinsukia District. It is in a tea garden at Bordubi, with bells hanging around the temple complex.
Dedicated to the nine major celestial bodies (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, North Lunar Node and South Lunar Node), Navagraha Temple in Guwahati has nine Shiva Lingas. It is near Kamakhya Temple.
Aswakranta Temple:
Aswa means ‘horse,’ and Klanta means ‘tired’ in the Assamese language. Lord Krishna was searching for Narakasura; his horse felt tired here, where Shri Aswaklanta temple is now.
Mahamaya Temple:
Mahamaya Temple of Bogribari, located about 30 km east of Dubhri town, is one of the most visited temples in that part of Assam. The Temple derives its name from the great Goddess Mahamaya, meaning supreme illusion.
Basistha Mandir:
Basistha temple is located southeast of Guwahati City, Assam State. It is a Lord Shiva mandir. According to legend, the ashram was found by the great saint Basistha.
Doul Govinda temple:
Doul Govinda Mandir is one of the important temples of Kamrup, Assam, India. It is situated on the northern banks, on the foothills of Chandra Bharati hill at Rajaduar, North Guwahati.
Balaji Temple Guwahati:
The Purva Tirupati Balaji temple is a beautiful temple of Guwahati located in the Lokhra area. The Balaji temple replicates the famous Tirupati Venkateshwara temple of Southern India.
Hotels near kamakhya Temple:
- Nilachal Homes
- MB Holiday home
- Radisson Blu Hotel Guwahati
- Gruham Sojourn Homestay
- Hotel A P Home’s – A Boutique Hotel
- FabHotel Red Rose
- Hotel OM Regency Kamakhya by World Choice
- Hotel Rajmahal
- Flagship 23284 Jp Homes
- Namaskar Lodge
- Hotel Sukhmani
kamakhya Temple Address:
Maa Kamakhya Devalaya, Guwahati, Assam, India. Pin-781010
Website: https://www.maakamakhya.org/
How to reach Kamakhya Temple:
By Bus:- ISBT Bus station Guwahati near Temple. ASTC also runs bus services to the Kamakhya Temple from the Kachari bus stop.
By Rail:- Kamakhya Junction railway station is near Temple.
By Air:- Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport
FAQs:
What is so special about Kamakhya Temple?
Counted among the most sacred Shakti peethas (holy shrines where the broken-off body parts of Goddess Sati fell), the Temple is believed to be where the Goddess’s womb fell. Synonymous with supreme female power and fertility.
What is the main secret of Kamakhya Temple?
According to the Kalika Purana, Kamakhya Temple denotes where Sati used to retire secretly to satisfy her amour with Shiva. It was also where her yoni (genitals, womb) fell after Shiva tandav (dance of destruction) with the corpse of Sati.
Why is Kamakhya Temple closed for three days?
The Kamakhya Temple remains closed for three days during the mela, for it is believed that Kamakhya rests for three days like the women’s menstrual cycle. During these three days, the devotees observe some restrictions, like not cooking, not performing puja or reading holy books, and no farming.
Which part of Sati’s body fell at Kamakhya?
Womb. Devotees believe that, In Nilachal hill, Sati’s yoni (womb) fell, And that yoni (womb) took the form of a woman called Goddess Kamakhya.
Which animals are sacrificed in Kamakhya Temple?
As such, only male buffaloes and male goats are sacrificed at Kamakhya.
When should we not visit Kamakhya Temple?
In the month of Ashaad (June), it is believed that the Goddess menstruates. The Brahmaputra river near Kamakhya Temple turns this time, and the Temple remains closed for three days. There is no scientific proof that the blood turns the river red.
Who built the kamakhya temple?
Mlechchha dynasty. It was rebuilt by Koch King Nara Narayan and Ahom kings.
How many temples are there in Kamakhya?
TTemplen Temple is surrounded by temples dedicated to the ten Mahavidyas of Saktism, namely, Tripura Sundari, Kali, Tara, Dhumavati, Bhuvaneshwari, Bhairavi, Chhinnamasta, Bagalamukhi, Matangi and Kamalatmika.