Who or What is Kamakhya?

This one I’m asked more than anything, I’m sure because I post about Kamakhya so much. And it is likely the hardest thing I will ever type though I’m not sure why. When you’re talking to someone in person they can feel your energy as you get emotional about a thing, then they are pulled into the story much more deeply. Typing about a place like this and evoking that same sentiment is not such an easy thing methinks. But let’s see how I can do.

Kamakhya is in a temple in the Northeastern state of Assam, in India. The are used to be officially called Kamaroopa, and is still called that if you’re from there or know the history of Tantra and/or of this place. Kama is desire, or lust, and roopa is the form of something. So this area is the area that desire abodes, and comes from. They believe on the whole planet. and some will tell that the whole universe, which is often referred to as yoniverse by folks from Kamaroopa, was birthed from this area on this little planet.

There are signs in this area stating it is the seat of Tantra, if you look through my Facebook photos you’ll find a pic of this very sign. It is believed this place is where Tantra originates from. And the Tantra there you will not find anywhere else. Even the jyotish (astrology) from there is different than any other place in India. I will also say this, the people there are different than any I’ve met anywhere else in this country formerly known as Bharat. They are open, loving, and very grounded. And if they were raise on the NIlachal Hill, where Kamakhya resides, they are a breed all their own.

So, for the Puranic story around how this place got there: Shiva was married to Sati, how they got married and about their courtship is not the point of this writing so I’ll leave it out, but it is a big and interesting tale. Sati’s father was Daksha, a son of Brahma, who did not really approve of Shiva, who was a God but is known to be very magnanimous in his approach to whom he hung out with. Ghouls, goblins, sadhus, yogis, all disreputable people were equal in his eyes to those thought to be virtuous and Brahminical. Not something everyone agreed with, including Daksha. So when Daksha was planning a big Yagna (homa) celebration he did not invite his daughter because he knew she would insist on bringing her husband who might then in turn invite these so called disreputable beings with him.

She found out of course, as they always do, and was livid. Flew to the Yagna and in her anger self immolated, burst into flames from the inside out. There are also several versions of this, which you can look up if you’re interested.

Shiva because they were so linked immediately knew of her death and flew to her and put out the flame throwing her dead body over his shoulder. Another part of the tale is how he ripped off one dreadlock and it became Virabadhra and killed Daksha, but that again is for another tale. Then he proceeded to do his Tandava of grief, traipsing all around Bharatavarsha with her body in tow. And all this while he was not doing his job of destroying things no longer serving humanity or the Gods, so the Gods went to Vishnu complaining who then began to follow Shiva around slyly and slowly cutting off pieces of Sati’s corpse and each location one part fell became a Shakti peeth. A seat of power and worship of the divine Goddess.

Kamakhya is where her yoni fell, and so the seat of creative power landed there. Now, in their own tales they tell the root of all things is desire, even for moksha, and so desire is the biggest form of Shakti available so at one time it declared itself as living there, on that hill some 10,000 or more years back and since then has been worshipped in the form of the yoni there. There are several tales about how the temple was built and torn down by invading cultures. Even how they lost the original yoni and the yoni that is now within the Chinnamasta temple there on the hill was worshipped as the original Kamakhya, and so that temple is the second strongest in energy. Which is borne by my own experiences there. So she is Swayambhu, self declared and therefore Prana pratishta was not performed invited the deity to bring her energy to this spot, and that is why it is the most powerful place I’ve ever felt before.

Part of the temple that is currently there is about 750 years old, the newest part, and the stone part which I will include a photo of is about 2200 years old. People go there and never go inside, or maybe go once a year inside. Because you can sit outside and feel the energy and do your sadhana with great benefits. It’s quite the place and really needs to be experienced to understand this fact fully.

Whenever I go I stay on the hill at the hotel overlooking the temple itself, and just live in the energy of the place for the full time I’m there. Leaving with a fullness of spirit and a completeness that I cannot explain fully, and that slowly wears off with time. So I try to go back each year.

When you go inside the temple there is a very long line for the general free admission. But you can purchase a 501 rupee ticket for a sort of short cut that is no longer a short cut really, though is still shorter than the other line. Once you finally get into the garbha grha and bend down to touch the yoni they will have you partake of the water that is flowing freely over it. A natural spring from underground, which flows over all of the other yonis in the Ten Mahavidyas temples as well, as if by magic. You drink it, then you put it on your head while the priest puts sindoor made from the earth in the hill all over your forehead. You look as if you’ve been shot by gun point blank in your forehead, but you feel like you’ve never felt before as you finally get up from kneeling to touch the water and move over to the Matangi and Kamala yonis which are in the same room. But once outside you will want to sit and be in the bliss you’re feeling. Though you may be thirsty or hungry too, and full of energy.

As I say and have said, it is quite a place. Not one to be taken lightly and I’ll write more about her in the future….