Kamakhya Devi Temple in Assam: Timings, History & How to Reach

Kamakhya Devi Temple in Assam is dedicated to Goddess Shakti. It is a famous shrine found in the heart of Nilachala Hill, situated in the western part of Guwahati, the Capital City of the state of Assam in North East India. It is the centrepiece of the widely practised, powerful Tantrik Shaktism cult in India.

People come to visit Kamakhya Devi Temple in Assam from far and wide to receive the blessings of the Mother. As per beliefs, the part of the vagina of the Maa Sati fell here.

This temple is located at a distance of about 8 kilometres from Guwahati in Assam. Each year a magnificent Ambubachi fair is organized here. Many devotees, saints, and tantriks come from far and wide to attend this fair.

During this time, the water of the nearby Brahmaputra river turns red for three days. It is said that this red colour of the water is due to Kamakhya Devi’s menstruation. After three days, a crowd of devotees flocks to the temple for darshan.

The Ambubachi fair is held here every year in the month of Ashadh. In this article, we learn more about the importance, history, and mythological stories of Kamakhya Devi Temple.

What is Kamakhya Devi Temple in Assam?

Kamakhya Devi temple is located just 13 kilometres away from Dispur, the capital of Assam state. It is located on the Kamagiri mountain (Neechalach mountain) located in Guwahati city of Kamrup district of Assam.

Kamakhya Devi Temple is one of the 52 Shaktipeeths. It is believed that the vagina part of Goddess Sati fell here. Therefore, the vagina form of the mother is worshipped here. This Shaktipeeth is considered to be a major place of Tantra Sadhana.

Maa Kamakhya, or Kameswari, is the renowned Goddess of Desire. Maa Kamakhya Devalaya is considered the most sacred and oldest of the 52 Shakti Peethas on earth.

Along with the main temple of Devi Kamakhya, there are temples of the Dasamahavidya (ten incarnations of the deity) namely Kamakhya (i.e. Tripura Sundari, along with Matangi and Kamala), Tara, Kali, Bagalamukhi, Bhuvaneshvari, Bhairavi, Dhumavati, Chinnamasta, and five temples of Lord Shiva namely Siddheswara, Kameswara, Amratokeswara, Kedareswara, Aghora and Kautilinga around the Nilachala Hill which is also named as Complex of Kamakhya Temple.

Kamakhya Devi Temple in Assam: Timings

Morning Activities

• 5:30 AM – Back bath.
• 6:00 AM – Daily puja.
• 8:00 AM – Temple door opens for devotees to have darshan.

Evening Activities

• 1:00 PM – The temple door is closed to prepare the Prasad of the Goddess.
• 2:30 PM – The temple door is reopened for devotees, and Prasad is distributed.
• 5:15 pm – Temple doors are closed for the night.
• 7:30 pm – Aarti of Goddess Kamakhya is performed.

Special Activities

• 5:30 AM – Back bath
• 6:00 AM – Nitya Puja and Sharadiya Durga Puja.
• 9:00 AM – Temple doors are opened for devotees.
• 1:00 PM – The temple door is closed to prepare the goddess’ Prasad. After sunset, the temple door is closed.
• 7:30 pm – Aarti of Goddess Kamakhya.

Kamakhya Devi Temple in Assam: History

The Kamakhya Temple is one of the oldest temples in India and naturally, has centuries of history attached to it. It is believed to have been built between the eighth and ninth centuries, or rather during the Mleccha dynasty.

When Hussein Shah invaded the Kamakhya kingdom, he demolished the Kamakhya temple, leaving nothing to be found, and the temple fell into ruins. This remained so until it was rediscovered in the 1500s, when Vishwasingh, the founder of the Koch dynasty, revived the temple as a place of worship.

After this, when his son took over the throne, he rebuilt this temple in 1565. Since then, this temple is the same as it appears today. The history of this temple is still hidden behind its walls.

Pilgrims from different parts of the country come here for darshan. Thousands of people come here every year to see the goddess. Kamakhya temple is the biggest attraction for any tourist coming to Guwahati.

Mythological Stories about Kamakhya Devi Temple

Kamakhya Devi Temple in Assam is one of the 52 Shakti Peethas of the Goddess Shakti and is situated on Nilachal Mountain in Assam. This Shakti Peeth is considered the best for Tantric practices. Let us know the Mythological stories about Kamakhya Devi Temple.

Establishment of the Temple

As per the mythology, when Goddess Sati sacrificed her life in the Yagya, Lord Shiva wandered the entire world with the burnt body of Mata Sati, due to which his rage kept rising.

Then to control the trouble, Shri Hari (Lord Vishnu) started cutting the body parts of Mata Sati with his Sudarshan Chakra, and 52 Shaktipeeths were established at the 52 locations on earth where the body parts of Devi Sati fell.

It is believed that the vagina of the mother fell on Nilanchal mountain, due to which Kamakhya Devi Shaktipeeth was established here. It is believed that the vagina of the mother fell and transformed into an idol, which is still present in the temple and due to which the idol of the mother menstruates even today.

The Idol of the Goddess Menstruates

Every year when the Goddess menstruates, the Ambubachi fair is organized here. During those days, the doors of the Goddess Bhagwati temple automatically close, this goes on for three days. During those three days, no auspicious work is done in Guwahati, nor does any temple open.

After this, on the fourth day, the idol of Kamakhya Devi is bathed, Vedic rituals are performed, etc., and the temple is reopened for people to visit. This temple is unique in itself. Such a miracle and a method of worship is not seen anywhere else in the world.

Unique Prasad

A unique Prasad is given to the devotees during the Ambubachi fair, which is a red-coloured wet cloth. It is said that before the goddess menstruates, a dry white cloth is spread around the idol of Mata Kamakhya, but after three days when the doors are opened, this cloth becomes blood red due to the goddess’s menstrual blood and this divine prasad cloth is called Ambubachi cloth. It is believed that one can easily attain Siddhi by wearing this cloth and worshipping Shakti.

The River Brahmaputra also turns Red

Every year during this fair, the water of the nearby Brahmaputra river also turns red, which symbolizes the menstruation of Kamakhya Devi. Bathing in this river is also considered taboo during these days.

Unknown Facts about Kamakhya Devi Temple

1. You will not see any picture of the Goddess in this temple. Rather, there is a pond here, which is covered with flowers, from where water always flows. It is believed that the vagina of the Goddess is worshipped in this temple. And due to being a vagina, the Goddess also menstruates here.

2. According to the Puranas, it is believed that to break Lord Shiva’s attachment towards Sati, Lord Vishnu broke Sati into 52 pieces with his Chakra. After which, wherever these pieces fell, a Shakti Peeth was formed there.

3. This place holds a lot of importance for tantriks or those who practice black magic. Apart from this, people come here from far away places to fulfil many wishes related to their lives.

4. The Ambubachi fair is held here, during which the water of Brahmaputra turns red for three days. It is believed that this happens due to Kamakhya Devi’s menstruation. It is believed that the goddess menstruates for three days, during which the temple of the goddess remains closed. After three days, the temple of the goddess is opened again with great pomp and show, and a crowd of devotees gathers.

5. A very unique prasad is given here. A white cloth is kept in the court of the mother for three days due to menstruation. After three days, when the court opens, the cloth is soaked in red colour due to menstrual blood, which is given to the devotees as prasad.

How to reach Kamakhya Devi Temple in Assam

Kamakhya Devi temple in Assam is located just 13 kilometres away from Dispur, the capital of the state. This Shaktipeeth is considered to be a major place of Tantra Sadhana. Every year more than lakhs of Pilgrims come here for darshan.

There are many ways to reach Kamakhya temple, including by air, train, and road.

By Air Transport

The nearest popular Gopinath Bardoloi Airport (Guwahati International Airport) to Kamakhya temple is. The distance of the temple from the airport is just 20 kilometres. Regular flights are available for this airport from New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. You can come here and go to the temple by taxi, auto or bus.

By Train

Kamakhya City has its junction. Its name is Kamakhya Junction Railway Station. However, Guwahati Railway Station is the best for connectivity to all corners of the country. After reaching Guwahati Railway Station, one can travel to the temple or your decided hotel by taking an auto/bus.

By Road

There is a distance of 8 km between Guwahati Railway Station and Kamakhya Temple. Exit the railway station and cross the foot over the bridge. Like other goddess temples, Kamakhya Devi Temple is also situated on a hill.

The name of this hill is Nilachal Parvat. Stairs start from the bottom of this hill, where you can start the journey to the temple. There is also a provision of porters for older people.

Precautions to take when visiting Kamakhya Devi Temple

Some special precautions should be taken during Ambuvachi in Kamakhya temple.

• One should not bathe in the river at the time of Ambuvachi Mela. 
• One should not dig the ground or soil and neither should any seeds be sown. 
• Conch and bell are not played here during these days.
• Devotees abstain from eating food and fruits and vegetables grown under the ground. 
• It is very important to follow celibacy. 
• One should chant the mantras of one’s Ishtadev as much as possible.

Conclusion

It is said that the places where the body parts of Mata Sati fell are called Shaktipeeth. There are many such Shaktipeeths in India, where Mata Sati is worshipped. One of these Shaktipeeths is Kamakhya Devi Temple in Assam, whose famous shrine is located in the heart of Nilachala Hill, situated in the western part of Guwahati.

It is the centrepiece of the widely practised, powerful Tantrik Shaktism cult in India. This temple is built in the shape of a boat, which is divided into three chambers. Many people seeking liberation from the bondage of birth and death have received the blessings of the Goddess Mother in this ancient temple.

If someone has been subjected to black magic, he can come here and get rid of this problem. The Tantrik and Sadhu of Kamakhya are experts in performing miracles.
Many people go on pilgrimage to Kamakhya to fulfil their wishes of marriage, children, wealth, and other desires. It is said that the tantriks here are also capable of driving away evil forces.