Page 53 - English Tehelka Issue 12 - June 30, 2018

assam

during the festival. goddesses appealed Lord Bishnu Lord Bishnu.
Kamakhya temple, which is rec- to pave way for bringing an end to Kalika Purana, an ancient work in
• Identity at stake The agitation is being ognised as one of sacred 108 Shakti Maheshwar’s dance of destruction. The Sanskrit describes Devi Kamakhya as
led by All Assam Students Union and sup- Peeths of Mother Goddess Durga was caretaker of the universe chopped-off the deity to fulfil the desires of devotees
ported by at least 28 other organisations built by Kamdev (God of Lust) with the the corpse of Sati with his Sudarshan and gives salvation. The temple does
help of God Vishwakarma. According Chakra to bring back Shiva to san - not contain any image or statue of Kam-
to the Hindu mythology, the demon ity. Her lifeless body was made into akhya. There is only a sculptured image
king Narakasura constructed a stiff- 51 pieces, which fell in different parts of the Yoni of the Goddess in a cave in-
stone path (known as Mekhela Ujowa of Bharatbarsha and each location side the main temple. A natural spring
Poth) connecting the temple from the later emerged as a holy place (Shakti believes to keep the stone always moist.
foothills with an aim to marry Devi Peeth). The Yoni of Sati fell on the spot The devotees with all purity touch
Kamakhya. at Nilachal hills, where the Kamakhya the silk cloth draped stone and offer
The Muslim convert Kalapahar, the temple was erected. Bilwa Patra and flowers on it. Besides
king of Coach Behar in western Assam Many other legends relating to Devi Ambubachi, many other religious fes-
destroyed the temple in 1553 AD. Ma- Bhagawati still spread in the society. In tivals are organized in the sacrosanct
haraja Biswa Singh later repaired it in such a legend, it is said that once Devi temple premises annually that include
the seventeenth century. The king Nar appeared before Narakasur, the demon Durga Puja, Basanti Puja, Manasa Puja,
Narayan, who ascended to the throne king of Pragjyotispur. The powerful Shivaratri Mahotsav etc. Visitors (read
of Coach Behar after his father Biswa king got attracted to the unusual beauty Hindus) are allowed to have Darshan
Singh’s demise, constructed the upper and worship Maa Kamakhya in the
portion of the temple with the help of daytime.
his brother Mahabir Chilarai. The pre-
Though there is no visible notice or
When mother Earth sent form of the main temple and its Sacrifices are done announcement that the temple is open
surrounding was shaped during the
only for Hindus, the Pandas (assistants
every morning in
time of Nar Narayan, one of the greatest
to priests) keep preaching about it. The
menstruates in Assam kings of ancient Assam. the temple before temple has over 150 recognised priests,
As the legend goes, Sati (Kamakhya
whereas more than 500 Pandas stay
the Puja starts.
on the campus to help the devotees
or Parvati) was one of the incarnations
of Goddess Shakti and she sacrificed
main temple named Soubhagya Kunda
her life protesting the behaviour of her The sacrifice by in various rituals. A pond nearby the
father Dakshya Nripati. The wife of Ma- the devotees can (fortune pond) is believed to be built by
June is that time of the month when Goddess Kamakhya menstruates for three days, heswar (one of the holy Hindu Trinities be of anything Devaraj Indra. Religious rites are per-
a profound belief that still exists in Assam. Popularly known as Ambubachi Mela, this mega after Lord Brahma and Lord Bishnu), like pigeon, goat, formed in western bank of the pond.
Sati took her life at a Yagna, a sacrificial
Devotees believe that going round the
religious carnival attracts millions of tourists and pilgrims every year from worldwide rite organized by her father Dakshya. buffalo ,etc. pond is a holy exercise. There is another
looking for spiritual gain, writes nava thakuria The son of Brahma, Dakshya was not pond named Bhairab Kunda in the tem-
happy with his son-in-law (Shiva or ple premises, which is famous for few
Mahadev or Maheswar, the destroyer giant turtles.
or millions of tourists, not to organised annually in the picturesque menstruation and it is reflected in Devi of the universe). Shiva was even not in- of Devi Kamakhya and fell in love with Sacrifices are done every morning
speak of pilgrims, who visit temple is the Ambubachi Mela (also Kamakhya’s genital organ (Yoni). No vited for the ceremony. the deity. Even the proud king proposed in the temple before the Puja starts.
Guwahati in northeast India, known as Amoti and Ambabati) that religious performances are organised Sati arrived at Yagna Bhumi, but she to marry her. Devi put a condition to the The sacrifice by the devotees can be
Kamrup remains synony - attracts hundred thousand Hindu in this period. The farmers across the was also not welcomed by Dakshya. He king that she might agree to his pro- of anything like pigeon, goat, buffalo
F mous to Goddess Kamakhya pilgrims from various parts of the globe. Hindu world avoid cultivating works also made some unpleasant comments posal if the king can construct a stone ,etc. However, nowadays they prefer
or Kameshwari (Goddess of Desire). So like previous occasions, this year’s during the period so that Mother Earth on Shiva. Annoyed Sati sacrificed her path from the foothills to the temple in to set free the animals taken for sacri-
And, most of them pay a sacred visit Ambubachi festival (22 June to 25 June can get an undisturbed ambience. life at the location of Yagna. Listening a single night. fices. The large flocks of pigeons, even
to the pre-historic Kamakhya temple 2018) also emerges as a major chal - On the fourth day, the temple door to the death of Sati, Shiva got angry and Confident Narakasura agreed to the the goats, in the temple campus have
nestled atop Nilachal hills in the heart lenge for the administration and a rare is reopened after Devi’s ritual-bathing appeared at Yagna Bhumi. After pro- condition and he started the work at grown up together.
of the city on the southern bank of the opportunity for the Guwahatians and devotees throng in for Darshan and nouncing punishment to Dakshya, fu- dusk. The demon king had almost com- Marriages with Hindu rituals are
mighty Brahmaputra. Now, a small to showcase their hospitability to worshipping Maa Kamakhya. Devotees rious Shiva started Tandav Nritya (the pleted the stone path. also arranged in the temple regularly
district covering the city of Guwahati the visitors. expect a small piece of Rakta Bastra dance of demolition) with the corpse Witnessing the rapid work, worried with necessary precautions.
with its fringe areas, Kamrup was oth- During the revered festival, the tem- (red silk cloth, which Devi uses during of his beloved wife Sati on his shoulder. Kamakhya ordered an elusive-cock to
erwise a gigantic empire covering all ple’s primary door gets closed for the the period) and regard the Anga Bas- The Tandav Nritya continued for sev- start crowing that symbolizes the dawn. The author is a Guwahati based political
eastern Indian provinces in the days of first three days. The religious belief nar- tra as very precious. One can witness a eral days and the universe was on the Smelling conspiracy, the king chased commentator
Mahabharat. rates that during the period the Mother sea of humans with a large number of brink of being destroyed. the cock and finally killed it. Later, the
One of the major religious festivals Earth experiences the annual cycle of Hindu saints in the temple premises Apprehending it, all the gods and Devi killed Narakasura with the help of letters@tehelka.com

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