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Kamakhya

© Harsh Nevatia

After Sati immolated herself in the fire of the sacrifice her father, Daksha, was undertaking, Shiva, her husband, destroyed the sacrifice and carrying Sati's lifeless body on his shoulder began the Rudra Tandava or dance of destruction. In order to prevent Shiva from destroying the world Vishnu let loose his Sudarshan Chakra or Divine Disc and cut up Sati's body. Parts of Sati's body fell at several places throughout India, and Shakti, the divine female creative force, is worshipped at these places.

The reproductive organ of Sati, (the yoni) fell on Neelanchala Parvat (Blue Mountain) near the city of Guwahati in Assam. Shakti is worshipped here as Kamakhya or the granter of desires. The temple of Kamakhya is unique when compared with the Shakti temples in other parts of India, for it enshrines no image of the goddess. In a corner of a cave within the temple stands a block of stone on which the symbol of a yoni is printed. This is kept moist from the oozing of a natural spring within the cave. The devotees touch it and offerings of the flowers and leaves are made on it.

There are several legends associated with the building of the temple and its environs. In the primeval times Brahma after having created the universe arrogated to himself the supreme creative force. The goddess noticed this arrogance of Brahma and created out of her own body a demon named Kesi, who rushed towards Brahma to swallow him up. Brahma fled in terror and took refuge in Vishnu. The demon then built a city called Kesipura and began to harass the three worlds. Brahma cast aside his vanity and in the presence of Vishnu offered a hymn of propitiation to the goddess. The goddess was satisfied and burnt up the demon to ashes. As a sign of atonement Brahma was to create a mountain out of the ashes of Kesi, the burnt demon. As a symbol of her creative force the goddess placed her yoni on the mountain of ashes. Brahma then brought luminous light from the sky and placed it on the yoni signifying that creation was to be the joint responsibility of the male and the female.

Kama, the demi-God of love, was sent to put an end to Shiva's mourning after the death of his consort, Sati. At this Shiva grew furious and opened his third eye reducing Kama to ashes. Rati, Kama's wife, prayed to Shiva to restore her husband. On his being pacified, Shiva brought Kama back to life but shorn of his entire original grace and beauty. Shiva, however, agreed to restore him to his former self if they erected a temple on the yoni of Sati at Neelanchala. The first temple at this site was constructed by the demi-Gods themselves with the help of their architect, Viswakarma. This being done, Kama was restored to his original state.

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