Relationships that prevail between time and creation – Kamakhya

Mention in Mythology:

According to Hindu mythology, Kamdev established the Kamakhya temple[1]. Relationships that prevail between time and creation are that time destroys everything. So, the temple too was destroyed in course of time. There is a mythological story. That explains the relationships that existed between the decaying of the temple and Maha Muni Bashisto Dev.

Rare Video of Anjali of Kamakhya Devi

It is written in the Kalika Puran[2] that Maha Muni Bashisto Dev used to stay at Sandhyachal Hills. The land of Kamrup was ruled by Narakashur at that time. One day, Bashisto Dev came to the Kamakhya temple to see Devi Kamakhya. The relationships that existed between them were not good. Narakashur prevented him to see Devi Kamakhya for some reason.

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Bashisto Dev got angry with Narakashur, and he cursed Narakashur that so long he will be alive, Devi Kamakhya will be invisible. So, Devi went invisible then. The temple remained empty. Forest engulfed the place after some time.

The History:

In the eighth century, Shankaracharya[3], as a part of his promotional outreach for Hinduism[4], came here and rebuild the temple after cleaning up the forest. He re-established the Maha Pith. Though the temple was constructed, Devi Kamakhya did not become popular among common Hindus. Relationships that developed between people and the temple were not enough intimate.

In the year 1150, King Dharmapala of the Pala dynasty was ruling the west of Guwahati. He arranged the puja of Devi Kamakhya and for that, he appointed a few Brahmins and brought them from Kanyakubja. But puja was stopped after some time again. The temple was destroyed again after some passage of time.

King of Coachbehar Biswa Singha [5], invaded Kamrup to fight against King of Ahom. That was 1490. Once he along with his brother Shib Singha went on a night war expedition. He had their troop with him. But somehow, he and his brother lost touch with their troop. He lost his way and was trying to return on foot. At that time, he found himself in Kamakhya Hill.

The two brothers were thirsty, hungry, and tired. They were walking and looking for water. Suddenly, they saw a stream of bright light under a banyan tree. They found an old lady worshipping a piece of stone. Though they did not understand the accord between the stone and the old lady, they were delighted. That old lady helped them to a spring to drink water. Asked them to take a rest under the banyan tree.

Biswa Singha asked the old lady, whom she was worshiping in the stone. The old lady told that the tribes of these hills had a tie with the stone and worship the stone as Devi and believe that all their hardship can be overcome easily by the grace of Devi. The tribes sacrifice their domestic animals to the Devi and wish for anything they need. They were satisfied that they got everything they wish for.

King Biswa Singha overwhelmed. He believed what the old lady said. He prayed to the Devi and wished for a trouble-free kingdom and also wished to meet his lost troop. Biswa Singha promised to the Devi to build a golden temple and an arrangement of daily worshipping subject to fulfillment of his wishes.

He threw his ring in the stream and thought if he would get his ring back in the Ganga River at Kashi, he would doubtlessly believe the greatness of the Devi.

Biswa Singha surprisingly found his troop the next morning. His kingdom became thornless now. He became busy with the administrative work of his kingdom and forgot his promise of building the temple at Kamakhya Hill.

A few years later, he went to Kashi and astonishingly found his ring in the Ganga. He now remembered his promise. Back home, he told his whole story to the pandits. They researched Puranas and other books and concluded that the piece of stone was nothing but the vagina of Devi Kamakhya. They concluded that it was from Sati’s body, one part of fifty-one pieces. So, Kamakhya was a Maha Pith out of fifty-one Piths. Relationships that were established by the Pandits were of Sati Pith and Kamakhya.

King Biswa Singha went back to Nilachal Hill[6]. He brought with him a large number of construction workers. They cleaned the forests and excavate the old temple and idol. The king constructed a new beautiful temple on the old foundation. He used some gold pieces in the construction. Daily worshipping of Devi Kamskhya arranged.

King Biswa Singha ruled successfully his kingdom for forty-nine years, from 1485 to 1534. His son Naranarayan became the ruler after the death of Biswa Singha. Naranarayan appointed his brother Shukladhwbja as Commander-in-chief. Shukladhwbja was later known as Chilaray[7].

In the year 1538, Samrat Sher Shah defeated Mehood Shah in war and became the ruler of Gour. King Naranarayan took the opportunity and attacked Ahom’s kingdom. One big enemy of his father was the king of Ahom, Khora.

Destruction By Kalapahar:

Kalapahar, the Pathan warrior, attacked Kamrup in the year 1553. He was on a spree to destroy Hindu temples. He damaged the tomb of the Kamakhya temple, its stone pillars, and even the idol inside the temple.

King Naranarayan was busy fighting with Ahom King. So, he could not do anything against Kalapahar. After the end of the fighting with Ahom King, King Naranarayan was ready to retaliate against Kalapahar’s atrocities. Before he attacks Gour, he went to Kamakhaya. In the temple which was made by his father, extensive damage was caused by Kalapahar. That hurt him. He prayed to the Goddess for his win in the war with Nawab Soleman of Gour. He promised to the Devi to rebuild the damaged construction of the temple after the win.

Chilaray fought a fierce battle with Nawab. He was defeated and imprisoned. One night he saw Devi Kamakhya in his dream and Devi told him about their negligence in rebuilding the temple. They did not give priority to rebuilding instead they engaged in fighting. They got their punishment.

fell into the feet of Ma Kamakhya and requested to pardon them. Devi was pleased with Chilaray’s devotion and gave blessing. Surprisingly, after some turn of events, Nawab became a friend of Chilaray. He was freed by the Nawab. Chilaray came back to his land with his head high. He explained everything to his brother Naranarayan.

Now, the two brothers started the reconstruction of the temple fast. From 1555 to 1565, it took ten years to complete the rebuilding of the temple.

Stone sculptures of Naranarayan and Chilaroy were built in the temple complex.

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The Temple:

The garvagriha is down from the ground level. Stone steps going down the ground. There is no regular idol. A vaginal-shaped stone block worshipped instead of any idol. Water is sipping out constantly from a crack on the stone and deposited in a tank. Devotees use this sacred water as charanmrita. The place has no electric light and has a very narrow space. A small cremation ground is there inside the temple complex. Devi worshipped here following tantra shastra. Kamakhya temple is a Sati Pith, a Shakti Pith.
It written in the Kalika Puran (sixty-fifth Section), that a person gets blessings worshipping Devi Kamakhyay more than what he could achieve gifting a crore cow.

According to Panjika, from 6/7 of Ashar month to 10/11 of Ashar month (Bengali calendar) comes Ambubachi. It says that the period of the earth happens at this time of the year and the Kamakhya temple remains closed for three days. Rumor is that the color of seeped water from the stoned idol becomes red. Many practicing Tantric flocks here at this period from all over the country.