05/04/2023
Kamakhya Devi Temple; Brahmaputra River turns Red for three days
This is something really unusual that every year during the month of June the river water turns red. It is believed that it is the time, Devi Kamakhya menstruates. During this time Devi temple remains closed for 3 days.
Then on the fourth day when the door got opened for the Devi Darshan, a huge celebration is performed. Also, the holy water is circulated among the devotees of Kamakhya Devi. It is also said that visiting the temple at this time and having that holy water is really auspicious.
However, there is no actual scientific proof behind this but this is something really interesting to know why once in a year it turns red. It is actually the miracle of Devi. As per some people, the priests pour scarlet pigment into the waters that make it red. But as we know that menstruation is the sign of a woman’s originality and supremacy to give birth. So, the holy being and temple of Kamakhya rejoice this power or ‘shakti’ inside every woman.
Other scientific reasons behind turning red; Some people say that there is some red algae growth that took place in the June month due to which the color of the river turns to red. Some people even say that chemical reactions in between the minerals occur. This liberates red chemicals which makes it red. There are some people who gave two important reasons to it;
The first reason is that the soil of that area is rich in iron content naturally. This already gives the water a blood red like color. The second’s reasons say that the shrine of Kamakhya is situated in the mountain. The mountains which have large deposits of Cinnabar.The chemical name of Cinnabar is mercury sulfide (HgS) and it has a blood red color which gives it a red color. Some say the iron-rich soil of the riverbank turns red in the monsoon and flows into the water.
Moreover, in the Kamakhya temple rock pieces are usually sold in the name of Kamakhya or Kamiya Sindoor. It is often said that this red color sindoor has the immense ability to control the mind power. So it is also called as the Vashikaran sindoor. This sindoor is utilized for making spiritual items. The items that protect us from your enemy, evil souls. It is also used to for resolving the problems of black magic.
In consequence, this mineral cinnabar is thus closely linked with Shakti worship. Other than Kamakhya temple there is one more temple which is situated in the areas where there are large cinnabar deposits. This is Hinglaj at Pakistan. It is named for Hingula, the Sanskrit word for cinnabar.
कामाख्ये वरदे देवी नीलपर्वत वासिनि l
त्वं देवि जगतः माता योनिमुद्रे नमोस्तुते॥
Bhagavati, the feminine aspect of Divine has expressed Herself as the Mother of the entire creation and She has been described by Sastras as Visvayoniḥ (The womb that sustains and from which emerges the multiverse), Viyatprasu (She who gives birth to the Akasa) and Jagajjanani Jagdamba (the Mother of the worlds). Innumerable devotees have expressed their devotion and Love for Mother and have received Her grace and affection in return.
Ambubachi Mela, also known as Ambubasi festival, is held annually during monsoon in the Kamakhya Devi Temple at Guwahati. The Great, Unique and Surreal Ambubachi Festival at Nilacala, the shrine of Mata Kamakhya, also known as Yoni Piṭham, is one of the most auspicious occasion for Saktas, especially those who follow the path of Ta**ra, which goes on for 3 days. The Ambubachi festival is related to the Ta***ic cult and is also known as Kamkhya Devi Puja.
It is believed that Goddess Kamakhya goes through her menstrual cycle during these days and therefore the temple remains closed for three days. Lakhs of devotees gather there to celebrate this glorious Mela festival, whose grandeur is unparalleled!
कांता कामस्वरूपा च कामाख्या कुल पालिनी
कुलीना कुलवत्यंबा दुर्गा दुर्गति नाशिनी!
कामदा कामिनी काम्या कमनीय स्वभावनी
कस्तूरी रस नीलांगी कुंजरेश्वरगामिनी ||
The Ambubachi Mela is the most important mela celebrated in the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam in India. This yearly mela is celebrated during the monsoon season that happens to fall during the Assamese month Ahaar (or Ashaar Krishna Paksha Ashtami by Indian Panchang) when the Brahmaputra River is in spate. It is the celebration of the yearly menstruation course of goddess Kamakhya.
It is believed that the presiding Goddess of the temple, Devi Kamakhya, the Mother Shakti, goes through her annual cycle of menstruation during this time stretch so a bolt of white pure cotton cloth is placed in the yoni and the temple sealed. When it is reopened the cloth is found to be soaked with a dark red substance, this is a very sought after Prasad for devotees as it has miraculous properties very small pieces or even threads are distributed as Prasad and is eagerly sought.
It is also believed that during the monsoon rains the creative and nurturing power of the 'me**es' of Mother Earth becomes accessible to devotees at this site during the mela. There is no idol of the presiding deity but she is worshipped in the form of a yoni-like stone instead over which a natural spring flows. The temple remains closed for three days during the mela for it is believed that mother earth becomes unclean for three days like the traditional women's menstrual seclusion. During these three days, some restrictions are observed by the devotees like not cooking, not performing puja or reading holy books, no farming etc.
त्रीम त्रीम हूं हूं स्त्रीम स्त्रीम कामाख्यै प्रसीद स्त्रीम स्त्रीम हूं हूं त्रीम त्रीम त्रीम स्वाहा...
After three days Devi Kamakhya is bathed and other rituals are performed to ensure that the Devi retrieves her purity. Then the doors of the temple are reopened and Prasad is distributed On the fourth day the devotees are allowed to enter the temple and worship devi Kamakhya. This mela is also known as Ameti or Ta***ic fertility festival since it is closely associated with Ta***ic Shakti cult prevalent in eastern parts of India it is supposed to be most potent and Siddhi Dayak period for Ta**ra Sadhana. Even some Ta***ic Babas make their public appearances only during these four days.
The rest of the year, they remain in seclusion. Some Babas are seen displaying their psychic powers like putting their heads in a pit and stand upright on it, standing on one leg for hours at a stretch. The Prasad is distributed in two forms – Angodak and Angabastra. Angodak literally means the fluid part of the body - water from the spring and Angabastra literally means the cloth covering the body - a piece of the red cloth used to cover the stone yoni during the days of menstruation.
The Kamakhya temple is realized as the symbol of woman’s power and natural functioning. The process of menstruation which is most private topic and kind of taboo in the society is differently shown here in this temple. Here this natural phenomenon of every woman is perceived with a huge respect by worshippers and followers of the Goddess. We should not forget the fact that, it is the symbol of ‘Shakti’ women strength and supremacy of giving birth that every woman across this universe possessed.
Every year lakhs of pilgrims, starting from Sadhus to householders, from all over India, come to Guwahati to observe this festival. They include Sanyasins, black-clad Aghoras, the Khade-babas, the Baul or singing minstrels of West Bengal, intellectual and folk Tantriks, Sadhus and Sadhvis with long matted hair etc. Even foreigners from abroad come to seek blessings of Mother Kamakhya.
Do visit the Vairabhi temple, Bagalmukhi temple and Bhubaneshwari temple. The view is great from Bhubaneshwari temple. Chinnamasta temple, Kali temple and Tara temple are nearby main complex and are hard to miss. Also it is said that Kamakhya darshan is incomplete without the blessing of Umananda. It is the temple on an island in Brahmaputra. You can get ferries from Xhukleshwar Ghat near Pan Bazaar.
By DrAnadiSahoo
**ra ***ic **ralife **rameditation #गुवाहाटी #कामाख्यl #मंदिर #भगवान
