Location : Kamakhya Temple, Nilachal Hill, Guwahati, State: Assam, India
Devoted To : Goddess Kamakhya
Period of Festival : Monsoon Season
Duration : 4 Days
“पीठानी चैकपंचाषदभवनमुनिपुंगवअंगप्रत्यंगपातेन छायासत्या महीतलेतेषु श्रेष्ठतमः पीठः कामरूपो महामते”
“O mighty gurus, with the body of Sati the Fifty-One Shakti Pithas were founded. Amongst them, Kamarupa is the Sreshthatam (best).” Narrated by Lord Mahadeva Shiva himself, this description of Kamarupa or Kamakhya Sri Kshetra’s prominence comes in Adhyaya twelve of Devi Maha Bhagavata Puranam, named “Kamarupadi Mahatamya Varnanam”.
Located in the North Eastern state of Assam, Kamarupa, the Prayagjyotishpura of ancient India, was once the seat of powerful rulers, where the splendor of India’s rich culture is at its peak in the month of June when the devotees of Jagadamba, the universal mother celebrate a unique festival- Ambubachi.
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In the Shakta Puranas and Tantric traditions, the site of Kamarupa or Kamakhya is mentioned with deep reverence, as the most sacred and potent of all the 51 Shakti Pithas. The legend of the formulation of these fifty-one Sthalas is related to Devi’s incarnation as Sati and the episode of her self-immolation in the fire of her father Daksha’s yajna after he insulted Mahadeva.
Enraged and pained by the loss of his beloved, Shiva roamed around the universe, performing Tandava which caused the three realms to tremble. Bringing the annihilation to an end, Sri Vishnu divided the body of Sati into 51 parts, which fell all over the map of India, causing the origin of Shakti-Pithas, where Devi in all her glory resides.
As per the description in Devi Mahabhagavatam, when Shiva lamented the separation from Shakti, Lord Brahma and Vishnu asked him to visit Kamarupa, where the Yoni of the goddess had fell, and thus Trailokyamohini, the great enchantress of three realms, was situated there with all her creative energies.
With the power of his Tapas, Shiva evoked the supreme goddess, who appeared in front of Adiyogi and assured him that She will return as Parvati, to fulfill Umapati Shiva’s wish to be one with Shakti again. Thus, having heard the words of Devi, Shiva joyously came to reside in Kamarupa, making the Shakti Pitha the greatest Tirtha for the worshipers of Shiva-Shakti.
Owing to the presence of both Purusha and Prakriti (Shiva and Shakti), in the most active form, the site of Kamarupa holds unparalleled significance in the devotional scheme of Shakta and Tantric worshipers, who assemble Guwahati, to celebrate the fecundity and auspiciousness of Devi.
The word “Ambubachi” comes from the union of two terms, Ambu which means water, and bachi which means spoken with, connecting the four-day-long festivities with the arrival of nurturing monsoon showers, and the fertility of the great mother.
According to Shakta beliefs around Kamakhya, these are the days, from the seventh to the tenth day of the month of Ashadha, when goddess Kamakhya menstruates, which means her regenerative powers as the divine feminine are at their peak. This period of goddess Kamakhya’s “menstruation”, coincides with the arrival of the first rains and a surge in the water levels of the legendary Brahmaputra River.
For the first three days of the Ambubachi Mela, the doors to the sanctum sanctorum of Kamakhya are closed for all, since it is the time when the menstruating goddess rests. Activities such as cooking food, working on the farms, reading sacred texts- anything which requires the presence of Shakti (energy, creative actions), are halted.
Devi rises from her resting place on the fourth day, and an inimitable Prasada is distributed amongst her devotees. This Prasada includes Angodaka (the liquid of the body) which comes from the holy spring attached to the shrine and Angabastram, the cloth which covers the Yoni while the goddess is menstruating.
For the ardent followers of Shaktism, this Prasada is the ultimate gift from the goddess, and it is placed inside one’s house as a source of life-giving powers. From Sadhus to householders, rich or poor, who populate the area around Kamakhya to receive a part of this potent Prasada, she is the supreme divinity. “Kamakhya Kamasampati, Kamakhya Moksha eva cha”- She is Kama (passion) and She is Moksha (the deliverance from Kama).
The festivities of Ambubachi in the context of Indian culture are in no way an isolated episode. This awe-inspiring celebration of the great goddess, in all her feminine magnificence, as the origin of all life forms, stands amidst a rich ancient tradition of such festivals across India (for example Raja Parba of Odisha), where fertility, womanhood, and the life-giving abilities of Prakriti (the female element) are hailed.
Pervading each particle of Kamarupa, the great goddess in Hinduism is the Bindu (source) which creates, sustains, and annihilates she Srishti, the legends of whose powers, are like a perennial divine stream, that sustain the entire being of this nation.
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The Ambubachi Mela will be held in Guwahati, Assam, from June 22 to June 26, 2023, at the Kamakhya Devi temple. The Mela honors Devi Kamakhya, a venerated form of Shakti.
The Ambubachi Mela is associated with the menstrual period of the goddess Kamakhya and is observed to commemorate her yearly fertility cycle. It is believed that the festival reflects the power of women and the creative power of nature.
Ambubachi Mela is also known as Ambubachi Fair or Ambuboci Mela by locals. It is a significant part of the Ambubachi festival and attracts a large number of devotees from various parts of India and abroad.
The period of Ambubachi Mela usually lasts for four days. It typically takes place during the monsoon season in the Hindu month of Ashadha, which falls around June or July.
Raja Parba is a traditional festival held in the state of Odisha, India. It marks the beginning of the agricultural season and is dedicated to Mother Earth, celebrating the birth of the land. It is a festival that particularly focuses on young girls and women, highlighting their importance in society and their role as creators of humanity.
During the Raja festival, various cultural activities are organized, including traditional games, swings, music, dance, and feasting. Young girls wear new clothes, play on swings, and enjoy various traditional delicacies.
During the Raja festival, the Earth Goddess or Mother Earth is worshipped. Women offer prayers and seek blessings for a good harvest and prosperity.
The Ambubachi festival is celebrated to honor the menstrual cycle of the goddess Kamakhya every year. It is supposed that during this time the goddess goes on her menstrual period, and the temple is closed for three days. On the fourth day, the temple is reopened, which signifies the end of menstruation and the rejuvenation of the goddess's fertility. The ceremony is held to recognize and welcome a woman's fertility and to seek blessings for a prosperous and prosperous year.
Sources-
Devi Mahabhagavatam
Kamakhya Tantram with Hindi Commentary
The Kalika Purana
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