An Introduction to the world's most important Shakti Peetha
Located in the city of Guwahati in Assam, India (26.166426°N / 91.705509°E), the Kamakhya Temple along with a network of temples dedicated to the Mahavidyas and other deities denoted as the Kamakhya Temples' Complex, is the world's most important, revered and vibrant site among the 51 Shakti Peethas.
The Kamakhya Temple is surrounded by the Temples and Peetha of the 7 Devis of the Dasa Mahavidyas (10 Great Goddesses), other Goddesses, Shivas, Ganeshas, Vishnu, other deities and sacred sites, scattered all over the Kamakhya Temples' Complex. It is interesting to note that, inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Kamakhya Temple, peethas of three Mahavidyas of the Dasa Mahavidyas are located, i.e. the third Mahavidya Tripura Sundari or Sodasi, the ninth Mahavidya Matangi and the tenth Mahavidya Kamala. The Kamakhya Temples' Complex is the only sacred site where Temples and Peetha of the Dasa Mahavidyas are located adjacent to each other.
The sacred site popularly known as Kamakhya is actually a hill system comprising of three segments (i.e. Brahma, Shiva and Varaha hill) referred to in the scriptures mostly as Nilachal and in some scriptures as Kamagiri, Mahagiri, Kamakhya Yonimandala and Kamakuta. Thus, the sacred landscape of Kamakhya Temples' Complex is a delicately conceptualized and intrinsically interconnected network of peethas, shrines, sacred ponds, other sacred sites, etc. keeping Kamakhya Temple as the focal point.
There is no idol (Murti) in the sanctum sanctorum of the Kamakhya Temple — it is just a stone and flowing water.
The peethas of the other Mahavidyas (except Goddess Tara), Shiva and other Devi are identically similar in nature to that of the peetha of Devi Kamakhya.
Kamakhya as a pilgrimage center for Hindus, Buddhists and practitioners of various streams of Tantrism, has developed a uniquely syncretic religious culture. Millions of devotees from all over the world visit the Kamakhya Temples' Complex every year.
The history of the Kamakhya Temples' Complex is obscure and inter-mixed with oral history, mythology and legends through the advent of the Koch Kingdom. The story of the creation of the Kamakhya Yoni Peetha or Kamakhya Yonimandala and the story of Naraka (a king of Pragjyotispura) as mentioned in the Kalikapurana and Yoginitantra are significant. Apart from these texts, detailed reference on the Kamakhya Temples' Complex and its unique religious tradition can also be found in Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, Tantras, etc.
Departments of geo-sciences and archaeology as well as several eminent scholars have suggested that the Kamakhya Temple was originally constructed in the 8th century during the rule of the Pala dynasty in Kamrup. Sir Edward Gait in his book, A History of Assam mentioned that the Kamakhya Temple was originally built during 4th-5th century CE. A radio carbon isotope testing indicated that the bottom layer of the temple is approximately 2200 years old, and the second layer is around 1500 years old. Thus, we may assume that Kamakhya Temple stood on this site as early as 200 BCE.
King Bishwasingha (1515–1540 CE) rebuilt the Kamakhya Temple. It is assumed that the temple rebuilt by King Bishwasingha was destroyed by the invading Muslim commander Kalapahar in 1553 CE. After the destruction, King Naranarayana (1540–1587 CE) started rebuilding the present Kamakhya Temple in 1555 CE and completed it in 1565 CE.
The sacred myths of Sati, Naraka, and the origin of Shakti Peetha Kamakhya.
From ancient Pragjyotishpura to the Koch and Ahom dynasties.
The unique fusion of Nagara and indigenous temple architecture.
All temples, peethas, kundas and sacred sites of the complex.
The ten great goddesses and their presence at Kamakhya.
The ancient texts that document Kamakhya's traditions.
The hereditary servitors who maintain the temple traditions.