Ancient sacred place, first adored by Kaam-Dev and made by Viswakarma

Sculptures on walls of Kamakhya Temple

Near the city of Guwahati in Assam, there is a cluster of hills called Nilanchal, also known as Kamakhya. This is one of the most significant Shakti or Sati Peeth in Hinduism, a sacred place in the mythological history of India, which gives the highest spiritual regeneration to their devotees. It is believed that, this place is in existence since the time of origin of human race. The genital organ of Sati fell off at this place. It is also known as Yoni Peeth, as Yoni, refers to the genital organ

What is the significance of this sacred place, "Kamrup Kamakhya", located in Nilanchal or Neel Hils?

Yajna of Prajapati Daksha and sacrifice of Sati in the Yajna

Once, Daksha Prajapati (Son of Lord Brahma, the Creator of this Universe) performed a Yajna (a spiritual practice done with fire to offer different items to God), named Brihaspati Sarva (name of the spiritual practice), at Kankhal in Haridwar. He invited each and everyone from all over the world except Lord Shiva, as he is associated with destruction, stays in Shamshan (Cremation Ground, where human dead bodies are cremated), applies pyre ash over his body, and is sternly poor. When Daksha's daughter Sati, who was the spouse of lord Shiva, found out that everyone around the world was going to the Yajna of her father, she also decided to go and accordingly prayed to lord Shiva. Shiva advised Sati against going there without getting an invitation. But Sati forced him to go, and Lord Shiva, unable to refuse Sati's repeated prayers, had to go to Daksha's place. When they reached the place where the Yajna was being performed, her father noticed Sati and started insulting her along with her husband Lord Shiva. When she felt humiliated at her father's place, she prayed to the fire of the Yajna to burn her down to ashes. As per her request, the fire burnt her down and she was dead.

When lord Shiva came to know about this incident, he grew terribly angry and converted himself into a destroyer. He summoned Maha-Kali (name of the first incarnation of Adya-Shakti, with destructive nature) and revealed his Birbhadra (a furious Incarnation of lord Shiva, again with destructive nature) form, complete with his jata (bunch of hair, entangled with each other). Both of them were dangerous and scary looking, and were made to destroy everything. Lord Shiva reached the Yajna site along with Maha-Kali and Birbhadra and their thousands of followers in the form of ghosts and spirits and started destroying everything and killing mercilessly. They completely destroyed Daksha Yajna and severed Daksha's head from the body and offered it to the fire. Finally, Lord Shiva came to the place where the Yajna was being performed. He carried the dead body of Sati over his shoulder and started his dance macabre. It caused huge destruction all over the world. So, in order to save the universe and the entire living world, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshan Chakra (a weapon of Lord Vishnu) to cut down Sati's body into pieces. Wherever a piece of the dead body of Sati had fallen, that place came to be considered as a sacred Sati Shakti Peeth. Shiva returned to the impassable parts of Himalayas to immerse himself in meditation. He also gave off his role as a destroyer.

Significance of Rebirth of Sati as Parvati

A demon king named Tarakasura worshiped Lord Brahma and he was successful to get the boon that no one would be able to kill him, except the son of lord Shiva. Tarakasura knew that Shiva's wife Sati was no more and hence, there was not any chance of the birth of Shiva's son in future. After the accomplishment of this boon, he started to win over the World, the Heaven and the Hades and engaged himself in battles with Gods and different Prajapatisor kings.Thus he became the ruler of the entire Universe consisting of the three Worlds (Earth, Heaven, and Hades). Now, all Gods in Heaven and kings or rulers of the World and Hades, were horror-struck and started staying in hidden places. They all went to Lord Brahma and urged to solve this problem. They all decided to pray to Adhya Shakti to take rebirth. Moved by their repeated prayer, she took birth in the abode of Himalaya Raj or the King of Himalayas as his daughter Parvati. All Gods prayed to Narad Muni (Sage Narad, messenger of Gods), to tell Himalaya Raj and his wife Menaka, as well as Parvati, the exact reason or mystery behind the birth of Parvati. As, Narad Muni went to Himalaya Raj's home, he met them all and told them the reason of the birth of Parvati. Narad Muni also told them to search the place where Lord Shiva was in deep mediation and to make arrangements for Parvati, so that she would go to that place regularly and worship Shiva to please him. In this way, Himalaya Raj could convince Shiva to accept his daughter as wife. Narad Muni also met Parvati and asked her to go through arduous spiritual practice, to win Shiva as her husband. Since her childhood, she had only liked Shiva and hence, she started sincere efforts to propitiate the lord. Himalaya Raj found out the place where Shiva had engaged himself in deep meditation, and afterwards, made arrangements for Parvati , to go to that place and worship Shiva.
The Trio of gods, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, are empowered with the forces of Creation, Sustenance and Destruction respectively. The combined execution of these forces is compulsory for the operation of the Universe. It would not be possible to operate the Universe without the destructive force, which lies with lord Shiva. Hence, all the gods planned to arouse Shiva from his reverie. This work of changing the mind of Lord Shiva was assigned to Kam Deva (God of sexuality or lust). Kam Deva and his wife Rati, came to the place in Kailash Mountain, where Shiva was practicing deep meditation. Due to their efforts, Shiva was awakened, but out of his deadly anger, a destructive light arose from his third eye which burnt down Kam Deva and turned the cupid to ashes. Kamdev got merged into Parvati after his death and hence, he also came to be known as 'Anang'. During this crisis, Rati became extremely upset and started moaning coming to Shiva. All the other Gods also felt helpless. They became sympathetic towards Rati and advised her to win over her fear and to retain a small portion of Kamdeva's remnants, so that when Lord Shiva would calm down after a while, he would definitely make Kamdeva alive again. Lord Shiva glanced at Parvati and had a feeling that she was his beloved Sati. But soon he realised his mistake and left the place to move to an undisclosed location.

Marriage Ceremony of Shiva and Parvati

After this incidence, Parvati started worshiping Shiva even more intently. Finally, Shiva was satisfied to see her devotion and intensive spiritual practice or sadhana. He came to meet her in the get-up of a sage to find out whether she was loyal to him and whether she was made only for him. Afterwards, Shiva was satisfied with Parvati's sincere love for him and promised to make her his spouse. Shiva told Narad Muni to go to Himalaya Raj and to tell him to make arrangements for the marriage ceremony of Shiva and Parvati.Accordingly, Narad Muni met Himalaya Raj to fix the date, which was scheduled on Chaturdashi Tithi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Magha (14th day of the lunar cycle of Magha, according to Hindu calendar). On the day of the marriage, Shiva came to Himalaya Raj's place along with his acquaintances to marry Parvati. The procession following Shiva was very unique in nature, a scene which was never witnessed by any one in the past. The followers of Shiva, which were ghosts and spirits, came in some very horrible and terrifying getup; some with multiple eyes, while some with no eyes at all; some with eyes on their forehead, some having many legs and hands while some devoid of any limbs, and some even without head. All were wearing ornaments of skull and bones, they had applied pyre ash on their body. Even the groom Shiva, was wearing a garland of human skull and bones, and pyre ash spread on his body. He rode on his ox. When Parvati's mother Menaka found Shiva in such a get up, she became afraid and decided not to marry her daughter to Shiva. Afterwards, Narad Muni and all other Gods, explained the significance of this marriage. It was only then, Menaka agreed for Parvati's marriage with Shiva. At last, at the time of marriage Shiva changed his attire and appeared like a charming groom and married Parvati on that auspicious occasion..

Lord Shiva's marriage procession

Kam Devs and Ratis worship in Nilanchan or Nill hills

Rati Devi, wife of Kam Deva was also present in this occasion. She prayed to Shiva to give new life to her husband, using the ash which she had kept with her. Brahma and Vishnu, along with the other Gods, also prayed to Shiva, to make Kam Deva alive. Shiva accepted their prayer and regenerated Kam Deva. But the newly born Kam Deva was not beautiful and charming as he was previously, he appeared to be ugly. Rati and Kam Deva again went to Shiva and urged him to recreate the old charming look of Kam Deva. Shiva advised them both to go to Neel or Nilanchal hills, where the genital organ of Sati had fallen. They were also told to perform spiritual practice in that sacred land and to satisfy Adhya Shakti to get her blessings. This was because, in the past, Kam Dev, was unified with the goddess when he was burnt to ashes. Both the husband and the wife went to this sacred place and worshiped the Goddess. She was satisfied with their worship and gave boon to him that he would get back his old charming look. Since Kamdev got back his beautiful appearance or Rup in this place, this holy land become famous by the name of Kamrup.

Kaamdev wanted to spread the name and fame of the goddess all over the universe. For this purpose, he decided to set up a temple dedicated to her and keeping this view in mind, he summoned Vishwakarma, in charge of the artistic creations of gods. According to Kaamdev's wish, Vishwakarma built up a temple in that place to worship the goddess. On the walls of the temple, the images of 64 yoginis and 18 bhairavs were carved. The temple also came to be known as Anandakhya temple. Kaamdev was the first person to glorify the name of the goddess as well as to popularize the significance of this great Yoni peeth or Mahamudra peeth (the seat or residing place of the goddess). Kamrup is one of the oldest provinces of India, situated in the north-eastern state of Assam. In the Mahabharata, the Kaalika Purana, the Yogini tantra, the Devi Bhaagwat and many more such ancient books, the name of Kamrup had been mentioned. This province had been even more important as it had remained the residence-cum-place of worship for the ancient sages and hermits.

According to the Kaalika puran, this holy land, which is triangular in shape, extends from the river Kartoya in the west to Dikkarbashini in the east. Yogini tantra mentions that in the earlier ages, the Kamrup province was divided into four parts , namely, 1. Kaam peeth, 2. Ratna peeth, 3. Bhadra peeth, 4. Soumar peeth. Presently, the holy site of Kamakhya, located in the province of Kaamrup, is very well connected with the rest of India via railways, roadways, and airways as well. The nearest airport lies at Guwahati, whereas the nearest railway station is at Kamakhya. The distance of the temple from the railway station is only about 7 km. This place is simply out of the world in its mythological as well as religious appeal. Devotees from all over the world gather here to offer their prayers to the goddess. During the festival of Ambubachi (a special custom followed by devout Indians), people from all sections of the society, irrespective of their caste or creed gather here. Along with them, many tantrics and sages also arrive here in order to secure the blessings of the goddess. Ambubachi festival is one of the most prominent religious festivals of India, which records the second highest gathering of human beings, followed by Kumbh mela. The holy site of Kamakhya is considered to be the most important and significant tantra peeth of Sati.

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