Hindu Religion, Faith and Moksha: April 2015

KAMAKHYA TEMPLE IN GUWAHATI-

This temple is located in Guwahati,the land of Kamrupa and the capital city of Assam. Guwahati is well connected from Delhi as well as from kolkata. During our visit to Guwahati,we took a direct flight of Indigo from New Delhi and stayed there in hotel Kiranshree Portico. The staff of the hotel was very cordial and helped us to chalk our short visit tour.

The holy temple of Goddess Kamakhya is one of the foremost Shaktipeeth,a great place of Shakti-worship and this shrine is also believed to be the granter of all desire. The temple is situated on the sacred Nilanchal hill. The architecture of the temple is typical Nilanchal type with a hemispherical dome. The temple consists of four chambers the garbhgriha and three mandaps known as calanta, pancaratna and natamandira. The importance and religious significance of the temple has been described in the Kalika Purana. This shrine is associated with Tantra-Puja and is also known as a centre for the followers of Tantrik tenent.

It is believed that while performing an important YAGNA in Kankhal- Haridwar, Daksha Prajapati,the father of Sati, intentionally did not invited Lord Shiva in the religious gathering so the Goddess Sati felt insulted ,sacrificed her life and jumped in to the flames. Afterwards when the whole incident came in the knowledge of Lord Shiva, he instructed his GANAS to destroy the Yagna and to punish the Daksha Prajapati. He then roamed throughout the Indian sub continent, Sati still in his hand. It is said that parts of her body fell in 51 places and such sacred sites are revered as the 51 Shaktipeeth.

The Kamakhya Debutter Board is the body responsible for carrying out the administrative functions such as providing security and cleanliness of the temple. The board also manages a Sanskrit school.
The source of fund for the welfare of the temple is received through donations and collections from darshan tickets that are Rs.501/- and Rs.101/-.Only Hindus are allowed entry into the temple.

Some of other important temples in Guwahati are temple of Goddess Bhubaneshwari at the peak of Neelanchal Parvat, the 400 years old Umananda temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva in the Peacock Island,the Nabbgrah temple, the 18th century Ugratara temple and the Aswaklanta temple. Nabhgrah temple is unique and one of its kind in the whole of North-East. This is located at the top of Chitranchal hill where each graha (Planet) is represented in a form of Shiva Linga. Bashistha Ashram is a quite scenic retreat with small temples near the confluence of Lalita, Sandhya and Kanta streams and is said to be the ancient site of the Ashram of Rishi Bashistha.

Visitors may purchase handicrafts,woodcraft and range of hand loom items from the shops run by Assam Apex Weavers & Artisans Co-Operative Federation Ltd Guwahati at a reasonable price. During a visit to Guwahati, you may like to visit the famous Kaziranga National Park. This is a world heritage site and is inhibited by the world largest population of one horned rhinoceroses.

Some of the photographs of Kamakhya temple and Nabhgraha temple are as follows-