Kamakhya is the first Shakti Peetha of Bharatvarsha, the Yonipeetha the place Devi Sati’s Yoni had fallen, making it the seat of creation. I’ve already written intimately in regards to the Kamakhya temple and its festivals.
This time in Guwahati, I wished to go to all of the Sprint Mahavidya temples positioned on Nilanchal Hill. It took me just a few hours and a small auto rickshaw journey to go to all of the temples.
Who’re Sprint Mahavidya Devis?
Sprint or 10 Mahavidyas are the ten manifestations of Adi Para Shakti. Their story is available in Mahabhagwat Purana. Sati wished to go to her father Daksha at Kankhal, and Shiva wished to cease her. He knew that if she went, he would by no means meet her once more in the identical type. She was adamant and manifested 10 varieties in all 10 instructions to cease Shiva from stopping her. These 10 swaroops or manifestations got here to be revered individually in addition to collectively as Sprint Mahavidyas.
We discover their temples in lots of Tirtha Kshetras like Varanasi and Himachal. At Nilanchal hill, on which the well-known Kamakhya temple is positioned, we discover temples devoted to every of those Mahavidyas. What’s fascinating right here is the deep affiliation of water parts with these temples. These temples have water as the primary factor that’s worshiped. Murtis and rituals are in all probability a later addition.
Include me to those Sprint Mahavidya Temples as I skilled them:
Sodashi, Matangi and Kamlatmika – 3 of Sprint Mahavidya
The principle Kamakhya temple garbhagriha itself comprises the three Mahavidyas:
- Sodashi or Rajrajeshwari Lalita Tripursundari is Kamakhya herself, who’s the third among the many Mahavidyas after Kali and Tara. She is the Adhishtatri Devi of this place, it’s her Peetha or the seat. She is the presiding deity of this kshetra. She is one accountable for creating, nurturing and dissolving this world.
- Matangi – the ninth Mahavidya, additionally thought-about a type of Saraswati who bestows the powers of expression via speech and performing arts
- Kamalatmika – the tenth Mahavidya, a type of Mahalakshmi usually depicted as Gajalakshmi being showered by elephants.
The three will be seen or slightly skilled contained in the garbhagriha. One of the best ways to achieve them is to purchase a VIP ticket and get into the queue to go to the garbhagriha. By the way, there isn’t a Murti of Ma Kamakhya contained in the sanctum, she is within the type of flowing water.
You do an anthropomorphic type of her proper exterior the garbhagriha, the place most pujas are completed. It’s a lovely Murti, adorned with every kind of flowers and the shape merely comes alive in entrance of you.
In your technique to the garbhagriha, you’ll be able to see the completely different Murtis carved on the temple partitions.
Dhumavati and Bhairavi Mahavidya
After visiting the three Mahavidyas, we have been again within the open courtyard of Kamakhya temples. From right here the priest pointed us to the again gate to go to Ma Dhumavati and Ma Bhairavi.
We handed via a slim lane to achieve a staircase. After happening just a few steps, we first noticed the Dhumavati temple. It has clearly undergone a latest renovation with darkish granite stone shining via. We stepped in and have been led to the garbhagriha the place all I might see was an open pit with a shiny pink material shining from one facet of it. It took our eyes a while to regulate once we realized that it was an underground supply of water. The flowers we noticed on the correct of the pink material are literally floating within the water.
We bent down and touched the water, wishing for its therapeutic powers and asking Ma Dhumavati for her blessings. She is the one who takes away all of your misfortune within the type of poverty of any variety. After spending some silent moments right here, we stepped out.
Vantage Level
From this vantage level, we might see the Ma Bhairavi temple. It’s a steep flight of stairs happening to the temple. You see what’s left of vegetation on the hill. Together with the temple you see a big temple tank. I began strolling down and was questioning how will I climb again all these stairs, given my well being. Simply then, just a few devotees climbing again informed us to not go down because the temple is closed. They suggested her to hope from the place we have been standing. I took it as an indication and mentioned my prayers to Bhairavi or Tripura Bhairavi, and sought her permission to go to different temples. The temple courtyard was certainly empty and I puzzled if Devi was selecting to be alone.
We have been again within the Kamakhya temple premises the place our Panda ji guided us to the three temples that may be visited proper exterior the primary gate of the temple.
Kali, Tara and Chhinmasta Mahavidyas
We walked out via the primary gate. It was round 10 AM and the markets resulting in the temple have been of their full glory. Within the morning, once we took the identical path round 6 AM, there have been just a few flowers and prasad retailers. Now, you’ll be able to see the humanities and crafts of Assam in full glory, tempting you to take them again with you.
We first noticed the beautiful arch in blue with two lions clinging to it, with a flight of stairs resulting in Tara Mandir. We climbed and located ourselves in entrance of the pale pink temple in a typical Assamese fashion, considerably resembling the Chala fashion of Bengal. It’s a small however highly effective temple. We stepped inside and bowed right down to Devi who’s OM personified and bestows the facility of speech.
Kali Temple
Coming again to the street, we walked only a bit to see the Kali temple, proper there. It’s a temple that’s now surrounded by a street on one facet and buildings on the opposite facet. The small garbhagriha once more has a despair the place Ma Kali is wrapped in a shiny purple material. Is that this too a water channel, I couldn’t see. Being the primary Mahavidya, she is the ruler of Kala or time. In case you are having fun with good occasions, thank her, and if you’re going via a nasty time, pray to her. She is the one who transports you throughout eras and eons.
Learn Extra – Kali Temples of Kolkata
Again on the street, slightly forward because the street turned proper, we noticed one other giant temple, that is the abode of Ma Chhinmasta – the one who holds her personal severed head in her palms. Her temple is easy in off-white with purple borders, a reminder of the facility of simplicity. The Garbhagriha is a stage beneath the place you have to go down a steep flight of stairs and it’s pitch darkish. Once more, all I might see was a purple and golden chunari with flowers on it. This temple too has a water channel contained in the garbhagriha that devotees contact and apply to their heads and eyes. There are numerous different temples on this temple complicated however Chhinmasta is the first deity right here, the one who takes you past the thoughts.
Bhuvaneshwari and Baglamukhi Mahavidya
Ma Bhuvaneshwari is the one who guidelines the areas, all of the 14 Bhuvanas within the universe. Her temple is positioned on high of a hill slightly away from the primary Kamakhya temple. Early morning, it will be a superb trek to do, however in the course of the day, it’s best approached by an auto. This can be a lovely temple in yellow overlooking the Brahmaputra. Unfold throughout a big space, you attain the temple by way of straightforward stairs. Inside, there’s a large corridor, the place many individuals have been doing their silent sadhana. Exterior there may be ample house so that you can sit or stroll round.
You get a stunning view of town of Guwahati from right here. It has the mighty Brahmaputra on one facet and plush inexperienced hills on the opposite and town in between nature and nurture.
From right here we began our again downwards and stopped at Ma Baglamukhi temple. You cannot miss the yellow retailers throughout the street resulting in it. Sure, yellow is the colour of Ma Baglamukhi who provides the facility of Stambhan or stillness when every little thing stops. We went down a flight of stairs to achieve the temple.
We stepped inside a big corridor with an enormous rock on one facet in a means that it fashioned the wall of the corridor. Just a few monks have been getting Puja completed near this rock, because the devotees mentioned their prayers with folded palms. The water dripped slowly from this wall. A board pointed to the primary temple subsequent door.
Vulva formed rock
We stepped into the following room, and I used to be awestruck to see a vulva-shaped rock with water dripping from it. Every little thing round this was yellow. The priest means that you can step forward and take a little bit of water as prasad or a blessing of Ma Baglamukhi. This a part of the rock is the continuation of the rock within the first room. In some unspecified time in the future in time, it will need to have been simply the rock and the temple will need to have been constructed a lot later. Of all of the Sprint Mahavidya temples, right here you see the Yoni Peetha most clearly.
I prayed to Ma Baglamukhi to guard me from enemies, each inside and outdoors me. The vitality of this temple would stick with me for a very long time.
Very quickly, we have been again on the bustling bazaar exterior the Kamakhya temple. We thanked Panda ji for all his assist in telling us in regards to the temple and guiding us for all Sprint Mahavidya temples.
I had a satisfying journey again to my lodge in Guwahati. It was an extended pending want to see all the ten temples at this highly effective Shaktipeetha. It was Devi Kripa that allowed me to see all of them so fantastically.
Journey Suggestions for Sprint Mahavidya Temples in Guwahati
Besides the primary temple, all different temples are practically empty. You’ll be able to go to them simply and spend as a lot time as you want there.
Purchase a VIP ticket at Kamakhya that prices Rs 501/- on the time of writing, which lets you have quick darshan. The final queue could take a really very long time. Learn extra on the temple web site.
You’ll be able to take your cell phone contained in the temple however pictures isn’t allowed inside any temple.
There may be meals and water accessible all over the place across the temples.
You’ll be able to decide up books on Tantra at bookshops right here.
Keep anyplace in Guwahati to go to Kamakhya temple.
