Significance of Ambubachi festival
Paramesh Dutta
Hindu Sanatan Dharma is basically centred around three major gods namely Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar. Among them however Vishnu is considered to be the supreme. Vishnu gave birth to Brahma from his lotus-like navel. According to our mythological belief, cosmology was assigned the duty of creation of the universe. Brahma was initially
worried about the possible disharmony and chaos that might occur after the creation of animals, plants, birds, insects, mountains, rivers etc. in the universe. Someone must attend to the effective administration to ensure peace on the planet and harmony among the
Brahma. Maheswar assured him that he will take care of all the creations in the universe.
Brahma then gives birth to seven sages. Daksha who was one among them came out from the finger of Brahma. Daksha had six daughters and he got all his five daughters married to several devatas, demons and out of whom animals, fish, reptiles, birds, trees, creepers, mountain, rivers originated in the universe. Daksha’s remaining daughter Sati was married to Shiva. Daksha had a sense of hatred for Shiva because of his ascetic way of living, indecent clothing, habit of smoking cannabis and roaming with ugly spirits. Daksha once arranged a pompous Yogya in association with the devatas, where he did not invite both Shiva and Sati. Sati could not tolerate the insult and stormed into her father’s place demanding her husband
due respect for her. When Daksha refused to concede. Sati immolated herself in the fire born out of righteous anger.
Eventually Shiva heard about the incident and he was bereft of sense, and became mad with grief. He reached the Yogya spot and started the tandava dance. Virbhadra and Bhadrakali sprang us through the rumbling of the dance of Shiva. Both devoted attendants then wrecked the Yogya of Daksha. Shiva took Satis burning body in his trident for heading to mount Kailash. Her body parts begin to fall on the ground. The places where parts of Sati fall became the Shaktipeeths. According to Vaishnava sect Lord Shiva was wandering endlessly in anger while holding the burning dead body of Sati. Seeing him wandering in aggressive pain Lord Vishnu choosed to chop off the body parts of Sati by his Sudarshana Chakra into pieces. All the 15 severed organs fall at several sites of Bharat all of which are now known as Shakti Peeths. These peeths are revered places of worship for hindus across the
globe. The womb or Yoni of Sati dropped at Nilachal hills near Guwahati and this Shakti peeth is known as Kamakhya. Maa Kamakhya or Maa Kameswari is worshipped as the goddess of desire. In the month of June when the Sun transit to the zodiac of Mithuna,
apparently commences its move towards equator mother goddess Kamakshya
goes into menstruation. This happening is known as ‘Ambubhachi’. Goddess is kept confined inside the temple for these four days. Nobody is allowed to touch the idol. Male priest is allowed to enter inside. Only the women priest enters the temple to perform the regular works inside. At the end of the period the mother goddess gets a holy both
as per rituals. It is believed that during this time the blood flows down to the river Brahmaputra which turns the water red during this period. The devotees of mother goddess Kamakhya flocked to the Nilachal hills from all over the country to pray their respect to mother Shakti. It is believed that all the desires of the devotees are fulfilled once
they pray Maa Kamakhya during this period. Every year a large number of Sanyashi, black clad aghoras, Khade babas, the Baul and folk tantriks assemble in the temple premise along with general pilgrims.
Even foreigners come to seek blessings from Mother Kamakhya. The devotees assembled in and around the temple used to sing devotional songs, praying hymns, bhajans etc. as per their own traditional style. In order to make this the congregation more entertaining a ‘Mela’ is held in the temple premise where pilgrims get a scope to buy various fancy items specially required for performing pipes. The mela is known as Ameti or Tantric fertility festival since
it is closely associated with the tantric Sakti cult prevalent in eastern parts of India. Even some tantric babas make their public appearances during those four days. The rest of the year they remain in seclusion.
During these three days some restrictions are observed by the devotees like not cooking, not performing puja. After the period of menstruation mother goddess Kamakhya retrieves her purity. After the door gets opened. Prasad is distributed. The devotees are allowed to
enter the temple only on the fourth day. The Prasad is distributed as Angadok and Angabastra. Angadok is the water from the spring inside the temple and Angabastra is the cloth used to cover the Yoni rock during the days of menstruation.
