Sanatan Dharma is basically centred around three major gods namely Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. 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 Brahm. Mahesh 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. Daksha once arranged a Yagya 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. 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 Yagya spot and started the tandava. Virbhadra and Bhadrakali sprang us through the rumbling of the dance of Shiva. Both devoted attendants then wrecked the Yagya of Daksha. Shiva took Satis burning body in his trident for heading to mount Kailash. Lord Shiva was wandering endlessly in anger while holding the burning dead body of Sati. Seeing him wandering in aggressive pain Lord Vishnu choose 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 Kameshwari 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 Kamakhya 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. 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 bath 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. 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 Sanyasi, 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 Maa 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. The mela is known as Ameti or Tantric fertility festival since it is closely associated with the tantric Shakti 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.
