Kamakhya: Difference between revisions

'''Kamakhya''', a form of [[Parvati]],<ref>"Kamakhya was a new goddess unknown to the Devi herself" {{harvcol|Kakati|1989|p=38}}</ref> is an important [[Shakta]] [[Tantra|Tantric]] [[mother goddess]] of desire that evolved in [[Kamarupa]] in [[Assam]].<ref name="urban256">"Seated on top of Nīlacala hill on the banks of the Brahmaputra river in the state of Assam, Northeast India, Kamakhya temple is one of the oldest and most revered centres of Tantric practice in South Asia. Since at least the eighth century, the region of Kamarupa (the ‘place’ or ‘form of desire’, or Assam) has been recognised as one of the most important of the sakta pīthas (‘seats of power’) or centres of goddess worship that dot the sacred landscape of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh." {{harvcol|Urban|2019|p=256}}</ref><ref>"The Nilacala (blue hill) in Assam, the sacred abodeof the well-known goddess Kamakhya has been one of the most significant Sakta-Tantric centres from the early medieval period and attracts millions of devotees from the neighboring states even today." {{harvtxt|Shin|2010|p=3}}</ref> Originally a [[Kirata]] goddess Kamakhya remained outside Brahmanical influence till at least the 7th century.<ref>{{harvtxt|Shin|2010|p=7}}</ref> She resides at Nilachal hills west of [[Guwahati]] in the 10th/11th century [[Kamakhya Temple]] rebuilt in 1565 CE<ref>"(T)he Nilacala Hill, the sacred abode of the goddess Kamakhya as well as the ten Mahavidyas in Guwahati, Assam." {{harvcol|Shin|2018|p=87}}</ref> and worshiped in non-iconic and un-anthropomorphic form of a stone shaped like a [[yoni]] and fed by a perennial stream.<ref>{{harvtxt|Shin|2010|pp=4–7}}</ref>  The temple is primary amongst the 51 [[Shakti Peethas]] related to the sect that follows [[Dakshayani|Sati]], and remains one of the most important [[Shakta]] temples.<ref name="urban256"/> Kamakhya temple is most powerful and oldest shaktipeeth in all 51 shaktipeeth.

Before Narakasura's death, he requested a boon from his mother, Satyabhama, that everyone should celebrate his death with colorful light. Thus this day is celebrated as '[[Naraka Chaturdashi]]' - the day before [[Diwali]]. That shows us how noble and ever-forgiving Lord Krishna is! Krishna's and Satyabhama's victory on Narakasura translated into freedom gained from sexual slavery under the demon king Narakasura for all the women he captured and Aditi obtaining her respect. Krishna accepted them as his wives upon their insistence to save themselves from the society who saw them as slaves of the demon king [[Narakasura]].The chief amongst them is sometimes called [[Rohini (Krishna's wife)|Rohini]]. When Krishna slew Narakasura, he accepted all the captive women upon their insistence to safeguard their dignity. After marriage, they all lived in Dwarka.<ref>[[Junior wives of Krishna]]</ref>