22nd – 26th June 2021

The most sacred and the highest form of worship known as the Ambubachi Mela is the four-day festival that marks the yearly menstruation course of Kamakhya Devi. It is also believed that during the monsoon rains, the creative and nurturing power of the ‘menses,’ of Mother Earth becomes accessible to devotees in the Kamakhya Devi temple in Gowahati, Assam. The Ambubachi Mela is a celebration of tantra and tantric rituals.

Kamakhya Devi is regarded as one of the highest form of worship among the pantheon of Goddesses in Hinduism. She is also identified as Siddha Kubjika, Kali, and Maha Tripura Sundari.

Maa Shaktipeeth (the seat of Shakti), is one of the oldest of the 51 Shakti peethas (seat), dedicated to Goddess Shakti. As per the legends, during the time of self-sacrifice, the genital organ (yoni) of Sati fell at this spot. Essentially, the Goddess ‘Kamakhya,’ is believed to be the granter of desires. In traditional terms, Assam is known as ‘Kamarupa Desa,’ a place that is associated with Tantric practices and worship of Shakti. In Kalika Purana (an ancient scripture), Kamakhya (the bride of Shiva and the benefactor of salvation), is referred as the goddess who fulfils all desires.

Kamakhya finds its name from the Hindu God of love, Kamadeva. As the story goes, the god had sought out Shakti’s womb and genitals after having lost virility to a curse. As a tribute to Shakti and Her ability to lend back Kamadeva His potency, the deity of Kamakhya Devi was installed and continues to be worshipped until today.

The ancient belief associated with this festival is that our sacred Mother Earth is like a fertile woman and the Kamakhya Devi Ambubachi Mela celebrates the annual menstrual cycle of the Earth coming into Her fertile state. Considering this to be a woman’s power to give birth, the deity and temple of Kamakhya is a celebration of this ‘shakti,’ within every woman. Kamakhya Devi goes through the menstrual phases during the days when the mela is celebrated and hence, the temple is closed to the pilgrims for three days, where the Devi is regarded to come into Her highest power, so that She is able to bless all of life after summoning Her power through Her menstrual phase. The menstruation starts in the Full Moon and ends on the 3rd day of the waning moon.

Also known as Ameti or Tantric Fertility Festival, the Kamakhya Devi temple remains closed for three days and during these three days, devotees refrain from worshipping or reading holy books etc., as a form of respect for the divine mother; as it is believed that the Goddess is incubating during this sacred time. After three days, the temple doors are reopened, and the devotees are allowed to enter the temple to seek the blessings of the Goddess. The pooja rituals are performed by smoke-breathing aghoris (ascetic Shaiva sadhus), who make public appearance only during this time and leave the sight as soon as the celebration is over, never to be found again throughout the year. They are all around the place, displaying psychic power, carrying out unusual interactions and completely lost in a form of devotion unknown to the majority of us. They are said to be the most loyal and ardent devotees of the goddess. Their energy is at its peak during these three days. Right from day one they start performing various yagnas around the temple complex. Surprisingly, each havan kund looks different than the other, each aghori chants different prayers than the other. This is a kind of pooja that has no rule book, or probably there is a rule book that no one knows about. With wild and loud prayers reverberating around the premises, unidentifiable ingredients being poured into the havan kund, unknown rituals being performed by the aghoris, the temple aura can be overwhelming and seem other-worldly. But it’s this out-wordliness of the tantric babas that make this mela a cut from the rest.

RITUALS OF KAMAKHYA DEVI PUJA

Practice:

•  Vegetarian Diet for the duration of these rituals;

•  Meditating with Japa mala on Kamakhya Devi mantra – a minimum of 3 malas per sitting;

• Wearing red or saffron coloured clothing during rituals;

• Womb meditation and sacral chakra healing; and

• Alternate nostril breathing.

Who can Perform these Rituals?

• Any man, woman or child who needs the blessings of the Devi.

Kamakhya Devi puja is done to achieve:

• Victory over enemies;
• Success and prosperity;
• Spiritual growth;
• Fulfilment of desire;
• Heal womb related disorders;
• To be blessed with child; and
• To bring all of life in a state of flow.

What Do You Need?

• Red Hibiscus flowers (this is the ultimate ideal) if not, you can use red roses;
• Yellow, red and white flowers for loose petals;
• Vermillion Powder;
• Yellow (haldi) Powder;
• Panch Amrit (5 Nectars): Ghee, Honey, Yoghurt, Honey, Jaggery or brown sugar and milk;
• A yoni shaped from clay/yellow powder/flour or a papaya;
• Incense;
• Fruits (diced); and
• Agni (fire) for aarati (offering of light as a sign of completion of the rituals).

Kamakhya Devi Mantra

For 108x (3 malas) Japa:

Kleem Kleem Kaamaakhyaa Kleem Kleem namah

*This is the beej (seed) mantra for japa purposes.

Kamakhya Pranam Mantra
Kamakhye kaam sampane kamesvari hari priye,
Kaamnaam dehi me nityem kaamesvari namostute|

Devi Invocation Mantra

Sarvamangala Mangalye Shive Sarvartha Sadhike।

Offer Flowers and Panch Amrit (5 Nectars),

Sharanye Tryambake Gauri Narayani Namoastu Te॥

Offer diced fruits,

Brahmarupe Sadanande Paramananda Svarupini।

Offer vermillion powder,

Druta Siddhiprade Devi Narayani Namoastu Te॥

Offer yellow powder as you venerate before the yoni.

Sharanagatadinartaparitranaparayane।
Burn some incense, light a ghee lamp and bear your heart to the Goddess.

Sarvasyarttihare Devi Narayani Namoastu Te॥

Ask from your womb and give yourself permission to let go all that is old – it is time to release and come back to your divine state.

Om Bhurbhuvah Svah Durgadevyai Namah

Avahanam Samarpayami॥

Speak from your heart and surrender when you have truly renounced your burdens at the altar. Offer light in circular motion as a gesture of your completion of duties to you, the Devi within.

After the Devi has been invoked, take five flowers in Anjali (by joining palm of both hands) and leave them in front of the yoni to offer seat to the Devi while chanting following Mantra:

Aneka Ratnasamyuktam Nanamanigananvitam।

Kartasvaramayam Divyamasanam Pratigrihyatam॥
Om Bhurbhuvah Svah Durgadevyai Namah
Asanam Samarpayami॥

Now offer Pushpanjali (offering of loose petals from flowers) to the Devi while chanting following Mantra:

Mandara Parijatadi Patali Ketakani Cha।
Jati Champaka Pushpani Grihanemani Shobhane॥
Om Bhurbhuvah Svah Durgadevyai Namah
Pushpanjalim Samarpayami॥

Now offer symbolic Pradakshina (circumbulate from left to right of the Devi) with flowers while chanting following Mantra:

Pradakshinam Trayam Devi Prayatnena Prakalpitam।
Pashyadya Pavane Devi Ambikayai Namoastu Te॥
Om Bhurbhuvah Svah Durgadevyai Namah
Pradakshinam Samarpayami॥

Conclude prayers with Kshamapana Mantra – seeking pardon from the Devi for any known or unknown mistakes done during Puja/ritual while chanting following Mantra:

Mantra Hinam Kriya Hinam Bhakti Hinam Sureshvari,
Yat Pujitam Maya Devi,
Paripurnam Tadastu Me.

Meaning; O’Devi, whatever little puja or worship that has been performed by me, although it is without devotion, without proper mantras, and without the proper performance, please let that become complete.

All prayers are whole only when performed from the heart – go without fear and realise all your dreams. Step out of your own way, so that you can reach the heights you set for yourself. May you discover the Devi within in the remaining days of these rituals. Many blessings to you and your family.

JAI MAA KALI

SUJATA NANDY WORLD GURUKUL

www.sujatanandy.com

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