The Kamakhya Temple, located atop the Nilachal Hill in Guwahati, Assam, is one of the most revered Shakti Peethas in India and a significant center of Tantric worship. Dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya, an incarnation of Shakti or Parvati, the temple is believed to be the spot where the womb and genitals of Goddess Sati fell when her body was dismembered by Lord Vishnu’s Sudarshan Chakra during the grief-stricken rage of Lord Shiva. Unlike most Hindu temples that house a deity in the form of an idol, the Kamakhya Temple enshrines a natural stone yoni (female genitalia) shaped depression, constantly moistened by an underground spring and symbolizing the creative power of the feminine divine. The temple’s origins are ancient, but the current structure was rebuilt in the 17th century by King Naranarayana of the Koch dynasty after being destroyed by earlier invasions. The architecture combines Nagara and local Assamese styles, with a beehive-shaped shikhara, sculpted panels, and a sanctum that radiates intense spiritual energy.

Kamakhya is particularly known for its deep association with Tantric rituals, and it is one of the very few temples in India where such esoteric practices are openly performed. The temple draws thousands of pilgrims, especially during the Ambubachi Mela, an annual four-day festival that celebrates the menstruation of the goddess, during which the temple is closed and devotees wait patiently for her “purification.” During this time, it is believed that the earth becomes fertile, and this symbolism draws both spiritual seekers and practitioners of tantra. Apart from this, other festivals such as Durga Puja, Manasha Puja, and Vasanti Puja are also celebrated with great devotion. The temple complex also includes ten other temples dedicated to the Mahavidyas, the ten forms of the goddess in tantric tradition. Kamakhya is not just a temple—it is a powerful spiritual center, a place of mystery and transformation, where divine feminine energy is celebrated in its rawest and most potent form. Nestled amidst the scenic beauty of the Nilachal Hills and overlooking the Brahmaputra River, the Kamakhya Temple continues to be a source of faith, mysticism, and divine strength for millions across India and the world.