Ambubachi Mela

Prelims Bits

 

Context

Thousands of devotees are participating in the Ambubachi Mela at the Kamakhya Temple in Assam, an important annual religious festival.

What is Ambubachi Mela?

• Meaning:
  • “Ambubachi” translates to “water flowing”, symbolizing fertility and the Earth’s cycles.
• Occasion:
  • Held annually in June at the Kamakhya Temple, Assam
  • Marks the menstruation period of Goddess Kamakhya
  • Celebrated as part of Tantric fertility worship
• Cultural Significance:
  • Symbolises the onset of monsoon
  • Reinforces the Earth as a fertile woman, a concept found in many agrarian cultures
  • Reflects deep Tantric and Shakta traditions of India
• Ritual Practices:
  • Temple is closed for 3 days during the goddess’s menstruation
  • Farming activities are avoided during this period
  • Thousands of ascetics, sadhus, and devotees gather — making it one of Eastern India’s largest religious congregations

About Kamakhya Temple

• Location:
  • Situated on Nilachal Hill, Guwahati, Assam
  • Lies on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River
• Architecture:
  • Built in the Nilachala style, which combines Nagara and Mughal architectural elements
• Religious Significance:
  • One of the 51 Shakti Peethas — the site where Goddess Sati’s yoni is believed to have fallen
  • Instead of an idol, the temple houses a yoni-shaped stone and a natural spring
• Presiding Deity:
  • Goddess Kamakhya (Kameswari) — associated with fertility, desire, and power
  • Central to Tantric Shaktism, especially the Kulachara tradition
• Historical Background:
  • Reconstructed in 1565 by Koch king Naranarayan after being destroyed, possibly during Hussein Shah’s 1498 invasion
  • Mentioned in Kalika Purana and Yogini Tantra, signifying ancient textual importance
  • Represents a synthesis of Aryan and tribal belief systems