Topic summary

Kamakhya

Kamakhya

Kamakhya (Assamese pronunciation:, Sanskrit: कामाख्या, romanized:Kāmākhyā), a mother goddess, is a ShaktaTantricdeity; considered to be the embodiment of Kama (desire), she is regarded as the goddess of desire. Her abode–Kamakhya Temple is located in the Kamarupa region of Assam, India. Originally a Kirata goddess, residing on Nilachal hills across the banks of the Brahmaputra River, west of Guwahati. The temple has origins dating to the 10th/11th century and was rebuilt in 1565 CE, she is worshiped in a non-iconic and un-anthropomorphic form of stone shaped like yoni fed by a perennial stream. The temple is primary amongst the 51 Shakta pithas, and is one of the most important Shakta temples.