Kamakhya Devi and two other Shakti Peethas in Assam and Tripura;[Five Shakti Peethas in Bangla desh]

Kamakhya:Kameswarim cha Kamaakhyaam Kamarupa nivaasinim, Tasmaat kanchana shamkaashaam taam namaami Sureshwarim/ Devi Purana elaborating the details of Shakti Peethas highlights Devi Kamakhya at Kama rupa (Assam) and signifies the Kamakhya Devi states that she shines like the molten gold colour and salutes her to bestow blessings. Kamakhyaa paramam Tirtham Kamaakhyaa paramam tirtham Kamaakhyaa paramam tapah, Kamakhyaa paramo dharmah kamakhyaa paramaaa gatih/ (Kamakhya Devi is the Parama Tirtha, Parama Tapas, Parama Dharmam and Parma Gati) Kama Rupi Kamakhya Devi Mandira is the foremost of Shakti Pithas as got materialised on account of Vishnu Chakra’s slicing off Devi Sati’s Yagna Swarupa as its various mortal remains scattered  off in various directions of Bharata Desha and around especially at Kamarupa as her private part. Yatra sakshaat Bhagavati swayameva vyavasthitaa, Tatra gatwaa Maha peethe snatwaa lohitya vaarini, Brahmahaapi narah sadyo muchyate bhavabandhanaat/( Bhagavati herself is manifested in this Kamakhya Swarupa Tirtha and hence we should worship Her by reciting the opening Prayer as above. Kamakhya Mandir is on the hill top, presumed as on Nila Parvat. Yantra Scripts of the yore describe Kamarupa is to be considered as a triangular shape of Karatoya River and Brahma putra. Kamakhya Devi’s Siddhapeeth is indeed famed as unique far more significant than even Shri Peeth, Ratna Peeth, Vishnu Peeth, Brahma Peeth and Rudra Peeth. Kamakhya Mandir was rebuilt by Cooch Bihar Kings Vishwa Singh and Shiva Singh as Kaala Mountain got partly destroyed in 1564 AD and the then original Mandir was known as Anandaakhya. Devi Bhagavata Purana in its seventh Skandha- 38th Adhyaya asserted that in the whole Bhu Mandala the Kamakhya Mandir was noted as the Singular Maha Kshetra. Returning from Mountain to Gauhati, yatris travel by dhows or steamers to visit Umananda Murti called locally as Bhairava as the Protector of Kamakhya Devi. In Assam itself, there is Shivasagara township where Muktinatha Swayambhu Shiva Linga is popular. Parashurama Kund  is also well known where Parashurama washed off his ‘Matru hatya Paataka’ or killing his own mother- Devi Renuka, as advised by his father Jamadagni Maharshi at whose instruction itself Parshurama executed the killing; as Jamadagni who eventually brought Renuka to life by his Mantra Shakti, asked Parashurama: Tasmaat twam Brahma kundaaya snaatun cha tajjale/ Apparently Brahma putra commenced its travel in Bharat from that Brahma Kunda itself and hence Parashurama washed his Parashu or axe there with which he killed his mother, and thus Brahma Kund got renamed as Parashurama kunda; Brahmaputra basically originates in Tibet. Shaalabadi in the Jalpaigudi District in the banks of Tistaa River where Devi Satis’s left foot fell and is among the Shakti Peethas! In Tripura State there is a renowned Tripura Sundari Mandir at Radha kishorepur and this again is a Shakti Peetha where Devi Sati’s right foot fell. Further at Baavurbhag near Shillong, the left thigh fell at the Jayanti Devi Mandir on the Jakantika Mountain.

[Five Shakti Peethas are also identified in Bangla desh: Sita Kund: Near the hill top called Sita kund, near raiway station also named by the same name in Chatgaon dt. there is a hot water spring and a km. away on the Chandrasekhar hill the Devi Mandir is a Shakti Peeth where Sati Devi’s right hand fell. At Bhavani pur near Bogra station, Devi Bhavani Mandir is a Shakti Peetha where Sati Devi’s left ear fell. From Khulna Station on the banks of Sugandha River some 9 km away at Shikarpur is Ugratara Devi Mandir where Sati Devi’s nose fell. In Khulna Dt itself is Ishwaripur at Ishwari Mandir Sati Devi’s left palm fell. Yaajpur on River Vaitarini considered as Naabhi Gaya Kshetra is Viraja Devi Mandir and Devi Viraja seated on a lion at the Mandir and Vidwans consider this as the Shakti Sthaan where Ravana did tapasya at Trilochana Shiva Mandir nearby too, as Sati Devi’s navel fell.]

Sri V.D.N.Rao and Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham

Kamakoti.org presents the Essence of Puranas in English, condensed by Sri. V.D.N.Rao, devotee of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Compiled, Composed and Interpreted by V.D.N.Rao, Former General Manager, India Trade Promotion Organisation, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India The author can be contacted at [email protected]