According to Kalika Purana, one of the eighteen minor Puranas (Upapurana) in the Shaktism tradition of Hinduism, Kamakhya temple denotes the very spot where Sati retired in secret to satisfy her amour with Shiva. It is also the place where her ‘yoni’ (genitals) fell after Shiva did the ‘Tandav’ or the dance of destruction after Sati’s death.
The Yogini Tantra, a 16th or 17th-century tantric text, associates Kamakhya with Goddess Kali and emphasizes the creative symbolism of the yoni. As such the deity in Kamakhya denotes the ‘shakti’ within every woman - a woman’s power to conceive.
The other 10 temples dedicated to Shaktism atop Nilachal Hill
Apart from the well known Kamakhya temple, there are ten other major ‘shakti’ temples dedicated to the ten Mahavidyas of Shaktism. They are the ten different forms or ‘avatars’ of Parvati. These Mahavidyas are Kali, Tara, Sorashi, Bhubaneshvari, Bhairavi, Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi, and Kamala.
1. MAHAKALI: It is situated to the east of the Kamakhya temple, to the right of the steps leading to the main gate of the Kamakhya Devalaya premises. The deity’s earliest appearance is that of a destroyer of evil forces and is the most powerful form of Shakti. This form of the Devi is dark-skinned with disheveled hair wearing a garland of severed human heads. She holds a severed human head and a kharga (a large machete) in her left hand and a bormudra in her right hand. She has a half-moon on her forehead. Kali is portrayed as standing on her consort, Shiva, who lies calm and prostrate beneath her. She is also seen as the divine protector and the one who bestows moksha, or liberation.
2. TARA: It is located between the Mahakali and Kamakhya temple, right of the staircase. She is the 'Goddess of Wisdom', also called 'Nil Saraswati'. This avatar of Parvati guides and protects, and offers the ultimate knowledge that leads to salvation. The Devi is fair-skinned, three-eyed and has four hands. She holds a kharga, a kartarika, a severed human head and a water lily. She wears a garland of human heads and a tiger skin. Tara stands on a pyre. As Nil Saraswati she grants power of speech and as Tara she protects people from deep fear.
3. SORASHI: She is considered to be the most potent incarnation of Parvati and is the consort of Shiva. This is the main form of Maa Kamakhya. The Devi is as bright as the new sun. She holds a bow, arrow, rope and lasso in her four hands. She is seated in Mahakal's lap and is in a happy and satiated state of mind. Saroshi ensures the well-being of all living creatures.
4. BHUBANESHWARI: This temple is situated at the highest point of the Nilachal Hill. The Devi is depicted as the mother of the universe, whose Body is the Cosmos. The colour of the deity is compared to the rays of the sun at dawn. There is a half-moon on her forehead and She has three eyes. She holds a spear, a lasso, in two hands and the third and fourth hands are in the barmudra and abhaymudra gestures.
5. BHAIRAVI: The name Bhairavi means terror or awe-inspiring. She controls the changes taking place in the universe. Her skin colour is like that of the mid-morning sun. She is clad in red garment and holds a borda (large machete), a pushpak (book), japmala (prayer beads), and Her fourth hand is in abhaymudra gesture. She adorns a garland of human heads and her eyes are compared to that of a bright lotus. Devi Bhairavi has 13 different forms.
6. CHINNAMASTA: It is the first temple on the right as one takes the steps towards the main premises, right behind the Debottar board office. Chhinnamasta is a Goddess of contradictions. She symbolises both aspects of Devi: a life-giver and a life-taker. She represents death, temporality, and destruction as well as life, immortality and recreation. She is headless. The self-decapitated nude Goddess, stands on a divine copulating couple, Madan (Kam) and Rati. She holds her own severed head in one hand and a scimitar in another. Three jets of blood spurt out of her bleeding neck and are drunk by her severed head and two attendants, Bornini and Dakini. The deity is considered both a symbol of sexual self-control and an embodiment of sexual energy, depending upon interpretation.
7. DHUMAWATI: Dhumawati is described as a giver of supernatural powers, a rescuer from all troubles, and a granter of all desires and rewards, including ultimate knowledge and salvation. She is associated with things considered inauspicious and unattractive in Hinduism. She is depicted as a widow, pale skinned, tall, restless and wearing dirty clothes. She has rukhya eyes and holds weapons in three hands, with the fourth one in a bormudra gesture. She has a large ugly nose and a fearsome look. The Goddess is often depicted on a horseless chariot or riding a crow, usually at a cremation ground.
8. BAGALAMUKHI: Bagalamukhi symbolizes potent female primeval force. Devi Bagalamukhi smashes the devotee's misconceptions and delusions or the devotee's enemies with her cudgel. The word Bagala is derived from the word ‘Valga’ meaning bridle or 'to rein in'. She rides on a Bagula bird, which is associated with concentration. She is commonly known as Pitambari Maa, the Goddess associated with yellow colour or golden colour.
9. MATANGI TEMPLE: She is considered to be the tantric form of Saraswati. Matangi governs speech, music, knowledge and the arts. Her worship is prescribed to acquire supernatural powers, especially gaining control over enemies, attracting people to oneself, acquiring mastery over the arts and gaining supreme knowledge. She sits on a bejewelled throne, sports a white half-moon on her forehead and holds a kharga, khetsk, lasso and spear in her four hands.
10. KAMALA: She is the tantric Lakshmi. She wears a bejewelled crown and red garment. The Devi is seated on a lotus, holding two more in her two hands and her other two hands are in the bormudra and abhaymudra gestures. Four white elephants around her are seen performing abhisekh.
Both Matangi and Kamala are seated in the garba griha of the main temple, to the east of the yoni mudra pitha.
Apart from the above mentioned 'Dasamahavidya' temples, Nilachal Hill has five more temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. These are Siddheshwar, Kameshwar, Kotilinga, Amra Tokreshwar and Kedareshwar temples.
Also, there are the Joi Durga, Bana Durga, Namath Kali, Hanuman, Ganesh, Pandunath, Gadadhar and Sitala temples.
Lastly, there are the kundas or ponds which include Saubhagya kunda, Wrin Mochan kunda, Amrit kunda, Durga kunda, Gaya kunda and Kaso pukhuri.
It is believed that a round of the Nilachal Hill on foot is sure to help achieve complete salvation.
Source: Kamakhya Devalaya