Kāmarūpa Mahāpīṭha
Kāmarūpa Mahāpīṭha
4 Ādi Śaktipīṭhas Series (last post)
Introduction:—
The final or 4th sacred seat among 4 Ādi Śaktipīṭhas (primordial seats of Śakti) is Kāmarūpa Śaktipīṭha. Kāmarūpa is a very famous Śākta shrine. It is mentioned in almost all of the lists of Śākta shrines in ancient Scriptures. Goddess Kāmākhyā (who was previously known as Kubjikā) is the residing goddess of this seat. Goddess Dākṣāyaṇī's Yonī (Vulva) was fallen here. She's recognised as the menstruating Goddess.
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| Kubjika Devi |
The earliest name of this place, known to both early Hindu and Buddhist sources, is Kāmaru. The term 'Kāmaru' is obviously a tribal and pre-vedic term. The Sanskritized form 'Kāmarūpa' is easily derivable from it. This place has a great importance for the early Śākta traditions. This is because of its association with Matsyendranātha, the reputed originator of the Kaula teachings. He was a bengali fisherman . He went to Kāmarūpa and did penance through Kaulācāra.
Kāmarūpa Ādipīṭha:—
Kāmarūpa is the final primordial Śaktipīṭha.
ओड्डियाणं जालन्धरं पूर्णं वै कामरुपकम् ।
गगनानन्ददेवञ्च स्वर्गानन्दं सवर्गकम् ॥ १९ ॥
[[ Reference — Agni Purāṇa:Ch 144]]
It is also known as Kāmikāpīṭha, Mahocchuṣma, Prāgajyotiṣa Pīṭha and Nīlaparvata.
In pursuance of the Devī Bhāgavata Purāṇa, the residing goddess of Kāmarūpa is Kāmākhyā Devī. She is united with Bhairavī in DBP.
श्रीमत्त्रिपुरभैरव्याः कामाख्यायोनिमण्डलम् ।
भूमण्डले क्षेत्ररत्नं महामायाधिवासितम् ॥ १५॥
नातः परतरं स्थानं क्वचिदस्ति धरातले ।
प्रतिमासं भवेद्देवी यत्र साक्षाद्रजस्वला ॥ १६॥
तत्रत्या देवताः सर्वाः पर्वतात्मकतां गताः ।
पर्वतेषु वसन्त्येव महत्यो देवता अपि ॥ १७॥
तत्रत्या पृथिवी सर्वा देवीरूपा स्मृता बुधैः ।
नातः परतरं स्थानं कामाख्यायोनिमण्डलात् ॥ १८॥
[[ Reference — Devī Bhāgavata: 7th Book : Chapter 38]]
The Yonīmaṇḍala Kāmākhyā, the place of Devī Tripura Bhairavī, the excellent of all the places in this earth, where the Devi Mahāmāyā always dwells. There is no other place better than this on the earth. Here the Devi becomes every month in Her course of menstruation and where the virtuous men are seen.
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| Kamakhya Devi Sculpture |
Now, who is Kāmākhyā ?
श्रीशिव उवाच
कामार्थमागता यस्मान्मया सार्धं महागिरौ । कामाख्या प्रोच्यते देवी नीलकूटे रहोगता ॥१॥
[[Reference — Kālikāpurāṇa : Chapter 62]]
Goddess Mahāmāyā, who went along with me (Śiva) to the great Nīla mountain for the great intercourse, is known as Kāmākhyā.
Many Kaula traditions that link this site with such an important figure and its persistent identification with Kāmākhya (modern Gauhati) in Assam lend credibility to the correctness of this identification.
Location of Kāmarūpa Mahāpīṭha:—
The Kuladīpikā Tantra points the location of the Kāmarūpa Pīṭha in the eastern side of Bhārata.
कामरूपं लिखेत् पूर्वे कोलगिर्यं तु दक्षिणे ।
~Kuladīpikā Tantra : 2nd Chapter
The Śrīmatottara Tantra provides us a clear vision of the location of this sacred seat.
नीलस्योत्तरदिग्भागे ह्रदयस्य परमेश्वरी । महोच्छुष्मवनान्तस्था कामपीठाधिकारिणी ॥९१
[[ Reference — Śrīmatottara Tantra: Chapter 3 ]]
The Supreme Goddess (Parameśvarī) resides to the north of lake Nīla within the Mahocchuṣma forest and has authority over the sacred seat of Kāma.
Kālikāpurāṇa states Goddess Kāmākhyā as the dweller of Nīla mountain — Nīlaparvatavāsinī. The Nīla mountain got it's name from the lake Nīla. The Nīla mountain was covered by Mahocchuṣma forest.
Cause of naming Kāmarūpa :—
As per the Kubjikāmata Tantra, the forest Mahocchuṣma was named from the name of Ucchuṣmā river. It says,
एवमुक्त्वा गता शीघ्रं यत्रोच्छुष्मा नदी शुभा ॥ ८२ ॥
महोच्छुष्मवनान्तस्था दिव्यादिव्यौघवाहिनी ।
महोच्छुष्मह्रदं यत्र यत्र नीलो महाह्रदः ॥ ८३ ॥
[[Reference — Kubjikāmata Āgama : 2nd Chapter]]
Meaning — Having said this, Kālikā quickly went (to the place) where the auspicious river Ucchuṣmā flows. It is in the Mahocchuṣma forest and transports the Divine and Mortal Currents of the transmission. The goddess, endowed with the attributes of the divine Command, sports there where the lakes Mahocchuṣma and Nīla are located.
Thereafter,
She had enjoyed herself for some time on the banks of both lakes, she whose limbs are the universe and the principles of existence, gazed upon the goddess of the place. She was made haughty by the enjoyment of passion (kāmabhogakṛtātopā) and burnt with the fire of the Lord of Love (vasantatilaka). Herself melting with desire (icchayā), she caused the three worlds to melt with that same desire.
Then Kālikā, the daughter of Himavāna, said to her form, the residing goddess of this Pīṭha,
कामानन्दफलावाप्तिस्तेन कामेश्वरी भव ।
कारुण्यात्कामरूपं तु ममाग्रे विविधं कृतम् ॥ ८९ ॥
तेनेदं कामरूपं तु महत्पीठं तवाध्वरम् ।
भविष्यति कलौ प्राप्ते चन्द्रानन्दः पतिस्तव ॥ ९० ॥
Meaning — Well done, passionate one! I am pleased with what you have shown me everywhere around. By virtue of this, be Kāmeśvarī, the embodiment of the attainment of the fruit of the bliss of passion. Out of compassion, the manifold form of passion (kāmarūpa) has been fashioned before me. And so this will indeed be Kāmarūpa (the Form of desire or passion), the great sacred seat and your sacrificial rite. When the Age of Strife (kaliyuga) comes your consort (pati) will be Candrānanda.
So, according to the Kubjikāmata Tantra, Kāmākhyā's consort is Candrānanda Śiva.
Mention of Kāmarūpa in the Śāstras:—
As we said, the numerous Śāstras mention this shrine, we're showing some early Śākta texts for revealing the ancient cult of Kāmākhyā.
In the list of 51 Śaktipīṭhas (depicted in Lalitopākhyāna, Yoginī Hṛdaya Tantra, Meru Tantra, Ācārya Brahmānanda's Śāktānanda Taraṅginī) Kāmarūpa is described as the first Pīṭha.
According to the Ambāmata Saṃhitā, the residing goddess is addressed as Manodbhavā.
मनोद्भवां कामरूपे काद्यखट्वाङ्गधारिणीम् । कामेश्वरसमोपेतां नित्यं नौम्य् अभयङ्करीम् ॥
[[Reference:— Ambāmata Saṃhitā: Pīṭha Stava]]
Almost the same Śloka is depicted in the Manthānabhairava Āgama —
मनोद्भवां कामरूपे काद्यखट्वाङ्गहस्तिकाम् । कामेश्वरसमोपेतां नित्यं नौम्यपराजिताम् ॥ ९३
[[Reference:— Manthānabhairava Tantra: Kumārikā Khaṇḍa : Pīṭha Stava]]
Salutations to the Goddess Manodbhavā, who dwells in the Kāmarūpa. She holds scull and Khatvāṅgā. The undefeatable goddess resides with her consort Kāmeśvara.
Niśisañcāra Tantra, Yoginī Tantra, Uttara Tantra also describe this Pīṭha. The Kāmākhya Tantra is totally dedicated to this shrine. Kāmākhya or Kubjikā's pauranik portrayals are available in Agni Mahāpurāṇa, Mahābhāgavata Upapurāṇa and Kālikā Upapurāṇa.
In the ancient periods, the term "Kāmākhyā" wasn't used regularly, instead of this, the term "Kubjikā" was used in numerous times. But yes, "Kāmākhyā" term is also available in the ancient Śāstras. The Manthānabhairava Āgama says in the iconographical depiction of Kubjikā,
कामेश्वरीति कामाख्ये कामरूपे स्वयंभुवे । कामपीठान्तरावस्थे कामरूपे नमामिते ॥ ५ ॥
बिन्दुमध्याद् विनिष्क्रान्ते कामेश्वरि भगालये । गुप्तकामाख्यगुह्यान्ते महासिद्धैरलंकृते ॥६ ॥
[[ Reference:— Manthānabhairava Tantra: Kumārikā Khaṇḍa: 29th Ānanda ]]
Meaning :— O self-born one! (You are) Kāmeśvarī (the Mistress of Passion) and Kāmākhyā (who fulfills all desires). O the dweller of Kāmarūpa Pīṭha! I salute you.
O Kāmeśvarī! you have emerged from the centre of the Point! Abode of the Yoni in the cave of the hidden Kāmākhya! You're adorned by great Siddhas.
It also states,
कामाख्ये समया प्रोक्ता पीठदेवी च पूर्णके ।
योगिसंज्ञा च ओंकारे मुद्रात्रितयमण्डले ॥३१॥
~Same chapter
In Kāmākhyā she is called Samayā; in Pūrṇaka she is Pīṭhadevī (the Goddess of the Sacred Seat); (in the sacred seat of) OM she is called 'Yogi'; (these are the three) in the Maṇḍala of the Three Gestures.
Iconography:—
Goddess Kāmākhyā has numerous iconographies. Example:— 1 headed 4 handed, 1 headed 2 handed, 4 handed and sitting on the Pañcapretāsana, 6 headed 12 handed . Her most famous iconography has 6 heads and 12 hands. This iconography was evoluted for a long time. The ancient traces of this iconography are available in Agni Purāṇa , Manthānabhairava Tantra and the tantras of Kubjikā Krama. The later versions of this iconography are depicted in Yoginī Tantra, Kālikāpurāṇa etc. Kāmākhya's 6 heads are signifying 6 Āmnāya.
1) Uppermost head : The goddess Parā (परा). It is as white as milk and signifies Ūrdhvāmnāya, Trika Philosophy, Saubhāgyakrama.
2) North-east : Mālinī (मालिनी). She's as fair as conchshell and moon.
3) Eastern face: Siddhayogeśvarī (सिद्धयोगेश्वरी). Her skin tone is yellowish white. She's the residing goddess of Pūrvāmnāya.
4) Southern face: Kālikā (दक्षिणाकाली). This face is terrible (raudra) with large protruding teeth. It is like a dark blue lotus. She represents Ahora mārga.
5) Northern face: Tripurabhairavī (त्रिपुरभैरवी). This face is red like a pomegranate flower. It is round like the full moon, peaceful and gives bliss. She represents the Uttarāmnāya and Vāmācāra (left hand tantrik path) .
6) Western face : Umā / Pārvatī (उमा). She represents Paścimāmnāya. Her skin tone is white.
In the Kālikāpurāṇa, these limbs has become respectively, Caṇḍā(चण्डा), Māheśvarī (माहेश्वरी), Kāmākhyā (कामाख्या), Tripurā (त्रिपुरा), Kāmeśvarī (कामेश्वरी) and Śāradā (शारदा).
Kāmākhyā cult outside of Assam :—
The Kubjikā cult spread out in Nepāla, Vaṅgadeśa, Samataṭa regions. Kubjikā's cult made many changes in the cult of Guhyakālī (Nepāla Kālīkula). The Himavat Khaṇḍa of Skanda Mahāpurāṇa gives us a beautiful details of the Kāmarūpa.
स्कन्दोवाच
कामाचलस्य माहात्म्यं प्रवक्ष्याम्यधुना मुने। तस्य श्रवणमात्रेण कोटितीर्थफलं लभेत् ॥१॥
[[ Reference:— Skanda Mahāpurāṇa: Himavat Khaṇḍa: Chapter 33]]
Lord Kārtikeya said to sage Agastya,"Oh great sage! Now hear the glorifications of Kāmācala. By hearing this, one can attain the fruit of travelling crores of pilgrimage sites."
The Himavat Khaṇḍa states that Kāmapīṭha is situated near the banks of Yogadhārā and Brahmaputra rivers.
Goddess Vatsaleśvarī (वत्सलेश्वरी) is revered in the valley of Kathmandu. As the first chapter of the Skanda Purāṇa's Nepāla Māhātmya says,"स्थिता सा वत्सला तत्र वाग्वत्याः सरितस्तटे" . In the sacred Tantrik texts of Nepāla, Goddess Vatsaleśvarī or Bachaleshwari (बछलेश्वरी) is mentioned as Mahākāmākhyā (महाकामाख्या) which is supplying the existence of Kubjikā cult in Nepal.
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| Vatsaleahwari Devi |
Nepal and Assam regions observe the Kulādi Durgā Krama (कुलादि दुर्गा क्रम) which has a deep connection with Kubjikā Krama. The residing goddess of this krama is Kubjikādurgā (कुब्जिकादुर्गा). Her images are reserved in the Tāleju Bhavānī temple.
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