It is nice to know about the temples dedicated to animals. Still, animal sacrifices are going on in the name of God. I think these temples stand as awareness to protect animals. At the same time, there are similar incidents of crowd casualties as mentioned in the Puri Jagannath temple. Recently there were casualties in the Varadharaja Perumal temple but that doesn't stop people from going there. It is people's behavior that led to this type of harm.
When you were all talking about the unusual temples, I came across one such temple which surprised me. Some of you may cringe or think that why she is mentioning something disgusting like that by the information I am going to say.
In the eastern part of India, nestled high up on the Nilachal hills is the temple of Kamkhya Devi, where the main idol of worship is the genital part of the Goddess. This temple worships the Goddess's vagina and celebrates menstruation and womanhood. The story behind this temple travels back to Land of Gods ie,.where Gods visit Earth often. Sati, wife of Lord Shiva attends the Yagna of her father despite Lord Shiva's warning. At the Yagna, Daksha, Sati's father humiliates her and Shiva badly. Not able to bear the insults, Sati commits suicide. In grief, Lord Shiva having Sati's dead body in his shoulder performs Tandava, the dance of destruction. Lord Vishnu seeing the effect it had on the people, cuts Sati's Body with his chakra. The shreds of the body fell into 108 places. These places were later called the 108 Shakthi Peeths. The part where the genital of Sati fell is the Kamkhya Temple situated.
This temple has a yearly festival, Ambubachi Mela during the month of Ahaar(June). At this time, it is believed that the Brahmaputra turns red, as an indication of the Goddess's annual menstruation cycle. The temple will be closed for three days at this time and there will be no puja or holy chants. On the fourth day, they open the temple in grandeur and bath the Goddess to remove the three-day impurity. This temple is also famous for black magic. Aghoris who were in hiding come out of their place and perform various magics and cure people who said to be captured by spirits.
- It is such an irony that the temple which celebrates menstruation is also the one who names it impure. Some women don't even want to say the word 'menstruation. Men look lost when people talk about it. Today's girls get irritated by the restrictions put before them at home for three days. Shopkeepers wrap the sanitary pad packets in the newspaper and give. I will say the rules were necessary back. Lend your ears before judging anything.
Every month of the cycle, the women's body undergoes many changes. Our body temperature will increase from normal temperature. There will be a different smell around from our normal unique ones. Germs will be around us 24/7 these days despite efforts to stay clean. Those days we weren't medically developed and even a slight scratch will lead people to death.
Knowing this, in precaution people made women sit and use things separately as they weren't aware of the germs, diseases that will come anytime. Women were stopped from going out during there mensus cycle because people will be there, germs could spread easily. I am not saying that we girls spread diseases. I am trying to convey those days anything could go wrong as there were no proper medical facilities.
Today, we solved and found many medical things. So it isn't a big thing like that were in those days. I meant to say that this isn't a thing to be ashamed, irritated, disgusted and embarrassed about. Every woman should realize this and embrace our strength. There's a medically proven fact that during the cycle women's body will be stronger, faster and every sense will be heightened. We should understand this and use it to our advantage. Men should also be made aware of all the things about this cycle.
Enjoy and Embrace womanhood and menstruation.
- S.Varshini
