Abstract
The role of women in Pre- Ahom and Ahom society could be regarded in the broader environment within the ambit of sacred space dedicated to them. Kamakhya temple, situated near Guwahati, Assam is the most profound illustration of the sacred space of women. It is celebrated as one of the renowned centres of Tantra in India in general and Assam in particular. It has established itself not only as an eminent Tantric centre but also as a menstruating Goddess. However, menstruation has been treated as a taboo since the earliest times in various religious texts. It represented the image of impurity and pollution and was dubbed as hot and dangerous. However, in Kamakhya temple, annual menstruation of the goddess is celebrated as a festival. In June every year, Ambubachi Mela represents one of the chief celebrations of the temple. The paper attempts to analyze the theme of menstruation, placing it in the border context of Kamakhya. The article also highlights the unrestricted movement of women in the pre- Ahom and Ahom society owing to its characteristics of the tribal bearing. The study claims that the inherent dichotomy of pure-impure, auspicious- inauspicious becomes unfitting in the case of Kamakhya and her annual menstruation festival. This specifics could pave the way to identify the theme of menstruation as a lone entity beyond the dichotomy which might aid in offering a fresh understanding of the same. The study employs the mixed methodology of hermeneutics and feminist theology.
Highlights
Assam, situated in the North- East of India, is a part of the historical narrative in association with the Tantric tradition
It can hardly be overlooked that the women question is one of the key features in the tantric tradition
‘Among the Mongoloid tribes, women had far greater freedom in marriage, divorce, and other matters than we find in orthodox Hindu society’
Summary
Assam, situated in the North- East of India, is a part of the historical narrative in association with the Tantric tradition. We find the worship of the goddess in its Tantric forms.[1] It has habitually been referred to as a dangerous and mystic land, which was surrounded by strange events like black magic, witchcraft and human sacrifice. That ‘The temple of Kamakhya at Guwahati is one of the most sacred shrines of the Shakti Hindus and the whole country is framed in Hindu traditions as a land of magic and witchcraft.[2] it would be incorrect to deny Assam as a mystic and exotic land, but not dangerous. The Kamakhya temple and Mayong, the land of magic have made ample contributions to categorize Assam as a mystic land
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