Guwahati, Feb 6: Visiting the Maa Kamakhya temple in Assam’s capital town Guwahati will be a different experience in the days to come.
One of the most revered Shaktipeeth in the country, the Maa Kamakhya temple atop the Nilachal Hills Guwahati is set to wear a facelift soon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Assam on Sunday last laid the foundation stone of Maa Kamakhya Divyalok Pariyojana, also known as the Maa Kamakhya Access Corridor.
“I am sure Maa Kamakhya corridor will be a landmark initiative,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X after laying the foundation stone of the project.
Hundreds of devotees visit the revered Kamakhya temple every day. The Kamakhya Temple is also one of the oldest and most revered centres of Tantric practices, dedicated to the goddess Kamakhya. There are 51 Shaktipeethas across the country and Maa Kamakhya is considered one of them.
Maa Kamakhya is honoured as the embodiment of divine feminine power and fertility. According to the Kalika Purana, Kamakhya Temple denotes the spot where Sati used to retire in secret to satisfy her amour with Shiva, and it was also the place where her yoni (genitals, womb) fell after Shiva tandava (dance of destruction) with the corpse of Sati.
Kashi Vishwanath Dham and Shree Mahakal Mahalok have been transformative as far as the spiritual experience is concerned. Equally important is the fact that tourism is enhanced and the local economy gets a boost.
The official records said that the Maa Kamakhya Divyalok Pariyojana will likely replicate the Kashi-Vishwanath Temple Corridor in Varanasi. Officials said that the major renovation project will also bring to the fore six major temples in the Kamakhya complex, which are currently hidden from the larger public view and will be restored.
“At present the temple is connected through road. However, the renovation under the Maa Kamakhya Divyalok Pariyojana, the temple will be connected through a ropeway and there will also be a helipad,” said a senior official associated with the project.
According to the official, the pilgrims will witness wide open spaces around the temple. The Maa Kamakhya Divyalok Pariyojana also envisages increasing the carrying limit inside the temple premises to roughly 8,000-10,000 pilgrims from the current 4000.
“The corridor will likely to have Pravesh Prangan (corridor), Maa Chinnamasta Prangan, Maa Kamakhya Prangan and several pathways for the benefit of the devotees, the official said adding that the space around the temple, spanning three levels, will be increased to around 1,00,000 sq ft from the exiting 3,000 sq ft.
