Menstruation is common among women. India is the country
where number of God and Goddesses are worshipped and a few temples believe that
the Goddesses undergo menstruation once in a while. Though there has
been no scientific confirmation to these beliefs, the roots for the same are
traced back to historic stories. Let’s take a look at the temples where the
goddesses are said to undergo menstruation and they have made latest
news updates often for it's uniqueness. Interestingly, these
temples are situated in two corners of India, based on the same story.
Kamakhya Temple, Gawahati:
Kamakhya Temple is situated about 8km from Gawahati Railway
Station. This temple is known to be one of the 51 Shakthi Peethas in India.
Shakthi Peethas are the places where the body parts of Lord Parvathi fell after
she committed suicide in the Yagna when Daksha, her father insulted Lord Shiva.
It is believed that the female part of the body fell at Kamakhya temple.
This place is also popularly known as ‘Yoni Peeta’. It was
actually Kamadeva who found out this place and so the name Kamakhya (place
where Kamadeva is worshipped)
The origin of the Temple:
The temple was built by King Narayanan of Cooch Behar. It was
built in the year 1665 A.D. It has three oval shaped Kopuras and is open from
morning 8 till dawn. It is closed for few hours during noon.
What is menstruation Festival?
The Yoni statue of Parvathi Devi is kept in small pond inside
the sanctum. It is believed that every year on the 7th day of Asad month the
small pond turns red and it happens so because coz the Goddesses
is undergoing menstruation during that time. Though there has been no
scientific proof about how it is happens. A few also say that the priests
put Kumkum powder in the pond and it turns red. During the same, the temple is
closed and is later opened with a great festival
That’s not just the only temple, around 40 km from Kottayam ,
Kerala Chengannur Bagawathy Amman temple also they believe in
the menstruation of Goddesses. The belief is absolutely same as
Kamakhya Temple. It is amazing that, two temples situated 1000 of Kms away from
each other and the belief that the body part of Parvathi fell there.
According to a belief, it is said that the Goddesses in the
temple is not Parvathi but she is Kannagi. She is the one who burned the
Madurai city as her husband was wrongly sentenced by the king. After the
Mudarai city was burned she came to Chengannur and attainted peace in the place
where the temple is currently situated.
Realizing it was Kannagi, a hunter women worshipped her and made
a small statue in mud. Later, Chera King Senguttuvan constructed this temple.
Menstruation for Chengannur
Amman:
It is believed that one day when the priest came to change the
flower for the Goddesses, he saw blood patches on Amman’s clothes. This cloth
was shown to the ladies of Vanchi Puzhathu Madam as well as the land lady of
the house of Thazhaman pothy. Both of them confirmed that Goddess was
undergoing periods. Later, they kept the statue of goddesses in a room in
the north eastern part of the temple for three days. Women from Vanchi Pazhathu
madam and Thazhaman Pothy houses accompany during those days. During
this menstruation time a special cloth called 'Thiru Poothu' is worn
by the goddesses. After the menstruation is over, Goddesses is taken
out secretly in a procession on an elephant, given holy bath in the river
Mithra by the women from those two houses.
This ritual is been followed for generations now. It is said
that now a days goddesses undergoes menstruation for three to four
times a year.
Then after that is kept inside the sanctum after a big festival.
everyday the temple is opened on early morning 3:30 am till 11:30 and
its opened at 5pm and kept open till 8pm.
