Before discussing Ambubachi, I would like you, the reader, to count the number of times you were told things like menstruation is a sin or women become impure every month as a result of Satanic invocation etc. I bet you will lose count very soon.
Even in the 21st Century, people still have little to no idea about menstrual issues. Surveys have revealed that over 60% of Indian Girls and Women do not have access to proper hygiene during their periods.
People have stigmatized menstruation with impurity, Weakness and even diseases. Most religious people claim that Menstruation is a result of a Sin committed by women.
However, if you ask them what the sin is, they will not be able to answer.
The reason is simple – MENSTRUATION IS NOT A SIN. IT IS A NATURAL PHENOMENON.
Now, I don’t remember 12th grade Biology properly, but as much as I remember :
Menstruation is a natural biological phenomenon that happens to cisgendered women and trans men who choose to retain their female reproductive organs. It is an extremely important part of one’s life as it is the reason a person is born.
Each month, the Ovaries produce eggs that need to be fertilized within 72 hrs time. If fertilized, the uterus develops certain membranes and amniotic fluids to protect and nourish the fetus.
If the egg is not fertilized, the membranes that were developed during the egg production, gets destroyed and needs to released from the body. This is why every month, people who menstruate, bleed for 3-5 days thereby discharging the leftover membranes and other hormones and particles through the vagina.
People generally menstruate within the age range of 12/13yrs to 50 years. Once they are finished with menstruation for life, it is called as Menopause.
Now Coming to the stigma around it.
Almost similar to sex, menstruation has also been a taboo topic throughout the world.
Religious people have spread rumours of menstruation being a sin or Satanic influence etc.
In India, most women are isolated from their families during their periods. There are superstitions saying that if you touch a menstruating women , then you also menstruate. Women are not allowed in sacred rituals, in Kitchens, etc. They are not allowed to touch pickles or spices and so on.
The biggest irony here is that the religion that discriminates menstruating women so much(Hinduism), is also the one that celebrates the Menstruation of Women.
Every year, in the state of Assam, Ambubachi Mela is held to celebrate the menstruation of Goddess Kamakhya and the Earth herself.
The Kamakhya Temple in Assam is one of 51 Sati Peeths mentioned in the Sacred Hindu Texts. Although there are certain conflicts between the names or location of some of the peethas, one thing is common for each text – they all accept Kamkhya Dham as the most sacred and powerful of all Dhams.
Prajapati Daksha’s daughter Sati married Shiva without Daksha’s consent. Enraged with her actions, Daksha arranged a Yagna (fire ceremony), more specifically the Bajpey Yagna. This Yagna was performed to gain a son.
Daksha invited all Gods and Goddesses except Shiva and Sati. Sati heard of this from Devarshi Narada. Hearing of her father’s ignorance, Sati decides to go to her father’s Palace uninvited.
Shiva knew what was coming. He tried to warn Sati but she didn’t listen. Instead, she scared away Shiva by showing him the 10 Mahavidyas.
When Daksha saw Sati, he insulted her for her unwanted arrival. He then went on to insult Shiva in front of the crowd
Angered, frustrated and irritated with Daksha, Sati sacrificed herself in the sacred fire.
Shiva now lost his temper. He hold Sati on his shoulders and danced Tandav – his dance of destruction.
To avoid and protect the earth from his rage, Vishnu cut off Sati’s body in parts that fell all over the Indian subcontinent.
These places came to be known as Shakti Peethas – places where Shakti rules.
Sati’s Yoni(Vagina) fell in the wombs of Nil mountains near the Pragyotish. This place is now known as the Kamakhya Devi Davalay in Guwahati, Assam.
Out of all Sati Peethas, Kamakhya is the most special. After all, she is the embodiment of feminine power. She is worshipped as a vagina-shaped stone.
This temple is not only special for the mythological tales, but also the mysteries surrounding it. The main temple is devoid of any idol and a Yoni shaped Stone is worshipped as Goddess Kamakhya. Interestingly, the Yoni is always wet due to a natural spring coming out of it. Science has failed to explain why she emits water from her womb.
And more interestingly, once every year, the Goddess bleeds through her Yoni. Though real blood doesn’t come out, the water turns red for a particular duration of a year. Scientifically speaking, the iron oxide in the Water turns it red. But for Spiritual matters, it is far beyond that.
This happens in the month of Ashadh (Mid June – Mid July)
“Satoi Ashadh Ambubachi,
Ihar Nei Kono Panji Punji”
– Popular Bengali Rhyme regarding Ambubachi.
On the 7th day of Ashadh, the Sun god transcends to Adra Nakshatra in Aries. This marks the onset of Monsoon in East and North East India. This arrival of monsoon is celebrated as the Menstruation of the Goddess who herself represents Earth and by Menstruating, indicates her fertility being in full swing
Ambu means Water and Bachi means to seed. Ambubachi is essentially the seeding of the water and Nature. Ambubachi marks the Fertility of Nature. The Masculine God, represented by the Sky, ejaculates his sperm in the form of raindrops and The Feminine Goddess, represented by mother Earth accepts it thereby fertilizing her sacred womb.
This event is the central idea of Ambubachi.
Every year Kamakhya Temple in Assam celebrates the menstruation of mother earth during these 4 days of Ambubachi. Millions of people including devotees as well as gather here for the Ambubachi Mela. Sages who isolate themselves forever, even they reveal themselves.
Goddess Kamkakhya is portrayed as a 16-year-old girl with fully developed breasts. This indicates that she is not completely ready to physically bear a life. It is believed that the body of the Goddess is formed during Ambubachi. In these 4 days, she gains her full power and engages in her dance of creation and fertility thus creating new lives.
Temples remain closed during these days. The reason is to give privacy to the Goddess during her menstruating days. However, illiteracy and lack of proper education, people have stigmatized it into a taboo subject.
Farmers do not do their work in the fields as it involves hitting the Earth, thereby disturbing the Goddess during her periods.
This is a time of immense spiritual energy outburst. Tantriks and Aghoris utilize this time by engaging in spiritual activities. Many people come to Kamakhya Dham during this time to receive her divine blessings and also to share their insecurities with her. For she, is the divine mother.
Once her periods are over, the entire area is woven in a white fog to indicate that she is done.
Temples open on the 5th day with lots of celebrations. The cloth that is used to cover her, turns red and is distributed to her devotees.
Monsoon is celebrated throughout the country especially in Assam and Bengal. Ambubachi brings a season of joy along with her. Farms turn green after the dry summers. Rivers are full with sweet sparkling water of the fresh monsoon rains. People refresh themselves during this time to celebrate life and it’s endless possibilities.
Even in today’s world, cis-women and trans-men face problems during menstruation only because of some illogical and irrational stupid superstitions. And the funniest part is that a culture that celebrates menstruation, discriminates menstruating people only because of superstitions.
It is high time that we came out of these stupid superstitions and learned the truth. People need to be educated about menstruation and menstrual hygiene. I am writing this post for two different reasons – firstly to celebrate Ambubachi in my own way and Secondly, to use this platform to spread the word.
Menstruation is not a Sin. It is a natural biological process.
Let us pledge this Ambubachi, that going further, we will always be open to conversations regarding Menstruation and Menstrual hygiene. We will educate our younger and older generation about these topics so that the taboo surrounding menstruation is removed.
JAY MAA KAMAKHYA
JAY LAITA MAHA TRIPURA SUNDARI
JAY SHODASHI
Kamakhye Varade Devi Nil Parvat Vasini
Twang Devi Jagatang Maturyoni Mudre Namostute
Kamakhye Kamasampurne Kameswari Harapriye
Kamanang Dehi Me Nityang, Kameswari Namostute
The Rudy Phoenix 