| In Assam, the
Hindus worship it under the iconographical form of Manasa or Visahari, remover of poison.
In this form she is represented as a hand some female of golden colour with a snake as her
vahana, as well as a hood of kings of serpents over her head and body clothed in snakes.
However, in that festival offerings are made to her without any image being made. The
festival lasts for two or three days in which songs connected with Chand Sadagar are
recited.During this festival dances are arranged at the shrine of Kamakhya. The dancer is
called ‘Deodha’. The dancers live a
regulated life without taking non-vegetarian food and in constant meditation of their ista
devatas. It is believed that they see the goddess in their dreams a month prior to the
festival. While they are dancing, they are not conscious of, their surroundings and
perform certain acts of chivalry like ’walking on the sharp edge of a sword without
any injury to their person. Their predictions are regarded trustworthy. As mentioned
before, Manasa is also worshipped during times of pestilence and disease. She is then
invoked as the goddess Marai. Buffaloes, goats, pegions are sacrificed before her. During
her worship the songs are sung with proper musical instruments and dancing movements.The
temple of the goddess Kamakhya occupies a unique place in the religious life of the
people.
The Devi is worshipped both according to the right hand and the
left-hand methods. There are no restrictions to foreigners about the mode of worship ping
the Devi and they may worship her according to their native rites and ceremonies. Animals,
except the female ones, are slaughtered at the altars of the temple even at present. The
temple derives much of its income from its own landed property. A portion of the income is
also derived from the contributions of the devotees, although no official figure is
available. The expenses connected with festivals and the general expenses as well are met
from out of the temple funds. |
