One of the most persistent mythologies concerning the origin of worship at the site is associated with the myth of Sati. The goddess Sati burned herself during the sacrificial fire at her father Daksha Prajapati's abode, because her father was scornful of her husband, the ascetic god Shiva.
According to one version of the story, Shiva threw the body of Sati over his shoulder, flew into a rage, and began his Dance of Death to bring about the destruction of the universe. The other Gods, afraid of their annihilation, implored Vishnu pacify Shiva. Thus, wherever Shiva wandered while dancing, Vishnu followed. He dared not come close to the terrible Shiva, so he sent his discus Sudarshana to destroy the corpse of Sati. Pieces of her body fell until Shiva was left without a body to carry. Seeing this, Shiva sat down to do great penance.
There are supposedly 51 pieces of Sati scattered across the Indian subcontinent. Her yoni (vulva or womb) is said to have fallen on the spot where the Kamakhya Temple stands today, and hence the spot has a preeminent status among the Mother Goddess' temples. When the yoni of Sati fell on the hill where the temple stands, the hill turned blue and came to be known as Nilachal or Blue Mountain.Kamakhya, the Goddess/yoni, exists in the main shrine as a large cleft in the bedrock, covered by water flowing upward from an underground spring, generally covered by a red cloth, flowers, and red sindur powder.There is no idol image of Devi Kamakhya in the Kamakhya Temple but there is a sculptured image of the Yoni of the very Goddess, which is the main object that creates reverence. The temple basically is a natural cave with a spring. Down a few steps inside the hill into the cave there is a dark, mysterious chamber. Here, wrapped with a silk sari and covered with flowers, is kept the 'Mahamudra matra yoni'.
The fine road, which can be used for light vehicular traffic and the stone pathway, connect the foot of the hill with the top. Buses ply every 10 or 15 minutes from Guwahati to the foot of the hill from where one can go to the top by taxies that are readily available at the bus stop.
Kamakhya as the place is popularly known, is reckoned to be the most significant pilgrimage in the east. It is a pilgrimage to the Mother Goddess from whom springs forth all material and ethereal creation. Kamakhya is also the home of the most respected school of Tantra believed by the followers of the Tantric path to be a shortcut to salvation.
From the foothills of Nilachal there are two ways of traveling to the top. One is a small metalled serpentine road where vehicles ply. The other is a steep climb meant to be covered only by foot. This steep path is known by its ancient name, Mekhela Ujua Path. It goes through lush green canopied paths with various temples and stone structures and rock carvings on the way. It is believed that this path was built in a single night by the demon King Narakasura of Pragjyotishpur, the name of ancient Assam, to fulfill the Goddess Kamakhya’s wishes as a precondition to fulfill his ambition to marry her. The Goddess ultimately frustrated his ambition by tricking him when she showed him an artificial morning just when he was about to complete the construction of the path. Many such legends abound about Kamakhya.
From Kamakhya the next move is generally taken to Kachapukhuri. This is a natural pond full of turtles. Nobody knows as to how, when, why and who brought these amphibians from the plains to so high an altitude.
Around Kamakhya there are other temples of which the Bhutanese Tara temple and the shrine of the snake Goddess, Manasa, are more frequented. Manasa is menacingly dark because as soon as lights are fixed on, they immediately get fused.
Further up the hill, Bhubaneswari temple is situated at the highest point of the hill and offers a spectacular view of the city and the Brahmaputra river.
