In the wake of rapid coronavirus outbreak, the Kamakhya Temple in Assam has decided to temporarily stop issuing special entry tickets and defence personnel special tickets from Thursday.
The price of special entry ticket is Rs 501 and that of the defence personnel special ticket is Rs 50.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
“In view of the epidemic spread of the Corona ‘COVID-19’ virus throughout the world, we on behalf of the Kamakhya Temple Management Committee have decided temporarily not to issue special entry ticket (501/-) as well as defence personnel ticket (50/-) from March 19, 2020,” stated a notification issued by the Doloi (Head) of Kamkhya Temple.
Also read: Coronavirus threat: Kamakhya Temple temporarily suspends daily ‘bhog’
The move comes just two days after the authorities of the temple has decided to temporarily stop the distribution of daily bhog (food offering) among the devotees as a precautionary measure against COVID-19.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
The temple administration is providing hand sanitizers to the devotees at the entry and exit points of the temple premises.
The floors and railings of the temple premises are being regularly washed and disinfected by the temple staff.
It may be mentioned that the Kamakhya Temple is one of the oldest of the 51 Shakti Pithas.
The shrine is dedicated to the ten Mahavidyas of Saktism — Kali, Tara, Sodashi, Bhuvaneshwari, Bhairavi, Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi and Kamalatmika.
The current structural temple was built and renovated many times the 8th and 17th century.
The temple consists of four chambers — garbhagriha and three mandapas, locally called calanta, pancharatna and natamandira aligned from east to west.
The inner sanctum, the garbhagriha, is below ground level and consists of no image but a rock fissure in the shape of a yoni (female genital).
The first epigraphic notice of Kamakhya is found in the 9th-century Tezpur plates of Vanamalavarmadeva of the Mlechchha dynasty.
Kamakhya is an important seat of Tantrikism. The Kalika Purana (10th century) was composed and Kamakhya soon became a renowned centre of Tantrik sacrifices, mysticism and sorcery.
Even today, Tantra is basic to worship, in the precincts of this ancient temple of Goddess Kamakhya. It is one of four primary shakti peethas.