What is yoni blood kamakhya temple?

The Kamakhya Temple in Assam, India, is dedicated to the goddess Kamakhya, a form of Durga. It's one of the most revered Shakti Peethas, holy sites dedicated to the divine feminine. What makes it unique is its association with the menstruating goddess.

The temple doesn't house a traditional idol of the goddess. Instead, in a dark, cave-like sanctum, there's a stone shaped like a yoni (vulva). This stone is the object of veneration.

The Ambubachi Mela is an annual festival held at the temple during the monsoon season. It's believed that the goddess Kamakhya menstruates during this time. For three days, the temple remains closed, and all agricultural activities are suspended. On the fourth day, the temple reopens, and the Prasad, a red-colored cloth soaked in the fluid from the yoni-shaped stone, is distributed to devotees. This fluid is often referred to as yoni blood.

The Ambubachi Mela attracts thousands of pilgrims, tantrics, and sadhus. It's a celebration of fertility, womanhood, and the power of creation. The ritual surrounding the presumed menstruation is a key part of the temple's significance and what sets it apart from other Hindu temples.