Introduction
Kamakhya Shakti Peeta is considered as one of the powerful Shakti Peetas. It is one of the important seven Shakti Peetas as mentioned in Kalika Purana. Here the Yoni/Maha Mudra or the genital organ of the Devi has fallen. Devi is worshipped by several names such as Kamakhya, Kamagiri and Kamarupa. Lord Shiva is worshipped as Umananda.
Location
The Temple
The main temple has seven bee hive shaped Shikaras (gopuras), with each shikara (gopura) having a golden Trishula. The temple consists of three chambers known as Calanta, Pancaratna and Natamandira. The large and rectangular chamber facing west has an idol of Naga Mata, which the devotees seldom worship. In the South chamber is the idol of Devi Chamundeshwari. The Pancaratna or the middle chamber leads to the Garba Griha or the Sanctum Santorum. The Garba Griha is in the form of a cave with narrow steps dimly lit by oil lamps leading to the Yoni, where the fissure of rock is found and worshipped.
The Deity
Kamakhya Devi temple is a seat of Tantric worship. Goddess Kamakhya is popularly known as goddess of desire. Devi Kamakhya is worshipped as Maha Tripura Sundari, also called as Shodashi. In the middle chamber or Pancaratna of the temple, is an image of the deity who is depicted as a young goddess, sixteen years old with twelve arms and six heads (five looking front and one atop of them). The deity is seated on a lotus which emerges from the navel of the corpse of Lord Shiva, who is lying on top of a lion. The goddess is draped in a red sari and is decorated with red hibiscus flowers. She holds a lotus, a trident, sword, bell, discus, bow, arrows, club, goad and shield in each of her ten hands. In the remaining two, she holds a bowl made of gold or a skull.
In the Garba Griha is the fissure of a rock symbolising Yoni which is actually worshipped. A small spring underneath the rock keeps the Yoni or the rock always filled with water. All the rituals associated with the worship of Devi and Shiva are observed at the temple. The Yoni is worshipped facing North, although the temple is facing east. The rock is covered with a sari, decorated with flowers and vermillion. Goddess is worshipped according to Vamachar (left hand path or Tantric) and Dakshinachara (right hand path or the regular form of worship.) Flowers and sometimes animals such as goats, pigs, buffaloes etc are offered to the deity. Generally, female animals are not offered to the deity as a rule. During the ancient times, it was a Khasi or sacrificial site. Devotees come in droves and offer goats to appease Devi Kamakhya even to this day.
Puranic Reference
http://paleyil.hpage.co.in/shakthi-peethas_29566154.html
http://www.kamakhyatemple.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambubachi_Mela
http://www.shaktipeethas.org/ashtadasa/topic61.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamakshya
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatsayana
http://www.jaimaa.org/articles/a-historical-note-on-sri-sri-kamakhya-temple/
http://www.hindustanguide.com/Assam/tourism/temples.php
http://www.journeymart.com/de/india/assam/guwahati