About Kamrupa Kamakhya — Heritage, Scholarship & Devotion
About kamrupkamakhya.org
The website has been conceptualized and developed by Bandana Sarma & Rajib Sarma, who are descendants of a hereditary Chandipathak Priest family of the Kamakhya Temple, Purnabhishek Sadhakas of the Kulachara Tantra Marga Tradition of Kamakhya, as a part of the vision, mission and objective of Foundation for History and Heritage Studies (FHHS) established by them in 2007.
This website promotes aspects related to the vision, mission and objective of the organization on the History & Heritage, Religious Tradition & Philosophy, and Sacred Landscape of the Kamakhya Group of Temples and the temples of erstwhile Kamrup.
The Kamakhya Temples' Complex endeavours to provide the most reliable and detailed information and best possible help, assistance, guidance, and support to the aspirants of Kaula Tantra, pilgrims, devotees, tourists, practitioners of various streams of tantrism, students, scholars, and researchers on the Kamakhya Group of Temples and the temples of erstwhile Kamrup.
About Rajib Sarma
A practicing hereditary Chandipathak Priest of Kamakhya Temple and a Purnabhisheka Sadhaka in the Kulacara Tantra Marga of the Kamakhya Temples' Complex.
KRISHI VISHARAD SAMMAN
Received the Krishi Visharad Samman from the Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India for the contribution towards conservation, management and sustainable utilization of Agro-biodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) of the North-Eastern Region of India.
Memberships and Foundations
- Life Member of North East India History Association (NEIHA); Institute of Historical Studies and Pachimbanga Itihas Samsad.
- Conceptualized and established "Foundation for History and Heritage Studies" as a research organization, reference library & archive in 2007 (www.kamakhya.org).
- Founded "Centre for Tantra Studies" as a Research Organization in 2017 (www.kamakhyatantra.org).
- Founded "Foundation for Development Integration" as a field-based research organization in 1998.
- Co-Founder and Advisor of International Centre for Tantrik Research (www.tantricresearch.org).
Guidance for International Scholars
Providing research assistance and guidance to international PhD scholars and Post Graduate students since 2005 and delivering Guest Lectures for the Post Graduate students of the Department of Philosophy and Religion, California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), San Francisco, CA, USA.
Major Projects and Initiatives
British Library Endangered Archives Programme
Partner and Collaborator in a Project under the ENDANGERED ARCHIVES PROGRAMME sponsored by the British Library.
Agro-biodiversity & Ethnobotany Research
Actively involved in research-based projects related to conservation, management, sustainable utilization and mainstreaming of Agrobiodiversity, Plant Genetic Resources and Ethnobotany since 1998 — sponsored by UN Environment (UNEP), Global Environment Facility (GEF), Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT, ICAR, UGC, Dept. of Biotechnology, and Dept. of Science & Technology.
"WHO IS BAUL" Documentary Film
Created a research-based documentary feature film titled "WHO IS BAUL" in collaboration with Vikram Sampath, PhD (Sahitya Academy Award winner) and Ricky Kej (Two-time Grammy Award winning Musician). Released on YouTube.
Digital Ethnographic Archive of NE India
Project Lead in "Creation of a Digital Ethnographic Archive of the indigenous communities of North Eastern India" in collaboration with Vikram Sampath, PhD.
Field Gene Bank
Conceptualized and established a "Field Gene Bank" since 2018 for the conservation of endangered Heirloom Native Crop Varieties. Presently: 341 Paddy, 10 Green Gram, 19 Black Gram, 07 Sesame, 15 Mustard and 02 Pigeon Pea.
Conserve Gene Campaign
Conceptualized and initiated "Conserve Gene Campaign" since 2018 for spreading awareness on conservation, management and sustainable utilization of Agro-biodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources.
Community Seed Bank (Jorhat)
Established a Community Seed Bank (CSB) in Jorhat District of Assam to create a community-managed "Seed System" for native crop varieties involving farmers at the grassroots level.
Brahmaputra & Patkai-Borail Expedition
Expedition in the River Brahmaputra and tributaries covering River Islands, Char Areas (around 1800 km in 58 days); and Mount Saramati and adjoining areas of the Indo-Myanmar border for Survey, Documentation, Collection of Germplasm and Awareness Generation.
GIS Mapping of Kamakhya Hill
Implemented a project for conducting Research Based Exploratory & Analytical GIS Mapping of the Kamakhya Hill in collaboration with North East Space Applications Centre (NESAC), Dept. of Space, Govt. of India.
Kamakhya Hill Conservation Site
Creation of a Conservation Site for Plant Genetic Resources and Afforestation initiative undertaken on the Kamakhya Hill in collaboration with the Kamakhya Temple Authority, supported by CSR fund of SBI.
Research, Archives & Reference Library
The Foundation for History and Heritage Studies has built one of the most comprehensive research libraries and archives on Kamakhya Temple and the religious traditions of Kamrup.
Research Focus Areas
Undertaking exploratory study, research, and documentation initiatives on:
- Tantra, esoteric tradition, religious tradition, religious philosophy
- Socio-religious culture, comparative religion, iconography
- History, demography, socio-anthropology, archaeology
- Socio-cultural tradition, ethnography of Kamakhya Temples' Complex
- Other temples intrinsically linked with Kamakhya located in and around Guwahati and erstwhile Kamrup
Compiled books on Tantra (relating to Kamakhya) in English and on the Kamakhya Devi, Deities of Kamakhya Group of Temples & other Deities intrinsically linked with Kamakhya, located in erstwhile Kamarup in Assamese, Bengali, Hindi & English.
Research Presentations
Digital Humanities for Indigenous Communities
"The Need and Role of Digital Humanities in the Conservation and Sustainability of Indigenous Communities and their Cultures: The North East of India as a Case Study" — presented in the South Asia Regional Conference of International Society for Music Education (ISME, an UNESCO organization) held in Bangalore, India.
Kamakhya Temples' Complex Lecture Series
"Kamakhya Temples' Complex of Kamakhya Hill: Exploring the Historical and Religio-social Perspective" — Lecture Series organized by the Assam State Museum, Guwahati, Assam in collaboration with India Foundation for The Arts (IFA), Bangalore.
Indigenous Technical Knowledge Seminar
"Indigenous Technical Knowledge and Traditional Knowledge" — held at Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture, Guwahati, Assam (India).
Other Initiatives
NATIVE BASKET — Trademark Registered Brand
Conceptualized, created and launched the Trademark Registered Brand "NATIVE BASKET" to promote Heirloom Native Crop Varieties and its Processed Products of North East India.
About Foundation for History and Heritage Studies
"Foundation for History and Heritage Studies" has been founded and registered as a charitable trust under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 by Bandana Sarma & Rajib Sarma with a mission to undertake systematic research, documentation, and conservation of rare materials related to the Kamakhya Temple and temples of Kamkhya Temples' Complex and other temples intrinsically linked with Kamakhya located in and around Guwahati, as well as in erstwhile Kamrup.
The Foundation has been created as a common & open research platform, reference library and archive for Scholars, Students, Journalists and the curious Public.
The primary vision, mission and objective of the organization is to promote exploratory study, research, documentation, research compilation, publication, translation, conservation / preservation of rare materials activities related to the Kamakhya Temple and temples of Kamakhya Temples' Complex and other temples intrinsically linked with Kamakhya.
The Foundation is also undertaking the digitization of hard copies of the rare published materials and ancient handwritten manuscripts, documents, etc.
Connect With Us
For research assistance, pilgrimage guidance, or any queries about Kamakhya Temples' Complex and Kamarupa heritage, please reach out to us.