About the Website: kamakhya.org
The website has been conceptualized and developed by Bandana Sarma & Rajib Sarma, who are descendants of 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, objective and activities of Foundation for History and Heritage Studies (FHHS) established by them as a Public Charitable Trust registered under the Indian Trust Act 1882.
This website promotes aspects related to the vision, mission, objective and activities of the Foundation for History and Heritage Studies (FHHS) and the History & Heritage, Religious Tradition & Philosophy and Sacred Landscape of the Kamakhya Group of Temples and the temples of erstwhile Kamrup.
The website 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 Kamkhya Group of Temples and the temples of erstwhile Kamrup.
About the Trust: Foundation for History and Heritage Studies
“Foundation for History and Heritage Studies” has been conceptualized and founded by Rajib Sarma and established and registered as a Public Charitable Trust under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 by Rajib Sarma, Bandana Sarma and Ratul Prasad Sarma with a mission to undertake systematic research, documentation, 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, Sadhakas (Practitioners), Aspirants, Journalists and 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 located in and around Guwahati, as well as in erstwhile Kamrup.
The Reference Library contains 25000+ hard copies and 15000+ soft copies of rare books, monographs, journals, documents, manuscripts, maps, etc. and the Archive contains 500+ ancient handwritten manuscripts, documents, maps, copper plates.
The Foundation is also undertaking the digitization of hard copies of the rare published materials and ancient handwritten manuscripts, documents, etc.
About the Founder: Rajib Sarma
A practicing hereditary Chandipathak Priest and a Purnabhisheka Sadhaka (Full Adept) in the Kulacara Tantra Marga of the Kamakhya Temples’ Complex.
Providing spiritual service as Siksha Guru (Teacher) for the Sadhakas (Adept) initiated under the Parampara (Tradition) of Kulacara Tantra Marga of the Kamakhya Temples’ Complex.
Received “KRISHI VISHARAD SAMMAN” from the Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India for the contribution towards Conservation, Management and Sustainable Utilization of “Agrobiodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources (PGR)” of the North-Eastern Region of India.
Providing research assistance and guidance to international PhD scholars and PG students since 2005.
Delivering Guest Lecture for the Post Graduate students of the Department of Philosophy and Religion, California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), San Francisco, CA, USA.
Conceptualized and established “Foundation for History and Heritage Studies” as a research organization, reference library & archive in 2007 (www.kamakhya.org & www.kamrupkamakhya.org); “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).
Initiatives
Presently, Project Lead, Partner and Stakeholder in Assam in a Project titled ”Mainstreaming Native Varieties of Agricultural Crops especially Rice of Assam for Enhancing Climate Resilience, Nutrition, Livelihoods and Ecosystems Services” implemented in India by Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT.
One of the Project Lead and Partners in a Project under the BRITISH LIBRARY ENDANGERED ARCHIVES PROGRAMME.
One of the Project Leads, Partners and Stakeholders in research-based projects related to Conservation, Management, Sustainable Utilization and Value Chain Development of “Agrobiodiversity & Plant Genetic Resources and Ethnobotany” sponsored / implemented by the UN Environment (UNEP), Global Environment Facility (GEF), Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT, ICAR (Min. of Agri., Govt. of India), ICAR-NBPGR (Min. of Agri., Govt. of India), MoEF&CG (Govt. of India), PPV&FRA Authority (Govt. of India), University Grants Commission (UGC), Deptt. of Biotechnology (Govt. of India), Deptt. of Science & Technology (Govt. of India) since 1998.
Created a research-based documentary feature film titled “WHO IS BAUL” (You Tube Link: https://youtu.be/AmNbe4qS2VA).
Established Two (02) Community Seed Banks (CSB) in Assam.
Conducted Expedition in the River Brahmaputra and its Tributaries covering the River Islands, Char Areas, and areas along the banks of the river inaccessible by road (Distance Covered: Around 1800 km in 58 days) and Mount Saramati and its adjoining areas (Patkai-Borail Range of the Indo-Myanmar border of Nagaland) for undertaking extensive Survey, Exploration, Collection of Crop Germplasm; Documentation of related ITK / TK and Awareness Generation on Conservation of Agrobiodiversity & Plant Genetic Resources (PGR).
Compiled books on Tantra (relating to Kamakhya) in English and on the Kamakhya Devi, Deities of Kamakhya Group of Temples’ & Temples of Kamarup in Assamese, Bengali, Hindi & English.
Conceptualized, created and launched the Trademark Registered Brand “NATIVE BASKET” to promote Heirloom Native Crop Varieties and its Processed Products from North East India.
Conceptualized and initiated the “Kameshwari Rhythm and Dance Festival” at the Kamakhya Temples’ Complex in the year 2006. The festival is celebrated on the day of Makara Samkranti (January 13 or 14) every year.