Virtual Voyage

Without a passport or a suitcase, I am able to traverse the globe in the new digital era. A few clicks and keystrokes and I am at the entrance to a sacred area that is steeped in culture and history. In an age of technology, we are able to travel thousands of miles away without leaving the comfort of our homes. A hundred years ago, this was not possible. I chose to take this possibility to embark on a cyberspace journey to the Kamakhya Temple in Assam, India.

The goddess Kamakhya is the embodiment of feminine energy and menstruation. According to the myth, a Hindu god, Lord Shiva, performed a cosmic dance after his wife, Sati died. Sati’s reproductive organs (yoni) fell in the place where the temple was built. The yoni developed into the goddess Kamakhaya, which is who the temple is dedicated to.

Instead of Googling flight prices to India, I simply typed in “Kamakhya Temple” into the search bar of Google Earth. With one tap, I went across the globe to the other side of the world: Guwahati, Assam. As I first “landed” at the steps of the temple, the first thing that caught my eye was the overall simplicity of the temple. A lot of Hindu temples are very adorned and intricate. The simplicity to me indicated that the meaning of the temple is rooted in more of its purpose. With the slight movement of my mouse, I was able to move closer to the temple. There, I noticed there were female figures on the side of the temple. The use of female figures added to the feminine energy of the temple. I was eager to go inside the temple since the outside was slightly unadorned. However, I was not able to go inside the temple due to the temple’s restriction on videos or cameras. I decided to look up images on Google, and what was interesting was that there is no idol statue inside the temple. Most Hindu temples have large idols that are decorated beautifully, but Kamakhya does not. There is simply a stone where people believe Kamakhya resides. As mentioned before, this stone is the yoni.

Returning back outside the temple, I had to return to the bird’s eye view each time I wanted to go somewhere. This small problem made it harder to see the temple at its full capacity. One aspect of the temple that stood out to me, as I was exploring, was the use of warm-toned colors such as oranges, reds and beiges. Such warm colors added to the menstruation theme that surrounds the goddess. As I saw the various angles, the structure was distinctive in comparison to other temples. Most Indian temples are pointed at the top. However, Kamakhya is dome-shaped with soft and rounded edges. With nowhere else to visit inside the temple, I voyaged back home and saw the globe rotate in front of me.

Overall, I think using Google Earth to visit cultural sites is beneficial. However, a lot of the time, there is a lack of understanding when virtually visiting the sites because there is no history or meaning presented at the site at hand. In that scenario, technology can negatively influence our understanding of the sites because there is no appreciation or deeper learning. On the other hand, if you virtually visit a site with background knowledge on it, then technology can provide a beautiful

experience. When I “visited” the Kamakhya Temple, I learned some of its history and significance beforehand. Therefore, I was able to have a much deeper appreciation upon seeing it virtually. Technology, like Google Earth, can inspire you to learn more about cultural sites. It allows you to research more about topics in Asian culture which allows their values and beliefs to be spread through a wider population.

Visiting the Kamakhya Temple virtually was a unique experience. From the lack of idols to the structure, it was a gratifying way to expand my horizons from the comfort of my room. What will your virtual venture be?