Shakti Peetha
The Shakti Peetha (Sanskrit: शक्ति पीठ, Śakti Pīṭha, seat of Shakti[2]) are significant shrines and pilgrimage destinations in Shaktism, the goddess-focused Hindu tradition. There are 51 Shakti peethas by various accounts,[3][4] of which 18 are named as Maha (major) in medieval Hindu texts.[3]
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Most of these historic places of goddess worship are in India, but there are seven in Bangladesh, three in Pakistan, three in Nepal, and one each in China and Sri Lanka.[4]
The legend behind the Shakti Peethas is the story of the self-immolation of the goddess Sati. Vishnu had to cut her body into 51 body parts which fell on Earth and became sacred sites. In another story, Shiva took Rudra Thandavam in mourning the death of the Godess Sati, in which the body of the Godess Sati was scattered into 51 parts which fell on Earth and became sacred sites.
There were many legends in ancient and modern sources that document this evidence. A consensus view on the number and location of the precise sites where Sati's corpse fell is lacking, although certain sites are more well-regarded than others.
Legend
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According to legend, Lord Brahma had performed a yagna (Vedic ritual of fire sacrifice) to please Shakti and Shiva to aid in the creation of the universe. As a result, Goddess Shakti separated from Shiva and emerged to help Brahma. Once her purpose was fulfilled, Shakti had to be returned to Shiva. In time, Brahma's son Daksha performed several yajnas to obtain Shakti as his daughter in the form of Sati, with the motive of marrying her to Shiva.
However, due to Shiva's curse to Brahma that his fifth head was cut off due to his lie in front of Shiva, Daksha started hating Shiva and decided not to let Lord Shiva and Sati get married.
However, Sati got attracted to Shiva and finally one day Shiva and Sati were married. This marriage only increased Daksha's hatred towards Lord Shiva.
Daksha performed a yajna with a desire to take revenge on Lord Shiva. Daksha invited all the deities to the yajna, except Shiva and Sati. The fact that she was not invited did not deter Sati's desire to attend the yajna. She expressed her desire to Shiva, who tried his best to dissuade her from going. He relented at her continued insistence, Sati went to her father's yajna. However, Sati was not given her due respect at the yajna, and had to bear witness to Daksha's insults aimed at Shiva. Anguished, Sati cursed her father and self-immolated.
Enraged at the insult and death of his spouse, Shiva in his Virabhadra avatar destroyed Daksha's yajna and cut off his head. His anger not abated and immersed in grief, Shiva then picked up the remains of Sati's body and performed the Tandava, the celestial dance of destruction, across all creation. Frightened, the other Gods requested Vishnu to intervene to stop this destruction. As a recourse, Vishnu used the Sudarshana Chakra on Sati's corpse. This caused various parts of Sati's body to fall at several spots across the world.[5]
The history of Daksha yajna and Sati's self-immolation had immense significance in shaping the ancient Sanskrit literature and influenced the culture of India. Each of the places on Earth where Sati's body parts were known to have fell were then considered as Sakti Peethas and were deemed places of great spiritual import. Several stories in the Puranas and other Hindu religious books refer to the Daksha yajna. It is an important incident in both Shaivism and Shaktism, and marks the replacement of Sati with Parvati, and of the beginning of Shiva's house-holder (grihastāshramī) life from an ascetic. This event is ahead of the emergence of both of the couple's children, Kartikeya and Ganesha.[6]
Each temple has shrines for Shakti and Kalabhairava, and most Shakti and Kalabhairava in different Shakti Peeth have different names.
4 Ādī Śaktī Pīṭha
Some of the great religious texts like the Shiva Purana, the Devi Bhagavata, the Kalika Purana, the AstaShakti, and Pithanirnaya Tantra recognize four major Shakti Peethas (centers),
- Bimala Temple (Pada Khanda) inside the Jagannath Temple of Puri, Odisha
- Tara Tarini (Sthana Khanda), near Berhampur, Odisha
- Kamakhya Temple (Yoni Khanda), in Guwahati, Assam; and
- Dakshina Kalika (Mukha Khanda) in Kolkata, West Bengal,
which represent respectively the parts (Khandas) foot (Pada), breasts (Stana), genitals (Yoni), and face (Mukha) of the corpse of Sati.
The Ashtashakti and Kalika Purana says (in Sanskrit):
- "Bimala Pada khandancha,
- Stana khandancha Tarini (Tara Tarini),
- Kamakhya Yoni khandancha,
- Mukha khandancha Kalika (Dakshina Kalika)
- Anga pratyanga sanghena
- Vishnu Chakra Kshyta nacha"
Further explaining the importance of these four Pithas, the "Brihat Samhita" also gives the location of these Pithas as (in Sanskrit)
- "Rushikulya* Tatae Devi,
- Tarakashya Mahagiri,
- Tashya Srunga Stitha Tara
- Vasishta Rajitapara" (Rushikulya is a holy river flowing on the foothill of the Tara Tarini Hill Shrine).
Apart from these 4 there are 48 other famous Peethas recognized by religious texts. According to the Pithanirnaya Tantra the 51 peethas are scattered all over present day countries of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, China, Bhutan and Pakistan. The Shivacharita besides listing 51 maha-peethas, speaks about 26 more upa-peethas. The Bengali almanac, Vishuddha Siddhanta Panjika too describes the 51 peethas including the present modified addresses. A few of the several accepted listings are given below.[7] One of the few in South India, Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh became the site for a 2nd-century temple.[8]
18 Maha Śaktī Pīṭha
Aṣṭhādaśa Śakti Pīṭha Stotram
Sanskrit | IAST | Translation |
---|---|---|
लङ्कायाम् शांकरीदेवी कामाक्षी काञ्चिकापुरे। प्रद्युम्ने शृङ्खला देवी चामुण्दा क्रौञ्चपट्टणे॥ |
laṅkāyām śāṃkarīdevī kāmākṣī kāñcikāpure। pradyumne śṛṅkhalā devī cāmuṇdā krauñcapaṭṭaṇe॥ |
Goddess Shankari in Sri Lanka, Kamakshi in Kanchipuram
Goddess Shrinkhala in Pradymna and Chamunda in Mysore |
अलम्पुरे जोगुलाम्ब श्रीशैले भ्रमराम्बिक। कोल्हापुरमहलक्ष्मी माहुर्यमेकवीरिका॥ |
alampure jogulāmba śrīśaile bhramarāmbika। kolhāpuramahalakṣmī māhuryamekavīrikā॥ |
Goddess Jogulamba in Alampur, Goddess Brhamarambika in Sri Shailam
Goddess Maha Lakshmi in Kolhapur and Goddess Eka Veera in Mahur |
उज्जयिन्याम् महाकाळी पीठिकायाम् पुरुहुतिका। ओड्ढ्यायाम् गिरिजादेवी माणिक्या दक्षवाटिके॥ |
ujjayinyām mahākāḻī pīṭhikāyām puruhutikā। oḍḍhyāyām girijādevī māṇikyā dakṣavāṭike॥ |
Goddess Maha Kali in Ujjain, Purhuthika in Peethika
Goddess Girija in Odhyana and Manikya in the house of Daksha |
हरिक्षेत्रे कामरूपी प्रयागे माधवेश्वरी। ज्वालायाम् वैष्णवीदेवी गयामाङ्गल्यगौरिके॥ |
harikṣetre kāmarūpī prayāge mādhaveśvarī। jvālāyām vaiṣṇavīdevī gayāmāṅgalyagaurike॥ |
Goddess Kama Rupi in the temple of Vishnu, Madhaveshwari in Prayagraj
Goddess giving flame in Jwala Mukhi and Mangala Gowri in Gaya |
वारणास्याम् विशालाक्षी काश्मीरेतु सरस्वती। अष्ठादशैवपीठानि योनिनामप दुर्लभानिच॥ |
vāraṇāsyām viśālākṣī kāśmīretu sarasvatī। aṣṭhādaśaivapīṭhāni yonināmapa durlabhānica॥ |
Goddess Vishalakshi in Varanasi, Saraswati in Kashmir
These are the 18 houses of Shakti, which are rare even to the Devas |
सायंकालं पठेन्नित्यम् सर्वरोगनिवारणम्। सर्वपापहरम् दिव्यम् सर्वसम्पत्करम् शुभम्॥ |
sāyaṃkālaṃ paṭhennityam sarvaroganivāraṇam। sarvapāpaharam divyam sarvasampatkaram śubham॥ |
When chanted every evening, all the enemies would get destroyed
all the diseases would vanish, and prosperity would be showered. |
kamakhya sakti peeth
18 Maha Shakti Pithas
The modern cities or towns that correspond to these 64 locations can be a matter of dispute, but there are a few that are totally unambiguous, these are mentioned in the Ashta Dasa Shakti Peetha Stotram.[9] This contains 18 such locations which are often referred to as Most Popular Shakti Peeths.
Sr. No. | Temple | Place | State in India/Country | Appellation | Part of the body fallen | Shakti | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Shankari Temple (part of the Koneswaram Temple) | Trincomalee | Triconmalee, SriLanka | Lankayam Shankari Peetham | Heart | Shankari | ![]() |
2 | Kamakshi Amman Temple | Kanchi | Tamil Nadu | Kama koti peetam | Navel | Kamakshi Amman | ![]() |
3 | Shrinkala | Pradmunyee (Pandua) | Bengal | BavTharini Peetham | Part of stomach | Maa Shrinkala | |
4 | Chamundeshwari Temple | Mysuru | Karnataka | Krounja Peetham | Hair | Maa Chamundeshwari | ![]() |
5 | Jogulamba Devi | Alampur, Gadwal district | Telangana | Yogini Peetham | Teeth | Jogulamba Thalli (Yogamba) | ![]() |
6 | Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple | Srisailam | Andhra Pradesh | Srisaila Peetham | Neck | Maa Bhramarambika | ![]() |
7 | Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur | Kolhapur | Maharashtra | Shri Peetham | Eye | Aai Ambabai | ![]() |
8 | Eka Veerika Temple | Mahur, Maharashtra | Maharashtra | Moola Peetham | Left hand | Eka Veerika | |
9 | Shakambhari | Saharanpur | Uttar Pradesh | Shakambhari Peetham | Head | Shakumbhari devi | ![]() शताक्षी देवी |
10 | Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple | Pithapuram | Andhra Pradesh | Pushkarini Peetham | Back | Maa Puruhutika | ![]() |
11 | Biraja Temple | Jajpur | Odisha | Oddyana Peetham | Navel | Maa Biraja | ![]() |
12 | Bhimeswara Temple | Draksharamam | Andhra Pradesh | Draksharama Peetham | Left cheek | Maa Manikyamba | ![]() |
13 | Kamakhya Temple | Guwahati | Assam | Kamarupa Peetham | Genitals | Devi Kamakhya | ![]() |
14 | Alopi Devi Mandir | Prayagraj | Uttar Pradesh | Prayaga Peetham | Fingers | Maa Madhaveswari | |
15. | Jwalamukhi Temple | Kangra | Himachal Pradesh | Jwalamukhi Peetham | Head | Maa Jwalamukhi | ![]() |
16. | Mangla Gauri Temple | Gaya | Bihar | Gaya Peetham | Breast | Maa Sarvamangala | |
17. | Vishalakshi Temple | Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh | Varanasi Peetham | Noses | Maa Vishalakshi | |
18. | Sharada Peeth | Sharda, Kashmir | Pakistan Administered Kashmir | Sharada Peetham | Right hand | Maa Sharada Devi | ![]() |
[*] Sharada Peeth: This temple is currently non-existent*.[10] Only ruins are found in these places. Its ruins are near the Line of Control (LOC)[11] between the Indian and Pakistani-controlled portions of the former princely state of Kashmir and Jammu. Instead, Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri in Karnataka even though not a Shakti Peetha, is this aspect of the goddess. Requests have been made by the Hindu community in Pakistan to the Pakistani government to renovate the temple, the issue being raised by former Indian Home minister L. K. Advani to the Pakistan authorities[12] as a confidence-building measure, by increasing the people to people cross-border interaction.[11]
Among these, the Shakti Peethas at Kamakhya, Gaya and Ujjain are regarded as the most sacred as they symbolise the three most important aspects of the Mother Goddess viz. Creation (Kamarupa Devi), Nourishment (Sarvamangala Devi/Mangalagauri) and Annihilation (Mahakali Devi).
18 Shakti Peethas
As per Sankara Samhita of Sri Skanda Purana,[13]
- Sri Sankari Peetham (at Lanka)
- Sri Simhika Peetham (at Simhala)
- Sri Manika Peetham (at Dakshavati)
- Sri Sudkala Peetham (At Petapur)
- Sri Bhramaramba Peetham (Srisailam)
- Sri Vijaya Peetham (Vijayapura)
- Sri Mahalakshmi Peetham (Kolhapuri)
- Sri Kamakshi Peetham ( Kanchipuram)
- Sri Kuchananda Peetham (Salagrama)
- Sri Viraja Peetham (Odyana, Jajpur)
- Sri Bhadreswari Peetham (Harmyagiri)
- Sri Mahakali Peetham (Ujjayini)
- Sri Vindhyavasini Peetham (The Vindhya mountains)
- Sri Mahayogi Peetham (Ahicchatra)
- Sri Kanyaka Peetham (Kanya Kubja)
- Sri Visalakshi Peetham ( Kashi)
- Sri Saraswati Peetham (Kashmira)
- Sri Abhirami Peetham (Padmagiri, Dindigul)
- Sri Sarala peetham (Odisha)
The List of Shakti Peethas
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In the listings[14] below:
- "Shakti" refers to the Goddess worshipped at each location, all being manifestations of Dakshayani, Sati; later known as Parvati or Durga;
- "Bhairava" refers to the corresponding consort, each a manifestation of Shiva;
- "Body Part or Ornament" refers to the body part or piece of jewellery that fell to earth, at the location on which the respective temple is built.
The details of this is available in the text 'Tantrachūḍamanī' where Parvathi tells these details to her son Skanda.
Sr. No. | Place | State in India/Country | Body part or ornament | Shakti | Bhairava | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | A.Amarnath Temple, from Srinagar through Pahalgam 94 km by Bus, Chandanwari 16 km by walk B. Shri Parvat in Ladakh |
Jammu and Kashmir | A. Throat B. Anklet |
Mahamaya | Trisandhyeshwar | ![]() |
2 | Attahas Temple – At a village also named as Attahas or Ashtahas around 2 km east of Labhpur village road in the district of Birbhum | West Bengal | Lips | Phullara | Vishvesh | ![]() |
3 | Bahula at Ketugram, 8 km from Katwa, Purba Bardhaman | West Bengal | Left arm | Goddess Bahula | Bhiruk | |
4 | Bakreshwar, on the banks of Paaphara river, 24 km distance from Siuri Town [a district headquarter], district Birbhum, 7 km from Dubrajpur Rly. Station | West Bengal | Portion between the eyebrows | Mahishmardini | Vakranath | ![]() |
5 | Bhairavparvat, also known as Harsiddhi, at Bhairav hills on the banks of Shipra river in the city of Ujjaini. | Madhya Pradesh | Elbow | Avanti | Lambkarna | |
6 | Bhabanipur, located in the Upazila of Sherpur, Bogra, Rajshahi Division. Also located at Karatoyatat, it is about 28 km distance from the town of Sherpur. | Bangladesh | Left anklet (ornament) | Aparna | Vaman | ![]() |
7 | Biraja Temple at Jajpur, in Jajpur District | Odisha | Navel | Biraja | Varaha (Baraha) | ![]() |
8 | Chhinnamastika Shaktipeeth at Chintpurni, in Una District of Himachal Pradesh | Himachal Pradesh | Foot | Chhinnamastika | Rudra Mahadev | ![]() |
9 | Muktinath Temple[15] | Nepal | Right cheek | Gandaki Chandi | Chakrapani | ![]() |
10 | Goddess Bhadrakali on banks of Godavari in Nashik city (Saptashrungi) | Maharashtra | Chin (2 parts) | Bhadrakali | Vikritaksh | ![]() |
11 | Hinglaj Mata Temple | Pakistan | Bramharandhra (Part of the head) | Kottari | Bhimlochan | ![]() |
12 | Jayanti at Nartiang village in the Jaintia Hills district. This Shakti Peetha is locally known as the Nartiang Durga Temple. | Meghalaya | Left thigh | Jayanti | Kramadishwar | ![]() |
13 | Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple | Bangladesh | Palms of hands and soles of the feet | Jashoreshwari | Chanda | |
14 | Jwalaji, Kangra from Pathankot alight at Jwalamukhi Road Station from there 20 km | Himachal Pradesh | Tongue | Siddhida (Ambika) | Unmatta Bhairav | ![]() |
15 | Kalipeeth, (Kalighat, Kolkata) | West Bengal | Right toes | Kalika | Nakuleshwar | |
16 | Kamgiri, Kamakhya, in the Neelachal hills in Guwahati | Assam | Genitals | Kamakhya | Umananda or Bhayaanand | |
17 | Kankalitala, on the banks of Kopai River 10 km north-east of Bolpur station in Birbhum district, Devi locally known as Kankaleshwari | West Bengal | Pelvis | Devgarbha | Ruru | |
18 | A. Kanyashram of Balaambika – The Bhagavathy temple in Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of mainland India, Tamil Nadu
B. (also thought to be situated in Yunnan province, China) |
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Yunnan, China |
Back | Sarvani | Nimish | |
19 | Bajreshwari Temple, Nagarkot, district Kangra | Himachal Pradesh | left Breast | Jayadurga | Abhiru | |
20 | Kiriteswari Temple at Kiritkona village, 3 km from Lalbag Court Road station under district Murshidabad | West Bengal | Crown | Vimla | Sanwart | |
21 | Ratnavali, on the banks of Ratnakar river at Khanakul I Krishnanagar, district Hooghly (locally known as Anandamayee Tala) | West Bengal | Right Shoulder | Kumari | Ghanteshwar | |
22 | 'A.Locally known as Bhramari Devi in Jalpaiguri near a small village Boda on the bank of river Teesta or Tri-shrota (combination of three flows) mentioned in Puranas B.Ma Malai Chandi Temple at Amta, Howrah |
West Bengal | A. Left leg B. Part of Left Knee |
Bhraamari | Ambar | ![]() |
23 | Manas, under Tibet at the foot of Mount Kailash in Lake Manasarovar, a piece of Stone | China | Right hand | Dakshayani | Amar | |
24 | Manibandh, at Gayatri hills near Pushkar 11 km north-west of Ajmer. People know this temple as Chamunda Mata Temple or Shri Raj Rajeshwari Puruhuta Manivedic Shaktipeeth. | Rajasthan | Wrists | Gayatri | Sarvanand | |
25 | Mithila, near Janakpur railway station on the border of India and Nepal | Nepal | Left shoulder | Uma | Mahodar | |
26 | Nainativu (Manipallavam), Northern Province, Sri Lanka. Located 36 km from the ancient capital of the Jaffna kingdom, Nallur. The murti of the Goddess is believed to have been consecrated and worshipped by Lord Indra. The protagonist, Lord Rama and antagonist, Ravana of the Sanskrit epic Ramayana have offered obeisances to the Goddess. Nāga and Garuda of the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata; resolved their longstanding feuds after worshipping this Goddess. | Sri Lanka | Silambu (Anklets) | Indrakshi (Nagapooshani / Bhuvaneswari) | Rakshaseshwar (Nayanair) | |
27 | Guhyeshwari Temple | Nepal | Both knees | Mahashira | Kapali | ![]() |
28 | Chandranath Temple | Bangladesh | Right arm | Bhavani | Chandrashekhar | |
29 | Panchsagar Near Lohaghat (in Champawat District of Uttarakhand) just 12 km from nearest railway station Tanakpur. पूर्णागिरी Champawat Varahi Devi | Uttarakhand | Lower teeth/ Navel | Varahi | Maharudra | |
30 | Prabhas, 4 km from Veraval station near Somnath temple in Junagadh district. Local People call this temple as Kali Mandir, It is nearby Triveni Sangam.[16] | Gujarat | Stomach | Chandrabhaga | Vakratund | |
31 | Alopi Devi Mandir near Sangam at Prayagraj | Uttar Pradesh | Finger | Lalita | Bhava | |
32 | Present day Kurukshetra town or Thanesar ancient Sthaneshwar | Haryana | Ankle bone | Savitri/BhadraKali | Sthanu | |
33 | Sharda Peeth on top Trikoot Hill, at Maihar | Madhya Pradesh | necklace[17] | Shivani | Chanda | |
34 | Nandikeshwari Temple is located in Sainthia city. | West Bengal | Necklace | Nandini | Nandikeshwar | ![]() |
35 | Kotilingeswar Ghat temple on the banks of Godavari river near Rajamundry | Andhra Pradesh | Cheeks | Rakini or Vishweshwari | Vatsnabh or Dandpani | |
36 | Naina Devi Temple | Himachal Pradesh | Right eye | Mahishmardini | Krodhish | |
37 | Shondesh, at the source point of Narmada River in Amarkantak | Madhya Pradesh | Right buttock | Narmada | Bhadrasen | |
38 | Sri Sailam, at Nallamalai hills, Andhra Pradesh | Andhra Pradesh, India | Neck | Bramarambika | Mallikarjuna | |
39 | Shuchi, in a Shiva temple at Suchindrum 11 km on Kanyakumari Trivandrum road | Tamil Nadu | Upper teeth | Narayani | Sanhar | |
40 | Sugandha, situated in Shikarpur, Gournadi, about 20 km from Barisal town, on the banks of Sonda river. | Bangladesh | Nose | Sugandha | Trayambak | |
41 | Udaipur, Tripura, at the top of the hills known as Tripura Sundari temple near Radhakishorepur village, a little distance away from Udaipur town | Tripura | Right leg | Tripura Sundari | Tripuresh | |
42 | Ujaani, at Mangalkot 16 km from Guskara station in Purba Bardhaman district | West Bengal | Right wrist | Mangal Chandika | Kapilambar | ![]() |
43 | Varanasi at Manikarnika Ghat on banks of the Ganges at Kashi | Uttar Pradesh | Face or Earring | Vishalakshi & Manikarni | Kaal bhairav | |
44 | Bargabhima temple, at Tamluk under district Purba Medinipur | West Bengal | Left ankle | Kapalini (Bhimarupa) also known as Bargabhima |
Sarvanand | |
45 | Virat Nagar district, Alwar, near Bharatpur, India, | Rajasthan | Fingers of Left Leg | Ambika | Amritaksha | |
46 | Katyayani Shaktipeeth, Vrindavan, district Mathura | Uttar Pradesh | Ringlets of hair | Uma | Bhutesh | |
47 | Devi Talab Mandir, District Jalandhar | Punjab | Left Breast | Tripurmalini | Bhishan | |
48 | Baidyanath Dham | Jharkhand | Heart | Jaya Durga | Baidyanath | |
49 | Adhi Kamakshi Amman Temple behind Kamakshi Amman Temple, situated at Kanchipuram Town, Kanchipuram District | Tamil Nadu | Odyanam (Navel) | Kamakshi | Sundareshwar | ![]() |
50 | Jogadya (যোগাদ্যা), at Kshirgram (ক্ষীরগ্রাম) near Kaichar under Burdwan district | West Bengal | Great toe | Jogadya (যোগাদ্যা) | Ksheer Kantak (ক্ষীর কন্টক) | |
51 | Pithapuram under Kakinada Port Town | Andhra Pradesh | Hip part | Purohotika | Durvasa | |
52 | Ambaji at Anart | Gujarat | Heart | Amba | Batuk Bhairav | |
53 | Jwaladevi Temple, Shaktinagar, Sonbhadra | Uttar Pradesh | Tongue | Jwala Devi | Rudra | |
54 | Chandika Sthan, near Munger town | Bihar | Left eye | Chandika Devi | Chandala | |
55 | Danteshwari Temple, Dantewada | Chhattisgarh | Tooth or daant | Danteshwari devi | Kapalbhairav | |
56 | Juranpur, Nadia | West Bengal | ||||
57 | Tara Tarini, Berhampur, Ganjam | Odisha | Breast/Sthan | Maa Taratarini | Tumbeswar | |
58 | Nalhateswari, Nalhati | West Bengal | Stomach/Nauli | Kalika | Jogesh | |
59 | Mankachar, 266 km from Guwahati | Assam | Little finger | Devi | Deva | |
60 | Vimala Temple, Inside Jagannath Temple, Puri | Odisha | Foot | Vimala | Kala Bhairav | |
61 | Anjanakshi, inside Marundeeswarar Temple on Mount Rudragiri in Aadhi Kanchi, Thirukachoor, Chengalpattu District | Tamil Nadu | Skin | Anjanakshi | Marundeeswarar (Oushadheeshwar) | |
62 | Jayanti maha Shakti peeth | Jayanti, Alipurduar, West bengal | Left Shank | Jayanti | Kramadishwar | |
63 | Shri Hatta Kali Temple, Shri Shail (also known as Mahalakshmi Griva Peeth) | Gotatikar, Kalagul tea state, Dakshin Surma Upazila, Sylhet, Bangladesh | Neck | Mahalakshmi | Sambaranand | |
64 | Dhakeshwari Temple (now relocated at Dhakeswari Mata Temple) | Dhaka, Bangladesh | Gem of Sati's Crown | Dhakeshwari (a form of Katyani Mahishasurmardini Durga) | Shiva | ![]() |
65 | Tarapith Rampurhat | West Bengal | Third eye | Maa Tara (second mahavidya) (main form of Parvati) | Chandrachur bhairav | |
* Jayanti Kali Temple: There are disputes about the position of this peetha. Based on most presented manuscripts and facts it is situated in Bangladesh. However, some people[18] argues the actual peetha is at Amta in West Bengal, where the Devi is worshiped as Maa Melai Chandi in Melai Chandi Mandir. But this fact can not be corroborated with any evidences. Moreover, refuting most text, in Melai Chandi Mandir the Bhairava is Durgeshwar rather than Kramadishwar. Some also relates Jayanti Devi with the Mahakal cave temple situated in the village Jayanti of Alipurduar,[19][20] where many status were created by Stalagmite and Stalactite (combination of limes with water), but strong historical support is also absent here.
Historical notes
First relating to Brahmanda Purana, one of the major eighteen Puranas, it mentions 64 Shakti Peetha of Goddess Parvati in the Bharat or Greater India including present-day India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, some parts of Southern Tibet in China and parts of southern Pakistan. Another text which gives a listing of these shrines, is the Shakti Peetha Stotram, written by Adi Shankara, the 9th-century Hindu philosopher.[21]
According to the manuscript Mahapithapurana (c. 1690–1720 CE), there are 52 such places. Among them, 23 are located in the Bengal region, 14 of these are located in what is now West Bengal, India, 1 in Baster (Chhattisgarh), while 7 are in what is now Bangladesh.
Rishi Markandeya composed the 'Devi Saptashati' or the seven hundred hymns extolling the virtues of the Divine Goddess at the shaktipeetha in Nashik. The idol is also leaning a little to the left to listen to the sage's composition. The Saptashati or the "Durga Stuti" forms an integral part in the Vedic form of Shakti worship.
The third eye of Mata Sati fell below a tree in a mortuary in the Ishan corner of Vakreshwar. This is on the bank of the north-flowing Dwarka river in the east of Baidyanath. Here Mata Sati is called Chandi Bhagwai Ugra Tara and Bhairav is called Chandrachur. This Shaktipeeth is called Tarapith in Birbhum district West bengal, India.
Vindhyavasini Shakti Peetha
The Vindhyavasini Shakti Peetha is considered a Shakti Peetha despite the fact that any body parts of Sati did not fall there. This is because it is the place where Devi chose to reside after her birth in Dvapara Yuga.[22] At the time of birth of Lord Krishna to Devaki and Vasudeva, the Yogamaya(Devi) took birth in Gokul to Nanda Baba and Yashoda as per instruction of Lord Vishnu.The Vasudeva replaced his son Krishna with this girl child of Yashoda. When Kansa tried to kill the girl she slipped from his hands and assumed the form of Mahadevi Adishakti. Thereafter Devi chose Vindhya Mountains as her abode to live on the earth.[23]
Map of Shakti Peethas
![](../I/India_location_map.svg.png.webp)
Blue: Adi Shakti Peethas; Red: Astadasha Maha Shakti Peethas;
Yellow: Daksha yagna site;Further reading
- Dineschandra Sircar (1998). The Śākta Pīṭhas. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 978-81-208-0879-9.
Notes
- https://tribune.com.pk/story/1088366/mata-hinglaj-yatra-to-hingol-a-pilgrimage-to-reincarnation/?amp=1
- Fuller, Christopher John (2004). The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India. Princeton: Princeton University Press. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-691-12048-5.
- Vanamali (2008). Shakti: Realm of the Divine Mother. Inner Traditions. pp. 83–84, 143–144. ISBN 978-1-59477-785-1.
- Kunal Chakrabarti; Shubhra Chakrabarti (2013). Historical Dictionary of the Bengalis. Scarecrow. p. 430. ISBN 978-0-8108-8024-5.
- "Introduction and Preface". www.sacred-texts.com.
- "Kottiyoor Devaswam Temple Administration Portal". kottiyoordevaswom.com/. Kottiyoor Devaswam. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- 51 Pithas of Parvati Archived 2006-09-27 at the Wayback Machine – From Hindunet
- "Srisailam".
- Ashta Dasa Shakti Peetha Stotram From Hindupedia
- Pollock, Sheldon (2006). Language of the Gods in the World of Men. University of California Press.
- "Pandits denied entry into temple in Pakistan Administered Kashmir". The Hindu. 3 October 2007.
- "Pak should renovate Sharada Temple in Pakistan Administered Kashmir: Advani". zeenews.india. 2 May 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
- https://archive.org/details/AbiramiammanSthalaPuranam
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2016-04-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Author, Unknown. Tantra Chudamani. pp. Lines 13–14.
- Chandrabhaga Shakti Peeth https://www.bhaktibharat.com/mandir/chandrabhaga-shakti-peeth
- https://www.maihartemple.com/about-maihar-temple/
- "Kolkata Durga Puja Festival". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
- EiBangla 24x7. "চলো যাই বেড়িয়ে আসি জয়ন্তী… | EiBangla24x7". Retrieved 2020-08-16.
- "Mahakal Cave". www.cpreecenvis.nic.in. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
- Shakti Peetha Stotram Vedanta Spiritual Library
- "District Census Handbook Mirzapur" (PDF). Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- "District Census Handbook Mirzapur" (PDF). Retrieved 12 March 2020.
References
- Phyllis K. Herman, California State University, Northridge (USA), "Siting the Power of the Goddess: Sita Rasoi Shrines in Modern India", International Ramayana Conference Held at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois USA, 21–23 September 2001.
- Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions (ISBN 81-208-0379-5) by David Kinsley
- com/navratra/Shaktipeeth.html 51 Nav Durga Shaktipeeths- Legend and listing Zee News