|
The Shakti Peethas (holy places of cosmic and enormous power) are places of worship of Goddess. Goddess Sati is the incarnation of Maa Parvati, the kindly goddess of harmony, marital felicity and longevity, with Durga, goddess of strength and valour, and with Mahakali, goddess of destruction of the evil.
According to Hindu Mythology and Legend, in the SatYuga, Daksha performed a yajna (Yagya) with a desire to take revenge on Lord Shiva. Daksha was angry because his daughter Dakshayani also known as Sati had married the 'yogi' God Shiva against his wish. Daksha invited all the deities to the yagna except for Shiva and Sati. The fact that she was not invited did not deter Sati from attending the yagna. She had expressed her desire to attend to Shiva who had tried his best to dissuade her from going. Shiva eventually allowed her to go escorted by his followers.
But Sati, being an uninvited guest, was not given any respect. Furthermore, Daksha insulted Shiva. Sati was unable to bear her father's insults toward her husband, so Dakshayani (the other name of Sati meaning the daughter of Daksha) invoked her yogic powers and immolated herself.
Enraged at the insult and the injury, Shiva destroyed Daksha's sacrifice, cut off Daksha's head, and later replaced it with that of a male goat as he restored him to life due to prayers of all demi gods and Brahmaji. Still immersed in grief, he picked up the remains of Sati's body, and danced the dance of destruction through the Universe. The other gods intervened to stop this dance, and the Vishnu 's weapon, or Sudarshana Chakra, cut through the corpse of Sati. The various parts of the body fell at several spots all through the Indian subcontinent and formed sites which are known as Shakti Peethas today.
At all Shakti Peethas, the Goddess Shakti is accompanied by Lord Bhairava (a manifestation of Lord Shiva).
"Sati" refers to the Goddess worshipped at each location, all being manifestations of Dakshayani, 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.
|
List of 52 Shakti Peeth of Goddess Durga
|
|
Sr. N.
|
Place
|
Body Part or Ornament
|
Shakti
|
Bhairav
|
|
1
|
KanchiPuram, Kamatchi temple,Kamakoti Peetam mentioned in Lalita Sahasram,Trishati,Astothram etc.
|
Ottiyana (Ornament covering stomach)
|
Kamakshi
|
Kala Bhairav
|
|
2
|
Sri Lanka, in Nainativu, Jaffna
|
Hand
|
Indrakshi / Nagapooshani
|
Rakshaseshwar / Naayanar
|
|
3
|
Naina, a little distance from Sukkur Station from Karachi, Pakistan
|
Eyes
|
Mahishmardini
|
Krodhish
|
|
4
|
Sugandha, situated in Shikarpur, Gournadi, about 20 km from Barisal town, Bangladesh, on the banks of Sonda river.
|
Nose
|
Sunanda
|
Trayambak
|
|
5
|
Amarnath in Kashmir, India from Srinagar through Pahalgam 94 km by Bus, Chandanwari 16 km by walk
|
Throat
|
Mahamaya
|
Trisandhyeshwar
|
|
6
|
Jwalamukhi, Kangra, Devi’s tongue fell here and the idols are Devi as Ambika (Mother) and Shiva as Unmatta (Furious). This is located near Pathankot, H.P., Jwalamukhi Road.
|
Tongue
|
Siddhida (Ambika)
|
Unmatta Bhairav
|
|
7
|
Ambaji , at Anart, Gujarat, India
|
Heart
|
Ambaji
|
|
|
8
|
Nepal, near Pashupatinath Temple at Gujyeshwari Temple
|
Both Knees
|
Mahashira
|
Kapali
|
|
9
|
Manas, under Tibet at the feet of Mount Kailash in Lake Mansarovar, a piece of Stone
|
Right Hand
|
Dakshayani
|
Amar
|
|
10
|
Biraja in Utkal present Orissa, India
|
Navel
|
Girija/Viraja/Biraja
|
Jagannath
|
|
11
|
Gandaki from Pokhara, Nepal about 125 km on the banks of Gandaki river where Muktinath temple is situated
|
Temple
|
Gandaki Chandi
|
Chakrapani
|
|
12
|
Bahula, on the banks of Ajay river, at Ketugram 8 km from Katwa, Burdwan, West Bengal, India.
|
Left Arm
|
Goddess Bahula
|
Bhiruk
|
|
13
|
Ujaani, 16 km from Guskara Station under Burdwan district of West Bengal, India
|
Right Wrist
|
Mangal Chandika
|
Kapilambar
|
|
14
|
Udaipur, Tripura, at the top of the hills known as Tripura Sundari temple near Radhakishorepur village, a little distance away from Udaipur town of Tripura, India
|
Right Leg
|
Tripura Sundari
|
Tripuresh
|
|
15
|
On the Chandranath hill near Sitakunda station of Chittagong District, Bangladesh. The famous Chandranath Temple on the top of the hill is the Bhairav temple of this Shakti Peetha, not the Shakti Peeth itself.
|
Right Arm
|
Bhawani
|
Chandrashekhar
|
|
16
|
Trisrota, at Salbari village under Boda division of Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, India
|
Left Leg
|
Bhraamari
|
Ambar
|
|
17
|
Kamgiri, Kamakhya, at the Neelachal hills near Guwahati, capital of Assam, India
|
Genital Organ
|
Kamakhya
|
Umanand
|
|
18
|
yogaadya at Khirgram under Burdwan district, West Bengal, India
|
Great Toe (Right)
|
Jugaadya
|
Ksheer Khandak
|
|
19
|
Kalipeeth, (Kalighat, Kolkata), India
|
Right Toes
|
Kalika
|
Nakuleesh
|
|
20
|
Prayag near Sangam at Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
|
Finger (Hand)
|
Lalita
|
Bhava
|
|
21
|
Jayanti at Kalajore Baurbhag village of Falzur Pargana under Jayantia Thana of Sylhet district, Bangladesh. This Shakti Peetha is locally known as Falizur Kalibari.
|
Left Thigh
|
Jayanti
|
Kramadishwar
|
|
22
|
Kireet at Kireetkona village, 3 km from Lalbag Court Road station under district Murshidabad, West Bengal, India
|
Crown
|
Vimla
|
Sanwart
|
|
23
|
Varanasi at Manikarnika Ghat on banks of Ganga at Kashi, Uttar Pradesh, India
|
Earring
|
Vishalakshi & Manikarni
|
Kalbhairav
|
|
24
|
Kanyashram, Kanyakumari the Bhadrakali temple within the precincts of Kumari temple, Tamil Nadu, India (also thought to be situated in Chittagong, Bangladesh)
|
Back
|
Sarvani
|
Nimish
|
|
25
|
Present day Kurukshetra town or Thanesar ancient Sthaneshwar, at Haryana, India
|
Ankle Bone
|
Savitri
|
Sthanu
|
|
26
|
Manibandh, at Gayatri hills near Pushkar 11 km towards north-west from Ajmer, Rajasthan, India.
|
Two Bracelets
|
Gayatri
|
Sarvanand
|
|
27
|
Shri Shail, at Jainpur village, near Gotatikar, towards north-east 3 km from Sylhet town, Bangladesh
|
Neck
|
Mahalaxmi
|
Sambaranand
|
|
28
|
Kankalitala, on the banks of Kopai river 10 km towards north-east from Bolpur station of district Birbhum, Devi locally known as KankaleshwariWest Bengal, India
|
Bone
|
Devgarbha
|
Ruru
|
|
29
|
Kalmadhav on the banks of Shon river in a cave over hills near to Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh, India
|
Buttock (Left)
|
Kali
|
Asitang
|
|
30
|
Shondesh, at the source point of Narmada river in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh, India
|
Buttock (Right)
|
Narmada
|
Bhadrasen
|
|
31
|
Ramgiri, at Chitrakuta on the Jhansi Manikpur Railway line in Uttar Pradesh, India
|
Right Breast
|
Shivani
|
Chanda
|
|
32
|
Vrindavan, near new bus stand on Bhuteshwar road within Bhuteshwar Mahadev Temple, Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
|
Ringlets of Hair
|
Uma
|
Bhutesh
|
|
33
|
Shuchi, in a Shiva temple at Shuchitirtham 11 km on Kanyakumari Trivandrum road, Tamil Nadu, India
|
Teeth (Upper Jaw)
|
Narayani
|
Sanhar
|
|
34
|
Panchsagar place not known (thought to be near Haridwar)
|
Teeth (Lower Jaw)
|
Varahi
|
Maharudra
|
|
35
|
Karatoyatat, at Bhabanipur village 28 km distance from interior Sherpur. Alight at Bogra station under district Bogra, Bangladesh
|
Left Anklet (Ornament)
|
Arpana
|
Vaman
|
|
36
|
Shri Parvat, near Ladak, Kashmir, India. Another belief: at Srisailam in Shriparvat hills under Karnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India
|
Right Anklet (Ornament)
|
Shrisundari
|
Sundaranand
|
|
37
|
Vibhash, at Tamluk under district Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India
|
Left Ankle
|
Kapalini (Bhimarupa)
|
Sarvanand
|
|
38
|
Prabhas, 4 km distance from Veraval station near Somnath temple in Junagadh district of Gujarat, India
|
Stomach
|
Chandrabhaga
|
Vakratund
|
|
39
|
Bhairavparvat, at Bhairav hills on the banks of Shipra river a little distance from Ujjaini town, Madhya Pradesh, India
|
Upper Lips
|
Avanti
|
Lambkarna
|
|
40
|
Jansthan, at Godavari river valley near Nasik, Maharasthra, India
|
Chin (Two Parts)
|
Bhramari
|
Vikritaksh
|
|
41
|
Sarvashail or Godavaritir, at Kotilingeswar temple on the banks of Godavari river near Rajamundry, Andhra Pradesh, India
|
Cheeks
|
Rakini or Vishweshwari
|
Vatsnabh or Dandpani
|
|
42
|
Birat, near Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India
|
Left Feet Fingers
|
Ambika
|
Amriteshwar
|
|
43
|
Ratnavali, on the banks of Ratnakar river at Khanakul-Krishnanagar, district Hooghly, West Bengal, India
|
Right Shoulder
|
Kumari
|
Shiva
|
|
44
|
Mithila, near Janakpur Railway station on the boarder of India-Nepal
|
Left Shoulder
|
Uma
|
Mahodar
|
|
45
|
Nalhati,known as "Nalateshwari Temple" near Nalhati station of Birbhum district by rickshaw, West Bengal, India
|
Tubular Bones of the Feet
|
Kalika Devi
|
Yogesh
|
|
46
|
Karnat place not known
|
Both Ears
|
Jayadurga
|
Abhiru
|
|
47
|
Bakreshwar, on the banks of Paaphara river, 24 km distance from Siuri Town, district Birbhum,7km from Dubrajpur Rly. Station West Bengal, India
|
Portion between the eyebrows
|
Mahishmardini
|
Vakranath
|
|
48
|
Jessoreswari, situated at Ishwaripur, Shyamnagar, district Satkhira, Bangladesh. The temple complex was built by Raja Pratapaditya, whose capital was Ishwaripur.
|
Palms of Hands & Feet
|
Jashoreshwari
|
Chanda
|
|
49
|
Attahas village of Dakshindihi in the district of Bardhaman, near the Katwa Rail Station, in West Bengal, India
|
Lips
|
Phullara
|
Vishvesh
|
|
50
|
Sainthia, locally Known as "Nandikeshwari" temple. Earlier Nandipur/Now in Sainthia Town. only 1.5 km from Railway Station under a banyan tree within a boundary wall, Birbhum district, West Bengal, India
|
Necklace
|
Nandini
|
Nandikeshwar
|
|
51
|
Hingula (Hinglaj) Devi’s mind or brain fell here and the idols are Devi as Kotari (Durga) and Shiva as Bhimlochan (Terrible eyed or the third eye). The location is towards 125 km from Karachi, Pakistan.
|
Bramharandhra (Part of the head)
|
Kottari
|
Bhimlochan
|
|
52
|
Danteshwari ( Kuldevi Of Baster State ), Dantewada Baster 80 km's from Jagdalpur Chhattisgarh
|
Daant (Teeth)
|
Danteshwari
|
Kapalbhairv
|
4 Adi Shakti Peeth
|
Sr. No.
|
Place
|
Body Part or Ornament
|
Shakti
|
|
1
|
In Puri,Orissa(inside Jagannath Temple complex)
|
Pada
|
Bimala
|
|
2
|
Near Berhampur-Orissa
|
Sthana khanda
|
Tara Tarini
|
|
3
|
Guwahati-Assam
|
Yoni khanda
|
Kamakshya
|
|
4
|
Kolkata- West Bengal
|
Mukha khanda
|
Dakshina Kalika
|
Maha Shakti Peeth
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 Shakthi Peetha Stotram by Adi Shankara This list contains such locations which are often referred to as Maha Shakthi Peeths.
|
Sr. No.
|
Place
|
Part of the body fallen
|
Name of Shakti
|
|
1
|
Trincomalee (Sri Lanka)
|
Groin
|
Shankari devi
|
|
2
|
Kanchi (Tamil Nadu)
|
Back part
|
Kamakshi Devi
|
|
3
|
Praddyumnam (Gujarat)
|
Stomach part
|
Sri Srunkhala devi
|
|
4
|
Mysore (Karnataka)
|
Hair
|
Chamundeshwari devi
|
|
5
|
Alampur (Andhra Pradesh)
|
Upper teeth
|
Jogulamba devi
|
|
6
|
Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh)
|
Neck part
|
Bhramaramba devi
|
|
7
|
Kolhapur (Maharastra)
|
Eyes
|
Mahalakshmi devi
|
|
8
|
Nanded (Maharastra)
|
Right hand
|
Eka Veerika devi
|
|
9
|
Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh)
|
Upper lip
|
Mahakali devi
|
|
10
|
Pithapuram (Andhra Pradesh)
|
Left hand
|
Puruhutika devi
|
|
11
|
Jajpur (Orissa)
|
Navel
|
Biraja devi
|
|
12
|
Draksharamam (Andhra Pradesh)
|
Left cheek
|
Manikyamba devi
|
|
13
|
Guwahati (Assam)
|
Vulva
|
Kamarupa devi
|
|
14
|
Prayaga (Uttar Pradesh)
|
Fingers
|
Madhaveswari devi
|
|
15
|
Jwala (Himachal Pradesh)
|
Head part
|
Vaishnavi devi
|
|
16
|
Gaya (Bihar)
|
Breast part
|
Sarvamangala devi
|
|
17
|
Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)
|
Wrist
|
Vishalakshi devi
|
|
18
|
Dantewada (Chattisgarh)
|
Tooth
|
Danteswari devi
|
|
19
|
Kashmir
|
Right hand
|
Saraswathi devi
|
|
52 Shakti Peeth of Maa Parvati
