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 or 108 Shakti peethas by various accounts,[3][4] of which between 4 and 18 are named as Maha (major) in medieval Hindu texts.[3]

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Shri Hinglaj Mata temple shakti peetha is the largest Hindu pilgrimage centre in Pakistan.The annual Hinglaj Yathra is attended by more than 250,000 people.[1]
Nartiang Durga Temple Shakti peetha in Meghalaya is considered by the Hindus of Meghalaya as the permanent abode of Godess Durga

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 legends behind the Shakti Peethas is based on the story of the death of the goddess Sati. Out of grief and sorrow, Shiva carried Sati's body, reminiscing about their moments as a couple, and roamed around the universe with it. Vishnu had cut her body into 51 body parts, using his Sudarshana Chakra, which fell on Earth to become sacred sites where all the people can pay homage to the Goddess. To complete this massively long task, Lord Shiva took the form of Bhairava.

The only exceptional Shakti Peethas is the Vindhyavasini Shakti Peetha.As it is believed that the Shaktipeeths were created on earth, where the body parts of Sati fell. But this is the place where Devi chose to reside after her birth in Dvapara Yuga as the sister of Krishna.[5]

Legend
Lord Shiva carrying the corpse of Dakshayani

Lord Brahma performed a yajna (Vedic ritual of fire sacrifice) to please Shakti and Shiva. Goddess Shakti emerged, separating from Shiva and helped Brahma in the creation of the universe. Brahma decided to give Shakti back to Shiva. Therefore, his son Daksha performed several yagnas to obtain Shakti as his daughter in the form of Sati. It was then decided that Sati was brought into this world with the motive of marrying Shiva.

However, due to Lord Shiva's curse to Brahma that his fifth head was cut off due to his lie in front of Shiva, Daksha started hating Lord 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 yagna with a desire to take revenge on Lord Shiva. Daksha invited all the deities to the yajna except Lord Shiva and Sati. The fact that she was not invited did not deter Sati from attending the yagna. She expressed her desire to attend the yagna to Shiva, who tried his best to dissuade her from going. Shiva eventually relented and Sati went to the yagna. Sati, being an uninvited guest, was not given any respect at the yagna. Furthermore, Daksha insulted Shiva. Sati was unable to bear her father's insults toward her husband, so she self-immolated.

Enraged at the death and insult of his spouse, Shiva in his Virabhadra avatar destroyed Daksha's yagna, cut off Daksha's head, but later replaced it with that of a male goat as he restored him to life.Virabhadra didn't stop fighting; he kept raging with anger. Gods prayed to lord Vishnu. He came there and started fighting him. Still immersed in grief, Shiva picked up the remains of Sati's body, and performed the Tandava, the celestial dance of destruction, across all creation. The other Gods requested Vishnu to intervene to stop this destruction, towards which Vishnu used the Sudarshana Chakra, which cut through Sati's corpse. 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.[6]

At all the Shakti Peethas, the Goddess Shakti is accompanied by her consort, Lord Bhairava (a manifestation of Lord Shiva).

Vindhyavasini Shakti Peetha

The Vindhyavasini Shakti Peetha is a Shakti Peetha, despite the fact that any body parts of Sati did not fell there.This is because it is the place where Devi chose to reside after her birth in Dvapara Yuga.[7] 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.[8]

Sati's self-immolation

The history of Daksha yajna and Sati's self-immolation had immense significance in shaping the ancient Sanskrit literature and even influenced the culture of India. It led to the development of the concept of Shakti Peethas and thereby strengthened Shaktism. Enormous numbers of stories in the Puranas and other Hindu religious books took the Daksha yagna as the reason for their origin. It is an important incident in Shaivism, resulting in the emergence of Parvati in the place of Sati Devi and making Shiva a grihastashrami (house holder), leading to the origin of Ganesha and Kartikeya.[9]

Shakti Peethas are shrines or divine places of the Mother Goddess. These are places that are believed to have been blessed with the presence of Shakti due to the falling of body parts of the corpse of Sati Devi, when Lord Shiva carried it and wandered throughout Aryavartha in sorrow. There are 51 Shakti Peeth linking to the 51 alphabets in Sanskrit.[10] Each temple has shrines for Shakti and Kalabhairava, and most Shakti and Kalabhairava in different Shakti Peeth have different names.

Four Adi Shakti Pithas

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, Purnagiri, Breasts), near Berhampur, Odisha; Kamakhya Temple (Yoni Khanda), in Guwahati, Assam; and Dakshina Kalika (Mukha Khanda) in Kolkata, West Bengal, all originating from the parts of the corpse of Mata Sati in the Satya Yuga.

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).

In the listings below:

  • "Shakti" refers to the Goddess worshiped at each location, all being manifestations of Dakshayani (Sati), Parvati or Durga;
  • "Body Part or Ornament" refers to the body part or piece of jewelry that fell to earth, at the location on which the respective temple is built.
Temple City/Town State in India/Country Body Part Image
Vimala Temple Puri Odisha pada

(feet)
Taratarini Temple Berhampur Odisha stana

(breast)
Kamakhya Temple Guwahati Assam yoni (genitals)
Kalighat Kali Temple Kolkata West Bengal daahina padangushtha

(right toe)

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.[11] One of the few in South India, Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh became the site for a 2nd-century temple.[12]

The List of Shakti Peethas
The Hindus of Meghalaya consider Nartiang Durga Temple shaktipeetha as the Permanent abode of godess Durga

In the listings[13] 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 "TANTHRACHOODAMANI" 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 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, at Bhairav hills on the banks of Shipra river in the city of Ujjaini. These Shaktpeeth known as Harsiddi temple. 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[14] 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 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)

C. Gourikunda Temple

 A. Tamil Nadu

B. Yunnan, China

C. Sitakunda, Chattogram, Bangladesh

 Back Sarvani Nimish
19 Karnat, Brajeshwari Devi, 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 Bhawani Chandrashekhar
29 Panchsagar Near Lohaghat (in Champawat District of Uttarakhand) just 12 km from nearest railway station Tanakpur. पूर्णागिरी / DeviDhura 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.[15] 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[16] 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 Vibhash, at Tamluk under district Purba Medinipur West Bengal Left ankle Kapalini (Bhimarupa) also known as Bargabheema
 Sarvanand
45 virat nagar district alwar, near Bharatpur, India, Rajasthan Fingers of Left Leg Ambika Amritaksha
46 Vrindavan, near new bus stand, on Bhuteshwar road within Bhuteshwar Mahadev Temple, Katyayanipeeth. Uttar Pradesh Ringlets of hair Uma Bhutesh
47 Jalandhar, from Jalandhar Cantonment Station to Devi Talab. Punjab Left Breast Tripurmalini Bhishan
48 Baidyanath Dham Jharkhand Heart Jaya Durga Baidyanath
49 [Adhi Kamakshi Amman Temple behind Kamakshi Amman Temple] Tamil Nadu Odyanam(Navel) Kamakshi
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
52 Ambaji at Anart Gujarat Heart Amba Batuk Bhairav
53 Jwaladevi Temple, Shaktinagar, Sonbhadra Uttar Pradesh Tongue Jwala Devi
54 Chandika Sthan, near Munger town Bihar Left Eye Chandika Devi
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
60 Vimala Temple, Inside Jagannath Temple, Puri Odisha Foot Devi
61 Anjanakshi, inside Marundeeswarar Temple on Mount Rudragiri in Aadhi Kanchi, Thirukachoor, Chengalpattu District Tamilnadu Skin Anjanakshi Marundeeswarar (Oushadheeshwar)
62 Jayanti Kali Temple* (জয়ন্তীয়া শক্তিপীঠ, Bam Jongha Peetha) Kanaighat, Sylhet, Bangladesh 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

* 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 [17] 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 [18][19], 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.[20]

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.

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 by Manish Bhandari.[21] This shubham dubey 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 Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Ujjain Madhya Pradesh Ujjaini Peetham Tongue Maa Kaali
10 Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple Pithapuram Andhra Pradesh Pushkarini Peetham Back Maa Puruhutika
11 Biraja Temple Jajpur Odisha Oddyana Peetham Navel Maa Biraja
12

Kumararama 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 Kashmir Sharada Peetham Right Hand Maa Sharada Devi

[*] Sharada Peeth: This temple is currently non-existent*.[22] Only ruins are found in these places. Its ruins are near the Line of Control (LOC)[23] 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[24] as a confidence-building measure, by increasing the people to people cross-border interaction.[23]

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,[25]

  1. Sri Sankari Peetham (at Lanka)
  2. Sri Simhika Peetham (at Simhala)
  3. Sri Manika Peetham (at Dakshavati)
  4. Sri Sudkala Peetham (At Petapur)
  5. Sri Bhramaramba Peetham (Srisailam)
  6. Sri Vijaya Peetham (Vijayapura)
  7. Sri Mahalakshmi Peetham (Kolhapuri)
  8. Sri Kamakshi Peetham ( Kanchipuram)
  9. Sri Kuchananda Peetham (Salagrama)
  10. Sri Viraja Peetham (Odyana, Jajpur)
  11. Sri Bhadreswari Peetham (Harmyagiri)
  12. Sri Mahakali Peetham (Ujjayini)
  13. Sri Vindhyavasini Peetham (The Vindhya mountains)
  14. Sri Mahayogi Peetham (Ahicchatra)
  15. Sri Kanyaka Peetham (Kanya Kubja)
  16. Sri Visalakshi Peetham ( Kashi)
  17. Sri Saraswati Peetham (Kashmira)
  18. Sri AbhirAmA Peetham (Padmagiri, Dindigul)

Aṣṭhādaśa śakti Pīṭha Stotram

Devanāgarī :
लङ्कायाम् शांकरीदेवी कामाक्षी काञ्चिकापुरे।
प्रद्युम्ने शृङ्खला देवी चामुण्दा क्रौञ्चपट्टणे॥
अलम्पुरे जोगुलाम्ब श्रीशैले भ्रमराम्बिक।
कोल्हापुरमहलक्ष्मी माहुर्यमेकवीरिका॥
उज्जयिन्याम् महाकाळी पीठिकायाम् पुरुहुतिका।
ओड्ढ्यायाम् गिरिजादेवी माणिक्या दक्षवाटिके॥
हरिक्षेत्रे कामरूपी प्रयागे माधवेश्वरी।
ज्वालायाम् वैष्णवीदेवी गयामाङ्गल्यगौरिके॥
वारणास्याम् विशालाक्षी काश्मीरेतु सरस्वती।
अष्ठादशैवपीठानि योनिनामप दुर्लभानिच॥
सायंकालं पठेन्नित्यम् सर्वरोगनिवारणम्।
सर्वपापहरम् दिव्यम् सर्वसम्पत्करम् शुभम्॥

IAST:

laṅkāyām śāṃkarīdevī kāmākṣī kāñcikāpure।
pradyumne śṛṅkhalā devī cāmuṇdā krauñcapaṭṭaṇe॥
alampure jogulāmba śrīśaile bhramarāmbika।
kolhāpuramahalakṣmī māhuryamekavīrikā॥
ujjayinyām mahākāḻī pīṭhikāyām puruhutikā।
oḍḍhyāyām girijādevī māṇikyā dakṣavāṭike॥
harikṣetre kāmarūpī prayāge mādhaveśvarī।
jvālāyām vaiṣṇavīdevī gayāmāṅgalyagaurike॥
vāraṇāsyām viśālākṣī kāśmīretu sarasvatī।
aṣṭhādaśaivapīṭhāni yonināmapa durlabhānica॥
sāyaṃkālaṃ paṭhennityam sarvaroganivāraṇam।
sarvapāpaharam divyam sarvasampatkaram śubham॥

Translation of the stotra

Goddess Shankari in Sri Lanka, Kamakshi in Kanchipuram Goddess Shrinkhala in Pradymna and Chamunda in Mysore

Goddess Jogulamba in Alampur, Goddess Brhamarambika in Sri Shailam Goddess Maha Lakshmi in Kolhapur and Goddess Eka Veera in Mahur

Goddess Maha Kali in Ujjain, Purhuthika in Peethika Goddess Girija in Odhyana and Manikya in the house of Daksha

Goddess Kama Rupi in the temple of Vishnu, Madhaveshwari in Prayagraj Goddess giving flame in Jwala Mukhi and Mangala Gowri in Gaya

Goddess Vishalakshi in Varanasi, Saraswati in Kashmir These are the 18 houses of Shakti, which are rare even to the Devas

When chanted every evening, all the enemies would get destroyed all the diseases would vanish, and prosperity would be showered.

Map of Shakti Peethas
Shakti names at locations of Shakti Peethas

Adi Shakti Peethas – Blue Astadasha Maha Shakti Peethas – Red

Daksha yagna site – Yellow

Kottiyoor Vysakha Mahotsavam
Main article: Kottiyoor Vysakha Mahotsavam
Kottiyoor Yajna bhoomi

The Kerala Hindus believes that the self immolation of the Sati happened in the Kottiyoor in Kannur district in Kerala.The annual Kottiyoor Vysakha Mahotsavam is conducted to commemorate the self immolation of Sati.The Kottiyoor Temple is located on the both banks of the Bavali river.[26]

Further reading
  • Dineschandra Sircar (1998). The Śākta Pīṭhas. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 978-81-208-0879-9.

Notes
  1. https://tribune.com.pk/story/1088366/mata-hinglaj-yatra-to-hingol-a-pilgrimage-to-reincarnation/?amp=1
  2. 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.
  3. Vanamali (2008). Shakti: Realm of the Divine Mother. Inner Traditions. pp. 83–84, 143–144. ISBN 978-1-59477-785-1.
  4. Kunal Chakrabarti; Shubhra Chakrabarti (2013). Historical Dictionary of the Bengalis. Scarecrow. p. 430. ISBN 978-0-8108-8024-5.
  5. "District Census Handbook Mirzapur" (PDF). Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  6. "Introduction and Preface". www.sacred-texts.com.
  7. "District Census Handbook Mirzapur" (PDF). Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  8. "District Census Handbook Mirzapur" (PDF). Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  9. "Kottiyoor Devaswam Temple Administration Portal". kottiyoordevaswom.com/. Kottiyoor Devaswam. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  10. RAGHUBIR LAL ANAND (February 2014). IS God DEAD?????. Partridge Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-4828-1823-9.
  11. 51 Pithas of Parvati Archived 2006-09-27 at the Wayback Machine – From Hindunet
  12. "Srisailam".
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2016-04-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. Author, Unknown. Tantra Chudamani. pp. Lines 13–14.
  15. Chandrabhaga Shakti Peeth https://www.bhaktibharat.com/mandir/chandrabhaga-shakti-peeth
  16. https://www.maihartemple.com/about-maihar-temple/
  17. "Kolkata Durga Puja Festival". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
  18. EiBangla 24x7. "চলো যাই বেড়িয়ে আসি জয়ন্তী… | EiBangla24x7". Retrieved 2020-08-16.
  19. "Mahakal Cave". www.cpreecenvis.nic.in. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
  20. Shakti Peetha Stotram Vedanta Spiritual Library
  21. Ashta Dasa Shakti Peetha Stotram From Hindupedia
  22. Pollock, Sheldon (2006). Language of the Gods in the World of Men. University of California Press.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  23. "Pandits denied entry into temple in Pakistan Administered Kashmir". The Hindu. 3 October 2007.
  24. "Pak should renovate Sharada Temple in Pakistan Administered Kashmir: Advani". zeenews.india. 2 May 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  25. https://archive.org/details/AbiramiammanSthalaPuranam
  26. "Kottiyoor: the site of a legendary sacrifice". Retrieved 12 March 2020.
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References

See also
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