Introduction

The stories of Shakti Peethas & Amarnath Cave attracted me because they tell about the Cosmic Super Power & the savior of the creation from evil & the story of Amarnath Cave tells about the secret of immortality. The moral of both stories says that one must be self-dedicated without any expectations to achieve the ultimate peace and tranquility.

The Facts Behind The Shaktipeethas - Part One

The Myth In Brief

As per “Peethanirnaya Tantra” there are fifty-one Shaktipeethas are there where the body parts & ornaments of Mother Sati fell in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Srilanka, etc.

But as per mythology, Sati’s body was cut by Lord Vishnu by his Sudarshan Chakra in fifty-two pieces & the particular locations where her body parts and ornaments fell are identified as Shaktipeethas. Tantrachooramoni mentions about fifty-two Shaktipeethas.

Shaktipeethas are considered to be Devi Adya Shakti who is considered the power of Lord Shiva the destroyer of evils. Devi Mahamaya took birth and was incarnated as Parvati or Sati on earth. Where Sati was the daughter of Prajapati Daksha & Parvati was the daughter of Himavat the King of the mountain Himalayas. Out of these Shakti Peethas, four Shaktipeethas are recognized as the four main Shaktee Peethas. Those are Tara Tarini as in Stana Khanda near Berhampur, Bimalaalias Pada Khanda inside Jagannath Temple in Puri, Kamakhya alias Yoni Khanda near Guwahati & Dakshina Kali alias Mukta Khanda in Kolkata, West Bengal.

Facts Behind The Shakti Peethas

The fifty-two Shaktipeethas also known as Shakti Peethas are holy places of cosmic and enormous power. Where is the place of worship of Mother Sati who took rebirth as Parvati the Goddess of harmony, mental felicity& longevity with Maa Durga the goddess of strength & valor, and with Mahakali the goddess of destruction of evil?

According to Hindu mythology in Satya Yuga King Daksha Prajapati performed a Yagya with a desire to take revenge on Lord Shiva. As Daksha was angry because his daughter Dakshayani who was also known as Sati had married the Yogi God Shiva against the wish of her father Daksha.

To take revenge Daksha invited all the gods to the Yagya except Lord Shiva & Sat. But as a matter of fact, she was not invited did not deter Sati from attending the Yagya. Mother Sati had expressed her desire to attend to Lord Shiva who had tried his best to dissuade her from going to the occasion in her father’s house. But at last Lord Shiva allowed her to go escorted by his flowers.

But Sati being an uninvited guest was not given any respect. Moreover, Daksha insulted Lord Shiva. Sati was unable to bear her father’s insults toward her husband and so Dakshayani invoked her Yogic powers and immolated herself jumping into the pyre. When Lord Shiva heard about her death he became furious. He went to the place where Daksha was performing his Yagya and destroyed the area. Daksha was killed by Lord Shivas ganas.

Lord Shiva then carried Sati’s body all over the universe in a state of wild grief. At the request of other gods, Lord Vishnu severed Sati’s body into fifty-two pieces with his Sudarshan Chakra(Disc) so that Lord Shiva could return to his sanity and once again take up his duties.

Various parts of Mother Sati’s body fell at different places which are known as Shakti Peethas. At all the Shakti Peethas,the Goddess Shakti is accompanied by Bhairava which is a manifestation of Lord Shiva.

Description Of Shakti Peeths With Location

Kanchipuram Shaktipeeth

It is said that Kanchipuram Shaktipeetha gives eternal happiness to those who visit it. The Shaktipeetha is located sixty-five kilometers from Chennai and situated on the banks of Vegavathy. This sacred Pettha is mentioned in Lalita Sahasram, Trishati, Aatototram etc.In this Peetha mother, Sati’s ottiyana means ornament covering the stomach had fallen. It is famous as the Kamakshi Devi temple..According to local

legend, Adi Sankaracharya established the Sri Chakra in this Kamakshi Devi temple. In the trough-like structure of that temple. The construction of today’s temple is credited to the Pallava Kings.

Devi is worshipped here as Kamakshi & the Bhairav here is Kala Bhirav.

Indrakshi Shaktipeetha

Indrakshi Shaktipeetha is considered one of the fifty-two Shaktipeethas famous in the Hindu religion. This Shaktipeeth is located in Nainativu about thirty-five kilometers from Jaffna, Sri Lanka. This Shaktipeetha is very close to the famous Triangheswara temple. The King of Gods Indra worshipped Maa Kali in this holy spot. Here the middle part of stomach and thigh oh Mother Sati had fallen. Here the Devi is worshipped as Naayanar and the Bhairav here is Rakshaseswar.

Hinglaj Shaktipeetha

Hinglaj Shaktipeetha is situated in a cave in the western part of Pakistan near Karachi. Hinglaj is around two hundred kilometers away from Karachi near Parkai station. The Eyes of Mother Sati had fallen in this location. Hingula is alongside side of Arabian Sea. Here Devi is worshipped as Mahishmardini idol, Devi Durga the destroyer of Mahishasura alias the devil Power.

The Bhairav here is Krodhish means the one is the form of anger.

Sugandha Shaktipeetha

Sugandha Shaktipeetha is situated in Shikarpur Gornadi around twenty kilometers from Barisal town in Bangladesh on the banks of Sonda river. Here Mother Sati’s nose was fallen. The Devi here is worshipped as Sunanda & the Bhairav here is Trayambak. The Bhairav temple is in Ponabalia .

The total complex of Suganda & Shaktipeeth is constructed of stone with the images and statues of gods engraved on them. The sculptures present a mesmerizing shine of the marble the temple is made of and its reflection on the water of the river is of course one thing that attracts the people.

Mahamaya Shakti Peetha In Amarnath Cave The Amarnath Cave abode of Mahamaya Shakti Peetha is one of the fifty-two Shakti Peethas temples in the Indian subcontinent that commemorate the location of fallen body parts of the Hindu deity Mother Sati. Here the throat of Mother Sati was fallen. According to legends the temple of Goddess Amma is located in Kashmir. The exact location is ninety-four kilometers by bus from Srinagar through Pahalgam. The temple is known as Mahamaya temple & the Devi is worshipped here as Mhamaya & the Bhairab here as Trisandhyaeshwar. This Shaktipeeta is situated in Jammu & Kashmir state of India.

Jwalamukhi Shaktipeetha

According to Hindu mythology, the legend of the Jwawla Ji temple relates to Mother Sati the daughter of Daksha Prajapati the son of the creator Lord Brahma and Sati the wife of Lord Shiva. This is the place where Mother Sati’s tongue fell which can

now be seen in the form of the flame. As per the legends Sati immolated herself after her father insulted Lord Shiva.

The Mughal Emperor Akbar once tried to extinguish the flames by covering them with an iron disk and even spraying water on the flame. But the flames blasted at all efforts. Akbar then presented a golden umbrella at the temple. Here the Devi is worshipped in the name of Siddhida or Ambika. There is no idol in this temple. This temple is located in Kangra of Himachal Pradesh of India. Here the ignited flame is worshipped as Devi.

It is well-known that the King of Kangra Bhumichand built the temple in this location as desired to him in his dream. Maharaj Ranjit Sing also wrapped the dome of the temple by a gold plate in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen. In this Peetha the Bhirav is Unmatta Bhirav.

Ambaji Mata Shaktipeetha

Ambaji mata shaktipeetha is a major shaktipeetha in Gujarat. It is located at a distance of around sixty-five kilometers from Palanpur & forty-five kilometers from Mount Abu. It is at Anart near Gujarat and Rajasthan border.

It is believed that the Heart of Mother Sati had fallen here. Devi also referred to as Arasuri Amba as the location of the temple in the Arasur hills near the source of the Saraswati River at the southwestern end of the Aravali mountain range. In Ambaji the Bhairav is the Batuk Bhairav form of Lord Shiva here. Devi worshipped here as Ambaji Mata.

Gujyesshwari Shakti Peetha

Gujyesshwari temple is a Shaktipeetha is about one kilometer east of Pashupatinath temple & is situated on the southern bank of the Bagmati river. It is famous as the temple is the Shakti Chair of Pashupatinath temple.It is an important pilgrimage destination for Hindus especially for Tantric worshippers. This temple is in Nepal. Here both knees of Mother Sati had fallen. Here Devi Shakti is Mahashira & the Bhairav is Kapali.

Manas Shakti Peetha

Manas is another Shaktipeetha under Tibet at the feet of Mount Kailash in Lake Massoravor. The right hand of Mother Sati was fallen here. Now it is in the form of a piece of stone. The Goddess is worshipped here in the name of Dakshyani and the Bhairav here is named Lord Amar. This Shaktipeetha is placed just beside the purest & sacred water body specially known as the Lake Manas Sarovor. The site is extremely sacred to the Shakta sector of Hinduism. In the Vishnu Purana, a description of Mount Kailash stated that the four sides of the peak are made up of Crystal, Ruby, Gold & Lapis Lazuli i.e. deep blue semi-precious antique stones. The visit to Mount Kailash Peak is considered extremely sacred as it is located near the source of the longest and holiest rivers that flow through Asia. These rivers are Indus, Sutlej and Brahmaputra & apart from being considered extremely sacred by Hindus as the abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Mata Parvati, the peak has significance in other religions also.

Biraja Shakti Peetha

Biraja Shaktipeetha is in Odisha.Here the naval of Mother Sati had fallen. Biraja is located near the Jagannatha temple. Here Jagannatha is the Bhairav of the Devi. The Goddess is worshipped here as Bimala. This is considered one of the most supernatural powers Shaktipeetha out of four in the total number of fifty-two Shaktipeethas.

The location of the temple is near the Barabati bus stand which is hardly three kilometers away. The Primary ritual in the temple is Sharada Durga Puja, which commences on the night of Krishna Paksha Ashtami. During the lunar transition from Shukla Ashtami to Shukla Navami an animal sacrifice or Balidaan is performed. Navaratri is celebrated as Aparajita Puja. There is no idol in this temple.

Gandaki Chandi Shakti Peetha

Gandaki Chandi saktipeetha is situated at one hundred and twenty-five kilometers from Pokhara on the banks of the Gandaki River in Nepal. The temple's name is Muktinath.In this Muktinath.In this saktipeetha Chakrapani is the Bhirav.Here the forehead of the mother Sati was fallen. According to the Puranas in Hinduism, wherever the body parts or the ornaments of Goddess Sati fell the sacred place became Shaktipeetha. Here Devi is worshipped as Gandaki Chandi. Muktinath is one of the most significant temples of the Vaishnava sector. This pilgrimage center is famous for the God Shaligram. The God Shaligram is a sacred stone. There is a strong mythological belief that Lord Vishnu resides in the Shaligram rock. Many fictitious stories are also prevalent in this regard. According to one of these legends, once Lord Vishnu helped Lord Shiva when he couldn’t win the battle against the demon named Jalandhar. The story states that no one could defeat Jalandhar as long as the devil Jalandhar’s wife Vrinda could save her integrity. In this situation, Lord Vishnu takes the form of Jalandhar and succeded in destroying Vrinda’s essence.

Bahula Shakti Peetha

Bahula Shaktipeetha is situated on the banks of the Ajay River at Ketugram which is around eight kilometers from Katwa in the Burdwan district of West Bengal, India. Here Mother Sati’s left arm had fallen. The Bhairav here is Bhiruk. Being one of the shaktipeethas of Hindu mythology, this temple is one of the holiest sites for devotees of the Shakti sectors of Hinduism.

The stone image of Bahula along with those of Krtikeya and Ganesha, was established by Raja Chandraketu. The temple has a large courtyard right in front of the Garbhagriha & the flooring has been done in red stone. The presiding idol is called as called Bahula and associated Bhairav in this shaktipeetha is known as Bhirux or Sarvasiddhidayak.

The temple is located about a half-kilometer from the Ketugram bus stand.

Mangal Chandika Shakti Peetha

Mangal Chandika Shaktipeetha is located in the Ujaani village of Guskara in the Burdwan district of West Bengal, India. The temple is around sixteen kilometers away from the Guskara railway station. Here the right wrist of Mother Sati had fallen. The Devi worshipped here as Mangal Chandika and the Bhairav is known here as Kapilambar.

The word Chandi means skilled or clever and Mangal means welfare. The Goddess who is skilled in doing welfare, assimilates to Mangal Chandika. Moreover, Durga is called Chandi & the son of the earth is named Mangal. Inside the Garbha Griha,two idols of the gods are consecrated one is of Devi Mangal Chandi & the other is of Lord Shiva.

Tripura Sundari Shakti Peetha

Tripura Sundari is another Shaktipeetha where the right leg of Mother Sati was fallen. This Shaktipeetha is well known as the Tripura Sundari temple located in Udaipur, Tripura at the top of the hills near Radhakishorepur village a little distance away from Udaipur town. The Bhairav here is Tripuresh. Tripura Sundari is better known locally as Devi Tripureswari.

The state of Tripura is named after this temple. Shakti is worshipped here as Tripura Sundari. the main temple is a cubical building with a three-tire roof built by Maharaja og Tripura Dhanya Manikya in the year 1501.

Shakti Bhavani Chandranath Shakti Peetha Shakti Bhavani Chandranath temple is on the top of the hill in the Chittagong district in Bangladesh where the right arm of Mother Sati was fallen. This saktipeetha is exactly situated on the Chandranath hill, Sitakunda. The Bhairav here is Chandrasekhar and the Devi is worshipped as Bhawani. This temple also has a magnificent glimpse of natural beauty. According to the legend about eight hundred years ago, Raja Biswambhar Sur happened to reach Chandranath temple by the Seaway. During that time Dhanya Manikya who was the King of Tripura gave many endowments to Chandranath temple & he tried to move Shivaling also in an attempt to take to his kingdom but all his efforts went in vain.

Bhraamari Shakti Peeetha

Bhraamari or Trisrota Shakti Peetha is located on the banks of the Teesta river in Vodaganj village of Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal. The left foot of Mother Sati was dropped in Bhraamari or Trisrota Shakti Peetha.

Here the Devi is worshipped as Braamari and the Bhairav here is Ambar. The Trisrota Shaktipeetha temple is famous for its beautiful architecture & intricate carvings. The temple is built in the traditional Bengali style with a thatched roof and mud walls. The main entrance of the temple is decorated with intricate carvings of gods and goddesses. The temple has a large courtyard where devotees can offer their prayers & perform rituals.

Kamakshya Shakti Peetha

Kamakshya is the Shakti Peetha which is one of the most powerful Shaktipeetthas. It is situated in the Neelachal Hills near Guwahati the capital of Assam. Here the Bhairav is Umanand. Devi is worshipped here as Kamkshya.

One of the holiest Hindu pilgrimages is Kamkshya temple an ancient Shakti Peetha. It is the central temple in a complex dedicated to the ten Mahavidyas. The Shakti temple of the mother goddess Kamakhya perched on the top of Nilachal Hills overlooking river Brahmaputra is about eight kilometers. The genital organ of Mother Sati was fallen here. The temple is the center of the Kulachara Tantra Marga and the site of Ambubachi Mela an annual festival celebrating the mensuration of the goddess.

There is a tradition that the temple was destroyed by Kalapahar a general of Sulaiman Karrani between 1566 to 1572 AD. Since the date of the reconstruction in 1565 AD precedes the possible date of destruction and since Kalapahar is not known to have ventured so far to the east. It is now believed that the temple was destroyed not by Kalapahar but during Hussein Shah’s invasion of the Kamata Kingdom in 1498 AD.

Tantric is the basic worship in and around this ancient temple of the mother goddess Kamakhya.

Jugaadya Shakti Peetha

Jugaadya Shakti Peetha is located in Khirgram, the Burdwan district of West Bengal. Here the Great Right Toe of Mother Sati has fallen. Here the Bhairav is Ksheer Khandak. The Devi is worshipped in this place as Jugaadya. This temple is also an ancient one. Its height is 30 feet & it’s a three-step temple.

Kalapahar had tried to destroy this idol. Both the idols are made of “Kasti Stones” and look like the idol of Goddess Durga. The newer idol was made by Nabin Bhaskar around two hundred years before & the older is around six hundred years old.

Kalighat Shakti Peetha

Kalipeetha alias Kalighat Shakipeetha is located in Kolkata, West Bengal (India). It is one of the most powerful Shaktipeetha. Here the right toes of Mother Sati were fallen. Here the name of Mother is Kalika. The Bhairav here is Nakuleesh. The name Kolkata is said to have been derived from the word Kalighat temple. The River over a period of time has moved away from the temple. The temple is now on the banks of a small canal called Adi Ganga which connects to the Hoogly. The Adi Ganga was the original course of the river Hoogly so it was named Adi means original Ganga.

The Kalighat temple in its present form is about two hundred years old. Although it has been referred to in Manasar Bhasan composed in the 15th century and Kavi Kankan Chandidas in the 17th century. The present structure of the temple was completed under the Sabarna Roy Chowdhury a family’s patronage in 1809. Santosh Roy Chowdhury a Kalidevotee himself started the construction of the present day temple in 1798. It has taken eleven years to complete the construction.

Prayag Shakti Peetha

Prayag Shakti Peetha is situated in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh(India). Here the ten fingers from the hand of Mother Sati was fallen. The Devi is known here as Lalita & the Bhairav here is called Bhava.

All three temples here are of Mother Sati of Prayag Shakti Peetha. The three temples are Akshaywat, Mirapur, and Alopi. The Devi here worshipped as Alopi Mata as well.

This Shaktipeetaha is located very to Sangam or the confluence of the three holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna & Saraswati near Allahabad near Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, India. As the last body part fell in this spot thereby it is named “Alopi” and the holiest of all.

Alopi Devi continues to be worshipped by thousands of devotees living in the region when share every occasion of marriage, birth & in death even with their guarding deity.

Jayanti Shakti Peetha

Jayanti Shaktipeetha is situated in the Sylhet district of Bangladesh. Locally known as Falizur Kalibari.Here the left thai of Mother Sati has fallen. The Bhairav here is Kramadishwar. The exact location of this shaktipeetha is at Baurbhaga village near Jayantia Hill which is thirty-five kilometers away from Sylhet. The temple is constructed at the foot of Jayantia Hill. Here the Devi is worshipped as Jayanti.

Kiriteswari Shakti Peetha

Kiriteswari Shaktipeetha is located at Kiritkona village under Nabagram in the Lalbag subdivision of Murshidabad district of West Bengal, India. It is a belief that the crown of Mother Sati was fallen here. Kiriteswari temple is the oldest and holiest & famous religious place of Murshidabad district also known by the name Mukuteshwari temple. Here Devi is worshipped as Vimala alias pure. The Bhairav here is Sanwart or Sambrata.The shaktipeetha of Maa Kiriteswari temple is considered as an Upapeetha as no limb or part of the body fell here but only a portion of her ornament fell here.

It is one among the handful of temples in West Bengal where there is no idol but an auspicious black stone is worshipped here.

Vishalakshi Shaktipeetha

Vishalaxshi is the other shaktipeetha where the earring of Mother Sati was fallen. The Bhairav here is known as Kalbhairav. The location of this shaktipeetha is Varanasi at Manikarnika ghat on the banks of the Ganges at Kashi in Uttar Pradesh, India. However if one asks at the temple there today, the priest and all others reply promptly that the body part that dropped here was her face which is hidden behind the Annapurna temple the goddess of food & form of Shiva’s consort Parvati is given the epithet Vishalakshi the wide-eyed.

Her most famous temple stands at Varanasi where the patron goddess is considered Skanda Purna says that the story of the sage Vyasa cursing Varanasi as no one in the city offered him food. Finally, Vishalashi appears in the form of a housewife and grants food to sage Vyasa. The role of Vishalakshi is similar to that of Annapurna who offers food to her husband Shiva.& whose hunger can be satiated by her food. In this shaktipeetha, the Devi is worshipped as Vishalkashi.

Kanya Kumari Shakti Peetha

Kanya kumari shaktipeetha is in Tamilnadu,India.It is located at the junction of the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal & the Arabian Sea. The Bhairav here is Nimish. Devi is worshipped here as Bhadrakali also. It is believed that the back spine area of Mother Sati had dropped here creating the presence of Kundalini Shakti in the region. In this shaktipeetha, the Devi Shakti is also known as Sarvani.

Savitri Shakti Peetha

Shavitri Shaktipeetha is known as Bhadrakali a stern form of Shakti. The right ankle of Mother Sati was fallen here. It is situated in Kurukshetra, Haryana in India. The Bhairav here is Sthanu and the Devis worshipped here as Savitri. Across in front is the main temple room where Maa Bhadrakaali’s main idol is kept for worshipping & a metal idol of the right ankle of the foot is placed at the door in front as well. Devotees bow in front of this idol and then take a Parikrama in this temple room. Alongside the Parikrama, they worship other God and Goddess idols situated around the main temple room including Maa Saraswati, Maa Gayatri and more as well.

Manibandh Shakti Peetha

Manibandh Shaktipeetha is at Gayatri hills near Pushkar adjacent to Ajmer, Rajasthan, India. Here Wrists of Mother Sati have fallen. The Bhairav here is Sarvanand.In this Shaktipeetha Devi is worshipped as Gayatri. Devi Gayatri is Saraswati.Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge in Hindu culture. The temple is considered the ideal place for Gayatri Mantra Sadhana. The temple is constructed on a hill and made of stones on which various idols of gods and goddesses are engraved. The art and architecture of the temple is commendable & the huge pillars show the grandness of this holy structure.

Shri Shail Shakti Peetha

Shri Shai Shaktipeetha is at Jainpur village near Gotatikar in the northeast of Sylhet town of Bangladesh. Here the neck of Mother Sati has fallen. In this temple, the Devi is worshipped as Mahalaxmi & the Bhairav here is Sambaranand.

Kankalitala Shakti Peetha

Kankalitala Shaktipeetha is situated on the banks of the Kopai river located ten kilometers northeast of Bolpur station in Birbhum district, West Bengal. Here Devi is worshipped as Kankaleswari and the Bhairav here is Ruru. Here the waist of Mother Sati has fallen.

There is a pond near the temple which never gets dry. Here there is no deity idol made from metal, stone or clay. At Kankalitala the image that is attended to by the purohits is a framed painting showing the goddess Kali standing on the top of her husband Lord Shiva. There seems some conflict between Kali & the goddess worshipped here as Kankali.

Kalmadhab Shakti Peetha

Kalmadhav Shaktipeetha is situated in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh in India. The most adapted view of Amarkantak which is very close to Chitrakoot. Which is the originating point of the Narmada river. Here the idols are named Kali for Devi & the Bhairav is Asitang It is said that the left Buttock of Mother Sati has fallen here. Here the idol of Mother Sati is called Kalmadhava. The white stone-made temple with ponds all around it produces a picturesque view. The astonishing view of the Son River and the nearby Kund is something that can’t be left unseen. There are around a hundred steps in total that are needed to be travelled in order to reach the temple. Additionally, the flow of the Narmada river makes this place more charming.

Shonedesh Shakti Peetha

Shonedesh Shaktipeetha is located at the source point of the Narmada river in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh in India. Here the right Buttock of Mother Sati has fallen. Here Devi is worshipped as Narmada & the Bhairav here is Bhadraden. The idol of Mother Narmada is there and it is surrounded by the golden golden Mukut all around it. Just a few meters on both sides the idols of different goddess is there. The platform where Mother Narmada's idol is there is made of silver.

The white stone-made temple with ponds all around it produces a picturesque view. Narmadadevi, Shonedsh Shaktipeetha is behind an ancient temple & it is believed to be around six thousand years of age

Ramgiri Shakti Peetha

Ramgiri at Chitrakut in Jhansi,Uttar Pradesh in India where the right brest of Mother Sati has falen.The Devi is worshipped here as Shivani and the Bhairav here is known as Chand Bhairav. Mandakini River is a prominent water body & Chitrakut is situated on the bank of this river.

Chitrakut temple is considered as a very sacred place. Lord Rama, Sita Devi & Lakshmana were said to have spent eleven and half years in these forests out of their fourteen years of exile. The first known mention of Chitrakut is in the great sage Valmiki’s Ramayana. The great poet Kalidasha described Chitrakut as Ramgiri due to his Bhakti to Lord Rama. Even Tulshidas the saint-poet of Hindi is said to have had the darshan of Lord Rama in Chitrakut.

Vrindavan Shakti Peetha

In Vrindavan Shaktipeetha the Goddess is worshipped as Uma and the temple is known as Uma Shaktipeetha or Umadevi Mandir in the Katyani form. The Ringlets of hair of Mother Sati have dropped here.

The temple is located near the new bus stand on Bhuteswar Road within Bhuteswar Mahadev temple in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh in India. Here the Bhirav is known as Bhutesh.

A saint Kesavanand Maharaj built the temple. He was an ardent devotee of Mother Katyani.It is said that he had a dream in which Katyani Devi asked him to come to Vrindavan and build a temple.So the saint came to Vrindavan and identified this place as the one where Mother Sati’s hair was fallen. Then he constructed the temple of Katyani Devi here.

Kanyakumari Shakti Peetha

Suchitirtham Shaktipeetha temple also known as Kanyakumari temple located at Suchindram in Chennai. Here the teeth of the upper jaw of Mother Sati have dropped. Devi is worshipped as Narayani and the Bhairav here is Sanhar. According to legend, it is said that the temple was built by Lord Indra the king of gods.

Also, it is believed that Lord Rama the Hindu deity visited the temple during his exile period. The temple was later renovated and expanded by the Cholas, the Padyas & the Nayaks dynasties.

Panchasagar Shakti Peetha

Panchasagar Shaktipeetha is situated near Haridwar where the teeth of the lower jaw of Mother Sati were fallen. Here the devi is worshipped as Varahi and the Bhairav here is Maharudra. The teeth fell in Panchasagar near Haridwar in Uttarakhand, India. Some tell Panchasagar Shaktipeetha is at an unknown place in the water of the Ganga River in Varanasi.

There are two other temples that are considered to be the Shaktipeetha one is the Danteswari temple in Chattisgarh & Varahi temple in Davidhra Uttarakhand in India. Most religious scholars consider the Varanasi shaktippetha as the genuine one. The construction of this ancient temple is also unique in many ways.The stone used In its construction is such that it shines in the sunlight. There is a Kund adjacent to the temple & the reflection of the temple in that water is mesmerizing.

Bhabanipur Shakti Peetha

Bhabanipur Shaktipeetha is in the Rajshahi district of Bangladesh on the bank of the Kartoya River. Here the left anklet & ornament of Mother Sati were dropped. Here Devi is worshipped as Arpana and the Bhairav is known as Vaman. It was said that the king of Natore used to meditate in this temple.

Shri Parvata Shakti Peetha

Shri Parvata Shaktipeetha is situated in the Ladakh region of Jammu & Kashmir in India. This temple is dedicated to Mother Durga and the temple comes in ancient Shaktipeetha. Here the Devi is worshipped as Shri Sundari and the Bhairav here is Sundaranand. The right anklet & ornament of Mother Sati have fallen here. There is also another belief that a similar Shaktipeetha is situated in Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh, India. Also, the Kali temple located in the Leh district of the Ladakh region worshipped by the locals as Shaktipeetha.

It is believed that this temple is about eight hundred years old. There is a huge statue of the Goddess Kali is there in this temple.

Vibhas Shakti Peetha

Vibhash Shaktipeetha is situated in Tamluk in the East Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. Here the left ankle of Mother Sati has fallen. The devi is worshipped here as Kapalini or Bhimrupa & the Bhairav here is Sarvanand.

It is believed that the place has been sacrificed with the presence of the lotus feet of Lord Shi Krishna.As per saying in Kashi Das.’s Mahabharata.& Jaimini’s Mahabharata Lord Sri Krishna himself came to Tamluk and released the horse for the Ashwamedha Yagna. Alongside the presence of Shakti Peetha of Vibhaas has also made the place pious for both the Shaktas & the Shaivas.

Prabhas Shakti Peetha

Shakti Peetha Prabhas is near to Verabal district in Gujarat.India.Here the stomach of Mother Sati has fallen. The temple is near to Junagarh district as well. The goddess here is worshipped as Chandrabhaga and the Bhairav here is Vakratund.

Bhairav Parvat Shakti Peetha

Bhairav Parvat Shaktipeetha is located at Bhairav Hills on the banks of the Shipra River near Ujjain town in Madhya Pradesh, India. Here the upper lips of Mother Sati were dropped. Here the Devi is worshipped as Avanti and the Bhairav is Lambkarna.

According to the legends, it is believed that the temple was built during the reign of the Paramara dynasty which ruled the region in the tenth century. The temple was later renovated and expanded during the Maratha period under the patronage of the Scindia dynasty in the nineteenth century.

Jansthan Shakti Peetha

Jansthan Shaktipeetha is at Godavari river valley near Nasik,Maharastra in India.Here the chin of Mother Sati was fallen in two parts. Here Devi is worshipped as Bhramari and the Bhairav is Savasiddish. For Hindu devotees, this temple place is the place said to have power that can eliminate every type of evil from your life. So much so this temple is famous and that’s the reason people from the rest of the country visit here to offer prayers & also to get rid of the evil that resides in their life.

Sarvashail Shakti Peetha

Sarvashail Shaktipeethais at Kotilingeswar temple on the banks of Godavari river. The location is near Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh in India. Here the left cheek of Mother Sati was fallen. Devi is worshipped here as Vishweshwari and the Bhairav is Dandpani.

It is an ancient religious pilgrimage for Hindus and is famous for its magnificent architecture.

Birat Shakti Peetha

Birat Shaktipeetha is near Bharatpur in Rajasthan, India. Here left fingers of the left foot of Mother Sati fell. Devi is worshipped here as Ambika and the Bhairav is Amriteahwar. Mother Ambika Shaktipeetha has a rich history that dates back centuries. According to legend, it is believed that the temple was established by the Hindu sage Markandeya who was a devotee of Goddess Durga. The temple was built to honour Mother Ambika an incarnation of Goddess Durga who is considered the divine mother of the universe. Mother Ambika Shaktipeetha is known for its beautiful architecture and intricate carvings. The temple is built in the traditional Rajasthani style with a tall tower and a beautiful entrance. The temple complex also includes several smaller shrines dedicated to other Hindu deities.

Ratnavali Shakti Peetha

Ratnavali Shaktipeetha is located on the banks of the Ratnakar River at Khanakul Krishnanagar in the Hooghly district of West Bengal, India. Here the right shoulder of Mother Sati was dropped. Here Devi is worshipped as Kumari and the Bhairav is Shiva.

At the place of the fall of the right shoulder, this temple was built. Just near the temple flows the flamboyant Hoogly River.

Mithila Shakti Peetha

Mithila Shaktipeetha is located in Darbhanga on the border of India Nepal. Here the left shoulder of Mother Sati was fallen. Here the Devi is worshipped as Uma & the Bhairav is Mahodar. It is believed that there is still a difference between the fixed place of Mithila Shatipeetha i.e. there are a lot of opinions about the correct place. Mithila Shaktipeetha is considered to be the Shakiteepeetha at the temples of three main places.

Nalhati Shakti Peetha

Nalhati Shaktipeetha is near Nalhati station of Birbhum district in West Bengal, India.The temple is known as Nlateswari temple and the Devi here is worshipped as Kalika Devi & the Bhairav here is Yogesh. The throat or Nala of Mother Sati was fallen here.

It is believed that in the 252nd Bengali year, Kamdev the Hindu god of love and desire had seen this dream about the existence of this Shaktipeetha in this Nalhati forest. Mother Sati’s Nala or throat was discovered here. It is said that under the original idol of the temple, the mother’s Nala & throat is No matter how much water is being poured down the throat it will never get overflowed or dried up.

Chamundeswari Shakti Peetha

Chamundeswari or Karnat Place Shaktipeetha is situated at Chamundi hills in Karnataka,India.Here both the ears & hair of Mother Sati were fallen. Here the Devi is worshipped as Joydurga & the Bhairav Abhiru.

Karnataka is named after Karnat. It is considered one of the most powerful Shaktipeetha as the first body part of Mother Sati fell here.

Bakreswar Shakti Peetha

Bakreswar Shaktippetha is loathed near the Siuri town of Birbhum district of West Bengal, India. Here the portion between the eyebrows was fallen. Here Devi is worshipped as Mahishmardini & the Bhairav is Vakranath. The temple is situated on the banks of the Paaphara River and is said to be the remover of sins. There are several hot springs surrounding the region. Agni Kund ,Brahma Kund,.Surya Kund, Saubhagya Kund, Amrita Kund, Kheer Kund, Jibat Kund, and Vairav Kund & are each associated with a Shiva Linga. The Shiva Linga can be found close to every spring. The great sage Astabakra is said to have found enlightenment here after bathing in the Paaphara River.

Jessoreswari Shakti Peetha

Jessoreswari Shaktipeetha is located in the Ishwaripur Shyamnagar district at Satkhira, Bangladesh. Here the Palms of the hands and feet of Mother Sati have dropped. Here Devi is worshipped as Jashoreswari and the Bhairav here is Chanda. The temple complex was built by Raja Pratapaditya whose capital was Ishwaripur.

A large rectangular covered platform called Natmandir has been erected adjacent to the main temple. from where the face of the goddess can be seen.

Attahas Shaki Peetha

Attahas is the shaktipeetha situated in Lavpur of Birbhum district of West Bengal. Here the Lips of Mother Sati were fallen. No idol is there in this temple A stone in the shape of a tortoise is believed to be the form of Devi. There is a pond near the temple. It is said that Hanuman collected one hundred & eight lotus from this pond when Sri Ramchandra worshipped Maa Durgaa.

Here Devi is worshipped as Phullara and the Bhairav here is Vishvesh.

Nandipur Shakti Peetha

Nandipur Shaktipeetha is situated in Nandipur village in Sainthia town of Birbhum district in West Bengal, India. Here the Necklace of Mother Sati was fallen. Here Devi is worshipped as Nandini and the Bhairav is worshipped as Nandikeshwar. The goddess is sitting in the form of a turtle-shaped rock. This rock is painted completely from the Vermilion. On this form of the goddess, there is a silver crown and three gold eyes.

There is a small and big temple of other goddesses installed in this temple as well. There is a holy banyan tree in this complex on which the devotees tie the red thread to fulfill their desire.

Hingula Shakti Peetha

Hingula Shaktipeetha is in southern Baluchistan near Karachi, Pakistan where the mind or Bramharandhra means the part of the head of Mothe Sati was fallen. Devi is worshipped here as Kottari & the Bhairav here is Bhimlochan the form of Lord Shiva. The devi here is in the form of Durga or devi in a mountain cave on the banks of the Hingol River.

Danteshwari Shakti Peetha

Danteshwari Shaktipeetha is located in Dantewada near Jagdalpur of Chattisgarh state, India. Here the teeth of Mother Sati have fallen. Here Devi is worshipped as Danteshwari & the Bhairav here is Kapalbhairav.

For Kuldevi of Baster state the Dateshwari temple was built in the fourteenth century. The idol of Danteshawari Mother is chiseled out of black stone. The temple is divided into four parts such as GarbhaGriha, Maha Mandap, Mukhya Mandap & Sabha Mandap were constructed with stone pieces.

Facts Behind The Amarnath Cave - Part Two 

Amarnath Cave is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites among Hindus. It is located at a height of around four thousand meters in Jammu & Kashmir, India. Amarnath cave is considered one of the holiest shrines of the Lord Shiva. Every year thousands of devotees undertake the Amarnath Yatra which is organized by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board. Formed due to the melting of ice from the roof of the cave to the floor. People from all across the country visit Amarnath cave to seek blessing from Lord Shiva.

Dedicated to the Lord Shiva the shrine is said to be more than five thousand years old. The shrine is an important part of Indian mythology. The holy Amarnath caves are surrounded by the breathtaking Himalayas and are a tourist attraction as well to experience the beauty apart from offering worship.

The tourists will also get an additional opportunity to visit nearby Kedarnath Dham & other holy places. They can feel divine satisfaction as nature unfolds mysteries of legends here. On entering the main cave in the temple you will come across ice Lingams, resembling a naturally formed Shiva Lingam. By its side are two more fascinating ice Lingams that resemble Parvati and their son Ganesha. The trek to Amarnath in the month of Shravana i. July-August has the devour flock to this incredible shrine where to this incredible shrine where the image of Shiva waxes and wanes in line with the moon whatever the legend and the history of Amarnath’s discovery. It is today an extremely crucial center of pilgrimage. The route through difficulties exists although every year millions of devotees from around the world come to pay homage before Lord Shiva in one of the Himalayan abodes.

The trek from Pahalgam to Amarnath cave takes around four days & night halts at Chandanwari Seshnag. The distance from Pahalgam to Chandanwari can be covered in almost five to six hours. The trail runs along the Lidder River pilgrims can camp the first night. The major attraction is a bridge covered by ice all year round. This visit to the abode of Lord Shiva who is both destroyer & healer will be an enlightening and enriching experience.

Significance of Amarnath temple

It is famous that there is a block of ice formed by Shivling inside the Amarnath Cave. The science says that it has been formed causing the dripping of ice from the roof of the Cave. The Hindus believe that it is the presence of Lord Shiva in the Linga form. Not only this but it is also believed that this Lingam expands and contracts according to the phases of the moon.

Although there is no scientific proof to date. Along with the Shiva Linga two other ice formations are also there said to be of Goddess Parvati and Lord Ganesha.

History Of Amarnath Temple

It is said that there was a shepherd by the name of Buta Malik who first discovered the cave However there is a mention of the Amarnath temple and people believe that Queen Surryamathi gave a present of Trishul, banalingas & sacred emblems to Amarnath temple in the eleventh century AD and in the fifteenth century Buta Malik rediscovered the Cave. The story of Queen Suryamathi was forgotten in the course of time.

The story of Buta Malik said that Buta Malik received a bag full of coal from a saint and when he got back home. He was surprised to see two gold coins instead of coal. He was grateful but overwhelmed. To say thanks to the saint he went back to the place where he met him. But he found the Cave with Shiva Lingam inside instead of the saint. This led to the discovery of Amarnath Cave & from then onwards it became a major place for pilgrimage among the Hindus. There are some other story which says the valley of Kashmir was under water and the great sage Kashyap drained all the water through various rivers & rivulets. At the same timeline, sage Bhrigu visited the Himalayas and was the first to have a darshan of the holy Amarnath Cave. Asand when the local people heard about this it quickly became Shiva’s abode and a centre of pilgrimage.

Story Of Amarnath Temple

It is believed that when Parvati asked Lord Shiva for the secret of life and eternity, at first he refused but as she insisted so he decided to reveal the secret to her. And then he left Mount Kailash along with Mother Parvati & left his belongings at various places. For example Nandi the bull at Pahalgam and the Moon from the hair of Chandanwari & snakes on the banks of Seshnag.

Lord Ganesha left Mahagunas Parvat also renowned as Mahaganesh Mountain. Moreover, the five elements of nature earth, water, air, fire & sky were left at Panchtami. As he sacrificed his belongings, Lord Shiva performed Tandava Dance. Later he entered the cave with Mother Parvati. To ensure no one was listening he created fire to demolish all the around him. But a pair of pigeons under Lord Shiva remained and heard the secret of immortality. They were born and even today devotees who visit Amarnath temple can see a pair of pigeons inside the cave nesting. Because the secret of immortality was told in this place by Lord Shiva the Cave named Amarnath.

As a symbol of sacrificing the earthy world, Lord Shiva performed the Tandava dance & finally, Lord Shiva entered along with Mother Parvati and both of them manifested into a Lingam made of ice. Lord Shiva became the lingam of ice and Mother Parvati became the Yogini of rock.

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Dedicated To: This holy article is dedicated to the tourists of the world & the pilgrims at the present age as well as the upcoming generations and successors in the near future to enrich their religious knowledge & the amazing history of our ancient past.

Courtesy & References: This is a spontaneous attempt to present the destinations & the facts behind Are from Vayu Purana & Kasi Kanda of the Skanda Purana & the Padma Purana, Linga Purana, Shiva Purana, and Matsya Purana respectively.