According to the Puranas, Sati immolated herself during a Yagna when her husband, Shiva, was insulted by her father. This act enraged Shiva, and in his grief and anger, he carried her body across the country in a destructive dance. To calm Shiva, Vishnu was requested to intervene. Vishnu gradually dismembered Sati’s body, and these different parts fell at various places, which became known as Shakti Peethas. Kankhal is near the famous pilgrimage center of Haridwar.

Picture Credit: Ramanujam SR

Situated near Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, Vindhyachala overlooks the holy Ganga river. Shakti, also known as Mahisharuramardini, settled here after slaying Mahisha.

Vindhyachala is home to three main temples dedicated to different manifestations of Devi: Vindyavasini, Kalo Khoh, and Ashtabhuja. Pilgrims often embark on the Trikon Parikrama, a sacred journey, visiting these three Devi temples.

The Devi Mahatmya, an ancient text, references the Great Goddess who vanquished Mahisha and reveals her various appearances, including her eventual manifestation as the Goddess of Vindhya.

The region around the Vindhyachala temple has a rich history of Devi worship. Baghor, located approximately 100 kilometers away, bears evidence of Devi worship dating back 11,000 years. You can read about Baghor in IndiYatra’s Navaratri 2022 quiz. https://indiyatra.in/devi-a-quiz/

Source: Inditales.com
Vindyachalmandir.com

Picture Credit: Government of UP

Kamakhya in Assam is considered one of the greatest Shakti Peethas and is mentioned as one of the four Adi Shakti Peethas representing the cardinal directions. The Buddhist text Hevajra Tantra and Kalika Purana both attest to its significance. Kamakhya defines the land of Kamarupa, where the Goddess is believed to reside in every household.

The temple has a unique tradition of closing for three days during the monsoons, symbolizing the menstrual period of the Goddess. Kamakhya is also linked to the concept of birth. Situated on the Nilanchal hill overlooking the mighty Brahmaputra River, the area around Kamakhya temple is undergoing development, much like the Kashi Vishwanath corridor.

Source: DC Sircar, The Shakta Pithas

Picture Credit: Ramanujam SR

The city named after Mahisha, the demon whom Devi defeated, is Mysore. The name “Mysuru” is a variation of “mysooru,” which is derived from “mahishur” or “Mahishasurana Ooru” in Kannada, meaning the town of Mahishasura.

According to the Puranic story found in the Devi Bhagavatha, Mysore was under the rule of the demon King Mahishasura, depicted as a buffalo-headed monster. Responding to the pleas of the devas to save them from this demon, Devi incarnated as Chamundeshwari and ultimately defeated Mahishasura atop the Chamundi Hill near Mysore. This hill and the city itself were named after Chamundi Hill and Mysore, respectively. The Chamundeshwari temple on the hill is an ancient Peetha and holds great reverence, especially among the Mysore royals.

The picture is that of Mahisha in front of Chamundi Temple at Mysore.

Source: Lewis Rice, Mysore
mysore.nic.in.

Picture Credit: Deepti Deshpande. Wikimedia Commons.

Kalidasa drew inspiration from the Shakti Peetha known as Sri Gadhakalika Devi in Ujjain. This particular Peetha has historical associations with great rulers from the past, such as Emperor Harshavardhan.

Devi is venerated at this Peetha in the form of a married lady. Notably, a distinctive ritual at this temple involves devotees drawing a reverse Swastika when making their wishes. Once their wishes are fulfilled, they return to the temple to draw the correct Swastika as an act of devotion and gratitude.

Source: Ujjain. K.B. Dongray
dhar.nic.in
sanatan.org.

Picture Credit: Vikas Singh, TripAdvisor

Tuljapur Bhavani is the family deity of Chatrapati Shivaji. It faced adversities from his enemies as a result. Afzal Khan encamped in Tuljapur, broke the deity into pieces and reduced it to powder. Legend has it that Afzal Khan received a curse for these actions and was subsequently killed by Shivaji. Shivaji is said to have undertaken the task of rebuilding the temple. The temple has four gates, with two of them named after Shivaji’s parents and one dedicated to Shivaji himself.

Tuljapur is mentioned as one of the four Adipithas, with the name Puranagiri. The historical records of the temple date back to as early as 1204 CE. The tradition of Tuljapur Bhavani as the Kulaswamini was continued by the Bhonsales and Peshwas.

The Tuljapur deity is believed to go into nidra (rest) for eighteen days each year, divided into three periods. Darshan continues but rituals are temporarily suspended. Additionally, it is believed that Parvati once appeared in front of Rama near Tuljapur in a playful manner.

Source: Bhavans. Temples and Legends of Maharashtra
Swarajya

Picture Credit: Wikimedia Commons

At the renowned Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha, the ancient temple for Devi Vimala is recognized as a Shakti Peeth. Historians suggest that Her peetha existed long before the site became a center of Krishna worship. Despite the massive presence of the Jagannath temple today, Devi Vimala’s ancient status is still acknowledged. As a tribute to her, Prasad is offered to Devi Vimala before it is distributed to devotees as Mahaprasad.

The temple also features the unique practice of worshipping Durga and Madhav together during the two Navaratris. Notably, it is believed that a goat sacrifice is also performed for Vimala, which is an uncommon practice in a Vaishnavite temple.

Source: Orissa Review

The Sharada Pith is mentioned in tantric texts, Kalhana’s history of Kashmir, and in Alberuni’s account. All of these references date back to the 10th-11th century CE. This Shakti Peeth, now located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), was not only a sacred site but also home to a university that accommodated 5,000 scholars.

Between the 6th and 12th centuries CE, it was among India’s most prominent temple universities and was renowned for its vast library. Scholars from distant places would travel to access its invaluable texts. The Sharada script, which was popularized by the university, eventually became synonymous with the Sharada Pitha.

The region of Kashmir, where Sharada Pitha is situated, was historically referred to as “Sharada Desh.”

Source: DC Sircar, The Shakta Pithas

Picture Credit: Umar Jamshaid. Wikimedia Commons

Hinglaj Devi in Balochistan stands as the westernmost Shaktipeetha. The Hinglaj Mata Yatra has a documented history dating back to at least the 14th century. To this day, an estimated 250,000 people participate in the Hinglaj Mata Yatra, serving as a unifying event for the small Hindu community in Pakistan. The shrine itself is a natural cave with a vermilion-smeared stone representing Devi. Yatris (pilgrims) also ascend the nearby Chandragup and Khandewari mud volcanoes, which are considered sacred.

Rama embarked on a Yatra to Hinglaj, as it was believed that only she could absolve his sin of killing Ravana, who was a Brahmin. Accompanied by his entire army, Rama’s progress was halted at a mountain pass. Devi instructed that he must approach not as a triumphant king but as a humble worshipper. Following this guidance, Rama proceeded with only Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman, and Ganesha to worship Devi and seek forgiveness for his sins.

Source: National Geographic
Diana Eck, India : A Sacred Geography

Picture Credit: National Geographic

Kanyakumari stands as the southernmost Shakti Peetha. While there is a Maha Shakti Peetha in Trinconamalee, Sri Lanka, it is situated to the north of Kanyakumari. Attukkal is known for hosting the largest gathering of women devotees but is not a recognized Shakti Peetha.

Kanyakumari holds special significance because the “Virgin Goddess” is believed to protect the entirety of Bharatvarsha (India). According to legend, the demon Bana could only be vanquished by a virgin. Responding to the plea of the Devas, Devi incarnated as a virgin girl to slay Bana. She became betrothed to Shiva, who resided in the vicinity at Suchindram. In an attempt to prevent Devi from leaving Kanyakumari, Narada, acting on behalf of the Devas, deceived Shiva by convincing him that the time for their marriage had passed. As a result, Shiva turned back.

Devi, disheartened but resolute, cast the wedding feast into the sea but remained in Kanyakumari. She successfully defeated Bana and continued to safeguard the land. It is believed that the feast she discarded into the sea caused the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean to display three distinct colors.

Source: Diana Eck, India : A Sacred Geography

Picture Credit: Anantharaman. K. Google Photos

The Nartiang temple is believed to have been constructed in the 16th century by a Jaintia king when he converted to Hinduism. To this day, Durga Puja is celebrated at Nartiang following Bengali rituals. It is said that human sacrifices took place at this temple in ancient times.

The temple priests in Nartiang were brought from Maharashtra in the late 14th century. They were recruited because local Brahmin priests refused to perform animal or human sacrifices. Remarkably, even today, the 29th generation of these priests, known as Deshmukhs, continues to oversee the temple’s rituals.

The residents of Nartiang carried water from the local rivers, Myntdu and Myntang, as well as local soil for the Ayodhya Bhumi Pooja. Their act is a reminder that the cultural heart and geographical boundaries of Bharat are united; and Shakti Peethas are the markers of that unity.

Source: Pyngrope, Bathsheba Goswami, PhD Dissertation
Swarajya Magazine

Picture Credit: IndiaDivine.Org

The eyes of Devi fell at Nainital, specifically at a location now known as Smuggler’s Rock. Devi Narayani is believed to have emerged from the area and resided in a cave before descending into the lake. Nainital derives its name from the “eye” of Shakti, referring to her divine gaze, and the lake itself. When the British discovered Nainital in 1841, they realized the lake’s sacred significance to the hill people. The locals vehemently denied the existence of the lake and took measures to prevent its pollution by Europeans.

Source: J. M. Clay, Nainital
Naintal Gazetteer

Picture Credit: Uttarakhand Tourism