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Theme of the Week

Sunday, April 03, 2011

Shakti Peethas


The Shakti Peethas (holy places of cosmic power) are places of worship consecrated to the goddess Sati, the female principal of Hinduism and the main deity of the Shakta sect. They are sprinkled throughout the Indian subcontinent.
This goddess Sati is the incarnation of Gowri / Parvati, the benevolent 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 legend, at some time in the Satya Yuga, Daksha performed a yagna (named Vrihaspati) 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).

Four Adi Shakti Peethas
Some of the great religious texts like the Shiva Purana, the Devi Bhagavat the Kalika Purana and the AstaShakti recognize four major Shakti Peethas (centers) like,
1. Vimala (Pada Khanda) - inside the Jagannath temple of Puri, Orissa
2. Tara Tarini (Sthana Khanda,Purnagiri ,Breasts) - Near Berhampur, Orissa
3. Kamakhya (Yoni khanda) - Near Guwahati, Assam
4. Dakhina Kalika (Mukha khanda) - Kolkata, West Bengal

originated from the limbs of the Corpse of Mata Sati in the Satya Yuga.

Apart from these four there are 52 other famous Peethas recognised by religious texts. According to the Pithanirnaya Tantra the 52 peethas are scattered all over India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tibet and Pakistan. The Shivacharita besides listing 52 maha-peethas, speaks about 26 more upa-peethas. The Bengali almanac, Vishuddha Siddhanta Panjika too describes the 52 peethas including the present modified addresses. A few of the several accepted listings are given below. One of the few in South India, Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh became the site for a 2nd century temple.

The 52 Shakti Peethas:

In the listings below:

  • "Sati" refers to the Goddess worshipped at each location, all being manifestations of Dakshayani, Parvathi 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.

Sr. No.

Place

Body Part or Ornament

Shakti

Bhairava

1

Kanchipuram, Kamakshi temple, Kamakoti Peetam mentioned in Lalita Sahasram, Trishati, Astothram etc.

Ottiyana (Ornament covering stomach)

Kamakshi

Kaal Bhairav

2

Sri Lanka, in Nainativu, Jaffna

Anklets

Indrakshi (more commonly known as Nagapooshani in Tamil)

Rakshaseshwar (Nagathambiran)

3

Shivaharkaray, 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

Sugandha

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, India from Pathankot alight at Jwalamukhi Road Station from there 20 km

Tongue

Siddhida (Ambika)

Unmatta Bhairav

7

Ambaji, at Anart, Gujarat, India

Heart

Ambaji


8

Nepal, near Pashupatinath Temple at Guhyeshwari Temple

Both knees

Mahashira

Kapali

9

Manas, under Tibet at the foot of Mount Kailash in Lake Mansarovar, a piece of Stone

Right hand

Dakshayani

Amar

10

Bardhaman in West Bengal, India

Navel

Mata Sarbamangala Devi

Bhagwan Shiv/Mahadev

11

Gandaki in 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 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

Locally known as Bhramari Devi. Behind a rice mill, near Jalpesh Temple in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, India.

Left leg

Bhraamari

Ambar

17

Kamgiri, Kamakhya, in the Neelachal hills near Guwahati, capital of Assam, India

Genitals

Kamakhya

Umanand

18

yoga adya at Khirgram under Burdwan district, West Bengal, India

Big Toe (Right)

Jugaadya

Ksheer Khandak

19

Kalipeeth, (Kalighat, Kolkata), India

Right Toes

Kalika

Nakuleshwar

20

Prayag near Sangam at Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

Finger

Alopi Devi Mandir or Madhaveswari

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 the Ganges 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 north-west of Ajmer, Rajasthan, India

Two Bracelets

Gayatri

Sarvanand

27

Shri Shail, at Joinpur village, Dakshin Surma, near Gotatikar, 3 km north-east of Sylhet town, Bangladesh

Neck

Mahalaxmi

Sambaranand

28

Kankalitala, on the banks of Kopai River 10 km north-east of Bolpur station in Birbhum district, Devi locally known as Kankaleshwari West Bengal, India

Bone

Devgarbha

Ruru

29

Kalmadhav on the banks of Shon river in a cave over hills near to Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh, India

Left buttock

Kali

Asitang

30

Shondesh, at the source point of Narmada River in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh, India

Right buttock

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 Suchindrum 11 km on Kanyakumari Trivandrum road, Tamil Nadu, India

Upper teeth

Narayani

Sanhar

34

Panchsagar exact location not known (thought to be near Haridwar)

Bottom teeth

Varahi

Maharudra

35

Karatoyatat, at Bhabanipur village 28 km distance from interior Sherpur. Alight at Bogra station, Bangladesh

Left anklet (ornament)

Arpana

Vaman

36

Shri Parvat, near Ladak, Kashmir, India. Another belief: at Srisailam in Shriparvat hills under Kurnool 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 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

Goddess Saptashrungi (Goddess with seven arms), at [[Vani]in [Nasik]], Maharashtra, India

Chin (2 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 toes

Ambika

Amriteshwar

43

Locally known as Anandamayee Temple. 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 border of India and Nepal

Left shoulder

Uma

Mahodar

45

Nalhati, known as "Nalateshwari Temple" near Nalhati station of Birbhum district, West Bengal, India

Vocal chord with part of the tracheae

Kalika Devi

Yogesh

46

Karnat, Kangra, himachalpradesh.

Both ears

Jayadurga

Abhiru

47

Bakreshwar, on the banks of Paaphara river, 24 km distance from Siuri Town, district Birbhum, 7 km 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 Maharaja Pratapaditya, whose capital was Ishwaripur.

Palms of hands and soles of the feet

Jashoreshwari

Chanda

49

Attahas village of Dakshindihi in the district of Bardhaman, near the Katwa railway station, in West Bengal, India

Lips

Phullara

Vishvesh

50

Sainthia, locally Known as "Nandikeshwari" temple. Only 1.5 km from the railway station under a banyan tree within a boundary wall, Birbhum district, West Bengal, India

Necklace

Nandini

Nandikeshwar

51

Hinglaj (Or Hingula), southern Baluchistan a few hours North-east of Gawadar and about 125 km towards North-west from Karachi, Pakistan

Bramharandhra (Part of the head)

Kottari

Bhimlochan

52

Danestwari (Kuldevi Of Bastar state), Dantewada 80 km from Jagdalpur Tehsil, Chhattisgarh

Daant (teeth)

Danteshwari

Kapalbhairv

53

Vajreshwari, Kangra 18 km from Dharamshala Tehsil, Kangra

left Breast (teeth)

Vajreshwari

Kalbhairv

54

[Padmavati Devi] (Padmavatipuri Dham), Panns 80 km from Satna Madhya Pradesh

Padm

Padmavati Devi

Kapalbhairv


  • Chandi Mandir in (near Memari Rail station) Memari, Bardhaman, Westbengal, Fullara in are also considered to be a shakti peetha Birbhum district.
  • Nainadevi in Himachal Pradesh is also considered a shakti peetha, where Sati's eyes fell. Naina Devi Temple.
  • Sharda Devi Temple at Majhar near Satna Dist.Satna is also considered a shakti peeth where the necklace of Sati fell.
  • There is a possible shakti peetha located in Devi Chhinnamastika temple in Shahwazpur village, araria distt. in Bihar, though there has been no confirmation.
  • "BHADRAKALI TEMPLE" in holy city Kurukshetra(Haryana)is also considered as one of the 51 holy Shakti peethas.The temple is dedicated to Bhadrakali a form of shakti. This is considered to be one of the fifty one Shakti pithas of India. It is believed that the right ankle of Sati fell here in the well. The "consort of Savtri is called Sthanu". Hence, the city is called "STHANESHWAR" meaning abode of Shiva. It is believed that the MUNDAN (hair removing) ceremony of Srikrishna and Balarama was also performed in this temple.
The 4 Adi Shakti Peethas:

In the listings below:

  • "Sati" refers to the Goddess worshipped at each location, all being manifestations of Dakshayani, Parvathi or Durga);
  • "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.

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


Historical notes:

First relating to Brahmanda Purana, one of the major eighteen Puranas, it mentions 64 Shakthi Peetha of Goddess Parvati in the Bharat or Greater India including present day India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Another text which gives a listing of these shrines, is the Shakthi Peetha Stotram, written by Adi Shankara, the 9th century Hindu philosopher.

According to the manuscript Mahapithapurana (circa 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 (Chattisgarh), while 7 are in what is now Bangladesh.

Preserving the mortal relics of famous and respected individuals was a common practice in ancient India - seen in the Buddhist stupas which preserve the relics of Gautama Buddha. It is believed by some that these 64 peethas preserve the remains of some ancient female sage from whom the legend of Kali could have emerged and then merged with the Purusha - Prakriti (Shiva Shakti) model of Hindu thought.

18 Maha Shakti Peethas:

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 18 such locations which are often referred to as Maha Shakthi Peethas.

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



Among these, the Shakti Peethas at Kamakhya, Gaya and Ujjain are regarded as most sacred as they symbolise three most important aspects of mother Goddess viz. Creation (Kamarupa Devi), Nourishment (Sarvamangala Devi/Mangalagauri) and Annihilation (Mahakali Devi). When observed carefully one can see that they lie in a perfect straight line from Kamakhya to Ujjain via Gaya symbolizing that every creation in this universe will annihilate one day without fail. Together with Kanchi Kamakshi, Madurai Meenakshi, and Kashi Vishalakshi we have the most potent Shat Sakthi Peethams.

Shloka written by Adi Shankaracharya.

Lankayam Shankari devi, Kamakshi Kanchika pure |
Pradyumne Shrinkhala devi, Chamunda Krouncha pattane ||

Alampure Jogulamba, Sri shaile Bhramarambika |
Kolha pure Maha lakshmi, Mahurye Ekaveerika ||

Ujjainyam Maha kali, Peethikayam Puruhutika |
Odhyane Girija devi, Manikya Daksha vatike ||

Hari kshetre Kama rupi, Prayage Madhaveshwari |
Jwalayam Vishnavi devi, Gaya Mangalya gourika ||

Varanasyam Vishalakshi, Kashmire tu Saraswati |
Ashtadasha Shakti peethani, Yoginamapi durlabham ||

Sayamkale pathennityam, Sarva shatri vinashanam |
Sarva roga haram divyam, Sarva sampatkaram shubham ||

-ANSAHNIDSU

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