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Shakta pithas

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The Shakta pithas, Shakti pithas or Sati pithas (Sanskrit: शाक्त पीठ, Śakta Pīṭha, seats of Shakti[1]) are significant shrines and pilgrimage destinations in Shaktism, the mother goddess denomination in Hinduism. The shrines are dedicated to various forms of Adi Shakti. [a] Various Puranas such as Srimad Devi Bhagavatam state the existence of a varying number of 51, 52, 64 and 108 Shakta pithas[2][3] of which 18 are named as Astadasha Maha (major) in medieval Hindu texts.[2]

Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple is one of the 64 and 108 Maha (Major) Shakta pithas and is also the most visited among all. It attracts more than 15 million people annually.[4]

Various legends explain how the Shakta pithas came into existence. The most popular 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, Shiva took the form of Bhairava.

Shri Hinglaj Mata temple Shakta pitha is the largest Hindu pilgrimage centre in Pakistan. The annual Hinglaj Yatra is attended by more than 250,000 people.[5]

Most of these historic places of goddess worship are in India, but there are seven in Bangladesh, four in Nepal, two in Pakistan, and one each in Tibet, Sri Lanka[3] and Bhutan.[6] There were many legends in ancient and modern sources that document this evidence. A consensus view on the number and location of the precise sites where goddess Sati's corpse fell is lacking, although certain sites are more well-regarded than others.

Shakambhari Shakta pithas Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. ShakambhariDevii is one of the 108 Siddhapeethas of Brahma Puran and one of the oldest temples of Devi Shakambhari. Around ten million people visit the temple annually.

Maximum number of Shaktipeeths are present in the Bengal region. During partition the numbers were West Bengal (18, 1 disputed as Shrinkhala Devi Temple) and Bangladesh (7). After the secret transfer of Dhakeshwari Shaktipeeth to Kolkata the numbers stand as West Bengal (19,1 disputed Shrinkhala Devi Temple) and Bangladesh (6).

Hinduism

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Hindu literature

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The Brahmanda Purana, one of the major eighteen Puranas mentions 64 Shakta pithas of the 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 Shakta Pitha Stotram, written by Adi Shankara, the 9th-century Hindu philosopher.[7]

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.

Daksha yajna

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Shiva carrying the corpse of Dakshayani
Main article: Daksha yajna

According to legend, Brahma once conducted a huge yajna (ritual sacrifice), where all the prajapatis, deities, and kings of the world were invited. Shiva and Sati were also called on to participate in the yajna. All of them came for the yajna, and sat in the ceremonial place. Daksha came last. When he arrived, everyone in the yajna, with the exception of Brahma and Shiva, stood up, showing their reverence for him.[8] Brahma, being Daksha's father, did not rise. Shiva, being Daksha's son-in-law, and also due to the fact that he considered himself superior in stature to Daksha, remained seated. Daksha misunderstood Shiva's gesture, and considered this act an insult. Daksha vowed to take revenge on the insult in the same manner.[9]

Daksha performed a yajna with a desire to take revenge on Shiva. Daksha invited all the deities to the yajna, except Shiva and Sati. The fact that she was not invited did not deter Sati's desire to attend the yajna. She expressed her desire to Shiva, who tried his best to dissuade her from going. He relented at her continued insistence, Sati went to her father's yajna. However, Sati was not given her due respect at the yajna, and had to bear witness to Daksha's insults aimed at Shiva. Anguished, Sati cursed her father and self-immolated.

Enraged at the insult and death of his spouse, Shiva in his Virabhadra avatar destroyed Daksha's yajna and cut off his head. His anger not abated and immersed in grief, Shiva then picked up the remains of Sati's body and performed the Tandava, the celestial dance of destruction, across all creation. Frightened, the other deities requested Vishnu to intervene to stop this destruction. As a recourse, Vishnu used the Sudarshana Chakra on Sati's corpse. This caused various parts of Sati's body to fall at several spots across the world.[10]

The history of Daksha yajna and Sati's self-immolation had immense significance in shaping the ancient Sanskrit literature and influenced the culture of India. Each of the places on Earth where Sati's body parts were known to have fell were then considered as Shakta pithas and were deemed places of great spiritual importance.[11] Several stories in the Puranas and other Hindu religious books refer to the Daksha yajna. It is an important incident in both Shaivism and Shaktism, and marks the replacement of Sati with Parvati, and of the beginning of Shiva's house-holder (grihastāshramī) life from an ascetic. This event is ahead of the emergence of both of the couple's children, Kartikeya and Ganesha.[12]

Shakta pithas

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Each temple has shrines for Shakti and Kalabhairava, and most Shakti and Kalabhairava in different Shakta pithas have different names.

Map of Shakti pithas

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Shrinkhala Devi
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
class=notpageimage|
Shakti names at locations of Shakti pithas
Blue: Adi Shakti pithas; Red: Ashtadasha Maha Shakti pithas; Yellow: Daksha yagna site; Green: Maha Shakti pithas

List of 4 Adi Shakta pithas

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See also: Puranas

The scriptures, which include the Kalika Purana, recognize four Shakta pithas as sites where most of the energy is. Vimala where the feet fell (Pada Khanda), Tara Tarini housing the breasts (Stana Khanda), Kamakhya, where the genitals fell (Yoni Khanda) and Dakshina Kalika, where the toes of right foot fell. These four temples originated from the lifeless body of Sati.[13]

Apart from these 4 there are 48 other famous pithas recognized by religious texts. According to the Pithanirnaya Tantra the 51 pithas are in the present day countries of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and Pakistan. The Shivacharita besides listing 51 maha-pithas, speaks about 26 more upa-pithas. The Bengali almanac, Vishuddha Siddhanta Panjika too describes the 51 pithas including the present modified addresses. A few of the several accepted listings are given below.[14] In South India, Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh became the site for a 2nd-century temple.[15]

List of 18 Astadasha Maha Shakta pithas

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There are believed to be 64 locations. Adi Shankara's Ashtadasha Shakta pitha Stotram mentions 18 locations known as the Maha Shakta pithas.[16][17] Among these, the Shakta pithas at Kamakhya, Gaya and Ujjain are regarded as the most sacred as they symbolize the three most important aspects of the Mother Goddess viz. Creation (Kamarupa Devi), Nourishment (Sarvamangala Devi/Mangalagauri), and Annihilation (Mahakali Devi).

Sr. No. Temple Place State in India/Country Appellation Part of the body fallen Shakti Image
1 Shankari Devi Temple Trincomalee (Thirukonamalai) Sri Lanka Shankari Pitham Groin Goddess Shankari  
2 Kamakshi Amman Temple Kanchipuram Tamil Nadu Kamakoti Pitham Navel Goddess Kamakshi  
3 Shrinkala Temple Pradmunyee (Pandua) West Bengal Bhavatārini Pitham Part of stomach Goddess Shrinkhala  
4 Chamundeshwari Temple Mysuru Karnataka Krouncha Pitham Hair Goddess Chamundeshwari  
5 Jogulamba Devi Alampuram Telangana Yogini Pitham Teeth Goddess Jogulamba (Yogamba Thalli)  
6 Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple Srisailam Andhra Pradesh Srisaila Pitham Neck Goddess Bhramarambika  
7 Mahalakshmi Temple Kolhapur Maharashtra Shri Pitham eye Goddess Mahalakshmi (Aai Ambabai Devi)  
8 Renuka Temple Mahur Maharashtra Moola Pitham Left hand Goddess Renuka  
9 Mahakaleswar Temple Ujjain Madhya Pradesh Ujjaini Pitham Upper lip Goddess Mahakali  
10 Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple Pithapuram Andhra Pradesh Pushkarini Pitham Back Goddess Puruhutika  
11 Biraja Temple Jajpur Odisha Oddyana Pitham Part of abdomen Goddess Biraja  
12 Bhimeswara Temple Draksharamam Andhra Pradesh Daksharama Pitham Left cheek Goddess Manikyamba  
13 Kamakhya Temple Guwahati Assam Kamarupa Pitham Genitals Goddess Kamakhya  
14 Alopi Devi Mandir Prayagraj Uttar Pradesh Prayaga Pitham Fingers Goddess Madhaveshwari  
15. Jwalamukhi Temple Jwalamukhi Himachal Pradesh Jwalamukhi Pitham head Goddess Jwalamukhi  
16. Mangla Gauri Temple Gaya Bihar Gaya Pitham Breast Goddess Sarvamangala  
17. Vishalakshi Temple Varanasi Uttar Pradesh Varanasi Pitham nose Goddess Vishalakshi  
18. Sharada Peeth Sharda, Kashmir Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir Sharada Pitham Right hand Goddess Sharada  

Sharadha pitha is currently in a ruined state.[18] Only ruins are found in these places. Its ruins are near the Line of Control (LOC)[19] between the Indian and Pakistani-controlled portions of the former princely state of Kashmir and Jammu. Instead, Sringeri Sharada pitham, Sringeri in Karnataka even though not a Shakta pithas, is this aspect of the goddess. It is believed that Goddess Sharada moved from her ruined temple in Kashmir to live in the new temple in Sringeri. 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[20] as a confidence-building measure, by increasing the people-to-people cross-border interaction.[19]

Currently, a new Sharada pitha temple has been inaugurated and consecrated by the Indian Government and the Sringeri Sharada Peetham in 2023, in Kupwara district, Jammu and Kashmir, on the other side of the LOC and much farther from the original temple. The Indian Government is planning an international corridor between the old Sharada pitha and mainland India.

In Skanda Purana

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As per Sankara Samhita of Skanda Purana,[21]

  1. Sri Sankari Pitham (Thirukonamalai, Sri Lanka)
  2. Sri Simhika Pitham (Simhala)
  3. Sri Manika Pitham (Draksharamam, Dakshavati)
  4. Sri Shadkala Pitham (Peethapuram)
  5. Sri Bhramaramba Pitham (Srisailam)
  6. Sri Vijaya Pitham (Vijayapura)
  7. Sri Mahalakshmi Pitham (Kolhapur)
  8. Sri padmakshi renuka Pitham (Mahurgad)
  9. Sri Kamakoti Pitham (Kanchipuram)
  10. Sri Kuchananda Pitham (Salagrama)
  11. Sri Biraja Pitham (Jajpur)
  12. Sri Bhadreshwari Pitham (Harmyagiri)
  13. Sri Mahakali Pitham (Ujjain)
  14. Sri Vindhyavasini Pitham (Vindhya mountains)
  15. Sri Mahayogi Pitham (Ahicchatra)
  16. Sri Kanyaka Pitham (Kanyakumari)
  17. Sri Vishalakshi Pitham (Varanasi)
  18. Sri Saraswati Pitham (Kashmir)
  19. Sri Abhirami Pitham (Padmagiri, Dindigul)

List of all Shakta pithas

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In the listings[22][23][24][25] 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.

More details on this are available in the text 'Tantrachūḍamanī' where Parvati tells these details to her son Skanda.

Important : 1) The main vigraha of Dhakeshwari Shaktipeeth in Bangladesh is currently relocated in Kumartuli Dhakeshwari Temple in Kolkata West Bengal. The temple pujari came with the main murti during the Bengal violence during partition via a special chartered plane. While in Dhaka Bangladesh a replica is placed in the Temple. The main gem of Goddess Sati is lost long before (the factual date is unknown). So for actual Darshan visit the Kumartoli kolkata West Bengal one.

2) The Shrinkhala Shaktipeeth (one of 18 Maha Shakta pitha) in West Bengal Hooghly is a disputed site and today only an Islamic Minar is seen there and a door claimed by the locals as the door to the garbagriha of the temple is closed by the ASI. The Hindus claims that the temple was destroyed and the minar was built there. It is claimed that Shrinkhala Mata Murti was taken to Shringeri Karnataka but no such temple exits there till date. At present in Hooghly district only one Ratnabali Shaktipeeth is present

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 Devi Trisandhyeshwar (Amarnath)  
2
  1. Attahas Temple – 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 Devi Vishveshwar    
3 Bahula at Ketugram, 8 km from Katwa, Purba Bardhaman West Bengal Left arm Goddess Bahuladevi Bhirukeshwar[26]  
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 Mahishamardini devi Vakranatheshwar  
5 Avanti, also known as Harsiddhi, at Bhairav hills on the banks of Shipra river in the city of Ujjaini. Madhya Pradesh Elbow Avanti Devi Lambkarneshwar
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. Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh Left anklet (ornament) Aparna Devi Vamaneshwar  
7 Biraja Temple at Jajpur, in Jajpur District Odisha Navel Biraja Devi Varaheshwar (Baraha)  
8 Muktinath Temple[27] Nepal Head Gandaki Chandi Chakrapani  
9 Goddess Bhadrakali on banks of Godavari in Nashik city (Saptashrungi) Maharashtra Chin (2 parts) Bhadrakali devi Vikritaksheshwar  
10 Hinglaj Mata Temple Pakistan Bramharandhra (Part of the head) Kottari Devi Bhimalochaneshwar  
11 Jayanti at Nartiang village in the Jaintia Hills district. This Shakta pitha is locally known as the Nartiang Durga Temple. Also said to be in Amta West Bengal as Malai Chandi Mata Meghalaya Left thigh Jayanti Devi Kramadishwar  
12 Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple Bangladesh Palms of hands and soles of the feet Jashoreshwari Chandeshwar  
13 Jwalaji, Kangra from Pathankot alight at Jwalamukhi Road Station from there 20 km Himachal Pradesh Tongue Jwalamukhi (Ambika) Unmatta Bhairaveshwar  
14 Kalipeeth, (Kalighat, Kolkata) West Bengal Right toes Kali Devi Nakuleshwar  
15 Kamgiri, Kamakhya, in the Neelachal hills in Guwahati Assam Genitals Kamakhya Devi Umanandeshwar or Bhayanandeshwar  
16 Kankalitala, on the banks of Kopai River 10 km north-east of Bolpur station in Birbhum district, Devi locally known as Kankaleshwari West Bengal waist Devgarbha Devi Rurunatheshwar  
17 A Kanyashram of Balaambika – The Bhagavathy temple in Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of mainland India, Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu Back Sarvani Nimisheshwar  
18 Vajreshwari Temple, Nagarkot, district Kangra Himachal Pradesh left Breast Jayadurga Devi Abhirunatheshwar
19 Kiriteswari Temple at Kiritkona village, 3 km from Lalbag Court Road railway station in Murshidabad district West Bengal Crown Vimala Devi Sanvarteshwar  
20 Ratnavali, on the banks of Ratnakar river at Khanakul I Krishnanagar, district Hooghly (locally known as Anandamayee Tala) West Bengal Right Shoulder Kumari Devi Ghanteshwar  
21 Locally known as Trishrota/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 West Bengal Left leg Bhramari Devi Ambareshwar  
22 Manas, under Tibet at the foot of Mount Kailash in Lake Manasarovar, a piece of Stone China Right hand Dakshayani Devi Amareshwar
23 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 Shaktipitha. Rajasthan Wrists Gayatri Devi Sarvanandeshwar
24 Mithila, near Janakpur railway station on the border of India and Nepal Nepal Left shoulder Uma Devi Mahodareshwar
25 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 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 / Bhuvaneshvari) Rakshaseshwar (Nayanair)
26 Guhyeshwari Temple Nepal Both knees Mahashira Devi Kapalishwar  
27 Chattal Bhawani Shaktipeeth/Chandranath Temple Chittagong-Bangladesh upper teeth Chattal Bhawani Devi Chandrashekhar  
28 Panchsagar Near Lohaghat (in Champawat District of Uttarakhand) just 12 km from nearest railway station Tanakpur. पूर्णागिरी Champawat Varahi Devi Uttarakhand Lower teeth/ Navel Varahi Devi Maharudra
29 Near Somnath temple, Veraval, Gir Somnath district. Local People call this temple as Kali Mandir, It is nearby Triveni Sangam.[28] Gujarat Stomach Chandrabhaga Vakratundeshwar
30 Alopi Devi Mandir near Sangam at Prayagraj Uttar Pradesh Finger Lalita Devi Bhaveshwar
31 Present day Kurukshetra town or Thanesar ancient Sthaneshwar Haryana Ankle bone Bhadrakali Devi Sthanu
32 Maa Sharda Mandir on top Trikoot Hill, at Maihar Madhya Pradesh necklace[29] Shivani Devi Chandeshwar
33 Nandikeshwari Temple is located in Sainthia city West Bengal Necklace Nandini Nandikeshwar  
34 (Manikya Amba Shaktipeeth / Bheemeswara Swami Temple) Draksharamam Kakinada Andhra Pradesh Navel Manikyamba Bheemeshwar
35 Naina Devi Temple Himachal Pradesh Right eye Mahishamardini Devi Krodhishwar
36 Shondesh/Shon/Maa Narmada temple, at the source point of Narmada River in Amarkantak Madhya Pradesh Right buttock Narmada Bhadraseneshwar
37 Srisailam, at Nallamala hills, Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh, India Neck Bhramarambika Devi Mallikarjuna
38 Shuchi, in a Shiva temple at Suchindrum 11 km on Kanyakumari Trivandrum road Tamil Nadu Upper teeth Narayani Sihareshwar
39 Sugandha, situated in Shikarpur, Gournadi, about 20 km from Barisal town, on the banks of Sonda river.8 Bangladesh Nose Sugandha Trayambak  
40 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 Raj Rajeshwari Lalita Tripura Sundari

(Third mahavidya) (main form of Parvati)

Tripuresh
41 Ujaani, at Mangalkot 16 km from Guskara station in Purba Bardhaman district West Bengal Right wrist Mangal Chandika Kapilambar  
42 Varanasi at Manikarnika Ghat on banks of the Ganges at Kashi Uttar Pradesh Earring Vishalakshi Devi Kala Bhairaveshwar
43 Vibhash Shaktipeeth, at Tamluk under district Purba Medinipur West Bengal Left ankle Kapalini Devi (Bhimarupa) also known as Bargabhima Devi Sarvanandeshwar  
44 Ambika Shaktipeeth, Virat Nagar district, Alwar, near Bharatpur, India Rajasthan Fingers of Left Leg Ambika Devi Amritaksheshwar
45 Katyayani Shakta pitha, Vrindavan, district Mathura Uttar Pradesh Ringlets of hair Uma Devi Bhuteshwar
46 Devi Talab Mandir, District Jalandhar Punjab Left Breast Tripuramalini Devi Bhishaneshwar
47 Baidyanath Dham Jharkhand Heart Jayadurga Devi Baidyanath
48 Adi Kamakshi Amman Temple behind Kamakshi Amman Temple, situated at Kanchipuram Town, Kanchipuram District Tamil Nadu Odyanam (Navel) Kamakshi Devi (Elavarkuzhali) Ekambareshwar  
49 Jogadya (যোগাদ্যা), at Kshirgram (ক্ষীরগ্রাম) near Kaichar under Burdwan district West Bengal Great toe Jogadya Devi Ksheerkantakeshwar  
50 Puruhutika shaktipeeth /kukkutshwara Swamy Temple Kakinada Port Town Peethapuram Andhra Pradesh Hip part Puruhutika Durvaseshwar
51 Arasuri Ambaji Shaktipeeth at Gabbar Hill (Golden Temple of Gujarat) Gujarat Heart Amba Batuka Bhairava
52 Danteshwari Temple, Dantewada Chhattisgarh Tooth Danteshwari Devi Kapala Bhairava
53 Tara Tarini, Purushottampur, Ganjam Odisha Breast Tara Tarini Devi Tumbeshwar
54 Nalhateswari, Nalhati West Bengal Stomach/Nauli Kalika Devi Jogeshwar  
55 Vimala Temple, Inside Jagannath Temple, Puri Odisha Foot Vimala Devi Jagannatheshwar
56 Shankari Maha Shaktipeeth, Tricomalee Sri Lanka Groin Shankari Devi Trikoneshwar
57 Shri Mahalakshmi Griva Peeth, Shri Shail (also known as Mahalakshmi Griva pitha) Gotatikar, Kalagul tea state, Dakshin Surma Upazila, Sylhet, Bangladesh Neck Mahalakshmi Sambaranandeshwar
58 Dhakeshwari Temple (now relocated at Dhakeswari Mata Temple) During partition Hindu temples were attacked and vandalised in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) and Pakistan so the temple pujari secretly bought the main murti of Dhakeshwari Temple at Kolkata West Bengal to a wealthy Bengali Hindu family and established a temple in Kumartoli. Now the descendents of the pujari are engaged in the puja seva in Kumartoli Dhaka, Bangladesh

Currently in Kumartoli Kolkata, West Bengal

Gem of Sati's Crown Dhakeshwari (a form of Katyani Mahishasurmardini Durga) Shiva  
59 Tarapith Rampurhat West Bengal Third eye Maa Tara (second mahavidya) (main form of Parvati) Chandrachuda Bhairava  
60 Chhinnamastika Shakta pitha at Chintpurni, Chintpurni of Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh Foot Chhinnamastika Devi Rudra Mahadeva  
61 Kaali Mandir at Pavagarh hill in Panchmahal district with in Champaner Pavagadh Archaeological Park. Gujarat Right leg toe Mahakali Devi Batuka Bhairava
62 Aranya Devi Mandir at Badi Devisthan Shish Mahal Chowk in Arrah. Bihar Right thigh[30] Aranyani Bhuma Bhairava  
63 Tuljabhavani Temple at Tuljapur, Dharashiv district Maharashtra Tuljabhavani Devi Bhairava
64

Other Shakipeeths:-

These are not recognised as the Shakta pithas, but still claimed by the followers, for various reasons.

1. Jwala Devi Jobner

2. Jayanti Kali Temple

3. Asamai Devi Temple in Kabul, Afghanistan

4. Juranpur Kali Temple, West Bengal

5. Sarbamangala Temple Burdwan West Bengal ( it is said that Devi Shakti's part fell here as claimed by the pujaris and local legends)

There are disputes about the location of the Jayanti Shakta pitha. Based on most presented manuscripts and facts it is situated in Jaintiapur Upazila, Bangladesh, which was previously the capital of the Jaintia Hills tribe kingdom, which became the Jaintia hills district of Meghalaya, India, excluding Jaintiapur. However, some people say that it is the Nartiang Durga temple which is the real Jayanti Temple, though there is a shortage of evidence. Some other people[31] argue the actual shrine is at Amta in West Bengal, where the goddess is worshiped as Maa Melai Chandi in Melai Chandi Mandir. But this fact can not be corroborated with any evidence. Moreover, refuting most texts, in Melai Chandi Mandir, the Bhairava is Durgeshwar rather than Kramadishwar. Some also identify the Jayanti shrine with the Mahakal cave temple situated in the village Jayanti of Alipurduar,[32][33] where many statues were created by Stalagmites and Stalactites (combination of limestone and water), but there is no evidence.

Vindhyavasini Shakta pitha

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The Vindhyavasini Shakta pitha is considered a Shakta pitha even though any body parts of Sati did not fall there. Vindhyavasini is the ultimate and the highest form of the goddess, she is called Adi Parashakti. Goddess Vindhyavasini is considered the embodiment of all of the Mahavidyas, Navadurgas, Matrikas, Yoginis and all the other goddesses present in this universe, she is Tripura Sundari herself. Many legends are associated with Vindhyavasini, she is also called Mahadurga. She is the combined form of all 108 Shakta pithas as mentioned in the Devi Bhagavata Purana text. This is because it is the place where the goddess chose to reside after her birth in Dvapara Yuga.[34] At the time of the birth of Krishna to Devaki and Vasudeva, Vindhyavasini took birth in Gokula to Nanda and Yashoda as per the instruction of Lord Vishnu. Vasudeva replaced his son Krishna with this girl child of Yashoda so that Krishna could escape his demon uncle Kamsa, whom he would kill later according to a prophecy. When Kamsa tried to kill the girl, she slipped from his hands, assumed her true form and warned Kamsa that his killer (Krishna) still lived on. She left Mathura and the goddess chose the Vindhya Mountains as her abode to live on the earth. It is also believed that Vindhyavasini is the sister of Krishna and Subhadra was her only incarnation.[34]

See also

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Further reading

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

Notes

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  1. ^ Also known as Sati, Parvati and Durga

References

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  1. ^ 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. Archived from the original on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
  2. ^ a b Vanamali (2008). Shakti: Realm of the Divine Mother. Inner Traditions. pp. 83–84, 143–144. ISBN 978-1-59477-785-1. Archived from the original on 2016-04-29. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
  3. ^ a b Kunal Chakrabarti; Shubhra Chakrabarti (2013). Historical Dictionary of the Bengalis. Scarecrow. p. 430. ISBN 978-0-8108-8024-5. Archived from the original on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
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