The concept of Shakti Peethas is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology and devotion. Shakti, meaning “power” or “energy,” represents the divine feminine energy, and the Shakti Peethas are sacred shrines dedicated to various forms of the goddess Shakti. It is believed that these sites are where body parts or ornaments of the goddess Sati, a manifestation of Shakti, fell after her self-immolation. Each of the 52 Shakti Peethas is associated with a unique legend, deity, and location, making them revered pilgrimage sites in Hinduism. Let’s explore these sacred places of worship that hold profound significance in Hindu mythology and are destinations for devotees seeking blessings and spiritual enlightenment.
The term “Shakti” refers to the divine feminine energy, while “Peetha” means “seat” or “abode.” These Peethas are scattered across the Indian subcontinent and nearby regions, and they offer a deep connection to the goddess Shakti. Devotees visit these Peethas to pay their respects, offer prayers, and experience the divine presence.
Legend has it that when Lord Shiva’s consort, Sati, self-immolated during a sacrificial ritual, her body parts or ornaments fell at various locations across the Indian subcontinent and nearby regions. These sites became Shakti Peethas, and each is dedicated to a specific form of the goddess known as Devi or Mahadevi. Devotees visit these Peethas to pay their respects, offer prayers, and experience the divine presence.
The 52 Shakti Peethas
Here is a comprehensive list of the 52 Shakti Peethas, categorized in a table for better understanding:
No. | Temple Name | Location | Body Part or Ornament | Deity Name |
1 | Amarnath Temple | Jammu and Kashmir | Throat | Mahamaya |
2 | Attahas Temple | Birbhum, West Bengal | Lips | Phullara |
3 | Bahula | Ketugram, West Bengal | Left Arm | Goddess Bahula |
4 | Bakreshwar | Birbhum, West Bengal | Portion between the Eyebrows | Mahishmardini |
5 | Bhairavparvat (Harsiddhi) | Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh | Elbow | Avanti |
6 | Bhabanipur | Bogra, Bangladesh | Left Anklet (Ornament) | Aparna |
7 | Biraja Temple | Jajpur, Odisha | Navel | Biraja |
8 | Padmakshi Renuka Jagdamba Mandir | Alibag, Maharashtra | Nails of Sati Devi and Head of Devi Renuka | Shree Renuka Adimaya |
9 | Muktinath Temple | Muktinath, Nepal | Right Cheek | Gandaki Chandi |
10 | Goddess Bhadrakali | Nashik, Maharashtra | Chin (2 parts) | Bhadrakali |
11 | Hinglaj Mata Temple | Hingol National Park, Balochistan, Pakistan | Bramharandhra (Part of the Head) | Kottari |
12 | Jayanti (Nartiang Durga Temple) | Nartiang, Meghalaya | Left Thigh | Jayanti |
13 | Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple | Satkhira, Bangladesh | Palms of Hands and Soles of the Feet | Jashoreshwari |
14 | Jwalamukhi | Kangra, Himachal Pradesh | Tongue | Siddhida (Ambika) |
15 | Kalipeeth (Kalighat) | Kolkata, West Bengal | Right Toes | Kalika |
16 | Kamgiri (Kamakhya) | Guwahati, Assam | Womb | Kamakhya |
17 | Kankalitala | Birbhum, West Bengal | Pelvis | Devgarbha |
18 | Kanyakumari | Tamil Nadu (also thought to be in Yunnan, China) | Left Leg and Part of Left Knee | Bhraamari |
19 | Bajreshwari Temple | Kangra, Himachal Pradesh | Left Breast | Jayadurga |
20 | Kiriteswari Temple | Murshidabad, West Bengal | Crown | Vimla |
21 | Ratnavali | Hooghly, West Bengal | Right Shoulder | Kumari |
22 | Vibhash | Santipur, West Bengal | Left Ankle | Varuni |
23 | Manas (Lake Manasarovar) | Tibet, China | Right Hand | Dakshayani |
24 | Manibandh | Pushkar, Rajasthan | Wrists | Gayatri |
25 | Mithila | Near Janakpur Railway Station, Nepal | Left Shoulder | Uma |
26 | Nainativu (Manipallavam) | Jaffna, Sri Lanka | Silambu (Anklets) | Indrakshi |
27 | Guhyeshwari Temple | Kathmandu, Nepal | Both Knees | Mahashira |
28 | Chandranath Temple | Chandpur, Bangladesh | Right Arm | Bhavani |
29 | Panchsagar | Champawat, Uttarakhand | Lower Teeth and Navel | Varahi |
30 | Prabhas | Junagadh, Gujarat | Stomach | Chandrabhaga |
31 | Alopi Devi Mandir | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh | Finger | Lalita, Bhava |
32 | Sthaneshwar | Kurukshetra, Haryana | Ankle Bone | Savitri/BhadraKali, Sthanu |
33 | Sharda Peeth | Maihar, Madhya Pradesh | Necklace | Shivani, Chanda |
34 | Nandikeshwari Temple | Sainthia, West Bengal | Necklace | Nandini, Nandikeshwar |
35 | Kotilingeswar Ghat Temple | Rajamundry, Andhra Pradesh | Cheeks | Bhuvaneswari or Vishweshwari, Vatsnabh or Dandpani |
36 | Naina Devi Temple | Himachal Pradesh | Right Eye | Mahishmardini, Krodhish |
37 | Shondesh | Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh | Right Buttock | Narmada, Bhadrasen |
38 | Sri Sailam | Nallamala hills, Andhra Pradesh | Neck | Bramarambika, Mallikarjuna |
39 | Shuchi | Suchindrum, Tamil Nadu | Upper Teeth | Narayani, Sanhar |
40 | Sugandha | Gournadi, Bangladesh | Nose | Sugandha, Trayambak |
41 | Tripura Sundari | Tripura, India | Right Leg | Tripura Sundari, Tripuresh |
42 | Mangal Chandika | Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal | Right Wrist | Mangal Chandika, Kapilambar |
43 | Manikarnika Ghat | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | Face or Earring | Vishalakshi, Manikarni, Kaal Bhairav |
44 | Bargabhima Temple | Purba Medinipur, West Bengal | Left Ankle | Kapalini, Sarvanand |
45 | Virat Nagar | Rajasthan | Fingers of Left Leg | Ambika, Amritaksha |
46 | Katyayani Shakti Pitha | Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh | Ringlets of Hair | Uma, Bhutesh |
47 | Devi Talab Mandir | Jalandhar, Punjab | Left Breast | Tripurmalini, Bhishan |
48 | Baidyanath Dham | Deoghar, Jharkhand | Heart | Jaya Durga, Baidyanath |
49 | Adhi Kamakshi Amman Temple | Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu | Odyanam (Navel) | Kamakshi, Egaambraswara |
50 | Jogadya | Burdwan, West Bengal | Great Toe | Jogadya, Ksheer Kantak |
51 | Pithapuram | Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh | Hip Part | Purohotika, Durvasa |
52 | Ambaji | Gujarat | Heart | Amba, Batuk Bhairav |
Each of these Shakti Peethas has a unique story and holds immense religious and spiritual significance. Pilgrims from around the world visit these sites to seek blessings, deepen their understanding of Hindu mythology, and connect with the divine feminine energy represented by the goddess Sati. These Shakti Peethas are not only places of worship but also repositories of rich cultural and mythological heritage.
As you embark on a spiritual journey to explore these Shakti Peethas, you can immerse yourself in the profound stories and energies that surround these sacred locations, making your pilgrimage a deeply spiritual and enlightening experience.