18 Shakti Peethas List: The 18 Shakti Peethas are special places where people worship Goddess Parvathi in different forms. Long ago, there was a king named Daksha who had 28 daughters. He married 27 of them to Chandra, the god of the Moon, and they were named after the 27 stars in Hindu Mythology. The eldest daughter, Sati, fell in love with Lord Shiva. But her father didn’t like Lord Shiva. Sati still married Lord Shiva and went to live with him in Kailasa.
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Ganagapur Dattatreya Temple Sri Kshetra Ganagapur.
One day, Daksha organized a big event and invited many gods and sages, but he didn’t invite Lord Shiva and Sati. Sati found out about the event and asked Shiva if they should go. Shiva said no because they weren’t invited. Sati, however, thought she didn’t need an invitation from her father and went anyway. At the event, Daksha insulted Sati and Lord Shiva because Sati had married Shiva without her father’s approval. Sati was humiliated and, in her sorrow, she sacrificed herself in the fire.
When Lord Shiva heard about what happened, he was very angry and sent his followers to bring Sati’s body back. A fierce follower named Veerabhadra beheaded Daksha. All the gods and Daksha’s family prayed to Shiva to stop the violence. Shiva appeared and fixed Daksha’s head by replacing it with a goat’s head, just as he had replaced Ganesha’s head with an elephant’s.
Shiva took Sati’s body and roamed the world with it, unable to overcome his grief. In Hindu Puranas, Shiva is seen as the god of creation, and without him, there can be no life. To help Shiva, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshana Chakra to dislodge Sati’s body parts, so Shiva would regain consciousness. Each of these body parts fell in different places, and 18 of them are now known as the 18 Shakti Peethas.
18 Shakti Peethas List
Sankari Devi, Sri Lanka:
Sankari Devi is one of the 18 special places where people worship the goddess Parvathi in different forms. She is the first form among these 18 holy places. Sankari Devi is highly respected in Sri Lanka, and people also know her as “Saman Deviyo” or the goddess of the Samanala mountain range. Legend says that this is where the thigh part of the goddess Sati fell.
Kamakshi Devi, Kanchi:
Kamakshi temple is the second holy place among the 18. The name Kamakshi means a person with powerful eyes. This temple is in Tamil Nadu, and it’s believed that the remains of Sati fell here. The temple was built a long time ago and has beautiful carvings and sculptures.
Shrunkala Devi, Hooghly:
The Shrunkala Devi temple is in West Bengal. It’s believed that the abdomen of Sati fell here. This temple was destroyed in the past, but now it’s a place of hope for people, and it’s called the “chain goddess.”
Chamundeshwari Devi, Mysore:
Chamundeshwari Devi is the fourth holy place among the 18. People say that the hair of Sati fell here. This temple is dedicated to the goddess Chamundeshwari, a form of Durga. It’s very old and has been improved over time.
Jogulamba Devi, Alampur:
The Alampur Jogulamba temple is in Telangana. It’s believed that the teeth of Sati fell here. This temple was damaged in the past but was later fixed.
Bhramarambika Devi, Srisailam:
Srisailam is a famous place with both a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha. It’s said that the neck of Sati fell here. People visit this place for blessings and peace.
Mahalakshmi, Kolhapur:
The Kolhapur Mahalakshmi temple in Maharashtra is the seventh holy place among the 18. People say that the eyes of Sati fell here. It’s a place of worship and devotion.
Ekaveenika, Nanded:
Ekaveenika is a place in Maharashtra where it’s believed that the right hand of Sati fell. People come here to find strength and energy.
Mahankali, Ujjain:
The Ujjain Mahankali temple in Madhya Pradesh is also a place with both a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha. It’s thought that the upper lip of Sati fell here.
Puruhuthika Devi, Pithapuram:
Puruhuthika Devi temple is in the East Godavari district. It’s said that the golden sari of Sati is kept here and is decorated every Friday for devotees.
Girija Devi, Odisha:
Girija Devi temple is on the banks of the Vaitarani River in Odisha. It’s believed that the navel part of Sati fell here.
Manikyamba Devi, East Godavari:
This is the 12th holy place among the 18. It’s said that this is where Sati sacrificed herself. It’s a place of luxury and salvation.
Kamarupa Devi, Assam:
Kamarupa Devi temple in Assam is where it’s believed that the vagina of Sati fell. This temple has unique features, and during certain times, the temple is closed for special rituals.
Madhaveshwari, Allahabad:
Madhaveshwari temple in Allahabad is where it’s believed that the fingers of Sati fell. It’s a place where the rivers Yamuna and Ganga meet.
Vaishanavi Devi, Jammu and Kashmir:
This is where it’s believed the skull of Sati fell. The temple is located on a hill.
Mangalya Gauri, Patna:
The Mangalya Gauri temple in Bihar is where it’s said that the breast of Sati fell. This place is close to the famous Bodhgaya.
Vishalakshi, Varanasi:
In Varanasi, there’s a temple where it’s believed the wrist of Sati fell. This place is known for both Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Saraswati Devi, Kashmir:
The last holy place among the 18 is in Kashmir. It’s believed that the hands or right cheek of Sati fell at this location.