Introduction:-
Various legends explain how Shakthipeetha came into existence. The holiest Shaktipeetha in India is described in this Article for your knowledge.
Shakthipeetha is based on the story of the death of the goddess Sati. According to Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, there are 51,64,108 Shaktipeetha on various accounts.
Out of grief and sorrow, Lord Shiva carried Sati’s body, reminiscing about their moments as a couple and roamed around the universe. Lord Vishnu cut her body into 51 body parts, using Sudarshan chakra, which fell on earth.
Top nine famous Shaktipeetha in India to travel to Nabaratri with your family:-
1.Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple in Katra- Jammu & Kashmir:-
Mata Vaishno Devi shrine is located in the lap of Trikuta hills which is 12 km from base camp Katra, which is one of the prominent towns of the District Reasi and 63kms from Jammu city.
It is considered to be one of the holiest pilgrimage places for Hindus in north India. The temple is located at a height ft.5200ft and Goddess Shakti is worshiped in the forms of Maha Kali, Maa Saraswati and Maa Laxmi.
A geographical study of the holy cave has indicated that it is almost a million years old. The first mention of this holy cave is noted in the epic Mahabharat.
This temple is recognized as one of the 108 Maha ( major ) shakti pitha dedicated to Maa Durga. This temple is governed by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board(SMVDSB), chairman by the Govt. of Jammu & Kashmir.
It is one of the most visited pilgrimage centers in India. Every year millions of devotees visit the temple. During the time of Navaratri the footfall increases as high as one crore. Mata Vaishnodevi temple is One of the richest temples in India.
The most prominent festival held at Vaishno Devi Temple is Navaratri, a nine-night festival celebrating Devi’s victory over evil demons and Diwali, a festival of light symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, good over evil.
Vaishno Devi Bhawan is open to devotees for 365 days and is controlled by the governing body of Vaishno Devi.Mata Vaishno Devi is one of the holiest shaktipeetha in India.
2. Tripura SundariTemple in Udaipur, Rajasthan:-
Tripura Sundari Temple is a Hindu Temple of the Goddess Tripura Sundari, which is better known as Devi Tripureswari.The temple is situated in the ancient city of Udaipur about 55 km from Agartala.Tripura Sundari is also known as Raja rajeshwari, Shodashi & Kamakshi.
This temple is one of the 51 holiest shaktipeetha (shrine of the goddess of power) in India. According to Legend, Lord Shiva had cut off the body of Mata Sati into 51 pieces which fell into different places. All these places are known as shakthipeetha.
The temple is located at approximately 3kms. south of Udaipur town. It is popularly known as the Temple of Tripura Sundari or Matabari.The temple was constructed in 1501 A.D.by the Maharaja Dhanya Manikya.
In the eastern side of the temple there is the famous “ Kalyan Sagar” lake where fish and tortoises of huge size are found and devotees feed them “ Muri” and biscuits. In the time of Diwali a famomous mela took place at Tripura Sundari Temple, where Lakhs of people visited to see Mela.
Nearby attractions of the Tripura Sundari Temple is NeerMahal, Sepahuala Wildlife Sanctuary, Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary and Pilak. Tripura Sundari is one of the holiest shaktipeetha in India.
3. Kamaakhaya Temple in –Guwahati, Assam:-
Kamakhaya Temple in Guwahati is the holiest shaaktipeetha in India. The temple is believed to be the place where the womb of the goddess fell.
The distance between Guwahati railway station to Kamakhya temple is about 8 km.Maa Kamakhya and Kameswari is the renowned Goddess of Desire whose famous shrine is located in the heart of Nilachala Hill is situated in the western part of Guwahati, the capital of Assam in Northeast India.
Maa Kamakhya Devalaya is considered the most sacred and the oldest of 51 shakthipeetha on earth.The “Yogini Tantra’ is another piece of ancient literature believed to be written around the 16th century, where the mention of Goddess Kamakhya is found. In the Yogini Tantra, the legend relates to the emergence of Kamakhya as a symbol of procreation.
In the Kalika Purana an ancient work in Sanskrit describes Kamakhya as the yielder of all the desires, the young brides of Shiva, and the giver of salvation Shakti is known as Kamakhya. Tantra is the basic to worship, in the precincts of this the ancient temple of mother goddess kamakhya. Kamakhya temple is one of the holiest shaktipeetha in India.
4. Tarapitha temple in Bir Bhumi, West Bengal:-
Tarapitha temple is famous for the Temple of Tara maa and Sadhana pitha of Sadhana-Bamakhyapa. Tarapitha is a holy religious place situated in the village Tarapura under the district of Birbhum, West Bengal. It is said to be Called because the eyeball (Tara) of Sati falls here.
Tarapitha is one of the holiest shaktipitha in India. Tarapithai is a small temple located on the banks of the Dwaraka River that flaws in Birbhum. at a distance of 264 km. from Kolkata. It is one of the 51 holiest shakti peetha of India.
The temple is symbolic of Shiva’s destructive aspect in the form of Kali. Her bloodlust is said to be assuaged by an animal sacrifice each morning on the temple premises and the blood is offered to satisfy her.
In Hinduism, Maa Tara is the second of the Dasa (ten) Mahavidyas or “Great Wisdom”.Here, Tara means “star” because the eyeball of DaviSati falls here. She is also known as Kalika, Ugra-Kali, Mahakali,and Bhadra Kali. She is the tantric magnification is Durga, Mahadevi, Kali and Paravati.
5. Vishalakshmi Devi Temple in Varanasi:-
Vshalakshi Gauri Temple is a famous Hindu Temple in India dedicated to the goddess Vishalakshi (who has large eyes). This temple is situated near Varanashi in Uttar Pradesh.
Maa Annapurna, the goddess of food and form of Shiva’sconsort Parvati is given the epithet Vishalakshi, the “wide-eyed”.Her most famous temple stands at Varanasi.
The Varanasi goddess Vishalakshmi temple may have been identified by Annapurna at an earlier age times, and over time became adistinct Goddess. It is the most famous Hindu temple located at the Meer Ghat on the bank of the holy river Ganga in Varanasi, UttarPradesh.
Vishalakshi Temple is considered as a Shakti peetha themost holy temple devoted to the Hindu Divine mother, Adishakti.There are six points as the temple in Varanasiwhich symbolizes Shastanga(six-fold)yoga.
These are Viswanath Temple, The Vishalakshi temple, theholy river of Ganga, the Kala Variable Temple, the Dhudiraj temple and thedandapani temple.
Devotees celebrate Navaratri at this temple in October .Thedevotees also celebrate thetriumph of the Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon (Mahishasuara). This shaktipeetha
is one of the holiest shaktipeetha in India.
6. Kalighat Temple in Kolkata:-
Kalighat Kali Temple is a Hindu temple in Kalighat, Kolkata, and West Bengal. It is dedicated goddess Maa Kali of the Hindu religion.It is one of the Shakti peethas.Kalighat was a ghat sacred to Kali on the old course( Adi Ganga) of the Hoogly river(Bhagirathi) in the city of Kolkata.
The name Kolkatta is said to have been derived from the word Kalkatta Devi of Kalighat Temple.Kalighat is regarded as one of the 51 shakti peethas of India.
Various parts of the Sati’s body are said to have fallen over the course of Shiva’s Rudra Tandava. Kalighat represents the site where the toes of the the right foot of Dakshayani or Sati fell.
Kalighat Kali Temple most famous temple in Kolkata. It is the abode of Hindu Goddess Kali and is situated on the bank of Adi Ganga.
Kalighat temple is one of the 51 shakti paths in Hinduism.
As per the mythology on learning about the death of Sati by self-immolation on hearing insult of husband by the king Daksha. Lord Shiva was blinded in rage and started the Tandav Nirtya( Dance of Destruction).
To prevent the world from imminent destruction Lord Vishnu, at the request of other Gods, used Sudarshan Chakra to cut the corpse of Sati into 51 pieces which fell in various places on the Indian subcontinent. These places are revered as Shakthi peetha. Shakti is known as Dakshina Kali here and Bhairava as Ankleshwar Mahadev. Kalighat temple is one of the holiest shaktipeetha in India.
7. Shakti Ambika –Bharatpur Rajasthan:-
Maa Ambika Shakthipitha or Virat Shakthi peetha is among the 51 Shakti Petha of Maa Sati. It is said that MaaSati’s left leg Maa Sati fell here when lord Vishnu to relive lord shiva from the grief of losing his wife Sati, used Sudarshan Chakra to incise Maa Sati Body.
The famous Maa Ambika Shakteepitha is located at Bhartpur, Rajastan. The temple is located in Virat village, which is 90 km. from Jaipur.In this temple, Shakti Ambika Navaratri is celebrated twice a year April &Oct.
Special puja is conducted during Navaratri.The location is from Bharatpur railway station it is only 20 km to take the local train to reach Shakthi peetha.Virat Shakthi peetha is one of the 51 Shakthi.
According to Puranas of Hinduism, wherever the pieces of the part of the Sati fell, the clothes or jewellery worn, Shakthi peetha came into existence. these are called holy places of pilgrimage.In Devi purana describes the 51 pilgrim spots in India. Shakti Ambika is one of the holiest shaktipeetha in India.
7. Shakti Ambika –Bharatpur Rajasthan:-
Maa Ambika Shakthipitha and Virat Shakthi peetha is among the 51 Shakti Peetha of Maa Sati. It is said that MaaSati’s left leg Maa Sati fell here when lord Vishnu to relive lord shiva from the grief of losing his wife Sati, used Sudarshan Chakra to incise Maa Sati Body.
The famous Maa Ambika Shakteepitha is located in Bhartpur, Rajastan. The temple is located in Virat village, which is 90 km. from Jaipur.In this temple, Shakti Ambika Navaratri is celebrated twice a year April &Oct.
Special puja was conducted during Navaratri.The location is from Bharatpur railway station it is only 20 km to take the local train to reach Shakthi peetha.Virat Shakthi peetha is one of the 51 Shakthi.
According to Puranas of Hinduism, wherever the pieces of the part of the Sati fell, the clothes or jewelry worn, Shakthi peetha came into existence. these are called holy places of pilgrimage.In Devi purana describes the 51 pilgrim spots in India. Shakti Ambika is one of the holiest shaktipeetha in India.
8. Maa Biraja Temple in Odisha:-
Maa Biraja Temple or Biraja khetra of Odisha is a historic Hindu temple is located at Jajpur about 125 km from Bhubaneswar. The present temple was built in 13 the century.
The principal idol is Davi Durga, who is worshiped as Maa Viraja. It is also known as Viraja Kshetra.Here the Durga idol has two hands (dwibhuja), spearing the chest Mahishasuara with one hand and pulling his tail with the other.
The Brahmayamala Tantra has a hymn “Aadya Stotra” dedicated to Shakthi.In the hymn Vimala is the goddess of Puri and Viraja is the goddess worshiped in the Utkal kingdom, which became Odisha.
Adi Shankara, in his Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Stuti, describes the goddess as Girija. In Tantra literature, the Oddiyana peetha (Devnagari) is located in eastern India near the Vaitarani River (Oddiyana is an ornament worn by a woman around her naval).
There is a separate shrine for Sree Bagalamukhi Devi, which is right of Maa Biraja.The primary ritual in the temple is Sharadiya Durga Puja, which begins at the night of Krishna paksha Ashtami.
This falls before Mahalaya and ends on Ashwin Sukla pakshya Navami. This puja is known as Shodasha Dinatatmika Puja last for 16 days.The Biraja temple and Girija kshetra, oddiyana peetha is believed to be another Shakthi peetha in Odisha.
Oddiyana is an ornament worn by women around her naval.According to Tantra Chudamani Sati;s naval fell in Utkala(The old name is Odisha) which is also known as Biraja kshetra. Maa Biraja temple is one of the holiest shaktipeetha in India.
9. Maa Naina Devi in Himachal Pradesh:-
Shri Naina Devi is one of the most notable places of worship in Himachal Pradesh. it is located in District Bilaspur. It is one of the 51 Shaktipeethas, where limbs of Sati fell on Earth.
This holy place witnesses the huge crowd of pilgrims and devotees around the year, especially during Shravana Ashtami and in the Navaratri of Chaitra & Ashwin.
People from all over the country visit the temple for a darshan of Maa Naina Devi( Mother Goddess). The location is by Train The nearest railway station is Anandpur Sahib and the distance is about 30 km. By road, it is 350 km from Delhi. From Chandigarh, it is 85 km.
Shri Naina Devi Temple is the place where the eyes of Sati fall.Shri Naina Devi temple is also known as Mahishapeeth because of the defeat of demon Mahishashur by the Goddess.
Another story is associated with Sikh Guru Gobind sing Ji , when he left for his military campaign against Mughals in 1756, he went Shri Naina Devi, who performed a Sacrificial Yagna, to seek blessings of the Goddess. He defeated Mughal after getting blessings from Maa Naina davi shaktipeetha. Maa Naina Devi temple is one of the holiest shaktipeetha in India.
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