Shakta pithas

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.[http://www.celextel.org/adisankara/shaktipeethastotram.html Shakti Peetha Stotram] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211142539/http://www.celextel.org/adisankara/shaktipeethastotram.html |date=2011-12-11 }} Vedanta Spiritual Library

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 ===

File:Dakshayani.jpg carrying the corpse of Dakshayani ]]

{{Main|Daksha yajna}}

According to legend, lord 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.{{cite web |year=2013 |title=ഇതു ദക്ഷ യാഗ ഭൂമി |url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/advt/Festival/Kottiyoor-Festival13/Odapoo.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130723104429/http://www.manoramaonline.com/advt/Festival/Kottiyoor-Festival13/Odapoo.html |archive-date=2013-07-23 |access-date=2013-07-23 |publisher=Malayala Manorama}} 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.{{cite book |last=Tagare |first=G. V. |title=Skanda-Purana, Part 1 |date=August 1, 1992 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |others=Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare (trans.) |isbn=8120809661 |editor=G.P. Bhatt |edition=1}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/tantra/maha/maha00.htm|title=Introduction and Preface|website=www.sacred-texts.com|access-date=2012-12-20|archive-date=2008-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726074101/http://www.sacred-texts.com/tantra/maha/maha00.htm|url-status=live}}

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 fallen were then considered as Shakta pithas and were deemed places of great spiritual importance.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fFwi7qRRgosC&q=siva+dance+Shakti+peetha|title=World Encyclopaedia of Interfaith Studies: World religions|date=2009|publisher=Jnanada Prakashan|isbn=978-81-7139-280-3|language=en}} 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.{{cite web|title=Kottiyoor Devaswam Temple Administration Portal|url=http://kottiyoordevaswom.com/|work=kottiyoordevaswom.com/|publisher=Kottiyoor Devaswam|access-date=20 July 2013|archive-date=7 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607012239/http://kottiyoordevaswom.com/|url-status=live}}

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

{{Location map+ |South Asia|width=900|float=center|caption=Shakti names at locations of Shakta pithas

{{font color|white|blue|Blue}}: Adi Shakta pithas; {{font color|white|red|Red}}: Ashtadasha Maha Shakta pithas; {{font color||yellow|Yellow}}: Daksha yagna site; {{font color|white|green|Green}}: Maha Shakta pithas

|places=

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Blue pog.svg|lat_deg=22.52|lon_deg=88.34|label= Dakshina Kalika|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Blue pog.svg|lat_deg=19.49|lon_deg=84.90|label= Tara Tarini|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Blue pog.svg|lat_deg=26.17|lon_deg=91.70|label= Kamakhya|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Blue pog.svg|lat_deg=19.80|lon_deg=85.82|label= Vimala|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Red pog.svg|lat_deg= 8.58|lon_deg=81.25 |label= Shankari|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Red pog.svg|lat_deg= 12.84|lon_deg=79.70 |label= Kamakshi|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Red pog.svg|lat_deg= 23.07|lon_deg=88.29 |label= Shrinkhala Devi|position=left}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Red pog.svg|lat_deg= 12.27|lon_deg=76.67 |label= Chamundeshwari|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Red pog.svg|lat_deg= 15.88|lon_deg=78.13 |label= Jogulamba|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Red pog.svg|lat_deg= 16.07|lon_deg=78.87 |label= Bhramarambha|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Red pog.svg|lat_deg= 16.69|lon_deg=74.22 |label= Ambabai|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Red pog.svg|lat_deg= 19.84|lon_deg=77.86 |label= Renuka|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Red pog.svg|lat_deg= 23.21|lon_deg=75.77 |label= Mahakaleshwar|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Red pog.svg|lat_deg= 17.11|lon_deg=82.25 |label= Puruhutika|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Red pog.svg|lat_deg= 20.85|lon_deg=86.34 |label= Biraja Devi|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Red pog.svg|lat_deg= 16.79|lon_deg=82.06 |label= Manikyamba|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Red pog.svg|lat_deg= 25.44|lon_deg=81.87 |label= Maa Madhaveswari|position=left}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Red pog.svg|lat_deg= 31.88|lon_deg=76.32 |label= Jwalamukhi|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Red pog.svg|lat_deg= 24.78|lon_deg=85.00 |label= Sarvamangala|position=left}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Red pog.svg|lat_deg= 25.31|lon_deg=83.01 |label= Vishalakshi|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Red pog.svg|lat_deg=34.79|lon_deg=74.19|label= Sharada|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 30.26|lon_deg=77.74 |label= Shakambari Devi|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg=25.5678967|lon_deg=84.6729917|label=Aranya Devi|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 25.51|lon_deg=65.52|label= Hinglaj Mata|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 23.72|lon_deg=90.39|label= Dhakeshwari|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 24.87|lon_deg=91.88|label= Mahalakshmi|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 34.22|lon_deg=75.50|label= Mahamaya|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 33.03|lon_deg=74.95|label= Vaishnodevi|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 9.91|lon_deg=78.17 |label= Meenakshi|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 23.88|lon_deg=87.38|label= Mahishmardini|position=left}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 23.69|lon_deg=88.02|label= Phullora|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 23.70|lon_deg=88.04|label= Bahula|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 24.56|lon_deg=89.43|label= Aparna|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 31.81|lon_deg=76.10|label= Chinnamasta|position=left}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 28.82|lon_deg=83.47|label= Gandaki Chandi|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 20.39|lon_deg=73.91|label= Saptashrungi|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 25.57|lon_deg=92.21|label= Jayanti|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 22.31|lon_deg=89.11|label= Jeshoreshwari|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 30.65|lon_deg=81.45|label= Dakshayani|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 23.51|lon_deg=91.50|label= Tripura Sundari|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 31.34|lon_deg=75.58|label= Tripuramalini|position=left}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 20.88|lon_deg=70.41|label= Chandrabhaga|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 23.72|lon_deg=87.72|label= Devgarbha|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 8.08|lon_deg=77.55|label= Kanya Kumari|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 26.73|lon_deg=85.94|label= Uma|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 9.61|lon_deg=79.77|label= Nagapooshani|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 27.71|lon_deg=85.35|label= Guhyeshwari|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 22.63|lon_deg=91.68|label= Bhawani|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 29.41|lon_deg=79.86|label= Varahi|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 29.98|lon_deg=76.83|label= Bhadrakali|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 24.26|lon_deg=80.72|label= Shivani|position=left}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 18.90|lon_deg=81.35|label= Danteshwari|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 25.39|lon_deg=86.48|label= Chandika|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 24.34|lon_deg=72.85|label= Amba|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 31.31|lon_deg=76.54|label= Naina Devi|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 23.95|lon_deg=87.68|label= Nandini|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 8.15|lon_deg=77.46|label= Narayani|position=left}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 22.84|lon_deg=90.26|label= Sugandha|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 24.49|lon_deg=86.70|label= Jaya Durga|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 27.58|lon_deg=77.70|label= Katyayani|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 27.44|lon_deg=76.16|label= Ambika|position=left}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 22.67|lon_deg=81.76|label= Shaila/Shona|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 18.012|lon_deg=76.066|label= Tulja Bhawani|position=right}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=green pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 18.64|lon_deg=72.88|label= Shri Padmakshi Renuka|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=Yellow pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 11.88|lon_deg=75.86|label= Sati Devi|position=top}}

{{Location map~ |South Asia|mark=red pog.svg|label_size=75|lat_deg= 23.23|lon_deg=72.88|label=Mahakali devi|position=bottom}}

}}

{{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.{{cite web |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2021/Sep/26/motherlodesof-power-2362905.html |title=Motherlodes of Power: The story of India's 'Shakti Peethas' |publisher=The New Indian Express |access-date=2024-04-03}}

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.[http://www.hindunet.org/saraswati/resources/pithas.htm 51 Pithas of Parvati] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927033603/http://www.hindunet.org/saraswati/resources/pithas.htm |date=2006-09-27 }} – From Hindunet In South India, Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh became the site for a 2nd-century temple.{{cite web |url=http://www.sacredsites.com/asia/india/srisailam_shakti_pitha.html |title=Srisailam |access-date=2006-08-31 |archive-date=2006-08-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818213750/http://www.sacredsites.com/asia/india/srisailam_shakti_pitha.html |url-status=live}}

There are believed to be 64 locations. Adi Shankara's Ashtadasha Shakta pitha Stotram mentions 18 locations known as the Maha Shakta pithas.{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Richa|date=3 October 2013|title=18 Maha Shakthi Peeths|url=https://www.speakingtree.in/allslides/18-maha-shakthi-peeths|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-28|website=Speaking Tree|archive-date=2021-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228133946/https://www.speakingtree.in/allslides/18-maha-shakthi-peeths}}{{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Pratha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DpNPDwAAQBAJ|title=The Forgotten Shivlings of Sati Shaktipeeths|date=2018-03-06|publisher=Zorba Books|isbn=978-93-87456-12-9|pages=27–28|language=en|access-date=2021-12-29|archive-date=2022-10-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001140614/https://books.google.com/books?id=DpNPDwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}} 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).

Sharadha pitha is currently in a ruined state.{{Cite book |last=Pollock |first=Sheldon |title=Language of the Gods in the World of Men |publisher=University of California Press |year=2006}} Only ruins are found in these places. Its ruins are near the Line of Control (LOC){{cite news |date=3 October 2007 |title=Pandits denied entry into temple in Pakistan Administered Kashmir |newspaper=The Hindu |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200710030341.htm |access-date=30 July 2013 |archive-date=20 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020145209/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200710030341.htm |url-status=live}} 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{{cite news |date=2 May 2007 |title=Pak should renovate Sharada Temple in Pakistan Administered Kashmir: Advani |publisher=zeenews.india |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/states/pak-should-renovate-sharada-temple-in-pok-advani_369152.html |access-date=30 July 2013 |archive-date=20 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020140258/http://zeenews.india.com/news/states/pak-should-renovate-sharada-temple-in-pok-advani_369152.html |url-status=live}} as a confidence-building measure, by increasing the people-to-people cross-border interaction.

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 India.

As per Sankara Samhita of Skanda Purana,{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/AbiramiammanSthalaPuranam |title=Dindigul Padmachala Sthala Puranam (Rockfort Abiramiamman temple) |language=Tamil}}

1. Sri Sankari Pitham (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)

{{Expert needed|Hinduism|section|reason=Listing confusion and unverifiable other information|date=November 2019}}

{{Missing information|section|List of Shakta pithas. The total listing is 108|date=July 2022}}

In the listings{{cite web|title=Shaktipeeth|url=http://zeenews.india.com/navratra2012/Shaktipeeth.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210250/http://zeenews.india.com/navratra2012/Shaktipeeth.html|archive-date=2016-03-03|access-date=2016-04-06|website=Zee News}}{{Cite web|date=2019-10-03|editor-last=Sharma|editor-first=Divyanshi|title=Navratri 2019: Know the origin and existence of the 51 Shaktipeethas|url=https://zeenews.india.com/culture/navratri-2019-know-the-origin-and-existence-of-the-51-shaktipeethas-2238173.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-28|website=Zee News|language=en|archive-date=2021-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228122250/https://zeenews.india.com/culture/navratri-2019-know-the-origin-and-existence-of-the-51-shaktipeethas-2238173.html}}{{Cite web|last=Shankar|first=Ravi|date=26 September 2021|title=Motherlodes of Power: The story of India's 'Shakti Peethas'|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2021/sep/26/motherlodesof-power-2362905.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-28|website=The New Indian Express|archive-date=2021-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926061553/https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2021/sep/26/motherlodesof-power-2362905.html}}{{Cite news|last=Upadhyay|first=Lipi|date=23 September 2017|title=Navratri for travellers: Visit these 51 Shakti-peeths and learn about their significance|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/travel/festivals/story/navratri-durga-puja-51-shakti-peeths-shiva-sati-amarnath-kamakhya-kolkata-kalighat-lifetr-1050105-2017-09-23|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-28|website=India Today|archive-date=2021-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228135918/https://www.indiatoday.in/travel/festivals/story/navratri-durga-puja-51-shakti-peeths-shiva-sati-amarnath-kamakhya-kolkata-kalighat-lifetr-1050105-2017-09-23}} below:

• "Shakti" refers to the Goddess worshipped at each location, all being manifestations of Goddess 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'{{Cite book |last=eGangotri |url=https://archive.org/details/TantraChudamaniChapter1Quarter14322GhaAlm20Shlf2DevanagariMimansa/page/n3/mode/2up |title=Tantra Chudamani Chapter 1 Quarter 1 4322 Gha Alm 20 Shlf 2 Devanagari Mimansa}} where Parvati tells these details to her son Skanda.

Important: 1) The main idol of the Dhakeshwari Shaktipeeth in Bangladesh is currently relocated to the Kumartuli Dhakeshwari Temple in Kolkata, West Bengal. The temple priest fled to India with the main idol during the partition via a specially chartered train. While in the original shrine, a replica is placed. The original holy gem of Goddess Sati was lost long before (the factual date is unknown). So for the actual idol, visit the Kumartoli shrine.

2) The Shrinkhala Shaktipeeth (one of 18 Maha Shakti Peethas) in Hooghly, West Bengal, is a disputed site. The original shrine was destroyed during the partition of India in 1947 and an Islamic Minar was built there by the Muslims. Years later, a door claimed by the locals as the door to the sanctum of the temple is closed by the ASI. The Hindus claim that the temple was destroyed and the minar was built there. It is claimed that the idol of Goddess Shrinkhala was taken to Sringeri in Karnataka but no such evidence exists there to date because a different Sharada Devi Temple was built there by Adi Shankaracharya. At present in the Hooghly district, only the Ratnabali Shaktipeeth is present.

Other Shakipeeths:-

The following shrines are not recognised as the Shakti Peethas, but are still claimed by the devotees and priests, for various reasons.

1. Jwala Devi Temple in Jobner, Rajasthan, India

2. Jayanti Kali Temple (location disputed)

3. Asamai Devi Temple in Kabul, Afghanistan

4. Juranpur Kali Temple in West Bengal, India

5. Sarbamangala Temple in Burdwan, West Bengal (the temple priests claim that Goddess Sati's body part fell here)

6. Jogamaya Shaktipeeth in Kalahandi, Odisha, India

There are disputes about the location of the Jayanti Shakti Pitha. Based on most presented manuscripts and facts it is situated in the namesake Jaintiapur Upazila town, Bangladesh, which was previously the capital of the Jaintia Hills tribe kingdom, in 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{{Cite web |title=Kolkata Durga Puja Festival |url=https://www.facebook.com/kolkataDurgaPujaFestival/posts/2326899040657390 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/1675688452445122/2326899040657390 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited |access-date=2020-08-16 |website=www.facebook.com}}{{cbignore}} 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 in India,{{Cite web |script-title=bn:চলো যাই বেড়িয়ে আসি জয়ন্তী... |website=EiBangla24x7 |url=https://eibangla24x7.com/2018/09/20/%e0%a6%9a%e0%a6%b2%e0%a7%8b-%e0%a6%af%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%87-%e0%a6%ac%e0%a7%87%e0%a7%9c%e0%a6%bf%e0%a7%9f%e0%a7%87-%e0%a6%86%e0%a6%b8%e0%a6%bf-%e0%a6%9c%e0%a7%9f%e0%a6%a8%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%a4%e0%a7%80/ |access-date=2020-08-16 |archive-date=2019-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190208232343/http://eibangla24x7.com/2018/09/20/%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8B-%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%87-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87%E0%A7%9C%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%80/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Mahakal Cave |url=http://www.cpreecenvis.nic.in/Database/MahakalCave_3080.aspx |access-date=2020-08-16 |website=www.cpreecenvis.nic.in |archive-date=2020-01-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125194850/http://www.cpreecenvis.nic.in/Database/MahakalCave_3080.aspx |url-status=live}} where many statues were created by Stalagmites and Stalactites (natural rock formations), but there is no evidence.

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.{{cite web |title=District Census Handbook Mirzapur |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/09/0968_PART_A_DCHB_MIRZAPUR.pdf |access-date=12 March 2020 |archive-date=17 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117110453/https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/09/0968_PART_A_DCHB_MIRZAPUR.pdf |url-status=live}}

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.

• Hindu pilgrimage (yatra)
• Hindu pilgrimage sites
• List of Hindu temples
• List of Mansa Devi temples

• {{cite book |author=Dineschandra Sircar |title=The Śākta Pīṭhas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I969qn5fpvcC |year=1998 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-0879-9}}

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{{reflist}}

• [http://www.shaktipeethas.org/51-shakti-peethas-map-t11.html 52 Shakta pithas map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081113120138/http://www.shaktipeethas.org/51-shakti-peethas-map-t11.html |date=2008-11-13 }}
• [http://www.vedarahasya.net/shakti.htm Comprehensive guide on 51 Shakta pithas]
• [http://www.indiantemples.com/beliefs/daksha.htm Daksha Yagna – The story of Daksha's sacrifice and the origin of the Shakta pithas]

{{Shaktism}}

{{Worship in Hinduism}}

{{Hindudharma}}

{{Tourism in India}}

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Category:Locations in Hindu mythology

Category:Hindu temples