Hey guys, today we are back with another interesting topic,

Ashtadasha Shakti Peethas or 18 Shakti Peethas.

We have previously covered the most famous Temples in India and now we will focus on the mysterious and mystical Shakti Pithas that are found across the country, which were spawned out of Maa Sati Devi's burnt physical parts.

Shakti Peethas are an integral part of our ethos, culture, civilization and Sanatan dharma.

Origins of Shakti Peethas

According to our Puranas, Sati Devi, the embodiment of Shakti, the supreme cosmic feminine divinity was married to Lord Shiva Mahadev. She was the daughter of Daksha Prajapathi, who was not pleased with their holy union.

Once he hosted a great Yajna, to which every god, goddess and deities were invited except Shiva. Sati Devi wanted to attend the yaga however Shiva forbade her at first, but she wanted to visit her home. Ultimately he gave her his permission and blessings.

But when Daksha humiliated Shiva in front of Sati Devi, she could not bear the insult and sacrificed herself in the huge fire pit of the Yajna. A furious Shiva threw a lock of his hair from which the terrible diety Virabhdra was born who slayed Daksha as revenge.

A heartbroken Mahadev carried the burnt body of Shakti Devi and danced the Rudrathandava out of pure wrath and grief. Rudrathandava is known as the celestial dance of destruction. This caused a great deluge that was about to destroy the universe, but Maha Vishnu using his Sudarshana chakra and cut it into 51 pieces. These pieces fell across Indian Subcontinent or Akhand Bharath. It is after which Lord Shiva meditated for years and when he opened his eyes, the tear which fell onto earth became the first Rudraksha.

The places where these fell are known as SHAKTI PEETHAS .

What are Ashta Dasha Shakti Peethas?

The Maha Shakti Peethas Ashta Dasha Shakti Peethas are 18 holy shrines which is believed to be the places where Maa's major body parts have fallen and house the divine spiritual energy. The Ashta Dasha Shakti Peethas along with the 4 Adi Shakti Peethas are mentioned in Adi Shankara's Ashta Dasha Shakti Pitha Stotram.

Out of these three Shakti Peethas in Kamakhya, Gaya and Ujjain are more sacred as these are considered the three elemental aspects of Maa Shakti which are creation, nurturing and destruction.

18 ShaktiPeethas or ASTADASHA SHAKTI PEETHAS

1. Shankari Devi Temple
2. Kamakshi Amman Temple
3. Shrinkala Temple
4. Chamundeshwari Temple
5. Jogulamba Devi
6. Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple
7. Mahalakshmi Temple
8. Ekveera Temple
9. Mahakaleswar Temple
10. Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple
11. Biraja Temple
12. Bhimeswara Temple
13. Kamakhya Temple
14. Alopi Devi Mandir
15. Jwalamukhi Temple
16. Mangla Gauri Temple
17. Vishalakshi Temple
18. Sharada Peeth

Let us check it out in detail

Sr. No.	Temple	Place	State/Country	Epithet	Body Part	Shakti Goddess
1	Shankari Devi Temple	Trincomalee	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	Ekveera Temple	Mahur	Maharashtra	Moola Pitham	Left hand	Goddess Ekavira
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 Administered Kashmir	Sharada Pitham	Right hand	Goddess Sharada

These Shakti Peethas are the pure primordial representations of the sacred Shakti or the divine feminine energy that propels the universe forward. We will now read in detail about these different Shakti temples in India and abroad.

Shankari Devi Temple, Sri Lanka

The first of 18 ShaktiPeethas is Shankari Devi Temple in Trincomalee, which is also famous for the Koneswaram Temple one of the Pancha Ishwarams of Sri Lanka. The region is believed to be where Devi Maa's groin area has fallen at and Devi Shankari presides here as the chief deity. The temple is famed for Maa Shakti's blessings for fertility and protection for relationships.

Kamakshi Amman Temple

Kamakshi Amman Temple in the historic city of Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu is dedicated to Kamakshi Devi one of the highest and most revered forms of Adi Parashakti or Maa Shakti also known as Tripura Sundari. It is here where the navel of the goddess fell and is a very much revered holy site. The temple also houses one of Bhagwan Vishnu's 108 divya deshams as well. The city of Kanchipuram is famous for its silk and silk saree and for one of the reputed 18 Shakti peethas in India.

Shrinkala Temple

Pandua in West Bengal lies the Shrinkala Temple, dedicated to Goddess Shrinkhala. This sacred site is believed to enshrine the Part of the Stomach of Goddess Sati, offering solace and healing to devotees who seek relief from ailments and afflictions.

Chamundeshwari Temple

Perhaps one of the most famous temples in Mysore and the most revered 18 Shakti peethas - Chamundeshwari Temple houses the hair of Maa Shakti. Devi Chamundeshwari is the Nada Devi of Karnataka, which means the state goddess. Chamundeshwari Temple is a 2 hour journey from Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India.

It is also believed that it was in Mysore, where Goddess Durga another principal aspect of Maa Shakti defeated the demon Mahishasura and from which the name Mysore came about.

Jogulamba Devi Temple

Jogulamba Devi Temple in Alampur, Telangana is yet another major holy site and one of 18 Shakti Peethas. It is believed that Maa Shakti's teeth have fallen into this site. It is a 3 hour journey from Hyderabad.

Devotees visit this sacred site to seek the Goddess's blessings for protection from evil forces, inner strength, and transformation. Goddess Jogulamba is depicted to be sitting on a corpse with a frog, snake and a scorpion upon her crown on the head. She is a ferocious form of Maa Shakti.

Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple

Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple is located in Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh is a very important temple in both Shaivism and Shakti traditions. It is one of the 18 maha Shakti Peethas and one of the 12 Jyothirlinga temples. It is believed that Maa Shakti's neck has fallen here.

Mahalakshmi Temple

Mahalakshmi Temple is an important Ashta Dasha Shakti Peetha and it is believed to be the spot where the Eye of Goddess Sati fell, symbolizing her benevolent and nurturing spirit. Devotees throng to this sacred site to seek blessings for prosperity, abundance, and fulfilment of desires. The temple is located in Kohlapur, Maharashtra which is a 7-hour journey from Mumbai.

Ekveera Temple

Ekveera Temple is located in Mahur Maharashtra and it is here where Maa Shakti's left hand was fallen. The temple reveres the appellation Goddess Ekavira, who is also a form of Maa Renuka.

Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple is located in the historic city of Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. The temple is both a Jyothirlinga, one of the famed Shiva Temple and a Shakti Peetha, where it is believed to house the upper lip of Maa Shakti. Mahakali is the presiding deity here under Shakti Tradition.

Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple

Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple is located in Pitapuram, Andhra Pradesh. One of the famous 18 Shakti Peetha, the temple houses the back of Maa Shakti and Goddess Puruhutika is the deity worshipped. Here Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Rooster.

Biraja Temple

Biraja Temple located in Jajpur, Orissa is one of the most reputed temples in India. The temple houses Part of the abdomen of Goddess Sati.

Bhimeswara Temple

Bhimeswara Temple is another one of the 18 Shakti Peethas, Draksharamam at Andhra Pradesh. Goddess Manikyamba presides over the temple and the temple houses the Left Cheek of the devi symbolizing her divine grace and beauty.

Kamakhya Temple

Kamakhya Temple is located in Guwahati, Assam, where it is beautifully nestled in the Nilachal hills. The area is famed for its Kulachara Tantra Marga, and it is here where the Goddess's genitals are revered representing her creative and procreative energies. It is one of the 4 Adi Parashakti Peethas.

Alopi Devi Mandir

Alopi Devi Mandir is one of the 18 Shakti Peethas and is located in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Near to the Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati rivers confluence or Sangam, the region is very holy according to Sanatana Dharma. Kumbha Mela is also held near the region. It is believed that the fingers of Sati Devi fell here. It was the last part to have fallen and disappeared (Alopi) according to several scriptures.

Jwalamukhi Temple

Jwalamukhi Temple is an Ashta Daksha Shakti Peetha where the head of Maa Shakti has fallen. Jwalamukhi is a manifestation of Adi Shakti where the eternal flames of divinity embalm the world in cosmic balance. It is also said that Sati Devi's tongue is the part that has fallen here, but ultimately the region is regarded highly in various disciplines of Sanatana Dharma, Buddhism etc.

Mangla Gauri Temple

Mangla Gauri Temple is located in Gaya, Bihar. It is one of the prime three Shakti Peethas where the breast of Maa Shakti has fallen and venerated. The temple symbolizes the nurturing aspect of Shakti Devi. Gaya is where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment and is home to one of the most famous buddhist temples in India.

Vishalakshi Temple

Vishalakshi Temple is one of the 18 Shakti Peethas in India which is very sacred site in Shaktism traditions within Hinduism. The temple is located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh and it is believed that Devi's Nose has fallen here. There are other accounts that state it was the eye or earring that has fallen in the site. Vishalakshi is the epithet given to goddess Anapurna.

Sharada Peeth

Sharada Peeth is one of the Maha Shakti Peeths. It is located in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir region and the temple is an dilapidated condition. Only the ruins stand today and this was one of the 3 holy sites for Kashmiri Pundits, alongside Amarnath Temple and Martand Sun Temple. It is on Sharada Peeth where Sati Maa's right hand has fallen.

So guys what do you think?

Ready to pack your bags for a devotional praying trip at the 18 Shakti Peethas?