The Shakti Peethas are temples dedicated to Godess Shakti.
The mythological story of Daksha yajna and Goddess Sati’s self immolation is the story given in the scriptures about the origin of Shakti Peethas.
Sati was an incarnation of Goddess or Shakti who was born as the daughter of Daksha who was the king of the himalayan empire. She married Lord Shiva, one of the trinities who was an ascetic. Daksha did not like the marriage as Lord Shiva was penniless and had no material possessions. Once Daksha conducted a yajna and invited all the gods except Shiva. Sati, being his daughter went to attend it though uninvited. There Daksha insulted her about her husband being a pauper. Unable to bear this she immolated herself by jumping in the fire pit of the yagya. When Shiva came to know about this in a delirious rage he destroyed the Daksha yagya and holding the burnt body of Sati he started performing the Tandav Nritya or the Dance of Destruction. To calm Shiva Lord Vishnu chopped Sati’s body into fifty one pieces which fell in various parts of India.
The Shakti Peethas or divine places of worship of Shakti came into being wherever these 51 parts of Sati’s body had fallen and subsequently temples came up in these places.
The 51 Shakti Peethas are connected to the 51 Beeja Mantas (divine Sanskrit sounds).
It is very difficult to give an accurate list of the 51 Shaki Peethas where the body parts Sati fell. This is because some of the names of the ancient places mentioned in the scriptures are not very specific and its modern day location is pointing to more than one place. So the inability to match the Puranic and Tantric names of places and goddesses with the present ones is a problem. In some of the disputed places the sentiments and devotion of the local people and temple priests is very strong and their lobby insists the place to be one of the 51. However nearly 40 places are very clear. We are giving list bellow which is about 60 places. Some differences about which body part fell where are also there. We are adding pages with authentic information about the temples.
…
Kamakhya temple, Guwahati, Assam
Kanchi , Tamil nadu, Kamakshi Devi
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Kasi Vishalakshi devi
Tripura Sundari Temple, Tripura
Kalika Purana mentions the the following four as the most important ones:
“Bimala Pada khandancha,
Sthana khandancha Tarini
Kamakhya Yoni khandancha,
Mukha khandancha Kalika
Anga pratyanga sanghena Vishnu Chakra Kshyta nacha” (Body parts chopped by Vishnu)
| Sr.# | Place | Body Part | Name of the Devi |
| 1 | Puri, Odisha inside the Jagannath Temple complex | Pada | Bimala or Vimala |
| 2 | Berhampur, Odisha | Sthana | Tara Tarini |
| 3 | Kamakhya temple, Guwahati, Assam | Yoni | Kamakhya |
| 4 | Kalighat Kali Temple, Kolkata, West Bengal | Mukha | Dakshina Kalika |
According to the Shakti peetha stotra of Aadi Shankaracharya the following 18 are the most important Shaki Kshetras:-
Lankayam Shankari devi, Kamakshi Kanchika pure /
Pradyumne Shrinkhala devi, Chamunda Krouncha pattane //
Alampure Jogulamba, Sri shaile Bhramarambika /
Kolha pure Maha lakshmi, Mahurye Ekaveerika //
Ujjainyam Maha kali, Peethikayam Puruhutika /
Odhyane Girija devi, Manikya Daksha vatike //
Hari kshetre Kama rupi, Prayage Madhaveshwari /
Jwalayam Vishnavi devi, Gaya Mangalya gourika //
Varanasyam Vishalakshi, Kashmire tu Saraswati /
Ashtadasha Shakti peethani, Yoginamapi durlabham //
Sayamkale pathennityam, Sarva shatri vinashanam /
Sarva roga haram divyam, Sarva sampatkaram shubham //
Meaning
Goddess Shankari in Sri lanka, Kamakshi in Kanchipuram,
Goddess Shrinkhala in Pradyumna and Chamunda in Mysore
Goddess Jogulamba in Alampur, Goddess Brhamarabika in Sri Shailam,
Goddess Maha Lakshmi in Kolhapur and Goddess Eka veera in Mahur
Goddess Maha Kali in Ujjain Purhuthika in Peethika,
Goddess Girija in Odhyana and goddess Manikya in the house of Daksha,
Goddess Kama rupi in the temple of Vishnu, Goddess Madhevaswari in Allahabad,
The flame giving Goddess in Jwala muki and Mangala Gouri in Gaya.
The 18 major Shakti Peethas as per Shankaracharya are as follows:
| Sr. No. | Place | Part of the body | Name of the Shakti |
| 1 | Trincomalee (Sri lanka) | Groin | Shankari devi |
| 2 | Kanchi (Tamil nadu) | Naval | Kamakshi Devi |
| 3 | Praddyumnam (West Bengal) | Stomach part | Sri Srunkhala devi |
| 4 | Mysore (Karnataka) | Hair | Chamundeshwari devi |
| 5 | Alampur (Andhra Pradesh) | Upper teeth | Jogulamba devi |
| 6 | Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh) | Neck part | Bhramaramba devi |
| 7 | Kolhapur (Maharastra) | Eyes | Mahalakshmi devi |
| 8 | Nanded (Maharastra) | Head | Eka Veera Devi |
| 9 | Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) | Upperlip/Elbow | Mahakali devi |
| 10 | Pithapuram (Andhra Pradesh) | Left hand | Puruhutika devi |
| 11 | Jajpur (Odisha) | Navel | Biraja devi |
| 12 | Draksharamam (Andhra Pradesh) | Left cheek | Manikyamba devi |
| 13 | Guwahati (Assam) | Vulva | Kamarupa devi |
| 14 | Prayaga (Uttar Pradesh) | Fingers | Madhaveswari devi |
| 15 | Jwala (Himachal Pradesh) | Tongue | Vaishnavi devi |
| 16 | Gaya (Bihar) | Breast part | Sarvamangala devi |
| 17 | Varanasi(Uttar Pradesh) | Wrist/Face/Earring | Vishalakshi devi |
| 18 | Srinagar (Kashmir) | Right hand | Saraswathi devi |
The following are the other Shakti Peethas mentioned in the scriptures. From the text ‘Tantrachūḍamanī’ where Parvathi tells these details to her son Skanda.
There are discrepancies about which body part fell where and about some places as some of the ancient places mentioned are not very clear. None the less all are highly visited and revered places.
| 1.Amarnath, from Srinagar through Pahalgam | Jammu & Kashmir | Throat | Mahamaya |
| 2.Attahas or Ashtahas village around 2 km east of Labhpur village, district of Birbhum | West Bengal | Lips | Phullara |
| 3.Bahula, on the banks of Ajay river at Ketugram, 8 km from Katwa, Burdwan | West Bengal | Left arm | Goddess
Bahula |
| 4.Bakreshwar, on the banks of Paaphara river, 24 km distance from Siuri Town [a district headquarter], district Birbhum, 7 km from Dubrajpur Rly. Station. | West Bengal | Portion between the eyebrows | Mahish
mardini |
| 5.Bhairavparvat, at Bhairav hills on the banks of Shipra river in the city of Ujjaini. These Shaktpeeth known as Harsiddi temple. | Madhya Pradesh | Elbow | Avanti |
| 6.Bhabanipur, located in the Upazilla of Sherpur, Bogra, Rajshahi Division. Also located at Karatoyatat, it is about 28 km distance from the town of Sherpur. | Bangladesh | Left anklet (ornament) | Aparna |
| 7.Chhinnamastika Shaktipeeth at Chintpurni, in Una District of Himachal Pradesh | Himachal Pradesh | Feet | Chhinna
mastika |
| 8.Gandaki, Pokhara about 125 km on the banks of Gandaki river. Locals call as Bindyabasini Temple or Bhadrakali Temple. | Nepal | Temple | Gandaki
Chandi |
| 9.Goddess Bhadrakali on banks of Godavari in Nashik city (Saptashrungi) | Maharashtra | Chin (2 parts) | Bhramari |
| 10.Hinglaj (Or Hingula), southern Baluchistan a few hours North-east of Gawadar and about 125 km towards North-west from Karachi | Pakistan | Bramharandhra (Part of the head) | Kottari |
| 11.Jayanti at Nartiang village in the Jaintia Hills district. This Shakthi Peetha is locally known as the Nartiang Durga Temple. | Meghalaya | Left thigh | Jayanti |
| 12.Jessoreswari, situated at Ishwaripur, Shyamnagar Upazila, Khulna Division. The temple complex was built by Maharaja Pratapaditya, whose capital was Ishwaripur. | Bangladesh | Palms of hands and soles of the feet | Jashoreshwari |
| 13.Jwalaji, Kangra from Pathankot alight at Jwalamukhi Road Station from there 20 km | Himachal Pradesh | Tongue | Siddhida
(Ambika) |
| 14.Kalipeeth, (Kalighat, Kolkata) | West Bengal | Right Toes | Kalika |
| 15.Kalmadhav on the banks of Son River in a cave over hills near to Amarkantak | Madhya Pradesh | Left buttock | Kali |
| 16.Kankalitala, on the banks of Kopai River 10 km north-east of Bolpur station in Birbhum district, Devi locally known as Kankaleshwari | West Bengal | Pelvis | Devgarbha |
| 17.Kanyashram of Balaambika – The Bhagavathy temple in Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of mainland India, Tamil Nadu | Tamil Nadu | Back | Sarvani |
| 18.Karnat, Brajeshwari Devi, Kangra | Himachal Pradesh | Left Breast | Jayadurga |
| 19.Kireet at Kireetkona village, 3 km from Lalbag Court Roadstation under district Murshidabad | West Bengal | Crown | Vimla |
| 20.Locally known as Anandamayee Temple. Ratnavali, on the banks of Ratnakar river at Khanakul-Krishnanagar, district Hooghly | West Bengal | Right Shoulder | Kumari |
| 21A.Locally known as Bhramari Devi in Jalpaiguri near a small village Boda on the bank of river Teesta or Tri-shrota (combination of three flows) mentioned in Puranas B.Ma Malai Chandi Temple at Amta, Howrah |
West Bengal | A. Left leg B. Part of Left Knee |
Bhraamari |
| 22.Manas, under Tibet at the foot of Mount Kailash in Lake Manasarovar, a piece of Stone | China | Right hand | Dakshayani |
| 23.Manibandh, at Gayatri hills near Pushkar 11 km north-west of Ajmer. People know this temple as Chamunda Mata Temple. | Rajasthan | Wrists | Gayatri |
| 24.Mithila, near Janakpur railway station on the border of India and Nepal | Nepal | Left shoulder | Uma |
| 25.Nepal, near Pashupatinath Temple at Guhyeshwari Temple | Nepal | Both Knees | Mahashira |
| 26.On Chandranath hill near Sitakunda station of Chittagong Division. The famous Chandranath Temple on the top of the hill is the Bhairav temple of this Shakthi Peetha, not the Shakthi Peeth itself. | Bangladesh | Right arm | Bhawani |
| 27.Panchsagar Near Lohaghat (in Champawat District of Uttarakhand) nearly 100 km from nearest railway station Tanakpur. | Uttarakhand | Lower teeth | Varahi |
| 28.Prabhas, 4 km from Veraval station near Somnath temple in Junagadh district. Local People call this temple as Kali Mandir, It is nearby Triveni Sangam. | Gujarat | Stomach | Chandra
bhaga |
| 29.Present day Kurukshetra town or Thanesar ancient Sthaneshwar | Haryana | Ankle bone | Savitri
BhadraKali |
| 30.Sharda Peeth on top Trikoot Hill, at Maihar | Madhya Pradesh | Right breast | Shivani |
| 31.Nandikeshwari Temple, locally known as Nandikeshwari Tala, is situated in Sainthia (Nandipur) town of Birbhum District. | West Bengal | Necklace | Nandini |
| 32.Kotilingeswar Ghat temple on the banks of Godavari river near Rajamundry | Andhra Pradesh | Cheeks | Rakini or Vishweshwari |
| 33.Naina Devi temple in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh | Himachal Pradesh | Right Eye | Mahisha
mardini |
| 34.Shondesh, at the source point of Narmada River in Amarkantak | Madhya Pradesh | Right buttock | Narmada |
| 35.Shri Shail, at Joinpur village, Dakshin Surma, near Gotatikar, 3 km north-east of Sylhet town | Bangladesh | Neck | Mahalaxmi |
| 36.Shuchi, in a Shiva temple at Suchindrum 11 km on Kanyakumari Trivandrum road | Tamil Nadu | Upper teeth | Narayani |
| 37.Sugandha, situated in Shikarpur, Gournadi, about 20 km from Barisal town, on the banks of Sonda river. | Bangladesh | Nose | Sugandha |
| 38.Udaipur, Tripura, at the top of the hills known as Tripura Sundari temple near Radhakishorepur village, a little distance away from Udaipur town | Tripura | Right leg | Tripura |
| 39.Ujaani, at Mangalkot 16 km from Guskara station under Burdwan district | West Bengal | Right wrist | Mangal
Chandika |
| 40.Vibhash, at Tamluk under district Purba Medinipur | West Bengal | Left ankle | Kapalini Bhimarupa |
| 41.Virat nagar district alwar, near Bharatpur | Rajasthan | Left toes | Ambika |
| 42.Vrindavan, near new bus stand on Bhuteshwar road within Bhuteshwar Mahadev Temple, Katyayanipeeth. | Uttar Pradesh | Ringlets of hair | Uma |
| 43.Jalandhar, from Jalandhar Cantonment Station to Devi Talab. | Punjab | Left Breast | Tripurmalini |
| 44.Baidyanath Dham | Jharkhand | Heart | Jaya Durga |
| 45.Jogadya (যোগাদ্যা), at Kshirgram (ক্ষীরগ্রাম) near Kaichar under Burdwan district | West Bengal | Great Toe | Jogadya
(যোগাদ্যা) |
| 45.Ambaji, Banaskantha district | Gujarat | Heart | Amba |
| 47.Jwaladevi Temple, Shaktinagar, Sonbhadra | Uttar Pradesh | Tongue | Jwala Devi |
| 48.Chandika Sthan , near Munger town | Bihar | Left Eye | Chandika Devi |
| 49.Danteshwari Temple, Dantewada | Chhattisgarh | Tooth or daant | Danteshwari
devi |
