Mahashira/Guhyeshwari Shakti Peetha. This Shaktipeeth is located about 1 km east of Shri Pashupatinath Temple and is situated near the banks of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Both the knees of Devi fell here. According to some Sati’s rectum or anal part fell here.
Guhyeshwari (Gupta Ishwari), the Devi is also known as Guhyakali. Bhairav of Guhyeshwari Shaktipeeth is Kapali.
The Devi Bhagavata Purana mentions this temple in its list of sacred places of Adishakti and refers to the deity of Nepal as Guhyakali.
गुह्यकाल्या महास्थानं नेपाले यत्प्रतिष्ठितम्।
The great abode of Śrī Guhya Kālī is established in Nepal
— Devī Bhāgavatam 7th Canto, Chapter 38, Verse 11
The temple’s name originates from the Sanskrit words Guhya (secret or hidden) and Ishwari (goddess). In Lalitha Sahasranama the 707th name of the Goddess is mentioned as “Guhyarupini” (Lalita Sahasranama 137th verse: Sarasvati shastramayi, Guhaamba guhyaruupini).
The temple is believed to have been built during the Lichhavi period (300-879 AD). However, the current temple structure was built in the 17th century by King Pratap Malla of the Malla dynasty.
It is an important pilgrimage destination for Tantric worshipers.
Before visiting the famous Shri Pashupatinath temple of Nepal, it is considered mandatory to visit Mata Guhyeshwari. This tradition is still followed by the members of the royal family there. That is, first the Guhyeshwari temple is worshipped, only after that other temples are visited.
The architecture of the temple is made in the Bhutanese Pagoda architectural style.
