Unveiling the Secrets of India’s 51 Shakti Peeths: A Spiritual Journey
India is a land of countless mysteries.
The diverse culture and the ancient traditions of the people speak volumes about the ancient spiritual practices of the land.
Hinduism is one such religion that has managed to survive the toughest of times, staying true to its ancient teachings and gaining spirituality to the present day.
One such practice that Hinduism follows is the veneration of the various Shakti Peethas.
Shakti Peeths are places that are considered to be sacred in Hinduism and are strewn around India.
Shakti Peeths are the abodes of great spiritual power and are the ultimate sites of worship for Hindus.
This blog will throw light on the history, significance and the stories behind the 51 Shakti Peeths located in India.
The Origin Of Shakti Peethas
There are various versions of the story behind the origins of Shakti Peeth.
The Shakti Peethas are believed to have originated from the story found in the Kalika Purana, which is one of the most ancient religious texts in India.
According to the legend found in the book, the demon king Ravana once performed a yajna (sacrifice) to the gods, in order to employ the aid of powerful supernatural beings for the destruction of the universe.
In response, Maa Durga was sent by Lord Indra to stop Ravana’s intentions.
In the ensuing fight between Ravana and Maa Durga, the demon king cut off parts of the goddess’ body.
The parts of her body that fell to the ground formed places of spiritual power and these came to be known as the 51 Shakti Peeths.
The Significance of Shakti Peeths
The Shakti Peeths are sites of great religious and spiritual importance to Hinduism.
They are the sites of worship of the female divinity of Shakti (Power) and are places where spiritual devotees seek solace.
Hindus venerate these sites and believe that they bring them blessings and relief from life’s troubles.
Those who visit the Peeths offer prayers, perform rituals and seek blessings from Shakti.
Each of the 51 Peeths have different stories associated with them, with each Peeth being associated with a form of Maa Durga or Shakti.
Here is a list of all 51 Shakti Peeths, along with their precise locations.
- Mahamaya, Amarnath, Jammu and Kashmir (India)
- Phullara, in Attahasa, West Bengal (India)
- Bahula, Bardhaman, West Bengal (India)
- Mahishmardini, Bakreshwar, Siuri town (India)
- Avanti, Bairavparvat Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh (India)
- Aparna, Bhavanipur (Bangladesh)
- Gandaki Chandi, Chandi River (Nepal)
- Bhambri, Janasthaan (India)
- Kottari, Hinglaj, Karachi (Pakistan)
- Jayanti, Bourbhag Village (Bangladesh)
- Yogeshwari, Khulna district (India)
- Jwala or Shakti Siddhida, Kangra, Himachal (India)
- Kalika, Kalighat, West Bengal (India)
- Kali in Kalmadhav, Amarkantak, MP (India)
- Kamakya, Guwahati, Assam (India)
- Devgarbha/Kankleshwari, Birbhum, W.B (India)
- Sravani, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu (India)
- Chamudeshwari/Jaya Durga, Chamundi Hills (India)
- Vimla, Murshidabad, West Bengal (India)
- Kumara Shakti, Anandamayee Temple (W.B)
- Shakti Bhraamari, Ratnavali, W.B (India)
- Shakti Dakshayani, Manasarovar (China)
- Gayatri Manibandh, Pushkar, Rajasthan (India)
- Uma at Mithila (border of Nepal and India)
- Indraksh, Nainativu, Manipallavam (Sri Lanka)
- Guhyeshwari near Pashupatinath (India)
- Bhawani at Chandranath Hilts (Bangladesh)
- Varahi, Panch Sagar, Uttar Pradesh (India)
- Chandrabhaga, Junagarh, Gujarat (India)
- Lalita of Prayag (India)
- Savitri/Bhadra Kali, Kurukshetra, Haryana (India)
- Maihar/Shivani, Satna, Madhya Pradesh (India)
- Nandikeshwari, Birbhum, W.B (India)
- Sarvashail/Rakini at Kotilingeswar (India)
- Mahesh Mardini near Karachi (Pakistan)
- The Narmada Shondesh, Amarkantak, M.P (India)
- Sundari at Sri Sailam (Bangladesh)
- Maha Lakshmi at Sri Shail (Bangladesh)
- Devi Narayani, Suchindram, Tamil Nadu (India)
- Suganda of Shikarpur (Bangladesh)
- Tripura Sundari, Udaipur in Tripura (India)
- Mangal Chandika at Ujjain (India)
- Vishalakshi, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (India)
- Kapalini of Vibash, Medinipur, W.B (India)
- Ambika, Bharatpur, Rajasthan (India)
- Uma at Vrindavan/Bhooteshwar Temple U.P (India)
- Tripurmalini, Jalandhar, Punjab (India)
- Amba at Ambaji, Gujarat (India)
- Jai Durga, Deogarh, Jharkhand (India)
- Danteshwari, Chattisgarh (India)
- Nabi Gaya, Biraj, Jaipur(India)
Exploring India’s 51 Shakti Peeths
India has a total of 51 Shakti Peeths, each of which is revered by those of the Hindu faith.
The prominent amongst these are the temple of Maa Vaishno Devi (Trikuta), Maa Kamakhya ( Yoni), Jwala Ji (Tongue) and Tara Tarini (Forehead).
The Land of Lord Shiva, Kedarnath is also called a Maha Shakti Peeth.
Maa Vaishno Devi is one of the most revered of the 51 Shakti Peeths.
Pilgrims from all over India come here to seek the blessings of the goddess.
It is believed that the cave in which Vaishno Devi dwells is thousands of years old, even predating the time of Ravana and his yajna.
Maa Kamakhya is another important Shakti Peeth located in Assam.
This temple enshrines a shakti in some form.
It is believed that the site gave birth to Kamakhya, a form of the goddess, who is the Shakti of Desire.
Jwala Ji is another of the great Shakti Peeths located in North India.
It enshrines the power of Pratyusha, a form of the goddess.
In this Peeth, the goddess is depicted with a flaming mouth, from which a large flame emerges.
Tara Tarini is a Shakti Peeth in which the severed forehead of the goddess is venerated.
The site is located in the Orissa province and is believed to be full of the blessings of the goddess.
Tara Tarini is a major pilgrimage destination for those looking for the blessings of Maa Tara.
Kedarnath is special amongst all the Shakti Peethas, being the land of Lord Shiva.
The Kedarnath temple enshrines Lord Shiva in form of Nandi, the celestial bull.
Hindus believe that the site is a Maha Shakti Peeth and that it is a major source of cosmic power and spiritual energy.
The 51 Shakti Peeths are a major source of spiritual power for Hindus and pilgrimage to these sites can be a fulfilling journey for one seeking spiritual enlightenment.
Exploring India’s 51 Shakti Peeths can be an enlightening spiritual journey that can fill one with the power of Maa Durga and help them in overcoming their troubles.
Disclaimer: The Images are © copyrighted and courtesy by their respective owners.