51 Saktipeeth:

The Shakti Peethas are sacred sites dedicated to the goddess Shakti, the divine feminine energy in Hinduism. These sites are associated with the mythology of Sati, whose body parts fell at various places on Earth, creating powerful centers of divine energy. According to Devi Bhagavatam, Shiva Scriptures and Brahmanda Purana there are 51 Shakti Peeth. But it is also said there are 108 Shakti Peethas including ornaments and body parts of Shakti Peeth.

Kamakhya Shakti Peeth is considered one of the most powerful Shakti Peethas.

• The number of Adi Shaktipeeths is believed to be 4.

• In the Kalikapurana, the number of Shaktipeethas is 26.

• According to Shiv Charitra, the number of Shaktipeeths is 51.

• According to Tantra Chudamani, Markandeya Purana there are 52 Sakthipeeths.

• In the Bhagavata, the number of Shaktipithas is 108.

History and Significance

According to Hindu mythology, Sati, the daughter of Daksha Prajapati, married Lord Shiva against her father's wishes. Daksha performed a grand yajna (sacrifice) but did not invite Shiva. Sati attended the yajna, but Daksha insulted Shiva, leading Sati to self-immolate in despair. Enraged, Shiva performed the Tandava (cosmic dance) carrying Sati's body. To calm him, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshana Chakra to cut Sati's body into 51 parts, which fell on Earth, creating the Shakti Peethas. Each site is believed to be imbued with powerful spiritual energy and is dedicated to a specific aspect of the goddess.

List of 51 Shakti Peethas

Kamakhya Devi, Assam

Address: Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati, Assam

Significance: The yoni (genitals) of Sati is believed to have fallen here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं श्रीं ऐं क्लीं कात्यायन्यै नमः

Kalighat Kali, West Bengal

Address: Kalighat, Kolkata, West Bengal

Significance: The toes of Sati's right foot fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं कलीकायै नमः

Tara Tarini, Odisha

Address: Tara Tarini Hill, Ganjam, Odisha

Significance: The breasts of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं तारिण्यै नमः

Vimala, Odisha

Address: Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha

Significance: The navel of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं विमलायै नमः

Mahalakshmi, Maharashtra

Address: Kolhapur, Maharashtra

Significance: The eyes of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै नमः

Jwalaji, Himachal Pradesh

Address: Kangra, Himachal Pradesh

Significance: The tongue of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं ज्वालायै नमः

Kangra Devi, Himachal Pradesh

Address: Kangra, Himachal Pradesh

Significance: The breast of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं कांग्रायै नमः

Vindhyavasini, Uttar Pradesh

Address: Vindhyachal, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh

Significance: The back of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं विंध्यवासिन्यै नमः

Kali, Uttar Pradesh

Address: Chandrapur, Maharashtra

Significance: The right hand of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं कालीकायै नमः

Anjana Devi, Andhra Pradesh

Address: Nainativu, Tamil Nadu

Significance: The anklets of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं अञ्जनायै नमः

Mahakali, Gujarat

Address: Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

Significance: The left eye of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ महाकाल्यै नमः

Lalita, West Bengal

Address: Kamarupa, Assam

Significance: The navel of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं ललितायै नमः

Dakshayani, Tamil Nadu

Address: Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

Significance: The fingers of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं दक्षायण्यै नमः

Sugandha, Bangladesh

Address: Barisal, Bangladesh

Significance: The nose of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं सुगन्धायै नमः

Narmada, Madhya Pradesh

Address: Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh

Significance: The elbow of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं नर्मदायै नमः

Vishalakshi, Uttar Pradesh

Address: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Significance: The earrings of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं विशालाक्ष्यै नमः

Manikarnika, Uttar Pradesh

Address: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Significance: The earrings of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं मणिकर्णिकायै नमः

Bhramari, West Bengal

Address: Birbhum, West Bengal

Significance: The left buttock of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं भ्रमर्यै नमः

Jayadurga, Assam

Address: Kamrup, Assam

Significance: The wrist of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं जयदुर्गायै नमः

Jogadya, West Bengal

Address: Khirgram, Bardhaman, West Bengal

Significance: The right toe of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं जोगद्यायै नमः

Jalandhar, Punjab

Address: Jalandhar, Punjab

Significance: The left breast of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं जलन्धर्यै नमः

Shankari, Sri Lanka

Address: Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

Significance: The groin of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं शङ्कर्यै नमः

Chamundeshwari, Karnataka

Address: Mysore, Karnataka

Significance: The hair of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं चामुण्डायै नमः

Madhaveswari, Bihar

Address: Munger, Bihar

Significance: The left breast of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं माधवेश्वर्यै नमः

Katyayani, Uttar Pradesh

Address: Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh

Significance: The heart of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं कात्यायन्यै नमः

Manasa, Assam

Address: Maniadweep, Assam

Significance: The head of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं मानसायै नमः

Hinglaj, Pakistan

Address: Hingol, Balochistan, Pakistan

Significance: The Brahmarandhra (top of head) of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं हिङ्गुलायै नमः

Kurukshetra, Haryana

Address: Kurukshetra, Haryana

Significance: The ankle of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं कुरुक्षेत्रायै नमः

Guhyeshwari, Nepal

Address: Kathmandu, Nepal

Significance: The knees of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं गुह्येश्वर्यै नमः

Chandranath, Bangladesh

Address: Chittagong, Bangladesh

Significance: The right arm of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं चन्द्रनाथायै नमः

Nandikeshwari, West Bengal

Address: Sainthia, Birbhum, West Bengal

Significance: The necklace of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं नन्दिकेश्वर्यै नमः

Chattal, Bangladesh

Address: Sitakunda, Chattogram, Bangladesh

Significance: The right arm of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं चट्टालयै नमः

Shri Shail, Andhra Pradesh

Address: Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh

Significance: The throat of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं श्रीशैलायै नमः

Kunkuma, Tamil Nadu

Address: Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu

Significance: The back of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं कुङ्कुमायै नमः

Yogini, West Bengal

Address: Khirgram, Bardhaman, West Bengal

Significance: The right toe of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं योगिन्यै नमः

Siddheshwari, Bangladesh

Address: Bhabanipur, Bangladesh

Significance: The right toe of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं सिद्धेश्वर्यै नमः

Mangalya, Rajasthan

Address: Mangalgarh, Rajasthan

Significance: The lower teeth of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं मङ्गल्यायै नमः

Sunanda, Odisha

Address: Puri, Odisha

Significance: The feet of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं सुनन्दायै नमः

Vishveshwari, Uttar Pradesh

Address: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Significance: The earrings of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं विश्वेश्वर्यै नमः

Phullara, West Bengal

Address: Attahas, Birbhum, West Bengal

Significance: The lips of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं फुल्लारायै नमः

Mahishamardini, Madhya Pradesh

Address: Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh

Significance: The left breast of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं महिषमर्दिन्यै नमः

Narayani, Uttar Pradesh

Address: Vindhyachal, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh

Significance: The back of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं नारायण्यै नमः

Shri Durga, Uttar Pradesh

Address: Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh

Significance: The fingers of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं श्रीदुर्गायै नमः

Jayanti, West Bengal

Address: Nartiang, Meghalaya

Significance: The left thigh of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं जयन्त्यै नमः

Bhadrakali, Tamil Nadu

Address: Bhadrak, Odisha

Significance: The left ankle of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं भद्रकाल्यै नमः

Lalita, West Bengal

Address: Kalighat, Kolkata, West Bengal

Significance: The toes of Sati's right foot fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं ललितायै नमः

Mahalakshmi, Maharashtra

Address: Kolhapur, Maharashtra

Significance: The eyes of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ महालक्ष्म्यै नमः

Chintapurni, Himachal Pradesh

Address: Una, Himachal Pradesh

Significance: The feet of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं चिन्तापुरण्यै नमः

Linga Bhairavi, Tamil Nadu

Address: Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

Significance: The left ear of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं लिङ्गभैरव्यै नमः

Vimala, Odisha

Address: Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha

Significance: The navel of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं विमलायै नमः

Katyayani, Uttar Pradesh

Address: Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh

Significance: The heart of Sati fell here.

Mantra: ॐ ऐं ह्रीं कात्यायन्यै नमः

Q: What is Shakti Peeth?

Answer: Shakti Peeth Temples are revered Hindu and Sikh pilgrimage sites located in the Indian subcontinent. The temples are dedicated to Goddess Shakti, who is worshipped as the consort of Lord Shiva. These temples tell the story of Lord Shiva and Goddess Sati and how Lord Vishnu cut Goddess Shakti into pieces, and these pieces fell on the earth at different places and became known as Shaktipeeth. Each Shakti Peeth is said to have immense spiritual power and hence is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus.

Q: Is Vaishno Devi a Shakti Peeth?

Answer: Vaishno Devi Temple is a Hindu temple located in Trikuta Parvat, Jammu and Kashmir. This temple is dedicated to Vaishnodevi, an incarnation of the Hindu goddess Durga. It is one of India’s most famous Hindu temples and is visited by millions of pilgrims every year. Vaishno is one of the 108 Shaktipeeths dedicated to Goddess Durga.

Q: Which Shakti Peeth is in China?

Answer: Shakti Peethas (meaning ‘seat of power’) are places of worship dedicated to Goddess Shakti, the Hindu Mother Goddess. It is believed that there are 51 Shakti Peethas in India and six in other countries. The only Shakti Peeth in China is the Mansa Shaktipeeth, located on the banks of the Chinese-occupied Lake Mansarovar, where Sati’s right hand fell.

Q: How many Shakti Peethas are there in Karnataka?

Answer: As per Hindu Mythology, there are 9 Shakti Peethas in Karnataka.

1. Savadatti Yallamma

2. Badami Sri Banashankari

3. Shirazi Marikamba

4. Horanadu Sri Annapoorneshwari

5. Sringeri Sharadamba

6. Shri Chamundeshwari Devi, Mysore

7. Sri Katilu Durgaparameswari

8. Kolluru Mookambika

9. Siganduru Sri Chowdeswari Devi

Q: Are Sati and Parvati the same?

Answer: Sati and Parvati are both the same and are the two most popular Hindu goddesses. There are many similarities between the two, such as their status as wives of the mighty Lord Shiva and their roles as destroyers and creator goddesses, respectively.

Q: Is there any Shakti Peeth outside India?

Answer: Yes, there are Shakti Peethas located outside India. Some of these include –

1. Hinglaj Shakti Peeth – Pakistan

2. Shivaharkaray Shakti Peeth – Pakistan

3. Sugandha Shakti Peeth – Bangladesh

4. Guhyeshwari Shakti Peetha – Nepal

5. Dakshayani Shakti Peeth or Manasa Shakti Peeth– Tibet (China)

6. Gandaki Chandi Shakti Peeth – Nepal

7. Bhawani Shakti Peeth – Bangladesh

8. Jayanti Shakti Peeth – Bangladesh

9. Sravani Shakti Peeth – Bangladesh

10. Mahalakshmi Shakti Peeth – Bangladesh

11. Aparna Shakti Peeth – Bangladesh

12. Yogeswari Shakti Peeth – Bangladesh

The 51 Shakti Peethas are not just pilgrimage sites but profound symbols of the divine feminine power in Hinduism. Each temple holds a unique place in the spiritual and cultural fabric of Hindu society. The mantras associated with each Peetha are powerful invocations that connect devotees with the divine energy of Shakti, providing spiritual solace, empowerment, and liberation.