India, a land of deep spiritual resonance, is home to numerous sacred sites steeped in myth, legend, and devotion. Among the most revered are the 51 Shakti Peethas Of India, shrines dedicated to the goddess Shakti, the divine feminine force.
According to ancient Hindu texts, these are places where parts of Sati Devi’s body fell on Earth after her self-immolation and subsequent dismemberment by Lord Vishnu’s Sudarshan Chakra.
Each Shakti Peetha is not just a center of devotion but a powerful spiritual energy vortex, drawing devotees from all walks of life.
The number of Shakti Peethas is traditionally considered to be 51, though some texts list up to 108.
Shakti Peethas are sacred locations in India associated with the goddess Shakti. Shakti Peethas are significant shrines and pilgrimage destinations in Shaktism, the mother goddess denomination in Hinduism.
The shrines are dedicated to various forms of Adi Shakti.
Mythological Background
The Shakti Peethas trace their origin to the tragic tale of Sati, the first consort of Lord Shiva.
Daughter of King Daksha, Sati married Shiva against her father’s wishes. During a grand yagna (sacrificial ritual), King Daksha insulted Shiva and deliberately excluded him from the ceremony.
Deeply hurt and humiliated, Sati immolated herself in the sacred fire.
When Shiva heard of Sati’s death, his sorrow turned into rage. He performed the Tandava, a cosmic dance of destruction, while carrying Sati’s charred body.
To save the universe from annihilation, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshan Chakra to cut Sati’s body into pieces.
These pieces fell across various parts of the Indian subcontinent and became sanctified as Shakti Peethas, each with a part of Sati’s body or ornament.
Significance of Shakti Peethas
Each Shakti Peetha is associated with:
- A body part or ornament of Ma Sati
- A manifestation of Shakti (the goddess)
- A corresponding Bhairava, a form of Shiva who guards the shrine
These shrines are not just places of worship, they represent cosmic power centers and are often linked to tantric practices and spiritual awakening.
Pilgrimage to these sites is believed to purify the soul and grant spiritual liberation.
51 Shakti Peeth names and places
51 Shakti Peeth list with locationBelow are the Shakti Pithas list with name, location and body part
| No. | Shakti Peetha | Location | Part of Sati | Form of Shakti | Bhairava |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kamakhya | Guwahati, Assam | Yoni | Kamakhya | Umananda |
| 2 | Kalighat | Kolkata, West Bengal | Right Toe | Kalika | Nakuleshwar |
| 3 | Jwalaji | Kangra, Himachal Pradesh | Tongue | Jwalamukhi | Unmatta Bhairava |
| 4 | Vaishno Devi | Jammu & Kashmir | Skull | Vaishnavi | Kal Bhairav |
| 5 | Hinglaj | Balochistan, Pakistan | Brahmarandhra (head) | Hinglaj | Bhimalochana |
| 6 | Naina Devi | Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh | Eyes | Naina Devi | Ksheer Kanthaka |
| 7 | Shaktipeeth at Kangra | Himachal Pradesh | Tongue | Siddhida | Unmatta |
| 8 | Shankari Devi | Trincomalee, Sri Lanka | Groin | Shankari | Ruru |
| 9 | Chamundeshwari | Mysore, Karnataka | Hair | Chamunda | Shiva |
| 10 | Tara Tarini | Ganjam, Odisha | Breasts | Tara | Kampa |
| 11 | Kanchi Kamakshi | Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu | Navel | Kamakshi | Krodhish |
| 12 | Mahalakshmi (Kolhapur) | Kolhapur, Maharashtra | Eyes | Mahalakshmi | Krodhashiva |
| 13 | Amarnath | Jammu & Kashmir | Throat | Mahashira | Trisandhyeshwar |
| 14 | Manikarnika Ghat | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | Earring/ornament | Vishalakshi | Kalabhairava |
| 15 | Mithila | Janakpur, Nepal | Left Shoulder | Uma | Mahodara |
| 16 | Bhairavparvat | Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh | Elbow | Avanti | Lambakarna |
| 17 | Shriparvata | Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh | Right Anklet | Shrishaila | Shambaranand |
| 18 | Sthaneswar | Thanesar, Haryana | Face | Jayadurga | Abhiru |
| 19 | Sugandha | Barisal, Bangladesh | Nose | Sunanda | Traimbak |
| 20 | Gandaki Chandi | Muktinath, Nepal | Cheeks | Gandaki Chandi | Chakrapani |
| 21 | Suchindram | Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu | Upper Teeth | Narayani | Shankaranarayan |
| 22 | Jaintia Hill | Meghalaya | Left thigh | Jayanti | Kramadishwar |
| 23 | Kirit Shaktipeeth | Murshidabad, West Bengal | Crown (Kirit) | Vimla | Sanwart |
| 24 | Vibhash | Tamluk, West Bengal | Left ankle | Kapalini | Sarvanand |
| 25 | Ratnavali | Khanakul-Krishnanagar, West Bengal | Right Shoulder | Kumari | Shiva |
| 26 | Chhinnamasta | Rajrappa, Jharkhand | Head | Chhinnamasta | Rudra Shiva |
| 27 | Manasa Shaktipeeth | Mansa, Punjab | Forehead | Dakshayani | Amar |
| 28 | Bahula | Bardhaman, West Bengal | Left arm | Bahula | Bhiruk |
| 29 | Ujani | Solapur, Maharashtra | Wrist | Ujani | Ujaneshwar |
| 30 | Tripura Sundari | Udaipur, Tripura | Right Foot | Tripura Sundari | Tripuresh |
| 31 | Prabhas Patan | Somnath, Gujarat | Stomach | Chandrabhaga | Vakratunda |
| 32 | Srisailam (Mallikarjuna) | Andhra Pradesh | Neck | Bramaramba | Mallikarjuna |
| 33 | Kurukshetra | Haryana | Right ear | Savitri | Sthanu |
| 34 | Pushkar | Rajasthan | Wrist | Gayatri | Sarvananda |
| 35 | Jalandhar | Punjab | Left breast | Tripuramalini | Bhishan |
| 36 | Devikup/Chandika | Maharashtra | Ribs | Chandika | Shiva |
| 37 | Alopi Devi | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh | Fingertips | Alopi | Bhairav |
| 38 | Magadh (Patna) | Bihar | Right thigh | Sarvanandkari | Vyomkesh |
| 39 | Panchsagar | Saharsa, Bihar | Teeth | Varahi | Maharudra |
| 40 | Sravasti | Uttar Pradesh | Left hand | Ma Sarvani | Shiv |
| 41 | Kamgiri | Assam | Left shoulder | Katyayani | Bhairav |
| 42 | Ramgiri | Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh | Right breast | Shivani | Chanda |
| 43 | Janakpur | Nepal | Left shoulder | Uma | Mahodara |
| 44 | Kalmadhav | Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh | Left buttock | Kali | Asitanga |
| 45 | Nalhati | West Bengal | Tubular bones (bones) | Kalika | Yogesh |
| 46 | Attahas | Labhpur, West Bengal | Lips | Phullara | Vishvesh |
| 47 | Sainthia (Nandikeshwari) | West Bengal | Necklace | Nandini | Nandikeshwar |
| 48 | Ratnapith (Srisailam) | Assam | Left breast | Mahalakshmi | Daksha Mahadev |
| 49 | Girija Devi | Baidyanath Dham, Jharkhand | Heart | Girija | Vaidyanath |
| 50 | Gandhmardan | Odisha | Right buttock | Tara | Rishabheshwar |
| 51 | Danteshwari | Dantewada, Chhattisgarh | Tooth | Danteshwari | Shiva |
.
Map and Geographic Distribution
The Shakti Peethas are spread across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
In India, states like West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh host the majority of the shrines.
Their geographical spread highlights the unifying spiritual fabric of the subcontinent.
Rituals and Worship
At each Shakti Peetha, different rituals are followed, often in line with local traditions and regional deities. However, common threads include:
- Offerings of red hibiscus flowers, kumkum, and sweets
- Chanting of Durga Saptashati or Devi Mahatmya
- Navratri celebrations, which are especially significant at these sites
- Tantric practices at certain shrines like Kamakhya and Tarapith
Shakti Peethas in Indian Scripture
Mentions of Shakti Peethas are found in texts like:
- Ashta Dasha Shakti Peetha Stotram by Adi Shankaracharya
- Kalika Purana
- Devi Bhagavatam
- Tantra Chudamani
These texts offer symbolic interpretations of the goddess’s fragmented body as representing the universal spread of Shakti consciousness.
Spiritual and Cultural Impact
These 51 Shakti Peethas shrines in India are not just religious centers—they are:
- Centers of Tantric learning
- Cultural festivals and fairs, like the Ambubachi Mela and Navratri
- Architectural marvels reflecting Dravidian, Nagara, and hybrid styles
- Pilgrimage circuits, such as Shakti Peetha Yatra
Shakti Peethas also empower the concept of feminine divinity, promoting reverence for Shakti as the ultimate cosmic force.
Challenges in Preservation
Some Shakti Peethas, especially those outside modern-day India, face issues such as:
- Lack of governmental support (especially in Pakistan and Bangladesh)
- Vandalism or neglect
- Limited accessibility for pilgrims
.
The 51 Shakti Peethas of India stand as eternal beacons of divine feminine power, spiritual depth, and cultural unity.
They form a sacred network that transcends regional boundaries, drawing millions of devotees every year.
Pilgrimage to these sites is not just an act of faith but a journey inward, toward the awakening of Shakti within oneself.
In a world that often forgets the power of the feminine divine, these shrines remind us that Shakti is the source, the strength, and the soul of the universe.
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