Shakti Pithas

~~OM~~

When Sati, the wife of Shiva, sacrificed herself at the Yajna performed by her father Daksha a very distraught Shiva started dancing with her body. He was dancing the dance of destruction. And the gods said, "Oh, we are doomed! Shiva is dancing the dance of destruction. How are we ever going to to make him stop? Vishnu save us!"

Vishnu took his bow and cut the body of Sati into fifty-one pieces with his arrows. And wherever a pieces of the Divine Mother's body fell on earth, that place became a Shakti Pitha.

Below we have assembled the list of Shakti Pithas, the part of the Divine Mother's body associated with the Pitha, Her name, the name of Bhairav (Shiva) associated with the Pitha, and the geographical location with directions to reach it.

  1. HINGULAJ or HINGLAJ

    2. Devi's top part of head
    Devi: Kotari
    Bhairav: Bhimalochan

    Location: Pakistan, 128 kms north east of Karachi above the cemetary. This sacred place of pilgrimage is particularly situated in a mountain cave "Hinglaj" on the river bank of "Hinghol" at the foothills of "Kheerthar" mountains called "Kanraj" in Lyari district of Baluchistan. Travel by road via the main Karachi - Quetta Highway upto Zero Point for about 75 miles and then west via Lyari town and then towards the signal Fauji Camp Stop, crossing Aghore River passing through Goongi River and then finally stopping at Asha Pura Sarai.


  2. SARKARARE

    3. Devi's Third Eye
    Devi: Mahisha Mardini
    Bhairav: Krodhish

    Location: Pakistan, Karachi, a little distance from the Sukkar Station.


  3. SUGANDHA

    4. Devi's Nostrils
    Devi: Sunanda
    Bhairav: Tryambak

    Location: Bangladesh, Barishaal district, 13 miles North of Shikar Puri town on the banks of Sonda River.


  4. AMARNATH

    5. Devi's throat
    Devi: Mahamaya
    Bhairav: Trisandhyeshwar

    Location: Kashmir, Tooshar thirth in Kashmir. From Srinagar go to Pahel Ganj (94 kms), then by jeep go 16 kms and then walk to Amarnath.


  5. JWALAMUKHI

    6. Devi's tongue
    Devi: Ambika, also known as Siddhith
    Bhairav: Unmatta

    Location: In Patankot, go to Jwalamukhi road station which is 13 miles from the temple.


  6. JALANDHAR

    7. Devi's left breast
    Devi: Tripuramalini
    Bhairav: Bhishan

    Location: Punjab, Jallandhar. Get off at Jallandhar Cantonement station where there is a Kala Bhairav Temple, Mahavir Temple, Vindeshwari Temple and Tripuramalini Temple.


  7. VAIDYANATH

    8. Devi's Heart
    Devi: Jaya Durga
    Bhairav: Vaidyanath

    Location: In Bihar, Vaidyanath town which is also known as Deogar.


  8. GUJYESHWARI

    9. Devi's Two Knees
    Devi: Maha Shira
    Bhairav: Kapaali

    Location: In Nepal, behind Pashupathi Nath Temple.


  9. MANASA

    10. Devi's Right Hand
    Devi: Dakshayani
    Bhairav: Amar

    Location: Tibet. At the foot of Mt. Kailash, on the bank of Manasarovar Lake.


  10. UTKALE BIRAJA KSHETRA

    11. Devi's Navel
    Devi: Vimala
    Bhairav: Jagannath

    Location: Orissa, Puri. Next to Jagannath Puri Temple.


  11. GANDAKI

    12. Devi's Nose
    Devi: Gandaki Chandi
    Bhairav: Chakrapani

    Location: Nepal, behind Muktinath Temple. Travel by foot 126 kms from Pokara. Cross the Gandaki River. The site is located just beside the Muktinath Temple.


  12. BAHULA

    13. Devi's Left Arm
    Devi: Bahula
    Bhairav: Bhiruk

    Location: West Bengal, Barddhaman District, 8 kms from Katoya Town in Ketu village on the banks of the Ajoy River.


  13. UJANI

    14. Devi's Right Elbow
    Devi: Mangala Chandika
    Bhairav: Kapilambar

    Location: West Bengal, Vardman District, 16 kms from Gusakura Station is village of Kograam where the temple is located. There are many temples here and this is also the birth place of famous poets.


  14. CHATRAGRAM

    15. Devi's Right hand
    Devi: Bhavani
    Bhairav: Chandrashekar

    Location: Bangladesh, Chittagong district, Sitakund Station above the base of the Chandranath Mountain is the Bhavani Temple.


  15. TRIPURA

    16. Devi's Right Foot
    Devi: Tripurasundari
    Bhairav: Tripuresh

    Location: Rajastan, Udaipur City. From Udaipur go to Radha-Kishorpur Village and on the mountain top is the Temple.


  16. TRISHROTA

    17. Devi's Left Foot
    Devi: Bhramari
    Bhairav: Ambar

    Location: West Bengal, Jalpaiguri District, Shallabari Village.


  17. KAMARUPA KAMAKHYA

    18. Devi's Reproductive organ
    Devi: Kamakhya
    Bhairav: Umananda

    Location: Assam, Gauhati, situated on the Nilanchal Mountain.


  18. JUGADYA

    19. Devi's Right foot big Toe
    Devi: Jugadia
    Bhairav: Kshirakhandatta

    Location: West Bengal, Bardhaman District, Kshiragram Village.


  19. KALIGHAT

    20. Devi's Right foot all little toes
    Devi: Kalika
    Bhairav: Nakulish

    Location: West Bengal, Kolkatta, Kalighat.


  20. PRAYAAG (ALLAHABAD)

    21. Devi's fingers
    Devi: Lalita
    Bhairav: Bhava

    Location: Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, near the Sangam.


  21. JAYANTI

    22. Devi's Left Thigh
    Devi: Jayanthi
    Bhairav: Kramadeeshvar

    Location: Bangladesh, Srihath District, in the Khasia Pahar mountain range, Kaljor Bairabhog village.


  22. KIRITH also known as KIRITH KONA

    23. Devi's Crown
    Devi: Vimala
    Bhairav: Samvarta

    Location: West Bengal, Murshidabad District, 3 miles from the Lal Bagh Court Road station.


  23. VARANASI

    24. Devi's ear rings
    Devi: Visalakshi
    Bhairav: Kal or Mahakal

    Location: Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi, in Manikarnika Ghat, on the banks of the Ganga River.


  24. KANYASHRAM

    25. Devi's Back
    Devi: Sarvani
    Bhairav: Nimeesh

    Location: Bangladesh, Chittagong District, Kumari Kund.


  25. KURUKSHETRA

    26. Devi's ankle
    Devi: Savitri
    Bhairav: Sthanu

    Location: Harayana, Kurukshetra Town.


  26. MANIVED or MANIVEDIKA

    27. Devi's belly
    Devi: Gayatri
    Bhairav: Sarvananda

    Location: Rajasthan, 11 Kms North West of Ajmer, outside Pushkar on the top of the Gayatri Mountain.


  27. SRISHAILA

    28. Devi's Neck
    Devi: Mahalakshmi
    Bhairav: Sambarananda

    Location: Bangladesh, Srihath District, Jainpur Village.


  28. KANKALI TALA OR KANJI DESH

    29. Devi's skull
    Devi: Devagarbha
    Bhairav: Ruru

    Location: West Bengal, Bholpur Station. From Bholpur Station go North East 4 miles on the bank of the Kopai River.


  29. KAL MADHAV

    30. Devi's left thigh
    Devi: Kali
    Bhairav: Asithanga

    Location: Madhya Pradesh, In the mountains above Amarkanth, on the bank of the Som River.


  30. SHON

    31. Devi's Right thigh
    Devi: Narmada
    Bhairav: Badrasen

    Location: Madhya Pradesh, Amarkanth pilgrimage place, above the Narmada River.


  31. RAMGIRI

    32. Devi's Right Breast
    Devi: Shivani
    Bhairav: Chanda

    Location: Uttar Pradesh, Jhansi, 2 miles from Chitrakut pilgrimage place.


  32. VRINDAVAN

    33. Devi's hair
    Devi: Uma
    Bhairav: Bhutesh

    Location: Uttar Pradesh, Vrindavan. The temple is located on Bhuteshwar Road near Bhuteswar Temple which is near New Bus Station.


  33. SUCHI OR ANAL

    34. Devi's 15 Upper Teeth
    Devi: Narayani
    Bhairav: Samhar

    Location: Tamil Nadu, Kanya Kumari. From Trivandrum it is approximately 80 kms.


  34. PANCHA SAAGAR

    35. Devi's 15 Lower Teeth
    Devi: Varahi
    Bhairav: Maha Rudra

    Location: Unknown.


  35. KARATO YATOT

    36. Devi's Left Buttocks
    Devi: Aparna
    Bhairav: Vaman

    Location: Bangladesh, Bangura District, Bangura Station. 28 kms from Serapur, in Bhavanipur Village. There is no murti there, but there is a Kali Murti.


  36. SRIPARVAT

    37. Devi's Right Buttocks
    Devi: Sri Sundari
    Bhairav: Sundarananda

    Location: Kashmir, near to Ladhak, Sriparvat is located there. Other people say that Sriparvath is in Andra Pradesh, Guntur District, Sriparvat, Srisailam.


  37. VIBHASH

    38. Devi's left ankle
    Devi: Bimarupa
    Bhairav: Sarvananda

    Location: West Bengal, Medinipur District.


  38. PRABHAS

    39. Devi's Sternum
    Devi: Chandrabhaga
    Bhairav: Vakratunda

    Location: Gujarat, in Kathiawara, near Somanath Temple is Virabal Station, 4 kms from there is Prabhaas. The temple is located at the junction of 3 rivers in Prabhaas.


  39. BHAIRAV PARVAT

    40. Devi's Upper lip
    Devi: Avanti
    Bhairav: Lambakarna

    Location: Madhya Pradeshi, Ujjain City on the bank of Shipra River located on the Bhairav Mountain.


  40. JANASTHAAN OR JALESTHALE

    41. Devi's Chin
    Devi: Bhramari
    Bhairav: Vikritaksh

    Location: Maharashtra, near Nasik, on the banks of the Godavari River.


  41. GODAVARI BANK

    42. Devi's Left nostril
    Devi: Vishveshwari and Lakini
    Bhairav: Dandapaani or Vatsanaabh

    Location: Andhra Pradesh, Rajamudry District, the temple can be found on the railway line from Madras to Kolkatta on the banks of the Godavari River. Koti Lingeswar Temple is also there.


  42. RATNAWALI

    43. Devi's right shoulder
    Devi: Kumaari
    Bhairav: Shiva

    Location: West Bengal, Hoogly District, Rantakar River bank in Khanakul Krishna Nagar.


  43. MITHILA

    44. Devi's Left Shoulder
    Devi: Uma
    Bhairav: Mahodar

    Location: Janakpur Rail Station in Nepal.


  44. NALHATHI

    45. Devi's wind pipe
    Devi: Kali
    Bhairav: Yogesh

    Location: West Bengal, Birbhum District, Nalhathi Station, about 1 mile west of the railway station. She is called by many names including Kali and Lalateswari.


  45. KARNAT

    46. Devi's two ears
    Devi: Jaya Durga
    Bhairav: Abiru

    Location: Place is unknown.


  46. BAKRESWAR

    47. Devi's mind and the place between Her two eyebrows
    Devi: Mahisha Mardini
    Bhairav: Bakranath

    Location: West Bengal, Birbhum District, 9 kms from Dubrajpur Station.


  47. YASHOR

    48. Devi's Lotus Feet
    Devi: Yashoreshwari
    Bhairav: Chanda

    Location: Bangladesh, Kulna District, Ishwaripur Town.


  48. ATTAHAS

    49. Devi's Lower Lip
    Devi: Phullara
    Bhairav: Vishvesh

    Location: West Bengal, Birbhum District, 2 kms from Lavhpur is this temple. Get off at Ahamadpur Station.


  49. NANDIPUR

    50. Devi's Necklace
    Devi: Nandini
    Bhairav: Nandikeswar

    Location: West Bengal, Birbhum District, Saithiya Junction Rail Station. Under the banyan tree near the station is the temple.


  50. LANKA

    51. Devi's anklet
    Devi: Indrakshi
    Bhairav: Rakshaseshwar

    Location: Sri Lanka, in the mountains above Kandy Town.


  51. VIRAT

    52. Devi's Toe Nails
    Devi: Ambika
    Bhairav: Amrita

    Location: Rajasthan, Between Jaipur and Bharatpur.


Submitted by webdev on Thu, 2007-06-28 16:28.