51 Shakti Peeth In India – Their Locations And Body Parts

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Shakti Peethas also known as the Shakti Pithas, are sacred shrines that have great significance. These are the pilgrimage destinations in Shaktism devoted to worshipping Goddess Durga in various forms of Adi Shakti. The shrines are dedicated to various forms of Adi Shakti. Puranas such as Srimad Devi Bhagavatam confirm the presence of a number of Shakti Peethas, of which 18 are the major ones named Astad Asha Maha (major) in medieval Hindu texts. The question often arises that how many Shakti Peeth in India? The total Shakti Peeth in India is still debatable.

The origin of the Shakti Peeth is depicted in a number of legends, but the most prevalent is associated with the story of the Goddess Sati’s demise. According to Hindu mythology, when Sati, the daughter of Daksha Prajapati got married to Lord Shiva, Daksha was not too happy about it. Daksha had a hatred towards Lord Shiva owing to a past altercation involving Lord Brahma.

Despite her father’s objection when Sati married Shiva, he was infuriated. After the marriage, Daksha conducted a yagna but did not invite Sati and Lord Shiva. However, Sati came to the yagna alone despite Shiva’s objection. Daksha insulted Shiva and anguished Sati to curse Daksha and commit self-immolation.

When Lord Shiva held Sati’s corpse in his arms and began performing the Tandav wandered the universe reminiscing about their moments together, devastated by the Goddess’s death, Lord Vishnu divided Sati’s body into 51 parts using his Sudarshana Chakra. The locations where the parts fell on earth became sacred sites, as places of worship for people where they could pay homage to the goddess. Lord Shiva took the form of Bhairava to complete this daunting task.

Here is the list of 51 Astadasha Maha Shakti Peeth where Goddess Sati is worshipped:

It is believed that there are Shakti Peethas in 51 locations. But as mentioned in Adi Shankara’s Asta Dasha Shakti Pitha Stotram, there are 18 locations known as the Maha Shakti Peethas. The Shakti Peethas at Kamakhya, Gaya, and Ujjain are considered the most sacred. They represent the three most important aspects of the Mother Goddess – Creation (Kamarupa Devi), Nourishment (Sarvamangala Devi/Mangalagauri), and Annihilation (Mahakali Devi).

Let’s start with the 18 Maha Shakti Peeth in India:

1. Sri Shankari Devi Temple

In the list of Shakti Peeth in India, Shankari Devi Temple is the first form of the goddess of Shakti to be worshipped in the Ashtadasha Shakti Peethas. It is believed that Devi Sati’s groin fell at that location. Aadi Shankaracharya’s Stotram (eulogy) begins with the mention of Shankari Devi Shakthi Peeth. In the temple, the deity is worshipped as Shankari Devi, and Lord Shiva is worshipped as Trikoneshwara.

Locality/village: West coast of present-day Sri Lanka, near the town of Trincomalee

Country: Sri Lanka

Deity: Maa Shankari

Part: Groin

2. Kamakshi Amman Temple

As per the mythologies, the navel of Goddess Sati had fallen in this sacred location. The Goddess here is worshipped as Kamakshi Amman. Kamakshi Amman temple is located at a distance of 75 km from Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Locality/State: Kanchipuram, Chennai

Country: India

Deity: Kamakshi Amman

Part: Navel

3. Shrunkala Devi Temple

It is believed that the abdomen of Goddess Sati fell here. Sri Srunkhala Devi temple was built in this location. This temple is located in Pandua, Hooghly district, West Bengal. It is devoted to Goddess Durga.

But if you want to visit the location today where the temple is supposed to be, it would not be found. According to legend, Srunkhala Devi was originally believed to have been in West Bengal, but it is said that a sage/yogi named Rishyashringa might have taken the Goddess to Sringeri in Karnataka.

Locality/State: Pandua, West Bengal

Country: India

Deity: Maa Shrinkala

Part: Abdomen

4. Jogulamba Devi Temple

Jogulamba temple has a history dating back to the 7th century CE. Jogulamba temple is one of the major Shakti Peethas where Devi Sati’s upper teeth fell. As per the reports, it was destroyed by the Bahmani Sultans in 1390 CE, and rebuilt later in 2005 in the same location, with the original idol in the Sri Bramarambika Mallikarjuna Temple.

Locality/State: Alampur, Gadwal district, Telengana

Country: India

Deity: Chamundeshwari

Part: Teeth

5. Chamundeshwari Temple

The renowned Chamundeshwari Temple is one of the Shakti Peethas in India. It is located atop the Chamundi Hills in Karnataka near the famous Mysore Palace. At this sacred site, the locks of hair of Goddess Sati fell. As per Devi Purana, the demon King Mahishasura ruled Mysuru and Goddess Parvathi incarnated as Chamundeshwari and killed him on the summit of Chamundi Hill near Mysuru.

Locality/State: Mysuru, Karnataka

Country: India

Deity: Jogulamba Thalli (Yogamba)

Part: Hair

6. Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple

In the sacred site of Srisailam, the neck of Sati is believed to have fallen, making the temple renowned as one of the sacred Shakti Peethas. Bramaramba Sakthi Peeth is the sixth among the 18 Sakthi Peethas. Various folklores tell the incarnations of Shiva as Mallikarjuna and Parvathi as Bramaramba in Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh.

Locality/State: Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh

Country: India

Deity: Bhramarambika

Part: Neck

7. Mahalakshmi Mandir

It is believed that in the Mahalaxmi Temple in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India, Goddess Sati’s three eyes fell here. It is one of the divine Shakti Peethas associated with the Goddess of power. It’s one of the sacred places where it’s believed that one’s wishes get fulfilled or salvation is obtained. Devotees visit in large numbers from Karnataka, Telangana, and Maharashtra.

Locality/State: Kolhapur, Maharashtra

Country: India

Deity: Aai Ambabai

Part: Eye

8. Eka Veerika Temple

It’s believed that Goddess Sati’s right shoulder has fallen in this Shakti Peetha, and is worshipped as Eka Veerika Devi. The temple is around 800 years old. Betel leaf and betel nut paste is offered as a prasad in this sacred temple.

Locality/State: Mahur, Maharashtra

Country: India

Part: Right Shoulder

9. Mahakaleshwar Temple

Among the major, Shakti Peethas, it is believed that the upper lip of Goddess Devi fell here. The divine energy is worshipped as Mahakali at the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain, Maharashtra. This location is famous as a powerful place where Mahakali reigns as a powerful force through the use of tantras and mantras.

Locality/State: Ujjain, Maharashtra

Country: India

Deity: Mahakali

Part: Upper Lip

10. Puruhutika Devi Temple

In the holy place of Pithapuramhe, the left hand of Goddess Sati is said to have fallen. Goddess Sati is worshipped here as Peethikayam Puruhutika. Located in the village of Pithapuram of Andhra Pradesh, you will find the reputed Puruhutika Devi Temple. This temple has a significant place as one of the Ashta Dasha Shakthi Peethas. Devi Sati is worshipped as Puruhutika, and Lord Shiva as Kukkuteswara Swamy here.

Locality/State: Pithapuram, Andhra Pradesh

Country: India

Deity: Puruhutika Devi

Part: Left Arm

11. Biraja Devi Temple

As per the Tantra Chudamani, it is believed that Sati’s navel fell in this location at Jajpur, Odisha. In his Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Stuti, Adi Shankara identifies the goddess as Girija. In Tantra literature, the place is recognized as the Oddiyana Peetha, situated in eastern India near the Vaitarani River. It derives its name from an ornament worn by women around their navel, the Oddiyana.

Locality/State: Jajpur, Odisha

Country: India

Deity: Maa Biraja

Part: Navel

12. Bhimeswara Swamy Temple

Bhimeswara temple is counted among the Ashta Shakthi Peetha that has Manikyamba Devi shrine. It is where Sati Devi’s left cheek had fallen. As per the legends, the Shiva lingam was built here by the Sun God.

The site of this Temple is believed to be the place where the Daksha yagna was held. This sacred place is visited by many not only because it is a Shakti Peeth in India, but also because it is a Pancharama kshetra- which is sacred to Shiva, worshipped as Lord Bhimeshvara at this site. It is believed that the left cheek of Sati fell here. The goddess is worshipped as Manikyamba Devi in this Shakti Peeth.

Locality/State: Draksharamam, Andhra Pradesh

Part: Left Cheek

Locality/State: Draksharamam, Andhra Pradesh

Country: India

Deity: Manikyamba

Part: Left Cheek

13. Kamakhya Temple

This is a prominent Temple surrounded by shrines, each dedicated to the Dasa Mahavidyas located in Guwahati, Assam. It is believed that the genitals of Sati (yoni) or the womb fell here. The idol represents an inner sanctum (garbhagriha) that has a rock fissure forming a vulva-shaped depression, which is about 10 inches deep.

This depression is worshipped as Kamakhya Devi and is always filled with water from an underground spring. Lord Bhairava is worshipped as Umananda or Bhayananda here.

Locality/State: Guwahati, Assam

Country: India

Deity: Devi Kamakhya

Part: Womb

14. Alopi Devi Temple

Alopi Devi temple has a special feature as it doesn’t have any deity figures, instead, here a wooden carriage or doli is worshipped. The name Alopi means disappeared, from the Hindu legend, it signifies the disappearance of the Goddess Sati.

Among the 18 Shakti Peethas, it is said that the final part of her body fell at this location, which became known as Alopi or the place of disappearance. This Shakti Peetha is considered the holiest of all.

However, this claim is subject to debate, as there is only one Shakti Peeth where it is believed that Sati’s fingers fell in Prayagraj, Lalita Devi temple.

Locality/State: Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh

Country: India

Deity: Maa Madhaveswari

Part: Last part

15. Jwalamukhi Temple

Among the holy Shakti Peethas, Jwalamukhi Temple is a popular Shakti Peetha, in the town of Jwalamukhi in Himachal Pradesh. This temple is famous as a temple with no idols and is devoted to Jwalamukhi, also known as the Goddess of Light or the Flaming Goddess. The beautiful temple offers panoramic views of the Dhauladhar range. In Hindu mythology, it is believed that Sati’s tongue fell at this location. It is also said that this sacred site has been visited by the Pandavas.

Locality/State: Kangra, Himachal Pradesh

Country: India

Deity: Maa Jwalamukhi

Part: Tongue

16. Mangla Gauri Temple

Mangla Gauri temple is one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas in the list of Shakti Peeth in India. Dated back to the 15th century, it is located in the Vaishnavite pilgrimage in Gaya. The temple worships the Goddess of benevolence – Mangalagauri. As per the ancient Hindu scriptures, Goddess Sati’s breast fell here.

Locality/State: Gaya, Bihar

Country: India

Deity: Maa Sarvamangala

Part: Breast

17. Vishalakshi Temple

In the list of Shakti Peeth in India, Vishalakshi (means wide-eyed Devi) temple, a sacred location in Mir Ghat in Varanasi is where Goddess Sati’s karna kundala (earring) fell. The temple is located near the renowned Manikarnika cremation grounds. Goddess Durga is worshiped here as Maa Vishalakshi & Lord Shiva as Kala or Kaal Bhairva.

Locality/State: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Country: India

Deity: Maa Vishalakshi

Part: Earring

18. Sharada Peeth

Sharada Peeth in Jammu and Kashmir was one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas in India. According to Hindu scriptures, this is the place where the right hand of Goddess Sati fell when Lord Vishnu severed her corpse. Sharada Peeth is currently in a ruined state. The ruins of the Shakti Peeth are near the Line of Control (LOC) between the Indian and Pakistani-controlled portions of the former princely state of Kashmir and Jammu.

Locality/State: Sharda, Pakistan Administered Kashmir

Country: India

Deity: Maa Sharada Devi

Part: Right hand

Here are the other divine Shakti Peeth in India:

19. Shakambari Temple

Shakambari Temple is also an important Shakti Peeth in India. The goddess is worshipped as Shakambari Devi, and Lord Bhairava as Bhuradev. It is located in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and it is believed that a part of Sati’s head fell here.

Locality/State: Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh

Part: Head

20. Attahasa Temple

At this Shakti Peeth in India, the deity is worshipped as Phullara Devi and Bhairava is revered as Lord Vishvesh. It is believed that the lips of Goddess Sati fell here. The name of the Temple is derived from Sanskrit, meaning loud laughter.

Locality/State: Katwa, West Bengal

Part: Lips

21. Jogulamba Temple

In the list of Shakti Peeth in India, it is said that the teeth of Sati fell here. The name ‘Jogulamba’ is derived from the term Yogulamba in Telugu meaning the mother of Yogis. Inside the temple, the goddess Jogulamba is seated on a corpse, with a frog, scorpion, and a lizard placed as headgear.

Locality/State: Alampur, Telangana

Part: Teeth

22. Tarapith Temple

Tarapith is one of the 51 Shakti Peeth in India where the goddess is revered as Tara Maa. The Temple is famous as a tantric temple and has cremation grounds for Tantric rituals or Sadhanas. It is believed that the third eye of Sati fell here.

Locality/State: Birbhum, West Bengal

Part: Third eye

23. Ambaji Mata Temple

The name of the town is based on the name of the goddess. She is worshipped in the form of Shri Visa Yantra, the deity that cannot be looked at by the naked eye. Before the worship of this yantra, the worshippers have to be blindfolded. It is believed that Sati’s heart fell there.

Locality/State: Ambaji, Gujarat

Part: Heart

24. Marundeeswarar Temple

It is believed that the skin of Sati fell in this Shakti Peeth in India. The goddess is worshipped as Anjanakshi in this Temple. In this temple, Lord Marundeeswarar, a form of Bhairava is worshipped as a healer – one who imparts the knowledge of healing.

Locality/State: Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu

Part: Skin

25. Taratarini Temple

Located in Odisha, at this Indian Shakti Peeth, twin deities are worshipped as Tara and Tarini. This site is also called a Tantra Peeth – sacred to Tantrics. It is said that the breast of Sati fell here. At this temple, Bhairava is worshipped as Lord Tumbeshwar.

Locality/State: Ganjam, Odisha

Part: Breast

26. Nalhateshwari Temple

It is believed that the throat of Sati fell here. The name of the goddess is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Nala’. The goddess is worshipped as Nalhateshwari Devi. Lord Bhairava is worshipped as Jogesh.

Locality/State: Birbhum, West Bengal

Part: Throat

27. Danteshwari Temple

This famous religious place is located in Chhattisgarh. The goddess is worshipped as Danteshwari Devi. It is believed that the teeth of Sati fell here, and the Sanskrit term for teeth is ‘Danth’. Lord Bhairava is worshipped here as Kapala Bhairava.

Locality/State: Dantewada, Chattisgarh

Part: Teeth

28. Jogadya Temple

Located in Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal; the religious place is said to be the site where Sati’s great toe fell. The goddess, Jogadya Devi, has many followers, especially amongst the Ugra Kshatriyas who are native to that region. Lord Bhairava is worshipped as Ksheer Kantak.

Locality/State: Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal

Part: Great toe

29. Baidyanath Dham

This religious place is visited by a huge number of individuals as this place, apart from being a Shakti Peeth, is also widely recognized as one of the Jyotirlinga in India. It is said that the demon Ravana did a harsh penance to attain Shiva and in the process, ended up sacrificing each of his ten heads, one by one.

This forced Shiva to bless him and even act as a healer to him, hence the name Baidyanath – which literally means the great doctor. The goddess is revered as Jaya Durga. It is claimed that Sati’s heart fell here.

Locality/State: Deoghar, Jharkhand

Part: Heart

30. Bargabhima Temple

This Shakti Peeth in India is located in West Bengal. The goddess is worshipped here by a number of names as Kapalini, Bhimrupi, and Bargabhima. It is believed that the left ankle of Sati fell here.

Locality/State: Tamluk, West Bengal

Part: Left ankle

31. Katyayani Shakti Peeth

In this temple, the goddess is worshipped as Katyayani or Uma Devi, and Bhairav is worshipped as Lord Bhutesh. It is claimed that the ringlets of Sati’s hair fell at this site.

Locality/State: Vrindavan, Mathura

Part: Ringlets of Sati’s hair

32. Ambika Temple

This temple is located in Alwar, Rajasthan. The goddess is worshipped as Ambika Devi and Bhairav is worshipped as Lord Amrithaksh. It is claimed that the fingers of the left leg fell at this site.

Locality/State: Alwar, Rajasthan

Part: Toes of left leg

33. Devi Talab Mandir

The goddess here is worshipped as Tripurmalini. It is believed that the left breast of Sati fell at this place.

Locality/State: Jalandhar, Punjab

Part: Left breast

34. Mangal Chandika Temple

This temple is located in Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal where the goddess is revered as Mangal Chandika. Lord Bhairava is worshipped as Kapilambar. It is said that the right wrist of Sati fell here.

Locality/State: Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal

Part: Right wrist

35. Tripura Sundari Temple

The goddess is worshipped as Tripura Sundari in this religious place. It is believed that the little finger of Sati’s left leg fell here.

Locality/State: Udaipur, Tripura

Part: Left leg

36. Shondesh Temple

The goddess is worshipped as Narmada and Lord Bhairava as Bhadrasen in this temple. This Temple is situated at the source of the river Narmada. It is said that a portion of Sati’s back fell here.

Locality/State: Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh

Part: Portion of Sati’s back

37. Nandikeshwari Temple

It is believed that Sati’s necklace fell here. It is located in Birbhum, West Bengal. The goddess is worshipped as Nandikeshwari or Nandini along with Lord Bhairava – known as Nandikeshwar.

Locality/State: Birbhum, West Bengal

Part: Necklace

38. Kotilingeshwara Ghat Temple

The goddess is worshipped as Rakini or Vishweshwari Devi in this temple at Rajahmundry. Lord Bhairava is worshipped as Vatsnabh or Dandapani. It is said that Sati’s cheeks fell here.

Locality/State: Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh

Part: Cheeks

39. Sharada Peeth

Among the total Shakti Peeth in India, this is located in Maihar, Madhya Prades. Here the goddess is worshipped along with Lord Chanda Bhairava. It is claimed that Sati’s necklace fell here.

Locality/State: Maihar, Madhya Pradesh

Part: Necklace

40. Panchsagar

This Shakti Peeth in India is located near Tanakpur, Uttar Pradesh. The goddess is worshipped as Varahi along with Lord Bhairava who is worshipped as Maharudra. It is said that Sati’s teeth fell here.

Locality/State: Tanakpur, Uttar Pradesh

Part: Teeth

41. Prabhas Shakti Peeth

The goddess is revered as Chandrabhaga along with the deity Vakratund who is revered as a form of Bhairava. It is believed that a portion of Sati’s stomach fell here. It is located near Junagadh, Gujarat.

Locality/State: Junagadh, Gujarat

Part: Portion of Sati’s stomach

42. Kiriteswari Temple

In this temple, the goddess Kiriteshwari is worshipped with Lord Sanwarth Bhairava. It is believed that Sati’s crown fell here.

Locality/State: Murshidabad, West Bengal

Part: Crown

43. Kali Peeth

Among the total Shakti Peeth located in India, this one is in Kolkata, West Bengal. Here goddess Kalika Devi is worshipped by many, along with the deity Nakuleshwar, an embodiment of Lord Bhairava. It is believed that Sati’s right toes fell here.

Locality/State: Kolkata, West Bengal

Part: Right toes

Shakti Peethas outside India:

44. Hinglaj Temple

This temple is located in Pakistan, and the goddess is worshipped as Kottari or Kotavi here. Lord Bhairava is worshipped in this religious place in the form of Bhimlochan. It is said that a part of Sati’s head – the Brahmarandhra or the crevice in the crown of the head, fell here. The idol of the goddess in this temple is a shapeless stone adorned with vermillion. This temple is not only prevalent among the Hindus but also among the Muslim communities of Zikri and Sufi, fondly called by them as ‘Nani ka Ghar’.

Locality/State: Pakistan

Part: Portion of head

45. Shri Shail

Here the deity is worshipped as Mahalaxmi Devi, while Bhairava is worshipped as Lord Sambaranand. It is said that the neck of Sati fell here.

Locality/State: Bangladesh

Part: Neck

46. Sugandha Shakti Peeth

Sugandha Shakti Peeth is located in Bangladesh. The goddess is worshipped as Sunanda/ Sugandha and Bhairava is worshipped as Lord Trayambak. It is believed that Sati’s nose fell here.

Locality/State: Bangladesh

Part: Nose

47. Chandranath Temple

The deity here is worshipped as Bhawani Devi with Lord Bhairava worshipped as Chandrashekhar. It is located in Bangladesh and it is claimed that Sati’s right arm fell here.

Locality/State: Bangladesh

Part: Right arm

48. Guhyeshwari Temple

Among the list of Shakti Peeth in India, this religious place is visited by a number of devotees. The goddess is worshipped as Mahashira and Lord Shiva as Kapali Bhairava. It is claimed that Sati’s knees fell here in Nepal.

Locality/State: Nepal

Part: Knees

49. Mithila Shakti Peeth

The goddess Uma Devi is worshipped in this Shakti Peeth located in Nepal. It is said that the left shoulder of Sati fell here. She is worshipped alongside the deity Mahodar, a manifestation of Lord Bhairava.

Locality/State: Nepal

Part: Left shoulder

50. Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple

The goddess Jeshoreshwari is worshipped here along with the deity Chanda Bhairava located in Bangladesh. It is said that the palms of hands and soles of the feet of Sati fell here.

Locality/State: Bangladesh

Part: Palms of hands and soles of the feet

51. Muktinath Temple

The temple located in Nepal is primarily dedicated to Lord Vishnu who is worshipped as Muktinath. It is said that Sati’s forehead fell here. The goddess is worshipped as Gandaki Chandi and Lord Bhairava as Chakrapani.

Locality/State: Nepal

Part: Forehead

These are the important religious places to visit – the 51 Shakti Peeth in India. It is claimed there are a total of 64 Shakti Peethas in Asia. Out of them, 18 are considered to be the major ones known as Maha Shakthi Peethas by the Puranas and ancient scriptures.

Shakti Peeth in India is a testimony to the strength of feminine energy and celebrates womanhood. The strength of the Goddess is preached here.