The story of the Shakti Peethas
Sati, the daughter of Daksha Prajapati, married Shiva against her father's wishes. When Daksha held a great yajna and invited every god except Shiva, Sati went to her father's house and, hearing her husband insulted, gave up her body in the sacrificial fire.
Shiva's grief became the tandava. Carrying Sati's body, he wandered the worlds, and creation itself trembled. To restore balance, Vishnu released his Sudarshana chakra, which divided Sati's body; wherever a part of it fell, the Goddess became present. Those places are the Shakti Peethas, each guarded by a form of Shiva as Bhairava.
The texts do not agree on a single number — 51, 52, 64 and 108 are all found — and some places are claimed by more than one site. Below are the Shakti Peethas in our temple directory, with their guides.
Shakti Peethas to visit
Mallikarjuna Temple मल्लिकार्जुन मंदिर
Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh · Shiva
Second Jyotirlinga and also a Shakti Peetha (dual tirth). Hilltop shrine on the banks of Krishna river. Mother Parvati here is Bhramaramba Devi.
Darshan: Usually open from early morning
Kamakhya Temple कामाख्या मंदिर
Guwahati, Assam · Kamakhya Devi
Primary Shakti Peetha where Sati's yoni fell. No idol — a natural yoni-shaped stone. Famous for Ambubachi Mela (goddess's menstruation festival). Tantric and sacrificial worship. Blue Hill (Nilachal) atop which it stands.
Darshan: Usually open for general darshan about 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM and…
Jwala Devi Temple ज्वाला देवी मंदिर
Kangra, Himachal Pradesh · Jwala Mata
Shakti Peetha where Sati's tongue fell. Natural flame (jwala) burns continuously — no fuel source. Nine flames represent nine Durga forms. Akbar once tried to extinguish — failed.
Darshan: Usually open about 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM in summer and about…
Naina Devi Temple नैना देवी मंदिर
Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh · Naina Devi
Shakti Peetha where Sati's eyes fell. Hilltop temple overlooking Govind Sagar lake. Especially crowded during Shravan Ashtami fair.
Darshan: Usually open from early morning to late evening, roughly 6:00…
Chamunda Devi Temple चामुंडा देवी मंदिर
Palampur, Himachal Pradesh · Chamunda Devi
Revered Shakti shrine of the Kangra valley. Durga as Chamunda, who slew the demons Chanda and Munda. Shiva as "Ardh Nateshwar" present.
Darshan: Usually open about 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM in summer and about…
Kalighat Temple कालीघाट मंदिर
Kolkata, West Bengal · Kali
Shakti Peetha where Sati's right toe fell. Kolkata is named after Kali ("Kalikata"). Older temple from 15th century. Fierce Dakshina Kali form with three large eyes, golden tongue.
Darshan: Usually open about 5:00 AM – 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Mahalakshmi Temple महालक्ष्मी मंदिर
Kolhapur, Maharashtra · Mahalakshmi
Shakti Peetha where Sati's three eyes fell. One of 108 Shakti Peethas. Twice a year (Jan and Nov), sun rays fall directly on the idol — Kiranotsav. 3-feet tall idol made of black stone.
Darshan: Usually open about 5:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Chamunda Devi Mysore चामुण्डेश्वरी मंदिर मैसूर
Mysuru, Karnataka · Chamundeshwari
Atop Chamundi Hill (1,062m) overlooking Mysuru. Goddess slew demon Mahishasura here (Mysuru = "Mahishuru"). Mysuru Dasara 10-day festival most spectacular. Grand golden idol.
Darshan: Usually open about 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM and…
Kanyakumari Temple कन्याकुमारी भगवती मंदिर
Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu · Kumari Amman
Southernmost tip of India. Shakti Peetha where Sati's spine fell. Virgin goddess Kumari waiting for Shiva. Confluence of 3 seas. Diamond nose-ring reportedly visible from the sea.
Darshan: Usually open about 4:30 AM – 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Also visited by lakhs of devotees of the Goddess: Vaishno Devi (Katra), counted as a Shakti Peetha by many though not in every classical list.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Shakti Peetha?
A Shakti Peetha is a seat of the Goddess where, according to the Puranas, a part of the body or an ornament of Sati fell when Shiva carried her body after her self-immolation at Daksha's yajna. Each peetha has the Goddess and a guardian form of Shiva (Bhairava).
How many Shakti Peethas are there?
Texts give different numbers. The Peetha Nirnaya (in the Tantra Chudamani) lists 51, matching the 51 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet; the Devi Bhagavata Purana names 108; other texts speak of 4 Adi Shakti Peethas or 18 Maha Shakti Peethas. The lists also differ on some places, so there is no single agreed list.
Which are the four Adi Shakti Peethas?
Several traditions name four primary (Adi) peethas: Kamakhya in Assam, the Tara Tarini shrine near Berhampur and the Bimala shrine at Puri in Odisha, and Kalighat in Kolkata. Here too the lists vary.
Is Vaishno Devi a Shakti Peetha?
Vaishno Devi is among the most visited shrines of the Goddess, and many devotees count it as a Shakti Peetha; it does not appear in every classical list.