Shakti Peetth (Sanskrit: शक्ति पीठ)

Shakti Peethas (Sanskrit: शक्ति पीठ, Bengali: শক্তিপীঠ, Telugu: శక్తిపీఠాలు, IAST: Śakti Pīṭha) are abodes of Goddess Shakti (or) Sati, the primary deity of the Shakta sect as well as the principal female deity in Hinduism. These abodes of goddess Shakti (power) are formed from her holy body part(s) and or Ornament sprinkled throughout Indian subcontinent.

The Goddess Shakti eternal power is believed to be a gross incarnation of Adi Shakti (or) Para Shakti. T who has three chief manifestations as

1. Durga: Goddess of strength and valour
2. Mahakali: Goddess of destruction of evil,  and
3. Gowri: Goddess of benevolence

Legends : From Satya Yuga, …..

Sacrad Hindu religious texts like Devi Bhagavatam , Shiva Puran, Kaalika Puran, Ashta Shakti Puran specifically mention four major Shakti Peethas in their scripts. Varāhamihira , a popular ancient astronomer from Gupta era (505-587 CE), also gave specifics of these locations in his encyclopedia called Brihat Samhita.

1. Bimala (Pada Khanda) (inside the Jagannath temple of Puri, Orissa),
2. Tara Tarini (Sthana Khanda, Purnagiri , Breasts) (Near Berhampur, Orissa),
3. Kamakhya (Yoni khanda) (Near Guwahati, Assam) and
4. Dakhina Kalika (Mukha khanda) (Kolkata, West Bengal)

“Bimala Pada khandancha, Sthana khandancha Tarini (Tara Tarini), Kamakshya Yoni khandancha, Mukha khandancha Kalika (Dakshina Kalika) Anga pratyanga sanghena Vishnu Chakra Kshyta nacha”

Further explaining the importance of these four Pithas, the “Brihat Samhita” also gives the location of these Pithas as (In Sanskrit) “Rushikulya* Tatae Devi, Tarakashya Mahagiri, Tashya Srunga Stitha Tara Vasishta Rajitapara”

18 Maha Shakti Pithas

Adi Shankaracharya, in his Ashta Dasa Shakthi Peetha Stotram clearly outlined 18 specific locations and body parts of Shakti. While totality of body parts vary by puranas , these 18 Maha Shakti Pithas are widely acknowledged.

Lankayam Shankari devi, Kamakshi Kanchika pure
Pradyumne Shrinkhala devi, Chamunda Krouncha pattane

Goddess Shankari in Sri lanka, Kamakshi in Kanchipuram,
Goddess Shrinkhala in Pradyumna and Chamunda in Mysore

Alampure Jogulamba, Sri shaile Bhramarambika
Kolha pure Maha lakshmi, Mahurye Ekaveerika

Goddess Jogulamba in Alampur, Goddess Brhamarabika in Sri Shailam,
Goddess Maha Lakshmi in Kolhapur and Goddess Eka veera in Mahur

Ujjainyam Maha kali, Peethikayam Puruhutika
Odhyane Girija devi, Manikya Daksha vatike

Goddess Maha Kali in Ujjain Purhuthika in Peethika,
Goddess Girija in Odhyana and goddess Manikya in the house of Daksha,

Hari kshetre Kama rupi, Prayage Madhaveshwari
Jwalayam Vishnavi devi, Gaya Mangalya gourika

Goddess Kama rupi in the temple of Vishnu, Goddess Madhevaswari in Allahabad,
The flame gving Goddess in Jwala muki and Mangala Gouri in Gaya.

Varanasyam Vishalakshi, Kashmire tu Saraswati
Ashtadasha Shakti peethani, Yoginamapi durlabham

Goddess Visalakshi in Varanasi, Goddess Saraswathi in Kashmir,
Are the 18 houses of Shakthi, which are rare even to devas.

Sayamkale pathennityam, Sarva shatri vinashanam
Sarva roga haram divyam, Sarva sampatkaram shubham