The Puranas and other Hindu scriptures describe that Mother Goddess Shakti was consecrated in Asta Dasha Shakti Peethas (18 prominent temples). The origin or the story of Asta Dasha Shakti Peetha temples goes like this.. Once, King Daksha Prajapathi wanted to perform a Yagna. Except Lord Shiva he invited all the Gods and Sages. Despite her fathers recklessness towards her husband, Goddess Dakshayani went to the Yagna and got insulted. With anger and shame, she jumped into the Yagnagunda (the sacred spot of Yagna) and sacrificed her life with knowing this Lord Shiva became very ferocious and carried Dakshayanis dead body on his arms. He performed ‘Ugrathandava or ‘Rudrathandava (a dance form of Lord Shiva when he is angry). Lord Shivas rudrathandava created a bit of deluge in all lokas.
To solve this great problem, Lord Vishnu slashed Goddess Dakshayanis dead body partswqith his Sudrashana Chakra (the sacred discus). And the parts were fallen all over the places. The places where her body pars were fallen are worshipped as Astadasha Shakti Peethas (18 prominent temples of Mother Goddess – Shakti).
According to some Hindu Mythology books, the total number of Shakti Peethams is 108. And some more sacred texts describe that there are 51 prominet Goddess Shakti temples. But most people believe that the 18 Shakti temples are most auspicious Shakti Peethams, which are also referred as Astadasha Shakti Peethas.
This list of Ashtadasa Shakti peethas is collected from a Shloka written by Adi Shankaracharya.
Lankayam Shankari devi, Kamakshi Kanchika pure
Pradyumne Shrinkhala devi, Chamunda Krouncha pattane
Alampure Jogulamba, Sri shaile Bhramarambika
Kolha pure Maha lakshmi, Mahurye Ekaveerika
Ujjainyam Maha kali, Peethikayam Puruhutika
Odhyane Girija devi, Manikya Daksha vatike
Hari kshetre Kama rupi, Prayage Madhaveshwari
Jwalayam Vishnavi devi, Gaya Mangalya gourika
Varanasyam Vishalakshi, Kashmire tu Saraswati
Ashtadasha Shakti peethani, Yoginamapi durlabham
Sayamkale pathennityam, Sarva shatri vinashanam
Sarva roga haram divyam, Sarva sampatkaram shubham
| Place |
Appellation |
Part of the body fallen |
Shakti |
| Trincomalee (Sri Lanka) |
Sankari Peetham |
Heart |
Sankari Devi |
| Kanchi (Tamil Nadu) |
Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham |
Eyes |
Kamakshi Devi |
| Pandua (West Bengal) |
Pradyumna Peetham |
Stomach |
Srigala Devi |
| Mysore (Karnataka) |
Krounja Peetham |
Hair |
Chamundeshwari Devi |
| Alampur, Mahbubnagar (Telangana) |
Yogini Peetham |
Upper teeth |
Jogulamba Devi (Yogamba Devi) |
| Srisailam, (Andhra Pradesh) |
Srisaila Peetham |
Neck part |
Bhramaramba Devi |
| Kolhapur (Maharashtra) |
Shri Peetham |
Left hand |
Mahalakshmi Devi |
| Mahur (Nanded District, Maharashtra) |
Renuka Peetham |
Back part |
Renuka Devi |
| Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) |
Ujjaini Peetham |
Tongue |
Mahakali Devi |
| Pithapuram (Andhra Pradesh) |
Pushkarini Peetham |
PEETA |
Puruhutika Devi |
| Jajpur (Odisha) |
Oddyana Peetham |
Naval(Navi) |
Biraja Devi |
| Draksharamam (Andhra Pradesh) |
Draksharama Peetham |
Navel |
Manikyamba Devi |
| Guwahati (Assam) |
Kamarupa Peetham |
Vulva |
Kamarupa Devi |
| Prayaga (Uttar Pradesh) |
Prayaga Peetham |
Fingers |
Madhaveswari Devi |
| Kangra, Jwalamukhi (Himachal Pradesh) |
Jwalamukhi Peetham |
Head Part |
Vaishnavi Devi |
| Gaya (Bihar) |
Gaya Peetham |
Breast part |
Sarvamangala Devi |
| Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) |
Varanasi Peetham |
Throat |
Vishalakshi Devi |
| Kashmir |
Saraswati Peetham |
Lips |
Saraswati Devi |