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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 piece 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
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
Devi’s Third Eye
Devi: Mahisha Mardini
Bhairav: Krodhish
Location: Pakistan, Karachi, a little distance from the Sukkar Station.
3. SUGANDHA
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
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
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
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
Devi’s Heart
Devi: Jaya Durga
Bhairav: Vaidyanath
Location: In Bihar, Vaidyanath town which is also known as Deogar.
8. GUJYESHWARI
Devi’s Two Knees
Devi: Maha Shira
Bhairav: Kapaali
Location: In Nepal, behind Pashupathi Nath Temple.
9. MANASA
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
Devi’s Navel
Devi: Vimala
Bhairav: Jagannath
Location: Orissa, Puri. Next to Jagannath Puri Temple.
11. GANDAKI
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
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
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
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
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
Devi’s Left Foot
Devi: Bhramari
Bhairav: Ambar
Location: West Bengal, Jalpaiguri District, Shallabari Village.
17. KAMARUPA KAMAKHYA
Devi’s Reproductive organ
Devi: Kamakhya
Bhairav: Umananda
Location: Assam, Gauhati, situated on the Nilanchal Mountain.
18. JUGADYA
Devi’s Right foot big Toe
Devi: Jugadia
Bhairav: Kshirakhandatta
Location: West Bengal, Bardhaman District, Kshiragram Village.
19. KALIGHAT
Devi’s Right foot all little toes
Devi: Kalika
Bhairav: Nakulish
Location: West Bengal, Kolkatta, Kalighat.
20. PRAYAAG (ALLAHABAD)
Devi’s fingers
Devi: Lalita
Bhairav: Bhava
Location: Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, near the Sangam.
21. JAYANTI
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
Devi’s Crown
Devi: Vimala
Bhairav: Samvarta
Location: West Bengal, Murshidabad District, 3 miles from the Lal Bagh Court Road station.
23. VARANASI
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
Devi’s Back
Devi: Sarvani
Bhairav: Nimeesh
Location: Bangladesh, Chittagong District, Kumari Kund.
25. KURUKSHETRA
Devi’s ankle
Devi: Savitri
Bhairav: Sthanu
Location: Harayana, Kurukshetra Town.
26. MANIVED or MANIVEDIKA
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
Devi’s Neck
Devi: Mahalakshmi
Bhairav: Sambarananda
Location: Bangladesh, Srihath District, Jainpur Village.
28. KANKALI TALA OR KANJI DESH
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
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
Devi’s Right thigh
Devi: Narmada
Bhairav: Badrasen
Location: Madhya Pradesh, Amarkanth pilgrimage place, above the Narmada River.
31. RAMGIRI
Devi’s Right Breast
Devi: Shivani
Bhairav: Chanda
Location: Uttar Pradesh, Jhansi, 2 miles from Chitrakut pilgrimage place.
32. VRINDAVAN
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
Devi’s 15 Upper Teeth
Devi: Narayani
Bhairav: Samhar
Location: Tamil Nadu, Kanya Kumari. From Trivandrum it is approximately 80 kms.
34. PANCHA SAAGAR
Devi’s 15 Lower Teeth
Devi: Varahi
Bhairav: Maha Rudra
Location: Unknown.
35. KARATO YATOT
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
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
Devi’s left ankle
Devi: Bimarupa
Bhairav: Sarvananda
Location: West Bengal, Medinipur District.
38. PRABHAS
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
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
Devi’s Chin
Devi: Bhramari
Bhairav: Vikritaksh
Location: Maharashtra, near Nasik, on the banks of the Godavari River.
41. GODAVARI BANK
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
Devi’s right shoulder
Devi: Kumaari
Bhairav: Shiva
Location: West Bengal, Hoogly District, Rantakar River bank in Khanakul Krishna Nagar.
43. MITHILA
Devi’s Left Shoulder
Devi: Uma
Bhairav: Mahodar
Location: Janakpur Rail Station in Nepal.
44. NALHATHI
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
Devi’s two ears
Devi: Jaya Durga
Bhairav: Abiru
Location: Place is unknown.
46. BAKRESWAR
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
Devi’s Lotus Feet
Devi: Yashoreshwari
Bhairav: Chanda
Location: Bangladesh, Kulna District, Ishwaripur Town.
48. ATTAHAS
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
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
Devi’s anklet
Devi: Indrakshi
Bhairav: Rakshaseshwar
Location: Sri Lanka, in the mountains above Kandy Town.
51. VIRAT
Devi’s Toe Nails
Devi: Ambika
Bhairav: Amrita
Location: Rajasthan, Between Jaipur and Bharatpur.