The Shakti Peethas are important temples and places of pilgrimage in Shaktism, the goddess-centered faith of Hinduism. These places of worship admire various forms of Adi Shakti. Several tales explain the origin of the Shakti Pithas. The most famous revolves around the story of the death of the goddess Sati.
Shiva carried Sati’s body, recalling their days together as he grieved and travelled the universe. Vishnu split her body into 51 parts with his Sudarshana Chakra; these parts fell to Earth and formed sacred sites where people might pay homage to the goddess.
Most of these ancient locations of goddess worship are in India, while there are also seven in Bangladesh, four in Nepal, three in Pakistan, and one each in Tibet, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. Now let’s look at the list of 12 prominent Devi Shakti Peethas living outside India.
Shakti Peethas Located Outside Of India
1. Pakistan’s Hinglaj Shakti Peeth
Sati Mata’s Brahmarandhra fell near Iyari Tahasil, 125 miles northeast of Karachi, in Pakistan’s Baluchistan area. Inside a small natural cave is a little round stone coated in sindoor (vermilion) and is used as a place of devotion for her.
2. Bangladesh’s Sugandha Shakti Peeth
Shakti, also known as Devi Sugandha, or Ekjata resides in Shikarpur, which is 20 miles to the north of the Bangladeshi district Barisal. She now manifests as airabh, assuming the form of “Sunanda or Devi Tara or Ekjata and Tryambak.” This is where it’s thought Mata Sati’s nose fell off. This temple’s annual Shiv Ratri or Shiv Chaturdasi mela celebrations earned it popularity.
3. Pakistan’s Shivaharkaray Shakti Peeth
This is a temple dedicated to the Adhya Shakti avatar who killed the monster Mahishasur. It is located in Pakistan, close to the Karachi-area Parkai railway station. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Sati’s eyes dropped here. The Goddess is worshipped as Bhairav, also known as “Mahisha-Mardhini and Krodish,” or the angry manifestation of Lord Shiva.
4. Nepal’s Guhyeshwari Shakti Peetha
Adhya Shakti’s temple is located near Pashupatinath Mandir in Kathmandu, Nepal. The distance between the Pashupatinath Temple and Guhyeshwari is around 1 kilometer east. It is thought that here is where Mata Sati’s knees feel. Today, she is revered as Devi Mahashira.
5. Gandaki Chandi Shakti Peeth In Nepal
In Muktinath, Nepal, this Shakti Peeth is situated next to the Gandaki River. Sati’s right cheek fell here. She is now worshipped as Devi Gandaki-Chandi, whereas Vairabh is Chakrapani. The Vishnu Purana goes into great detail on the significance of this holy place. For both Buddhists and Hindus, reaching Muktinath is a key religious destination that leads to Mukti, or nirvana.
6. Tibet’s Dakshayani Shakti Peeth (China)
This stone slab, known as Shakti Peeth, is situated in Tibet, not far from the Mansarovar and Kailash Mountains. Sati’s right hand had fallen here. She takes the form of Devi Dakshayani, the one who destroyed Daksha Yajna.
7. Jayanti Shakti Peeth In Bangladesh
In Kalajore, Bourbhag village, in Bangladesh’s Sylhet District, close to Jaintia-pur, is where Mata Sati’s left thigh fell. Respected as Jayanti Shakti, she takes on the form of Vairabh at the arrival of Kramadeeshwar.
8. Bhawani Shakti Peeth In Bangladesh
This Shakti Peeth, also known as Sitakunda Chandranath, is situated atop Chandra-Nath Hills, adjacent to Sitakunda Station in Chittagong, Bangladesh. It was here when Mata Sati’s right arm fell away.
9. Mahalakshmi Shakti Peeth In Bangladesh
The neck of Mata Sati upon Sri-Shail in Jaunpur Village, located 3 km northeast of the Bangladesh town of Sylhet. Shambaraanand takes the form of Vairabh and she poses as the goddess Maha-Lakshmi.
10. Yogeswari Shakti Peeth In Bangladesh
The Shakti Peeth that honors Mata Kali is called Jeshoreswari and is located in the Bangladeshi hamlet of Iswaripur, Jashore, Khulna District. Following his discovery of this Shakti Peetha, Maharaja Pratapaditya worshipped Kali here. It was here that Mata Sati’s hands and feet fell. Currently, she identifies as Devi Yogeshwari Shakti.
11. Bangladesh’s Sravani Shakti Peeth
This Shakti Peeth is situated in the Chittagong District of Bangladesh’s Kumari Kunda. Mata Sati’s spine had broken here. Her present form is Devi Sravani.
12. Bangladesh’s Aparna Shakti Peeth
This Shakti Peeth is situated in the Sherpur village of Bhavani-Pur in the Bagura district of Bangladesh. It is thought that this is where Mata Sati’s left anklet dropped. She takes on the form of Devi Aparna here.
