51 Shakti peethas

When Sati, the wife of Shiva and the first incarnation of Parvati, sacrificed herself at a yagna being performed by her father the King Daksha; a very distraught Shiva started dancing with her body. The world was terrorized from this Tandava Nritya and to stop the devastating penance, Vishnu used his Sudarshan chakra (the whirling knife on his finger tip) and completely cut up Sati's body in several pieces. Wherever her body parts fell, a temple was erected to commemorate different manifestations of Shiva and Parvati and became a Hindu pilgrimage. They are called Pitha or Sakti Pithas. These temples are scattered from present day Pakistan to India to Sri Lanka to Bangladesh.
Sati is also called Devi or Shakti (Strength). Sati was reborn later as the daughter of the King of Mountains the Himalayas and hence she was called Parvati or the daughter of Parvat (Mountain). Parvati married Shiva on the fourteenth day of the rising moon (Sukla pakcha) in the month of Margashirsha (around Spring) which is the festival of Shiva Ratri (the night of Shiva).

Following are 51 Shaktipeeths

1. Hingulaya 
Devi's mind or brain fell here and the idols are Devi as Kotari (Durga) and Shiva as Bhimlochan (Terrible eyed or the third eye). The location is in a cave on the western part of Pakistan near Karachi.

2. Shivaharkaray or Karavipur 
Devi's three eyes fell here and the idols are Devi as Mahishmardini (Durga the destroyer of Mahishashur) and Shiva as Krodhish (the one who can be angry). It is near Karachi in Pakistan, by rail the nearest station is Parkai.

3. Jwalamukhi 
Devi's tongue fell here and the idols are Devi as Ambika (Mother) and Shiva as Unmatta (Furious). This is located near Jullundher in Punjab.

4. Sugandha 
Devi's nose fell here and idols are Devi as Sunanada (Pleasing) and Shiva as Traimbak (Rudra). In the state of Bengal near Barishal in Shivahri Karpur village Devi's temple is located and Shiva's temple is in a village called Ponabalia, nearest railway station is Jhalkati.

5. On Bhairabha mountain near Avanti
Devi's upper lips fell here and idols are Devi as Avanti (Modest) and Shiva as Lambakarna (Long eared one). It is located near Ujjain.

6. Attahas (laughter) 
Devi's lower lips fell here and the idols are Devi as Fullara (Blooming) and Shiva as Bhairabhvishesya (Lord of the universe). The place is in Bengal near Birbhum. Image of Devi and the Shiva temple is next to the Devi temple. It is a major pilgrimage and tourist attraction.

7. Prabhas 
Devi's stomach fell here and the idols are Devi as Chandrabhaga (Throne of the moon) and Shiva as Bakratunda (the one with the bent staff). This is near Mumbai where a launch goes to Bharoal which is near Prabhas.

8. Yanasthana 
Devi's chin fell here and the idols are Devi as Bhramari (female Bumble bee or attendant of Durga) and Shiva as Vikrakatakkha (one with the crooked eyes or look). Other names are Devi as Chibuka (the one with the chin) and Shiva as Sarvasiddhish (the one who can provide all desires).

9. Godavari (river)
Devi's left cheek fell here and the idols are Viswamatuka (mother of the world) and Shiva as Dandapani (the one who holds a staff).

10. Gandaki (river) 
Devi's right cheek fell here and the idols are Devi as Gandakichandi (the one who overcomes obstacles or Gandi) and Shiva as Chakrapani (Holder of the discus). Famous pilgrimage.

11. Suchidesha 
Devi's upper teeth fell here and the idols are Devi as Narayani (the wife of Narayan) and Shiva as Sanghar. Panchasagar - Devi's lower teeth fell here and the idols are Devi as Barahi and Shiva as Maharudra (the angry one).

12. Bhavanipur or Karota (river)
Devi's left seat or her clothing fell here and idols are Devi as Aparna (the one who ate nothing, not even leaves) and Shiva as Bhairabha (Destroyer of fear). The King of Nator and his grandson the Maharajah Ramakrishna used to meditate here. The seat, the yognakunda and five skulls are still here. In the month of Baisakha according to the Bengali calendar, there is a large fete or Mela here to celebrate Ramanavami or Deepanbita.

13. Shriparvata or Shri mountain 
Devi's right seat fell here and the idols are Devi as Shri Sunadari (beautiful) and Shiva as Sundaranand (the handsome one).

14. Karnat 
Devi's two ears fell here and the idols are Devi as Jai Durga (the victoriuos Durga) and Shiva as Avirooka.

15. Vrindavana 
Devi's hair fell here and idols are Devi as Uma (Devi) and Shiva as Bhootesh (or provider of all desires). Playgorund of Lord Krishna and the gopis. The vana or forest or garden is where the young Krishna grew up in the home of Yasoda the wife of a cow herd. Krishna was capable of amazing feats and saved the village from many perils such as the Naga Kaliya and the great rage of Indra by holding up a mountain above the village. But his time was mostly spent with the beautiful gopis or cow girls with whom he had many affairs. The principal of illicit love is the basis of this aspect of philosophy where a person harbours a secret love for god which he cannot reveal to others.

16. Kirit 
Devi's crown or headdress fell here and idols are Devi as Vimala (Pure) and Shiva as Sangbarta. Take the train to Ajimganj. The temples are on the shore of the ganges near Batnagar.

17. Shrihatta 
Devi's nape of the neck fell here and the idols are Devi as Mahalakchmi (the goddess of prosperity and wife of Mahavishnu) and Shiva as Sarvananda (the one who makes everyone happy). Devi's temple is Near Shrihatta town and Shiva's temple is near Jainpur. Shivaratri and Ashokashtami are celebrated with a Mela (carnival). Take train from Calcutta to Goalanda and steamer to Kechuaganj. Then either take a boat or walk about five miles (6 koshas). 

18. Nalhati 
Devi's vocal pipe fell here and the idols are Devi as Kalika (Durga) and Shiva as Yogesh. By train from Howrah station. 

19. Kashmir 
Devi's neck fell here and the idols are Devi as Mahamaya (the great Illusion) and Shiva as Trisandhyasvar. The famous pilgrimage is Amarnath. There is a Shiva linga of glacial ice which expands and contracts with the seasons. 

20. Ratnabali 
Devi's right shoulder fell here and the idols are Devi as Kumari (Durga) and Shiva as Bhairabha (Remover of fear). 

21. Mithila 
Devi's left shoulder fell here and the idols are Devi as Mahadevi (Devi) and Shiva as Mahodara (the big belied one). This is near Janakpur station. 

22. Chattagram (also called Chattal) 
Devi's right arm fell here and the idols are Devi as Bhavani (Devi) and Shiva as Chandrashekhar (the one who has the moon as the crown). It is said that Mahadeva has himself pronounced that he will visit Chandrashekhar mountain regularly during Kali yuga. This is near Sitakunda station. This is in Bangladesh. 

23. Manav Kschetra (Field) 
Devi's right hand or palm fell her and the idols are Devi as Dakhchayani (Durga) and Shiva as Amar (Immortal). Take train from Howrah station to Guskar station and then a few miles to Kogram. Mahadeva is considered Siddhidayaka or provider of all wishes. 

24. Ujjaini 
Devi's elbows fell here and the idols are Devi as Mangalchandi (Durga) and Shiva as Kapilambar (one who wears the brown clothes). Shiva is siddhidayaka. 

25. Manibandha 
Devi's middle of the palms fell here and the idols are Devi as Gayatri (Saraswati) and Shiva as Sarvananda (the one who makes everyone happy). 

26. Prayag (three rivers meet here) 
Devi's ten fingers fell here and the idols are Devi as Lalita (beautiful). Another name is Alopi and Shiva as Bhava. Near Tribeni ghat there is Banitirtha ghat (Quay for boats). Allahabad is the train station. 

27. Bahula 
Devi's left arm fell here and the idols are Devi as Bahula (Abundant) and Shiva as Bhiruk (who is also Sarvasiddhadayaka). Arrive at Katoa rail station and then go to Ketugram which is a pilgrimage. 

28. Jullendhar 
Devi's right breast fell here and the idols are Devi as Tripurmalini (Durga) and Shiva as Bhisan (Gruesome). Jwalamukhi is the nearby Tirtha and train goes from Delhi to Jullendhar. 

29. Ramgiri (or Chitrakoot mountain) 
Devi's left breast fell here (another opinion is that her Nala or Jaghanasti fell here) and the idols are Devi as Shibani (the wife of Shiva) and Shiva as Chanda. Near Bilaspur station and a walk of 2 miles. 

30. Vaidyanath 
Devi's heart fell here and the idols are Devi as Jaidurga (Victorious Durga) and Shiva as Vaidyanath. It is in Bihar. Joshidi is the train station. 

31. Utkal 
Devi's navel fell here and the idols are Devi as Vimala (the pure one) and Shiva as Jagannath (the ruler of the world). This is near the Jagannath temple of Puri in the state of Orissa. 

32. Kanchidesh 
Devi's skeleton fell here and the idols are Devi as Devagarbha and Shiva as Ruru. Bolpur station to Kopar river banks. There is a well for worship. 

33. Kalmadhava 
Devi's right hips fell here and the idols are Devi as Kali (another form of Durga) and Shiva as Asitananda. By praying to the Devi profusely pilgirms can obtain their desired objective. 

34. Sone (near Sone river) 
Devi's left hips fell here and the idols are Devi as Narmada and Shiva as Vadrasen. 

35. Kamakhya (or Kamroop) 
Devi's yoni fell here and the idols are Devi as Kamakhya (personification of love) and Shiva as Umananda. This is near Gauhati in the state of Assam on the banks of the Brahmaputra (the son of Brahma) river. The temple is on top of the Nilachal Hill. This is a famous pilgrimage for women seeking fertility or love. The temple is supposedly built by Kamdev, the god of love. The Umananda temple is nearby in an islet on the river. It has many pet monkeys. 

36. Nepal 
Devi's two knees fell here and the idols are Devi as Mahashira and Shiva as Kapali. 

37. Jayanti 
Devi's left thigh fell here and the idols are Devi as Jayanti and Shiva as Kramadiswar. In Bengal near Sri Hatta. 

38. Magadha 
Devi's right thigh fell here and the idols are Devi as Sarvanandari and Shiva as Bomkesha. Inside Shrihatta at Jayantipargana near the base of the Kahshia mountain Devi's legs are placed here. Srihatta to Kanairghat by boat and then walk 2 miles. In West Bengal. 

39. Tripura 
Devi's right foot fell here and the idols are Devi as Tripurasundari and Shiva as Tripuresh. Devi is grantor of all wishes or Sarvavishta pradyani. 

40. Khirgram 
Devi's right toe fell here and the idols are Devi as Yogadaya and Shiva as Khirakantha. Take Eastern Indian Railway to Bardwhan station. Take Bardhwan Katoa Rail to Nigam station. Nigam station to Khirgram (village) is 2 miles. A mela (fete) is held during Baisakha Sankranti. 

41. Kalighat (Calcutta) 
Devi's four small toes from her right foot fell here and the idols are Devi as Kali and Shiva as Nakulish or Nakuleswar. Famous pilgrimage located in Calcutta in the state of West Bengal. Kali is a dark complexioned form of Shakti who has taste for blood and death. She rules over the cremation sites and is worshipped by devotees on a dark and moon less night. She is a popular deity of Bengal. kali is the female version of Kala or end of time. 

42. Kurukchetra 
(or fields belonging to the Kuru family where the battle of the Mahbharata was fought between the Kurus and Pandus) 
Devi's right ankle fell here and the idols are Devi as Savitri or Sthanu and Shiva as Aswanath. 

43. Bakreswar 
Devi's mind or the centre of the brows fell here and the idols are Devi as Mahishamardini (the slayer of Mahishasur or Durga) and Shiva as Bakranath. Near Ahmedpur station. There are seven hot springs and also the Paphara (remover of sins) river. The Mahamuni Ashtabakra found enlightenment here. On Shivaratri (night) there is a grand Mela (fete) here.

44. Jessore 
Devi's centre of the hands fell here and the idols are Jashoreswari and Shiva as Chanda (Moon or the one who holds the moon). 

45. Nandipur 
Devi's necklace fell here and the idols are Devi as Nandini and Shiva as Nandikishore. 

46. Varanasi (Benaras) 
Devi's earrings (Kundal) fell here and the idols are Devi as VishwaLakschmi (The provider of wealth to all) and Shiva as Kala (Time or the end of time). Famous pilgrimage in UP and one of the oldest cities in the world. The Puranas say that this city exists even after the Pralaya. 

47. Kanashram or Kalikashram 
Devi's back fell here and the idols are Devi as Sharvani and Shiva as Nimisha. 

48. Sri Lanka 
Her feet bells (Nupur) fell here and the idols are Devi as Indrakschi and Shiva as Rakchaseswara. Indrakschi was created and worshipped by Indra in person. 

49. Virat 
Devi's small toes of the feet fell here and idols are Devi as Ambika and Shiva as Amrita (nectar of immortality). 

50. Bivasa 
Devi's left ankle fell here and the idols are Devi as Bhimarupa and Shiva as Sarvananda. 

51. Trisnota 
Devi's left feet fell here and the idols are Devi as Vramari (Bumblebee) and Shiva as Iswar (God). On the banks of Tista river in Shalbari village in Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal.