Shakthi Peetham

The origin of Sakthi Pidam :

Sati, Lord Shiva's consort in spite of her husband's objection, attended the grand 'yaga' conducted by her father. Dhaksha the father-in-law of Lord Shiva intentionally ignored Shiva and his daughter in his guest list. Sati showed up at the yaga without her consort. However, Dhaksha humiliated her and her husband in his absence in front of everyone. Sati could not bare the humiliation and jumped in to the fire. When lord Shiva learnt this, he created Veerabdhra and Maha Kali from a strand of his lock to avenge Daksha. Later, lord shiva is to hurt by the news of his wife's death that he literally carries her and dances ferociously. This type of dance is called Rudra Thandava.   Bhrama, Vishnu and the rest of gods and goddess were worried and in order to subdue Lord Shiva's anger, Lord Vishnu with his 'sudharshan chakra' slashes Sati in to 51 pieces. each piece fell in to different parts of the earth. And the places were these parts fell came to be known as Shakthi Pidam.  Shakthi means Energy, Pidam means throne.  It is believed that these places resonates strong energy and are the holiest of holy places!  Going forword, I will pen down each and every story of Shakthi Pidam. 

There are different lists of 50/51/52 Shakti peethas.
These numbers resemble the Matrikas(Letters) of Sanskrit language.
This list of Panchasat Shakti peethas is collected from Tantra Chudamani.

No:	Place:	Part of the body:	Bhirava:	Shakti:
1.	Hingula (Pakistan)	Brahma randhra (Head)	Bhima lochana	Kottari
2.	Sharkarara (Maha rashtra)	Trinetra ( eyes)	Krodheesha	Mahisha mardini
3.	Sugandha (Bangla desh)	Nasika (Nose)	Triambaka	Sunanda
4.	Kashmira (Jammu&Kashmir)	Kantha desha (throat)	Tri sandhyeshwara	Maha maya
5.	Jwala mukhi (Himachal pradesh)	Jihwa (Tongue)	Unmatta/ Vatukeshwara	Siddhida/ Ambica
6.	Jalandhara (Punjab)	Vama stana (Left Breast)	Bhishana	Tripura malini/ Tripura nashini
7.	Vidya natha (Bihar)	Hridaya (heart)	Vidya natha	Jaya durga
8.	Nepala (Nepal)	Janu dwaya (Knees)	Kapali	Maha maya
9.	Manasa (Tibet)	Dakshina hasta (Right hand/palm)	Amara/ Hara	Dakshaini
10.	Utkala/ Viraja (Orissa)	Nabhi (Navel)	Jagannatha	Vimala/ Vijaya
11.	Gandaki (Nepal)	Dakshina ganda (Right Cheek)	Chakra pani	Gandaki chandi
12.	Bahula (West bebgal)	Vama bahu (Left arm)	Bhiruka/ Tivraka	Bahula
13.	Ujjaini (Madhya pradesh)	Kurpara (Elbow)	Kapilambara	Mangala chandi
14.	Chattala (Bangla desh)	Dakshina bahu (Right Hand)	Chandra sekhara	Bhavani
15.	Tripura (Tripura)	Dakshina pada (Right Foot)	Tripuresha	Tripura
16.	Trisrota (West bengal)	Vama pada (Left Foot)	Ambara/ Eshwara	Bhramari
17.	Kama giri/ Kama rupa desha (Assam)	Maha mudra/ (Vagina) Yoni	Umananda	Kamakhya/ Dasha maha vidya
18.	Yugadya/ Ksheera grama (West bengal)	Dakshina (right foot) padangushta	Ksheera kantaka	Bhoota dhatri
19.	Kali peetha (West bengal)	Dakshina padanguli (Right Toes)	Nakuleesha	Kali
20.	Prayaga (Uttar pradesh)	Hastanguli (Fingers)	Bhava	Lalitha
21.	Jayanti (Bangladesh)	Vama jangha (Left Thigh)	Kramadeeshwara	Jayanti
22.	Kireeta/ Kireeta kona (West bengal)	Kireeta (Crown)	Samvarta/ Siddha rupa	Vimala/ Bhuvaneshi
23.	Manikarnika/ Varanasi (Uttar pradesh)	Karna kundala (earring)	Kala bhirava	Vishalakshi
24.	Kanyashrama (Bangladesh)	Prishta (Back)	Nimisha	Sharvani
25.	Kurukshetra (Haryana)	Dakshina gulpha (Right Ankle)	Sthanu	Savitri
26.	Manivedika (Rajasthan)	Mani bandha (Wrists)	Sarvananda/ Sharvananda	Gayatri
27.	Srisaila/ Sri hatta (Andhra pradesh)	Greeva (Neck)	Samvarananda/ Shambarananda	Maha lakshmi
28.	Kanchi (Tamil nadu)	Kankala ( Ottiyana (Ornament covering stomach)	Ruru	Deva garbha/ Veda garbha
29.	Kala madhava (Assam)	Vama nitamba (Left Hips/buttocks)	Asitanga	Kali
30.	Shona (Madhya pradesh)	Dakshina nitamba ( Right Hips/buttocks)	Bhadra sena	Narmada
31.	Rama giri/ Raja giri (Uttar pradesh)	Dakshina stana (right Breast)	Chanda	Shivani
32.	Brindavana (Uttar pradesh)	Kesha jala (Hair)	Bhootesha/ Krishna natha	Uma/ Katyaini
33.	Shuchi/ Anala (Tamil nadu)	Oordhwa danta pankti (Upper teeth)	Samhara/ Samkrura	Narayani
34.	Pancha sagara (Maharashtra)	Adho danta pankti (base Teeth)	Maha rudra	Varahi
35.	Kara toya tata (Bangladesh)	Vama talpa (North )	Vamana	Aparna
36.	Sri parvata (Andhra pradesh)	Dakshina talpa (Right )	Sundarananda	Sundari
37.	Vibhasa (West bengal)	Vama gulpha (Left ankle)	Sarvananda	Kapali/ Bhima rupa
38.	Prabhasa (Gujarat)	Udara (Belly/stomach/abdominon)	Vakra tunda	Chandra bhaga
39.	Bhirava parvata (Madhya pradesh)	Oordhvoshta (upper lips)	Lamba karna	Avanti
40.	Jana sthana (Maharashtra)	Chibuka (Chin)	Vikritaksha	Bhramari
41.	Godavari teetra (Andhra pradesh)	Vama ganda (Left Cheek)	Danda pani/ Vatsa nabha	Vishwa matrika/ Rakini
42.	Ratnavali (West bengal)	Dakshina skandha (Right shoulder)	Shiva	Kumari
43.	Mithila (Nepal)	Vama skandha (North Shoulder)	Mahodara	Uma devi/ Maha devi
44.	Nalahati (West bengal)	Nala (Vocal chord with part of the tracheae)	Yogeeshwara	Kali
45.	Karnata (Karnataka)	Karna (ear)	Abhiru	Jaya durga
46.	Vakreshwara (West bengal)	Manas (Heart)	Vakra natha	Mahisha mardini
47.	Yashora (Bangla desh)	Vama hasta ( Left Hand)	Chanda	Yashoreshwari
48.	Attahasa (West bengal)	Adharoshta(lower lips)	Vishweshwara	Pullara
49.	Nandi pura (West bengal)	Kantha hara (Neck lace)	Nandikeshwara	Nandini
50.	Lanka (Sri lanka)	Nupura (Anklet)	Rakshaseshwara	Indrakshi
51.-	Virata (Rajasthan)	Vama padanguli (Left Toe)	Amrita	Ambika
52.?	Magadha (Bihar)	Dakshina jangha (Right Thigh)	Vyoma kesha	Sarvanandakari

Danteshwari Temple

In ancient days when Bastar area was famous by the name of Chakrakot, present Dantewada region was known as Tarlapal. The kings of Chalukya Dynasty made Barsur their capital and ruled this region; in course of time they transferred their thrown to Dantewada. Along with Chalukya Kings their ancestral deity of Warangal also came and got established in a temple as Danteshwari near the confluence of Dankini and Shankini rivers and thus this place is called Dantewada.

It is believed that Danteshwari of Chalukya kings is the changed name of Manikeshwari of the kings of Naga Dynasty, who ruled this region earlier to Chalukyas. Chalukya Kings had the temple constructed during fourteenth century.

According to a prevalent myth in connection with Danteshwari, due to an insult committed by her father Prajapati Daksha towards her consort Lord Shiva during a Yaggya, Goddess Sati got frustrated and committed self-immolation in the fire pit of yaggya. Lord Vishnu cut the dead body of Goddess Sati into pieces with his Sudarshan to make Lord Shiva free from the grief caused by the death of Sati. Parts of the dead body of Goddess Sati were scattered to fifty-two different places, which were consecrated as Shakti Pithas by different names. It is believed that a tooth of Sati had fallen here and Danteshwari Shaktipith was established.

Resurrection of the present construction of temple was done before Independence of India. The temple is divided into four parts such as Garbh Griha, Maha Mandap, Mukhya Mandap and Sabha Mandap. Garbha Griha and Maha Mandap were constructed with stone pieces. It is said that several statues were brought from Barsur and were established here. A Garud Pillar has been erected in front of entrance of the temple, which was brought from the temple of Barsur.

Chalukya rulers were the dedicated devotees of Danteshwari. Whenever they came from Bastar to obtain a glimpse of goddess, a village was offered to the name of goddess. The number of these villages, thus became as much as one hundred and forty four by 1909, it has become a Mukasha or Maphi Jagir (estate, received from a ruler as a gift or reward). Temple’s management was done by the Zia family and followers of this family have been performing the worship hereditarily till today. 

NOTE:  Temple story is taken from here.

Moongil Anai Kamakshi kovil-Theni

The following temple is a unique Dravidian Temple. It echoes that idol worship is not the only way to connect to ones creator.

Kamakshi Amman, lamp on either side is burning since 500 years

ghee pots at the temple storage

More Ghee

Kamakshi Amman in Chest form

The Temple is located in Devadanapatti, near Pariyakulam in Theni Dist.; TN. Devadanapatti is located at the foothills of Kodaikanal Hills. The place is beautiful, serene and unperturbed by the mans interference. Temple is surrounded with lush green forests, waterfalls, creeks and other wild animals & birds. Temple is unique in every sense. The uniqueness is that it has no Temple Towers, Doors or Idols. Yes, there are no Idols in the sacred sanctums here. The main deity here is Kamakshi Amman. The idol is replaced with a door. Yes, door is worshiped here and it is revered as goddess Kamakshi. The other difference is that whole coconut and unpeeled bananas are offered. The coconuts are broken after the Aarathi. In most of the temples, coconuts are broken in to two first, followed by abhishekam and only after that aarathi is taken. A lot of rituals are different. The lamps of this temple are lit only with clarified butter (ghee). A lamp that was lit some 500 years ago is still burning to this date in this temple. Devotees offer mainly ghee to the temple. There is a storage room with no doors and pots of ghee are accumulated. Some of the pots in this storage are as old has 500 years. The pots do not have coverlids; they are open and their aroma wafts around the temple complex. The ghee is still fresh, and has not gone off. They do not attract any insects either. Devotees believe this is because of Goddess Kamakshi’s blessings!

Mungil Anai Kaakshi Amman Kovil

A view of the temple

Outer view

Another view

Lizard similar to theone in Kanchi Temple

There is an interesting story behind this temple. ‘Amman Macchu’ is the moola-stanam of the temple. Amman Macchu is located farther away from this temple. When traveled from Devadanapaatti towards the Kodaikanal foothills one can find a Manjalaru Dam. Once crossed the dam, starts the beginning of a mud trail. While hiking further, we get two creeks namely olaiaru and majlaru, respectively. The trail leads to “Amman Macchu’’. This is the place where the goddess Kamakshi did penance to subdue her anger after killing ‘Asura’ a demon who tormented people of all lokas. Goddess came here and did penance in a bamboo bush. For the love of her devotees, goddess Kamakshi came here as a newborn baby, she was placed in a huge chest that was afloat in Manjalaru. She already communicated her arrival to her devotees in their dreams. As per her instruction devotees waited for her arrival. As the chest was floating, the bamboo trees of Manjalaru stopped it. The people understood that the baby inside it is the Kamakshi. Hence the goddess here is known as ‘Mungil Anai Kamakshi.’ Which loosely translates to ‘Bamboo fence Kamakshi’. During every temple festival, the procession being from ‘Amman Macchu’ the temple festival is celebrated in Maasi (Feb-March) month’s Amavasai (no-moon day) that coincides with Shiva Rathri. It was goddess's order that the temple should be built away from Amman Macchu. Devotees throng this temple for both to fulfill their wishes and to thank the goddess for the offerings received.

Hay Roof

Manjal Aru

Amman Maachu

Ant House, goddess penanced here

Just a few yards away, on a hill sits the Karupanna Swamy temple. He is the official caretaker of Mungil Anai Kamakshi Temple. He also considered as the brother of Goddess Kamakshi. Before visiting the Goddess temple, it is a rule to visit Karpanna Swamy Temple. It is believed that Karpanna swamy temple was closer to the Kamakshi temple. However, later he moved away from the temple. Karpanna Swamy is a stanch non-vegetarian while his sister Kamakshi is a pure vegetarian. Due to the differences, he moved away to the near by hill. However, he did not abjure is duty from guarding his sister’s temple and the village. Around the temple complex’s there are many small sanctums for many gods and goddesses, like said before there are no idols and doors in these smalls sanctums just the name plate.

Karupanna Swamy Sannidhi

Karupanna swamy temple at top

Karuppana Swamy

There is a reason as why the idols are not kept inside the sacred sanctums. The worshipping of door in this temple came in to practice after a tiff between the priest and the king. To express priest’s dissatisfaction, he locked the sacred sanctum and went home and never returned. The locked sanctum was never opened again, and all the prayers were offered to the door instead. She is in ‘chest’ form. The temple tower is replaced with a dome made out of hays called Nana Pull. When the temple sanctum was closed down, the goddess again appeared in her devotees’ dreams to watch out for her, she gave all the instructions as well. Like before, she again arrived in a chest form. This time the chest was stopped by the ‘Naananpull’ a type of grass. People weaved a hut using these hays. This replaced the usual sacred tower. Raja Kumbalathar are the ones who manage and maintain this temple. An elderly male (above 60) from Raja Kumbalathar Nayakanmar family changes the hay roof by weaving a new one. There are certain rituals that need to be followed before weaving a new roof. They have to fast for 48 days, should collect all the materials required from Murugamalai, a dense forest. When all the materials are gathered the elder person should climb upstairs blind folded from the backside of the sacred sanctum to the terrace and weaves it without looking in to it. Until they are done they are not supposed to leave and women are prohibited from entering the temple, till the weaving work is finished. Once it is completed, abishkam is done to the door.

Murugamalai

The Holy Chest

Sairaksha Pooja is done every evening. The prayers are carried out with blowing of conch, and beating of sekandi (kind of percussion instrument). After this pooja pin-drop silence is maintained at the temple. It is believed that Goddess kamakshi is still alive and meditates every evening. This is a temple that says idols are not the only way to come closer to god, one can still connect to the God/creator without having to worship idol. God is everywhere and it us who needs to realize this absolute truth!