Ashtadasa Shakti Peetha
अष्टादश शक्ति पीठानिఅష్టాదశ శక్తి పీఠాలు
18 temples in the tradition. Listed in the order tradition follows. The note at the foot of the page says how much of that order a text actually fixes.
In the traditional order
- 1
Shankari Devi, Trincomalee
சங்கரி தேவி
Trincomalee, Eastern Province
Shankari in Lanka: where the list begins. Sati burns herself after her father Daksha reviles Shiva. Shiva carries her body across the land until Vishnu cuts it apart, and every place where a part falls becomes a seat of the…
- 2
Kamakshi Amman Temple
காமாட்சி அம்மன் கோயில்
Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
Sati's body and the seats of the Goddess. At Daksha's sacrifice Sati gives up her body in a yogic fire. Shiva carries the body in grief until Vishnu cuts it apart, and each place where a part falls becomes a seat of the Goddess.…
- 3
Shrinkhala Devi, Pandua
শৃঙ্খলা দেবী
Pandua, West Bengal
Shrinkhala at Pradyumna: a seat without a settled place. Sati burns herself after her father Daksha reviles Shiva; Shiva carries her body until Vishnu cuts it apart, and each place where a part falls becomes a seat of the goddess. The…
- 4
Chamundeshwari Temple
ಚಾಮುಂಡೇಶ್ವರಿ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ
Mysuru, Karnataka
Sati's body and the seats of the Goddess. At Daksha's sacrifice Sati gives up her body in a yogic fire. Shiva carries the body in grief until Vishnu cuts it apart, and each place where a part falls becomes a seat of the Goddess.…
- 5
Jogulamba Temple
జోగులాంబ ఆలయం
Alampur, Telangana
Sati's body and the seats of the Goddess. At Daksha's sacrifice Sati gives up her body in a yogic fire. Shiva carries the body in grief until Vishnu cuts it apart, and each place where a part falls becomes a seat of the Goddess.…
- 6
Bhramaramba Temple, Srisailam
భ్రమరాంబ అమ్మవారి ఆలయం
Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh
Sati's body and the seats of the Goddess. At Daksha's sacrifice Sati gives up her body in a yogic fire. Shiva carries the body in grief until Vishnu cuts it apart, and each place where a part falls becomes a seat of the Goddess.…
- 7
Mahalakshmi (Ambabai) Temple, Kolhapur
श्री महालक्ष्मी (अंबाबाई) मंदिर, कोल्हापूर
Kolhapur, Maharashtra
The seat at Karavira. In the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Sati gives up the body born of Daksha after her father insults Shiva. Shiva carries her body across the land until Vishnu cuts it apart with his arrows, and…
- 8
Renuka Devi Temple, Mahur
श्री रेणुका देवी मंदिर, माहूर
Mahur, Maharashtra
Renuka's head at Mahur. In the Mahabharata, the sage Jamadagni orders his sons to kill their mother Renuka after she is stirred by the sight of King Chitraratha. Four sons refuse and are cursed; the youngest,…
- 9
Harsiddhi Temple, Ujjain
हरसिद्धि माता मंदिर, उज्जैन
Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
Mahakali at Ujjayini. In the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Sati gives up her body after Daksha insults Shiva, Shiva carries it across the land, and Vishnu cuts it apart; each place where a part falls becomes a seat…
- 10
Puruhutika Devi Temple
పురుహూతికా దేవి ఆలయం
Pithapuram, Andhra Pradesh
Sati's left hand. In the shared account, Sati gives up her body at Daksha's sacrifice, Shiva carries it in grief, and Vishnu cuts it apart; each place where a part falls becomes a seat of the Goddess. At…
- 11
Biraja Temple, Jajpur
ବିରଜା ମନ୍ଦିର, ଯାଜପୁର
Jajpur, Odisha
Girija at Odhyana. In the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Sati gives up her body after Daksha insults Shiva; Shiva carries it across the land until Vishnu cuts it apart, and each place where a part falls becomes a…
- 12
Manikyamba Temple, Draksharamam
మాణిక్యాంబ అమ్మవారి ఆలయం
Ramachandrapuram, Andhra Pradesh
Eighteen pieces, cut by the discus. Daksha excluded Shiva and Sati from his sacrifice. Sati went uninvited, was humiliated, and gave up her life. Shiva took up her body in the dance of dissolution, and Vishnu's discus cut…
- 13
Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati
কামাখ্যা মন্দিৰ
Guwahati, Assam
Where the womb fell. In the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Sati gives up her body after Daksha insults Shiva, Shiva carries it across the land, and Vishnu cuts it apart; each place where a part falls becomes a seat…
- 14
Alopi Devi Temple, Prayagraj
अलोपी देवी मंदिर, प्रयागराज
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
Madhaveshwari at Prayaga. In the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Sati gives up her body after Daksha insults Shiva; Shiva carries it across the land until Vishnu cuts it apart, and each place where a part falls becomes a…
- 15
Jwalamukhi (Jwala Ji)
ज्वालामुखी
Jawalamukhi, Himachal Pradesh
The tongue that fell, and the king who found the flames. Sati gives up her body after her father Daksha reviles Shiva. Shiva carries her body across the land until Vishnu cuts it apart, and each place where a part falls becomes a seat of the…
- 16
Mangla Gauri Temple
मंगला गौरी मंदिर
Gaya, Bihar
Mangala at Gaya: the seat of nourishment. Sati burns herself after her father Daksha reviles Shiva. Shiva wanders with her body until Vishnu cuts it apart, and the places where the parts fall become seats of the goddess. The…
- 17
Vishalakshi Temple
विशालाक्षी मंदिर
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
The face of Gauri in Kashi. In the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Sati burns herself after Daksha reviles Shiva, and Shiva carries her body across the land until Vishnu cuts it apart with his arrows. In the Purana's list…
- 18
Sharada Peeth
Sharda, Pakistan-administered Kashmir
Sarasvati in Kashmir. The Shakti Peethas rest on one story: Sati burns herself after her father Daksha reviles Shiva, Shiva wanders carrying her body, and Vishnu cuts it apart so that each place where a part…
Plan the circuit
Side by side, so you can see the season, the walking and the nearest station for each. Where we have not confirmed something, the cell says so. Always check dates and conditions before you travel — especially with elders.
Not yet confirmed for any of these temples: main months.
- Shankari Devi, Trincomalee
- Nearest station / airport
- Trincomalee railway station
Not yet confirmed: darshan hours, altitude, walking and access.
- Kamakshi Amman Temple
- Darshan hours
- 5:30 am – 12:00 pm
- Nearest station / airport
- Kanchipuram railway station · Chennai International Airport
Not yet confirmed: altitude, walking and access.
- Shrinkhala Devi, Pandua
- Nearest station / airport
- Pundooah railway station, Howrah–Bardhaman main line
Not yet confirmed: darshan hours, altitude, walking and access.
- Chamundeshwari Temple
- Darshan hours
- 7:30 am – 2:00 pm
- Walking and access
- The temple is reached by road from Mysuru by city bus or taxi; a stepped footpath also climbs the hill past the Nandi. We have not yet been able to confirm the step count or wheelchair access.
- Nearest station / airport
- Mysuru Junction (MYS) · Mysore Airport (MYQ)
Not yet confirmed: altitude.
- Jogulamba Temple
- Darshan hours
- 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Nearest station / airport
- Alampur Road railway station
Not yet confirmed: altitude, walking and access.
- Bhramaramba Temple, Srisailam
- Nearest station / airport
- Markapur Road railway station · Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad
Not yet confirmed: darshan hours, altitude, walking and access.
- Mahalakshmi (Ambabai) Temple, Kolhapur
- Darshan hours
- 4:00 am – 10:00 pm
- Nearest station / airport
- Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus, Kolhapur (KOP) · Kolhapur Airport (Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj Airport)
Not yet confirmed: altitude, walking and access.
- Renuka Devi Temple, Mahur
- Walking and access
- The hilltop shrines are reached by stone steps — roughly 200–250 according to Outlook Traveller. We know of no ropeway or step-free route.
- Nearest station / airport
- Kinwat railway station · Nanded Airport
Not yet confirmed: darshan hours, altitude.
- Harsiddhi Temple, Ujjain
- Nearest station / airport
- Ujjain railway station · Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar International Airport, Indore
Not yet confirmed: darshan hours, altitude, walking and access.
- Puruhutika Devi Temple
- Nearest station / airport
- Pithapuram railway station · Rajahmundry Airport
Not yet confirmed: darshan hours, altitude, walking and access.
- Biraja Temple, Jajpur
- Nearest station / airport
- Jajpur Keonjhar Road railway station · Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar
Not yet confirmed: darshan hours, altitude, walking and access.
- Manikyamba Temple, Draksharamam
Not yet confirmed: darshan hours, altitude, walking and access, nearest station / airport.
- Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati
- Darshan hours
- 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Nearest station / airport
- Guwahati railway station (GHY) · Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (GAU), Guwahati
Not yet confirmed: altitude, walking and access.
- Alopi Devi Temple, Prayagraj
- Nearest station / airport
- Prayagraj Junction · Prayagraj Airport (Bamrauli)
Not yet confirmed: darshan hours, altitude, walking and access.
- Jwalamukhi (Jwala Ji)
- Darshan hours
- 6:00 am – 11:30 am
- Walking and access
- The district administration notes that the temple stands on a hill, so expect a short climb or steps. We have no confirmed step count or details of wheelchair access.
- Nearest station / airport
- Jawalaji Road (Ranital), narrow gauge · Gaggal Airport (Kangra–Dharamshala)
Not yet confirmed: altitude.
- Mangla Gauri Temple
- Darshan hours
- 6:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Walking and access
- The temple is on a hilltop, reached by steps or by a motorable road (Bihar Tourism). We have not yet found a step count or details of wheelchair access.
- Nearest station / airport
- Gaya Junction (GAYA) · Gaya Airport (GAY), Bodh Gaya
Not yet confirmed: altitude.
- Vishalakshi Temple
- Darshan hours
- 6:00 am – 10:00 pm
- Walking and access
- The temple is in the old city, where Incredible India suggests walking, autorickshaws or cycle rickshaws for the last stretch. We have not yet found reliable information on wheelchair access.
- Nearest station / airport
- Varanasi Junction (BSB) · Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS)
Not yet confirmed: altitude.
- Sharada Peeth
- Altitude
- 1,981 m
- Walking and access
- The temple stands on a hill reached by a stone stairway (Dawn, 2018). Access for Indian visitors is restricted by permit, as above. No other accessibility information has been found.
Not yet confirmed: darshan hours, nearest station / airport.
Other identifications
Some places in this circuit are identified differently by different traditions or scholars. Each view is given; we do not settle it.
Koneswaram Trincomalee
Identified by: A recent identification of the Lanka slot with the Koneswaram temple at Trincomalee.
The other view
The identification is undetermined. The Koneswaram temple's own documentation does not mention Shankari Devi or this list at all, so the two accounts do not corroborate each other.
Shrinkhala Gujarat
Identified by: A Gujarat identification of the Pradyumna slot.
The other view
Other sources place it at Pandua in Hooghly district, West Bengal, where the shrine no longer stands and the site is not open. Candidate Gujarat sites surfaced in search but could not be reached to verify.
Where this list and its order comes from
- Hymn: Aṣṭādaśa Śakti Pīṭha Stotram, vv. 1–5a, beginning Laṅkāyāṃ Śāṅkarī devī. Traditionally attributed to Adi Shankara; no scholarly or manuscript source confirming that attribution could be traced, so authorship is traditional rather than established. No critical edition or verse numbering was found. hindupedia.com · seen 2026-09-18
A note for the curious
Eighteen slots are fixed by the stotram. The identification of several with a surviving temple is unsettled — the Lanka slot has no established shrine, and the Pradyumna slot is claimed in both West Bengal and Gujarat.