The Eighteen Sacred Sakti Peethas

[Guest guest]

Dr P V Sesha Sai Aswamedhayaaji

3724, Spencer's Street, #221, TORRANCE CA 90503

Camp: Tallahassee Florida CELL: 310 293 9066

5th September 2006

 

My dear friends and like minded persons

May Goddess Durga grant you all happiness, peace and prosperity.

This letter is intended to brief you on the Eighteen Sakti Peethaas

of India and their locations. The location identification is

specified in a sloka starting " Lankaayam Sankari Devi…… " As per the

sloka, the first sakti peetham of Goddess is located in Srilanka in

the name of Saankari, but amazingly no trace is found of this temple

today in Sri Lanka. Kaamakshi Goddess is in Kancheepuram around 70

kilometers from Chennai in Tamilnadu. All temples in Kanchi are

facing this temple which is quite interesting to see.

 

The third one is Goddess Mahalakshmi in Kolhapur situated in

Maharashtra. The main deity is made up of pure gem stone and we

find five headed Serpent in the name of Sesh Nag on the Crown of

Goddess. Every year the sun race falls thrice on the Lotus feet of

this Goddess. Goddess Chamundi in Mysore of Karnataka State is

another Sakti Peeth and it is believed that the Demon Mahishaasur

was killed by the Goddess at this place. Goddess Jogulamba is in

Alampuram around 27 kilometers from Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh. It

is a conjunction point for Tunga and Bhadra River when Tunga River

is said to be of Lord Vishnu and Bhadra of Lord Shiva.

 

Srunkhalaadevi of Pradyumna is situated around 80 kilometers from

Kolkatta. But then there is no trace of any temple now here, still

Gangaasagar around 135 kilometers from Kolkatta is said to be now

one of the sakti peethaas. Ekaveerika Devi Goddess is in Mahaar

situated in the Nanded District of Maharashtra. This goddess is

also worshipped in the name of Renuka Maata. One can have darshan

of this Goddess from Shirdi. Ujjain Mahaakaali is another Sakti

Peeth which is also called as the City of Avantika in the days of

Bhoj and Vikramarka. It is on the banks of Kshipra River. The

ancient Great Poet of India Kaalidaas was granted the knowledge by

this Goddess.

 

Pithapuram in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh is the Holy

Place of Puroohootika Devi. It is around 18 kilometers from

Kakinada – a port town. It is situated in the temple of Shri

Kukkuteswara Swamy. Goddess Bramaramba is in Sri Sailam – one of the

12 Jyothirlinga Places, on the banks of Holy River Krishna.

According to an old saying, death in Holy Kaasi, Bhajan or Keertan

or Jap in Arunaachalam in Tamilnadu, Just visit and darshan of God

and Goddess in Sri Sailam are said to elevate any soul and purify.

Goddess Girija Devi in Odhyanam situated 20 kilometers away from

Jaajpur in Orissa on the banks of Holy River Vaitarani is another

sakti peeth. Draksharaamam is situated in East Godavari District of

Andhra Pradesh where we can have darshan of Goddess Maanikyaa Devi.

It is just 32 kilometers from Kakinada. Assam State is the holiest

state due to Goddess Kaamaroopa Devi in Gowhati. It is just 18

kilometers from Gowhati. Every year in the month of Ashada,

Ambavaachi festival takes place here when the temple gets closed for

three/four days. This is on the banks of River Brahmaputra.

 

Goddess Vaishnavi is in Jwala Kshetra situated in Jammu and Kashmir

and it is 13 kilometers away on a hill from Katra. I do not know the

reason; we do not find a single beggar on this hill leading to the

temple. Goddess Mangalya Gowri is in Gaya around 74 kilometers from

Patna in Bihar. This place is famous for offering oblations to the

fore fathers. Goddess Visaalakshmi in Varanasi is again associated

with another Jyothirlinga of Lord Kaasi Viswanaath. It is on the

banks of Holy River Ganges in Uttar Pradesh. Goddess Madhaveswari in

Prayag is also called as Alopi Devi and it is situated a few

kilometers away from the HOLY TRIVENI SANGAMAM in Allahabad. The

last one is Goddess Saraswathi Devi in Kashmir who is also called as

Keer Bhavani. This simple paper will not permit to describe the

importance of the places more in detail. However most of you are in

receipt of my mails in detail from time to time as and when I

visited these places and described my experiences.

 

It may not be possible to cover all the places at one stretch and it

is quite tedious and time taking matter also. I suggest visiting

these places as per convenience and stay there for at least one day

so that one can experience the divinity of the place. But then, if

possible please visit these places one after another as per the

convenience starting with the forthcoming Dasara. The description

of the places is given basing on the Slokaa and I have also heard

some different places for different Sakti Peethaas. I only expect

some authoritative representative of any Sankar Peeth to come out

and clarify the doubts duly explaining the authenticity of the

places. While doing this, it is also proper for the Holy Jagadgurus

of India to clarify the places of Dwaadasa Jyothirlingas as there is

some confusion when different people of different states claim their

temples as that of a Jyothirlinga. This leads to utter confusion

amongst the religious followers, therefore, it is essential that

they come out and give proper clarification on this subject.

 

Till then, we have no other go than to by our individual beliefs.

 

All the best.

Yours affectionately

HARA HARA MAHADEVA DR P V SESHA SAI ASWAMEDHAYAAJI