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It is believed that Shakti Peeth are the most revered Shakti shrines for the Shakti worshippers. These temples are the ones that celebrate the power of the Mother Goddess. It is believed that out of 51 shakti peeth in Himachal Pradesh you can find 5 of these temples. These temples are very popular for the devotees. Furthermore on a daily basis the Shakti worshippers visit these temples to offer their prayer to the powerful goddess. These temples are believed to be ancient and the popular beliefs and folklore attached to them makes them an important site for visitors. So if you are interested to know about the Shakti peeth in Himachal Pradesh keep on reading this article. Also I will share details and list of Shakti peeth in Himachal Pradesh here. So this will be a helpful read for you.
How many Shakti Peeth in Himachal Pradesh are there?
There are 5 Shakti Peeth in Himachal Pradesh. All Shakti Peeth in Himachal Pradesh are believed to have formed based on a legend. According to popular belief, once Devi Sati attended a Yajna against the wishes of Lord Shiva. This Yajna was organized by her father Daksha. However on reaching there, Devi Sati was badly humiliated there. Even Lord Shiva was humiliated and Devi Sati could not bear it. She therefore decided to sacrifice herself into the fire of the yajna.
When Lord Shiva came to know about this he was furious and unable to control his anger. He took the corpse of Devi Sati and started his dance of destruction. His Tandaav was causing a lot of trouble and then Lord Vishnu came to rescue. He had to stop Lord Shiva as the world would have been destroyed if his dance continued. So Lord Vishnu left his Chakra to cut off the pieces of Devi Sati’s body. In places where the body parts of Devi Sati fell the Shakti Peeth were formed. Out of 51 Shakti Peeth in Himachal Pradesh you can find 5 of them here.
- Mata Jwala Ji Temple
- Shri Maa Chintpurni Temple
- Shri Bajreshwari Devi Temple
- Shri Chamunda Devi Temple
- Mata Shri Naina Devi Temple
Mata Jwala Ji Temple
Address: Jwala Ji Temple Roa, Kohala, Jwalamukhi, Himachal Pradesh
Timings: 5 am to 11 pm on all days
Body part of the Goddess: Tongue
This Shakti Peeth in Himachal Pradesh is believed to be one of the oldest temples of Shakti Peeth. It is one such temple that has been mentioned in the Mahabharata itself. It is believed that this was the first ever temple to be built by the Pandavas. Furthermore this highly venerated Shakti shrine is not only revered in Himachal Pradesh but in whole India. Located 34 km away from the South of Kangra the temple is located in the lap of Shivalik range. It is situated in the district of Kangra in Jwala Mukhi. According to mythology it is believed that the Tongue of the Goddess fell here. However one of the most important things about this temple is that there is no idol in this temple. Instead there are some flames or Jwala as it is called which is worshipped here.
The inner structure of Jwala Ji Temple is a small dome with a square pit in the centre. There are flames inside that pit that burns without any fuel. Furthermore it is believed that along with the tongue of Goddess Sati the eternal flames of Sati’s Yogic power also fell here. The flames here continue to burn and never go off. These flames are worshipped as Nine Flames for the nine forms of the Goddess. According to scientific justification there is a natural jet of combustible gas that comes from the fissure of the rock. This is however the reason that the flames continue burning. But people still believe in their faith and worship the flame as the Goddess.
Ritual:
Daily ritual in the temple includes five aartis and one hawan everyday. On a regular basis thousands of devotees visit the Jwala Ji Mata Temple. As a sign of devotion the devotees offer Flowers, Chunri, Fruits, Milk, Mishri and Rabdi to the goddess. Jwalaji Temple to Chintpuri Shakti Peeth in Himachal Pradesh is only 35 km apart. You can plan to visit both the Shakti Peeth in Himachal Pradesh on the same day itself as well.
Shri Maa Chintpurni Temple
Address: VPO Chintpurni, Himachal Pradesh
Timings: Open 24 hours
Body part of the Goddess: Forehead
Located in a small town of Chintpurni of the Una district in Himachal Pradesh this is a revered Shakti Peeth. This Shakti peeth in Himachal Pradesh is situated at an elevation of 977 metres on the lap of lower Shivalik range. Here the Goddess Chinnamastika is worshipped by the devotees. According to popular belief the forehead of Goddess Sati fell here. It is believed that here the Goddess relives the Chinta or stress of her devotees.
Devi Chinnamasta or Chinnamastika literally means a severed head. According to Markendaya Purana Goddess Chandi defeated a fierce demon once. But her two yoginis Jaya and Vijaya were still thirsty for blood. And therefore the Goddess Chandi herself cut off her head to quench their thirst. It is believed that cutting off the head suggests separation of mind and body. This in terms points towards the freedom of consciousness from the physical body and the confines of materials. Furthermore the Goddess is seen holding her own head while drinking the stream of blood. Alongside there is Jaya and Vijaya drinking the other streams of blood coming out of the neck of the Goddess.
This Shakti Peeth in Himachal Pradesh is one of the revered shrines visited by thousands of people regularly. For centuries the devotees have been visiting here to pay their visit to the powerful Goddess. It is believed that if someone prays from their heart the Goddess fulfills their wishes. Other than being a powerful shakti shrine the temple is also picturesque and is a popular sightseeing spot in Himachal Pradesh.
Shri Bajreshwari Devi Temple
Address: Mandir Road, Haripur, New Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
Timings: 6 am to 12 pm and 12:30 pm to 8 pm
Also known as the Kangra Devi Mandir is located in the town of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the shakti peeth in Himachal Pradesh that is considered a revered shrine. Furthermore this temple has a pindi or a stone idol with a silver umbrella on top. The umbrella is decorated with flowers and jewellery. At the entrance of the temple there is Nagarkhana or drum house and the structure is very similar to Bassein Fort entrance.
It is believed that the original temple was first built by the Pandavas. But later in 1905 this temple was destroyed by a massive earthquake. Furthermore it was again rebuilt by the government after that. On a regular basis many devotees visit here to pay their visit to the Goddess. Makar Sankranti is one of the festivals which is celebrated here with much grandeur.
Read More: SHAKTI PEETH IN WEST BENGAL, HOW MANY SHAKTI PEETH IN WEST BENGAL
Shri Chamunda Devi Temple
Address: Chamunda Temple Path, Pasar, Himachal Pradesh
Body part of the Goddess: Ears
Also known as the Chamnuda Nandikeshwar Dham, this is another Shakti Peeth in Himachal Pradesh located in Kangra district. This temple is believed to be the abode of both Lord Shiva and Shakti. It is believed that the ears of Devi Sati fell here. Previously the Aadi Himani Chamunda Devi Temple was located at the hilltop. Furthermore it was hard for the devotees to reach the temple. According to popular belief Goddess Chamunda appeared in the dream of a priest. And she gave her consent to form a temple at a more accessible location. Therefore an idol was found exactly at the position where the temple is located at present.
This Shakti peeth in Himachal Pradesh is one of the popular shrines in Himachal Pradesh. Because of the Himachali architecture of this temple it is also one of the most popular tourist attractions in Himachal Pradesh. People from all over the world visit this temple to offer their prayers to the Goddess.
Mata Shri Naina Devi Temple
Address: Naina Devi, Himachal Pradesh
Timings: 6 am to 10 pm
Body part of the Goddess: Eyes
This Shakti Peeth in Himachal Pradesh is located in the Bilaspur district. It is believed that Devi Sati’s eyes fell here. The temple is located on top of the hill and you can reach there by road. Cable car facilities are also available here to reach the temple. Shri Naina Devi Temple is also known as the Mahishapeeth because of the defeat of demon Mahisasura. Mahisasura was a powerful demon who was blessed with immortality. Only an unmarried woman could kill him. So the Goddess was gifted with different weapons by all the Gods. She told Mahisasura that she will marry him if he can overpower her. But instead the Goddess killed him and took out both the eyes and hence the name of Naina Devi.
Wrapping Up!
Now that you have the list of Shakti peeth in Himachal Pradesh plan visits to these temples. The ambience, belief and the historical importance of these temples will have your heart. Furthermore for Shakti worshippers visiting these temples can be very peaceful. If you are in Himachal Pradesh or if you are visiting there, then include visiting the Shakti Peeth in Himachal Pradesh in your itinerary. I am sure you will enjoy the experience of visiting these temples. Let me know if you have visited any of these shakti peeth in Himachal Pradesh. Also let me know when you are planning a visit to Himachal Pradesh. I hope this article on Shakti Peeth in Himachal Pradesh is helpful for you.
