Shakti peethas Outside India: Sacred Devi Temples Across South Asia

om vishva-rupinyai namah

This is one of the thousand names of the Divine Mother, Ma Lalita Tripura Sundari, mentioned in the Lalita Sahasranaam. As Vishva-rupini, she is the one whose very body is the cosmos. Devi resides in the universe and is not restricted by any walls or borders. Her grace flows beyond the mental and physical boundaries of human understanding.

To help a grieving Mahadev and save the universe, Sri Vishnu cut Devi Sati's body into pieces with his Sudarshan Chakra. Her limbs fell across the earth, creating the holy Shakti Peethas. In our previous blogs, we traced the Shaktipeethas across the length and breadth of India.

In this blog, we explore the Shakti Peethas beyond our country, sacred centres across neighboring countries that resonate with Devi Ma's presence.

Highlights of the blog:

• Gandaki Devi Shaktipeeth, Muktinath (Nepal)
• Guhyeshwari Shaktipeeth, Kathmandu (Nepal)
• Dakshayani Devi Shaktipeeth, Manas (Tibet)
• Bhabanipur Shaktipeeth, Karatoya, Bhabanipur (Bangladesh)
• Jashoreswari Devi Shaktipeeth, Jessore (Bangladesh)
• Sugandha Devi Shaktipeeth, Shikarpur (Bangladesh)
• Kottari Devi Shaktipeeth, Hinglaj (Pakistan)
• Shivaharkaray Shaktipeeth, Karavipur, Karachi (Pakistan)
• Indrakshi Shaktipeeth, Manipallavam (Sri Lanka)

Gandaki Devi Shaktipeeth, Muktinath (Nepal)

(Gandaki Devi Shaktipeeth, Muktinath in Nepal)

The meeting point of Buddhism, Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Shaktism, Nepal is home to several temples. One of the famous sites of Devi worship is the Gandaki Devi Shakti Peeth in Muktinath.

The Gandaki River (also known as Gandak and Narayani) flows through the sacred land of Muktinath or Chumig Gyatsa, a place famous for Buddhist tantric practice. The bestower of siddhis, Gandaki is also the source of the highly revered Shaligram stones (an embodiment of Lord Vishnu), which are considered a boon from Devi herself.

Devi Sati's right cheek fell in Muktinath, making it a Shaktipeeth. Here, Devi Ma is popularly known as Gandaki Chandi, and Lord Bhairav is present as Chakrapani, the one with a disc in his hand.

Muktinath (one of the 108 Divya Desham) is closely linked to the Ashvamedha Yagna performed by King Dashrath, the king of Ayodhya and Sri Ram's father. According to the legend, Raja Dashrath held this yagna to expand his territorial power and authority over other lands and kingdoms. A consecrated white horse, which was allowed to roam freely in these kingdoms, became exhausted by the time it reached Mithila. Situated in Nepal, Mithila was ruled by King Janak, father of Ma Sita. With her wisdom and compassion, Ma Sita not only brought the yagna to a halt but even took care of the injured horse.

Guhyeshwari Shaktipeeth, Kathmandu (Nepal)

(Guhyeshwari Shaktipeeth in Kathmandu)

Flowing through the Kathmandu valley in Nepal is the Bagmati River, which holds great spiritual significance for both Hindus and Buddhists. On its banks, the powerful Shaktipeeth of Ma Guhyeshwari is situated. Towards the west of Ma Guhyeshwari lies the temple of her consort, Lord Pashupatinath.

The word Guhya means something that is hidden from our ordinary senses. It is the place where Devi Sati's reproductive organ fell. The Guhyeshwari temple looks like a hidden underground cave with a natural spring. Water always flows gently out of the ground, covered by a silver kalash (pot).

As Guhyakali, Devi Ma resides as the Goddess of the cremation ground located on the Bagmati Ghats. At this Shaktipeeth, Devi's Bhairava is worshipped as Kapali, the bearer of skulls.

In the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, the Devi at this Shakti Peeth is worshipped in her Vajrayogini form. In tantric practices, worshipping this form of Devi helps attain enlightenment. Vajrayogini Devi is often associated with Ma Chinnamasta, one of the Das Mahavidyas of tantric worship.

Dakshayani Devi Shaktipeeth, Manas (Tibet)

(Dakshayani Devi Shaktipeeth, Manas)

Mount Kailash in the Mansarovar region is considered the spiritual centre or the point of connection between the physical and spiritual worlds. Near the foothills of these mountains, on the banks of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet, Mother Divine resides as Dakshayani Devi or Mansa Devi.

'Dakshayani' means the daughter of Daksh. It is believed that the right hand of Devi Sati fell here in Tibet. The presiding Bhairav of this Shakti Peeth is Lord Amar.

A unique feature of the Dakshayani Devi Shaktipeeth is that it does not have a traditional temple structure or vigrah. It is entirely an open-air natural site. Here, the Devi is worshipped in the form of a boulder. The auspicious lake known as Gauri Kund or Parvati Sarovar, where Ma Parvati created Lord Ganesh, is situated in the surrounding Mount Kailash region.

Bhabanipur Shaktipeeth, Karatoya, Bhabanipur (Bangladesh)

(Bhabanipur Shaktipeeth, Bangladesh)

Some powerful centres of Shakti worship are situated in Bangladesh, geographically closer to West Bengal.

Bangladesh has 3 important Shakti Peeths. One of them is the Bhabanipur Shakti Peeth, located on the banks of the Karatoya River in the Bogra District. It is believed that Sati Devi's left Nupura (left anklet) fell here.

Devi Ma is worshipped here as 'Aparna' (the one who did not even consume leaves during her sadhana). This name honours her extreme penance to win back Lord Shiv. In the Garbha-griha (sanctum sanctorum) of the Bhabanipur temple is a Kali idol and a symbolic stone representing Devi's anklet.

The temple complex has a Panchamunda asana (a seat made of five human skulls) and a Patal Bhairav shrine dedicated to Vaaman-Bhairav, the presiding Bhairav of the temple.

A famous legend associated with the temple is about the Shakha Pukur (pond of conch bangles). It is about a conch-bangle dealer who met a little girl wearing a vermilion tilak, near a pond in the jungle where the Bhabanipur temple stands today. The girl bought bangles from him, claiming to be the daughter of the Rajbari palace. She then sent him to Queen Bhabani for payment. Knowing no such girl existed, the queen rushed to the pond. On the prayer of the conch-dealer, Goddess Bhabani rose from the water, displaying the new bangles on her wrists. This miracle spread the temple's fame across the subcontinent. Today, devotees take holy baths in this sacred pond, known as Shakha-Pukur (the pond of conch bangles), to receive her blessings.

Jashoreswari Devi Shaktipeeth, Jessore (Bangladesh)

(Jashoreswari Devi, Bangladesh)

The name "Jashoreswari" literally means the goddess of Jessore town. Devi Ma is worshipped here in her fierce but deeply protective form of Ma Kali.

Jashoreswari is the place where the left palm (or both palms and soles) of Devi Sati fell, making this spot a powerful symbol of the Devi's hands that bestow blessings, remove fear, and grant boons. Lord Shiv guards her as a fierce Chanda Bhairav.

A '100-door' temple is believed to have been originally established by a Brahmin named Anari. It was later renovated by King Lakshman Sen and King Pratapaditya during their ruling period. Today, only its historic pillars remain standing. However, legend notes another instance where the General of Pratapaditya (King of Jessore) found a luminous palm-shaped stone glowing in a bush. The King started worshipping Devi Kali, and ordered the temple to be built formally around the sacred palm-shaped stone itself.

Sugandha Devi Shaktipeeth, Shikarpur (Bangladesh)

(Devi Sugandha)

Located at the Shikarpur village near Barisal, Bangladesh, Sugandha Devi Shaktipeeth marks the place where Devi Sati's nasika (nose) fell. It is situated on the banks of the Sugandha (or Sunanda) River. According to the Agam Shastra, a temple's shadow is not supposed to fall upon the flowing water. However, this temple is unique because its reflection falls directly onto the river flowing close by, adding spiritual energy and an auspiciousness to the waters of this sacred river.

Here, the Devi is worshipped alongside her Bhairav, Triambak, the lord of the three worlds. The temple is known for its famed ritual of Shiva Chaturdashi, which falls on the fourteenth lunar date of March, when thousands of devotees gather to worship the Lord as Triambak.

This Shaktipeeth is also linked to the Navagraha-tantra, where the goddess Sugandha is associated with planet Budha (Mercury), believed to bless devotees with wisdom, fame, and worldly success.

Kottari Devi Shaktipeeth, Hinglaj (Pakistan)

(Ma Kottari Devi)

The Kularnava Tantra mentions Hinglaj as one of the 18 Shaktipeethas. Devi Kottari is worshipped here by people from all communities and religions. In the rocky terrain of the Baluchistan province of Pakistan, the ancient temple dedicated to Kottari Devi, the Hinglaj Mata temple, is located. It lies inside a natural mountain cave in the Hingol National Park at the banks of the River Hingol.

Peetha Nirnaya Tantra mentions this temple as the spot where the Brahmarandhra (crown of the head) of Goddess Sati fell. The presiding Bhairav is Bhimlochana — the one with fearful eyes.

Sri Ram is said to have visited this temple after defeating Ravan to repent for killing him. As per the local legends, in the Treta Yug, a Tatar-Mongol king named Vichitra had 2 cruel sons, Hingol and Sundar. When Lord Ganesh killed Sundar to protect the people, Hingol started scaring devotees until they prayed to Devi Kottari, who trapped and killed him in a cave. In his last moments, Hingol asked Devi to name the sacred cave after him, and Devi agreed, so the temple became known as Hinglaj Mata Mandir.

During the annual Hinglaj Yatra, over a lakh of Hindu devotees, mainly from the Sindhi-Hindu and Kutchi-Gujarati communities, travel through a harsh desert and climb hundreds of mountain stairs to reach the holy temple. The mud volcano Chandragup found on the way to the temple is considered an important part of the pilgrimage. It is worshipped as an embodiment of Lord Shiva and hence called Baba Chandragup.

Local Sufi Muslim communities hold the shrine in deep reverence, calling the Devi Bibi Nani (maternal grandmother) and the temple "Nani Peeth", "Nani Mandir" or "Naniamma ki Haj". They participate in safeguarding the temple.

Shivaharkaray Shakti Peetha, Karachi (Pakistan)

(Devi Durga as Mahishasurmardini, in Shivkaraya Shaktipeeth)

The Karavipur or Shivaharkaray Shakti Peetha is located in Karachi, Pakistan. It is the third in the list of 51 Shakti Peethas entailed in Adi Shankaracharya's Shakta-Peeth-Stotram. This is where Devi Sati's Trinetra (three eyes) fell. Here, the Goddess is worshipped as Mahishasuramardini (the one who killed the demon Mahishasur). This form of Devi Ma teaches the devotees how to defeat their inner, animal-like urges. Her lion represents human power and energy. One must tame these urges so they can serve God's good creation.

Her consort Lord Bhairava, in the form of Krodhisha, protects the temple. Krodhisha means the one who represents anger.

A four-day procession, or teerth-yatra, also takes place every year in April, during which devotees from across the subcontinent come to pay their respects to the Devi.

Indrakshi Shaktipeeth, Manipallavam (Sri Lanka)

(Indrakshi Shaktipeeth, Sri Lanka)

Across the Palk Bay in the island nation of Sri Lanka, there is an ancient Shakti Peeth where Devi was worshipped by both Sri Ram and Ravan. It is located on Nainativu Island near the ancient capital of Sri Lanka.

This Shakti Peeth is the spot where the Devi's nupur (anklet) fell, so devotees here honour the Devi by offering these ornaments.

The Devi here is worshipped as Indrakshi, whose murti was built by Indradev himself. He also worshipped the divine Goddess here. The name Indrakshi implies 'the eye of Indra'.

The temple is known mainly as Nainativu Nagapoosani Amman temple. Devi is worshipped here as a form of Parvati, known locally as Nagapooshani or Bhuvaneshwari, and her consort, Lord Shiv, is worshipped as Nayanair or Rakshaseshwara, meaning 'the lord of rakshasas'.

Devi Bhuvaneshwari is one of the Dus Mahavidyas. She is the queen of the universe. The entire universe is symbolised as her body, and all beings are considered as the ornaments of that infinite energy. She holds the power of the Trimurti (creation, nurturing and dissolution) and is also related to Ma Tripura Sundari or Rajarajeshwari, the supreme feminine energy of the universe. Devi Parvati is revered as the Sagun rupa (manifested form) of Devi Bhuvaneshwari.

These sacred abodes of the Divine Mother, located in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, keep the ancient roots of Sanatan culture alive even today. Each Shakti Peeth carries the wisdom of a puranic legend, its spiritual energy, and deep devotion within itself.

These temples are not merely pilgrimage sites, but symbols of the eternal form of the Divine Mother, which transcends time and borders.

Invite the grace and protection of Aadishakti Ma Durga, by performing the immensely powerful Navdurga Sadhana on the Sadhana App during the auspicious occasions of Ashadha, Gupt and Sharadiya Navratris.