Astrology & Sacred Sites: Shakti Peetha Shrines

Shakti Peethas are places of worship of consecrated ashes of the goddess Shakti, the female principal of Hinduism and the main
deity of the Shakta sect. Spread all across the Indian subcontinent they can be understood as a network of temples many of which
were built on sites of important natural energetical sources that provide the land with stabilizing female energies. This article
attempts to introduce an approach to a systemical astrological analysis of the positions of the shrines through the study of their
positions in the landscape.

Locations of Shakti Peetha shrines across the Indian subcontinent. Adi Shakti Peethas – Blue; Astadasha Maha Shakti Peethas –
Red; Daksha yagna site – Green
map: Uwe Dedering, ccbysa3.0

In geomancy the Shakti Peethas are known for their energetically intense, healing and animating impacts. Shakti is usually
defined as the “female” aspect of Shiva. Its polarity with the male aspect symbolized by the lingams is defined in such a way
that shakti is the formless life energy that brings the “form” (lingam) to life.

The legend of the burning of Shiva`s wife Sati

A mythological version of the origin of the Shakti Peethas is described in the legend about the burning of Shivas`wife Sati.

The father of Shiva`s wife Sati was a son of Brahma named Daksha. Daksha hated Shiva for his superiority to Brahma or in other
versions for being a yogi and outcast of society. With a desire to take revenge on Lord Shiva Daksha planned to performa high
hinduistic ritual inviting all the deities to the ritual except Shiva . The fact that Shiva was not invited enraged Sati. She expressed her
desire to attend the yagna to Shiva, who tried his best to dissuade her from going. Shiva eventually relented and Sati went to the
yagna. Sati, being an uninvited guest, was not given any respect at the yagna. Furthermore, Daksha insulted Shiva. Sati enraged and
unable to bear her father’s insults toward her husband jumped into the sacred sacrificial fire and was burnt to death

Shiva Carrying Sati on His Trident, circa 1800

Seeing this Shiva was so struck with pain and rage that he appeared at the site of the sacrifice in the form of
the Virabhadra avatar destroyed the fire place and cut of Daksha `s head. Shiva was so furious that he didn’t stop fighting until the
gods prayed to Vishnu for help. Shiva picked up the remains of Sati’s body and performed the Tandava, the celestial dance of
destruction, across all creation. In order to stop the destruction Vishnu used his weapon named the Sudarshana Chakra, which cut
Sati’s corpse into pieces so that. the various parts of the body fell at several spots all through the Indian subcontinent and formed
sites which are known as Shakti Peethas today. (read the wikipedia article)

The Site of the Daksha Yagna

The site of Daksha Yagna the place chosen for the ritual which ended in the tragical suicide of Shiva`s wife Shakti is
called Ammarakkallu and identified as the Kottiyoor or Vadakkeshwaram Temple in Kerala, South India. The Kottiyoor
Temple consists of two twin temples only separated by a river: Akkare Kottiyoor and Ikkare Kottiyoor. The main festival here is
the Vysakha pilgrimage that lasts for 27 days.

During the Vysakha pilgrimage puja is performed in a temporary temple (Ikkare Kottiyoor) in the same prehistoric Vedic location
in the South Indian State of Kerala. The site of the “Daksha Yagna” is located in Pisces with Taurus ph: Deepesh ayirathi, ccbysa3.0

Astrogeographical resonance coordinates of the supposed site where the supposed burning of Sati in the ritual fire organized by
her father Daksha took place for morphogenetic field level 3 which describes how the site is embedded in the landscape: one
coordinate is located in mystic spiritual water sign Pisces the sign of the subtle, plane, spirituality itself, the dream world, legends,
fairy-tales, m,sytification, mythology, music, the otherworld and most important astrologeographical factor for temple sites. The 2nd
coordinate is in solid, fixed earth sign Taurus sign of the earth, grounding, growing roots, agriculture, food, wealth, market places,
town centers, settling down, possession of territory and important resonator for the earth mother. The combination of Pisces with
Taurus includes topics of the confrontation of nomadic (Pisces) with agricultural (Taurus) societies (see the example of the Jerusalem
Temple Mount). The use of temporary temples instead of solid buildings can be directly attributed to this sign combination.

Astrogeographical resonance degrees of the site of the Daksha Yagna for morphogenetic field level 1 (region) which describes the
supraregional, nation-wide, global topics of the site: one coordinate is located at 10° in highly magnetic royal fire sign Leo sign of
the sun, light, heart, power plants, self-expression. The 2nd coordinate is located at 15° in practical air sign Gemini the sign of
signposts, technology, practical magic, communication, learning and interfaces. These

The Shakti Peetha Shrines in astrogeography

There are different lists of the most important Shakti Peetha shrines – one categorizes 18, another has 51, one has 60 and yet
another one 108 major shrines.The following list of the astrogeographic positions of the more than 1200 year old 18 Maha Shakti
Peetha Shrines from the Ashta Dasa Shakthi Peetha Stotram by Adi Shankara who lived between 788-820 CE.
 The
astrogeographic positions of the 18 Maha Shakti Peetha Shrines

The above list of the astrogeographic positions of the Maha Shakti Peetha Shrines shows the two water signs Cancer and Pisces as
their most frequent astrogeographical resonators. The role of Cancer as the sign of motherhood, conception, pregnancy, the
uterus, the vagina, caves, the moon, emotional roots, feeling at home and family life is an indicator for the important role of the
Shakti Peetha shrines as sites of the worship and prayer to the earth mother for fertility and the support of family life and having
children. At the same time Cancer represented also the most important resonator for the shrines of the male aspect of Hindu God
Shiva the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines too. Read my blog about the Jyotirlinga Shrines.

For
comparison: Astrogeographic position of the 12 Jyotirlinga for morphogenetic field level 4

The role of water sign Cancer

The Kamakhaya Mother Goddess Temple (Kamarupa Peetham) in Guwahati

For the relationship of temples of the fertility aspect of the mother godess located in Cancer with Scorpio to the topic of female
sexuality and the vagina compare: Utroba Cave 3000 – year old Vagina or Womb Cave Temple. Another type of temples dedicated to
the mother goddess as the earth mother is located in Cancer with Taurus (Hagia Sophia in Cancer with Taurus)
The Kamakhaya Mother Goddess Temple or Karamurapa Peetham in Guwahati, Assam is one of the oldest, most famous and most
important of the Shakti Peetha Shrines.

Kamakhya Temple Guwahati located in Cancer with Scorpio – only a small part of the west chamber of the temple is located in
Gemin photo: Kunal Dalui, ccbysa3.0

The Kamakhaya Mother Goddess Temple in Guwahati, Assam, India is considered to be one of the oldest of the Shakti Peethas. The
main annual temple festival called Ambubachi Mela is celebrated for one full lunar cycle of 28 days from around the middle of the
month of June “as the celebration of the yearly menstruation course of goddess Kamakhya. It is believed that the presiding goddess
of the temple, Devi Kamakhya, worshipped as the Mother Shakti, goes through her annual cycle of menstruation during this period of
the year. It is also believed that during the monsoon rains the creative and nurturing power of the ‘menses’ of Mother Earth
becomes accessible to devotees at this site during the festival. There is no idol of the presiding deity in the temple but she is
worshipped in the form of a yoni-like stone instead over which a natural spring flows”. (source: wikipedia article)

Astrogeographic position of the Kamakya Temple for morphogenetic field level 4 which describes the atmosphere of the temple
itself: the shrine is located in female, emotional water sign Cancer together with highly defensive, mental water sign Scorpio. Cancer
appears here as the sign of motherhood, conception, pregnancy, the uterus, vagina, caves, moon, emotional roots, feeling at home
and family life.Together with Cancer Scorpio is on of the two most important indicators for caves in general. Apart from that Scorpio
suggests an emphasis on ritualistic worship and could stand for the important role of sacrifice at the site particularly in ancient
times. As the most important astrological indicator for death, demons, trauma, pain and revenge it also stands for the resonance
with the topics of the intensely negative experiences of women in society through suppression, exploitation, rape, ritualistic burning
and disrespect of their rights. In this way Scorpio is the plausible indicator of the darker forms of the Mother Goddess here which
are represented by Kali Devi and Tara Devi and others at the site (see the text below about the Mahavidyas).

At the Kamakhaya Mother Temple a large number of elements of the water sign Cancer can be observed: all elements of a temple for
the earth mother, the caves below the temple building as the site of the sanctum sanctorum, the yoni (vagina) form of the shrine and
the natural water spring. And the importance of the position of this particular temple in Cancer is of course further emphasized by its
role among the 18 Maha Peetha Shrines as the yoni of the Mother Goddess Shakti.

At the same time the combination of Cancer with Scorpio is also a frequent astrogeographical constellation at important sites of
resonance for the male aspects of Shiva like for example the source of the River Ganges, the City of Varanasi, the site of
the Kailashnath Mahadev Statue in Bhaktapur, Nepal, the birth place of Mahavatar Babaji and other places..

Astrogeographic position for field level 3 which describes the larger area in which the Kamakhaya Mother Temple along with the
other surrounding temples for the 10 Mahvidyas and other temples is embedded: solid, conservative, history-orientated earth
sign Capricorn stands for the position on a mountain and movable air sign Gemini sign of learning, diversity, neutrality and road
crossings stands for bringing all kinds of different aspects even conflicting ones together.
The 10 Mahavidyas Kali, Tara, Shodashi, Bhuvaneshvari, Bhairavi, Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi, and Kamala

The 10 Mahavidyas are a group of ten aspects of the Goddess Shakti or Parvati the female aspect of Shiva in Hinduism. They are
seen as Wisdom Goddesses representing a spectrum of feminine divinity, from the horrific goddesses at one end, to the gentle at the
other. Their names are: Kali, Tara, Shodashi, Bhuvaneshvari, Bhairavi, Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi, and Kamala.

Shakti Peetha Temples

Tara Tarini Shakti Peetha

Tara Tarini Temple on the Kumari hills near Brahmapur city in Ganjam District, Odisha is considered as the Breast Shrine (Sthana
Peetha) and manifestation of Adi Shakti. The hinduistic form of goddess Tara (meaning: star) relates to the second of the
ten Mahavidyas or “Great Wisdom goddesses“, and is a form of Shakti, the tantric manifestations of the goddess.

The Tara Tarini shakti peetha is located in the combination of air signs Gemini and Aquarius
ph: Nayansatya, GFDL

Astrogeographic position of Tara Tarini Temple for morphogenetic field level 4 which describes the atmosphere and energetical
topics of the temple itself: the temple has one coordinate in air sign Gemini sign of signposts, intelligence, communication, learning,
education, technology, road crossings, interfaces, practical solutions with creative innovative air sign Aquarius sign of the sky,
heaven, paradise, flying, inspiration, self-finding, castelessness, revolution, illumination and the stars.

Kalighat Kali Temple

Kalighat Kali Temple in Kalighat, Kolkata dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali. Kalighat represents the site where the toes of the right
foot of Sati fell.

Kalighat Kali Temple of Kolkata in 1887. The temple is located in

Astrogeographical position of Kalighat Kali Temple for morphogenetic field level 4 which describes the atmosphere and energetical
topics of the temple itself: one coordinate is located in service orientated air sign Libra sign of harmony, balance, beauty, love,
relationship, marriage, peace, openness, angels. The 2nd coordinate stretches between highly defensive, solid, fixed water
sign Scorpio sign of the underworld. trauma, pain and dynamical fire sign Sagittarius sign of shamanism, priest castes, initiation,
time-measurement, cycles and seasons, fire rituals, growth and healing.
Vimala Shakti Peetha Temple

The 9th century Vimala Temple located within the Jagannath Temple complex in Puri, Odissa dedicated to goddess Vimala holds a 6th
century icon of the goddess. Vimala is considered as the female aspect of Jagannath – a form of Vishnu. She is referred to as a form
of Katyayani – one of the nine forms of Durga.

Jagannath temple complex. The Vimala Temple situated in the south-west part of the temple precinct is located in Libra with
Taurus. ph: Nataraja, ccbysa1.0

Astrogeographic position of Vimala Temple for morphogenetic field level 4 which describes the atmosphere and energetical topics
of the temple itself: one coordinate is located in solid, fixed earth sign Taurus sign of the earth, grounding, roots, agriculture, food,
wealth, income, gravity and local energetical centers. 2nd coordinate is in service orientated air sign Libra sign of harmony, balance,
beauty, love, relationship, marriage, peace, openness, angels.

Biraja Temple

Biraja Temple in Jajpur, Odissa is a 13th century Durga Devi temple where the goddess is worshipped in the form of Biraja. The place
is considered as the site where the navel of Sati fell.

Biraja Temple is located in Taurus with Pisces ph: Odisha1, ccbysa3.0

Astrogeographic position of Vimala Temple for morphogenetic field level 4 which describes the atmosphere and energetical topics
of the temple itself: one coordinate is located in solid, fixed earth sign Taurus sign of the earth, grounding, roots, agriculture, food,
wealth, income, gravity and local energetical centers. The 2nd coordinate is located in mystic spiritual water sign Pisces the sign of
the subtle, plane, spirituality itself, the dream world, legends, fairy-tales, m,sytification, mythology, music, the otherworld and most
important astrogeographical factor for temple sites.

Kamakshi Devi Temple

Kamakshi Amman Temple in the historic temple city of Kanchipuram, near Chennai, Tamil Nadu is dedicated to the ultimate form of
Goddess Lalitha Maha Tripurasundari (Parvati). The Image of the main Deity, Kamakshi, is seated in a majestic Padmasana,
a yogic posture signifying peace and prosperity, instead of the traditional standing pose. The goddess holds a sugarcane bow and
bunch of five flowers in the lower two of her arms and has a pasha (lasso), an ankusha (goad) in her upper two arms.
Temple Tower of Kamakshi Aman Temple located in Pisces and the 2nd coordinate between Sagittarius and Capricorn ph: SINHA ,
ccbysa3.0

Astrogeographic position of Kamakshi Aman Temple for morphogenetic field level 4 which describes the atmosphere of the
temple itself: one coordinate is located in mystic spiritual water sign Pisces the sign of the subtle, plane, spirituality itself, the dream
world, legends, fairy-tales, mystification, mythology, music, meditation, the otherworld and most important astrogeographical factor
for temple sites. The 2nd coordinate stretches across the cardinal divide of the winter solstice between highly dynamical fire
sign Sagittarius sign of thinking, philosophy, shamanism, priests, fire rituals and solid conservative earth sign Capricorn sign of
tradition, governments, state cult.

Tripura Sundari Temple

The Tripureshwari Devi shrine in Udaipur, Rajasthan was built by King Dhanya Manikya in 1501 AD in the BengaliEk-ratna style
following a dream vision in which Tripurari Devi instructed the king to built the temple on a small hill at the site of an already existing
Vishnu temple. That brought the king into a dilemma – as the construction involved the problem of replacing a Vaishnava tradition by
a Shivaite deity at the place. The temple is therefore regarded as an example of spiritual unification of the 2 religious mainstreams in
India.

Tripureshvari Devi temple located in Cancer with Capricorn

ph: Soman, GFDL

Astrogeographic position of the Tripura Devi Temple for morphogenetic field level 4 which describes the atmosphere of the
temple itself: one coordinate is located in emotional water sign Cancer the sign of motherhood, gender, fertility and the stomach.
The 2nd coordinate is in solid, conservative, strict earth sign Capricorn the sign of tradition, history, rules and regulations,
government institutions, state cult, bones. The confrontation of 2 opposite signs at the temple site can be related to the history of
the site of the confrontation between the Shivaite and Vaishnava traditions – which are often explained as functioning as opposites
and aspects of polarity within Hindu religion.

Purnagiri Devi Temple

Purnagiri Devi Temple near Tanakpur, U.P. is located in the 2 fire signs Leo and Aries

Purnagiri Devi Temple near Tanakpur, U.P. is located in the 2 fire signs Leo and Aries.
Maya Devi Temple in Haridwar

Maya Devi Temple in Haridwar is a 11th century temple dedicated to goddess Maya (meaning “wisdom and extraordinary power”
and in later periods “illusion”). It is believed that the heart and navel of goddess Sati fell in the region where the temple stands today.
The inner shrine consists of murtis (icons) of goddesses with Maya in the centre, Kali on the left, Kamakhya on the right. The
goddess Maya is strongly related to Vaishnava religion and seen as one of the 9 shaktis of Vishnu.

Entrance to Mayadevi temple, Haridwar located in Capricorn with Taurus

ph: Ekabhishek, ccbysa 3.0, ccbysa3.0

Astrogeographic position of Maya Devi Temple for morphogenetic field level 4 which describes the atmosphere of the temple
itself: one coordinate is in solid, conservative, strict earth sign Capricorn sign of tradition, history, stability of government institutions,
state cult, rules and regulations. The 2nd coordinate is in solid fixed earth sign Taurus sign of the earth, grounding, roots, agriculture,
food, wealth, bhumi, territorial possessions, market places and local energetical centers. The combination of Taurus
with Capricorn points at the function of the temple as a central shrine for annual feritility rites related to agriculture, food
production and protection of ground from floods and territory from foreign invasion and influences.

Guhyeshwari Adi Shakti Peetha Temple

Guhyeshwari Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal is dedicated to Guhyeshwari (Guhyekali) or Adi Shakti is an important pilgrimage
destination for Hindus, especially for Tantric worshipers. The temple was built in the 17th century . One view is that Guhyeshwari
Temple marks the spot where Sati’s hips or hind part is said to have fallen.

Guhyeshwari Adi Shakti Temple is located between Scorpio and Sagittarius and the 2nd coordinate in Leo ph: Nabin K. Sapkota,
ccbysa4.0

Astrogeographic position of Guhyeshwari Adi Shakti Peetha Temple for morphogenetic field level 4 which describes the
atmosphere of the temple itself: the temple site has one coordinate in highly magnetic royal fire sign Leo sign of the sun, light,
heart, power plants, self-expression, sexuality. The 2nd coordinate stretches between highly defensive, solid, fixed water
sign Scorpio sign of the underworld. trauma and pain and dynamical fire sign Sagittarius sign of shamanism, priest castes, initiation,
time-measurement, cycles and seasons, fire rituals, growth and healing.

Muktinath Shakti Peetha

Muktinath is a Vishnu temple located at 3745 m altitude at the foot of the Thorong La mountain pass in Mustang, Nepal. Sati Devi’s
forehead is believed to have fallen there.
Muktinath Temple is located in Cancer with Pisces ph: Nirmal Dulal, ccbysa3.0

Astrogeographic position of Muktinath Shakti Peetha for morphogenetic field level 4 which describes the atmosphere of the
temple itself: one coordinate is located in emotional water sign Cancer the sign of motherhood, conception, gender, fertility, the
uterus and stomach. the 2nd coordinate is located in mystic spiritual water sign Pisces the sign of the subtle, plane, spirituality itself,
the dream world, legends, fairy-tales, mystification, mythology, music, meditation, the otherworld and most important
astrogeographical factor for temple sites.

1) Jayanti is a small forest village within Buxa Tiger Reserve in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, India. It is located along the Jayanti River. The 13 K.m
trek from BuxaDuar to Jayanti is very popular. Shakti peeth features a stalactite cave there, popularly known as the Mahakal cave. The nearest
railway station is Rajabhatkhawa, which is situated on the New Jalpaiguri-New Alipurduar route. All permits for the entry to the Tiger Reserve
should be taken from here.
2) Bairatta in Dakshin Dinajpur district of West bengal.
It's hard to believe that you have not included Maihar (Satna district, Madhya pradesh) in the list of 51 Shaktipithas. Actually Maihar is the correct
location for Ramgiri Pitha. You didn't mentioned it atleast as option
Another doubt is regarding the 30th Shakti peeth located at Amarkantak. It is the Narmada udgam mandir, not the Sonmuda mandir.
You gave three places for Kalmadhav, but none of them is SriKalahasti, the actual place. Though Srikalahasti is popular as a Shaiva kshetra (Vayu
linga), it is a Shakti peeth too. Sri Gnana prasoonamba, consort of lord Shiva here, is known from centuries for her grace.
Travel information: Srikalahasthi is 41 Km from Tirupathi and around 118 Km from Chennai.
I have recently visited a place in Himachal Pradesh called 'Chintpurni' - 30 Kms away from Jwalamukhi. As per the sthalapurana it is said that, 'chinna
masthaka' of Sathi Devi fell here and from then onwards Devi was worshipped as 'Chinna Masthaka Devi'. I couldn't find this place in the list of 51
Shakti Peethas. Any idea about this place. Or did I miss some thing.
1) bakreshwara temple - in bakreswar town which also has the famous shiva temple
2) nandikeshwari temple - in sainthia town near railway station
3) fullara temple - in labpur town
4) kankalitala temple - near bolpur town
5) attahas temple - near niral village little before reaching ketugram town
6) bahula temple - in ketugram town
7) yogadya temple - in khirgram near koichor town in the katwa-burdwan road
8) nalateshwari temple - in nalhati town
9) kalighat temple - in kolkata city
10) bidyeswari temple - in patiram town of south dinajpur district in west-bengal
11) kamakhya temple - in guwahati town
12) tripura sundari temple - in udaipur town, 55kms from agartala,the capital of tripura
13) nartiang durga temple - near nartiang town which is on the shillong-jowai highway in meghalaya
Kalighati (Kolkata) >>> Ratnavali (Anandamayee Temple) >>> Sri Srunkhala (Bari Masjid, Pandua/Hoogly) >>> Jogaadya (Burdwan) >>> Ujaani
(Burdwan) >>> Attahas/Fullara Shakti Peetas (Birbhum) >>> Kankalitala (Burdwan) >>> Bahula (Budwan) >>> Bakreshwar (Birbhum) >>>
Nandikeswari Tala/Sainthia (Birbhum) >>> Tarapith >>> Nalateswari Temple, Nalhati (Birbhum) >>> Kiriteswari Temple (Murshidabad)
2 Shakti Peeth - 1 near Jalpaiguri (Bhramari Devi) and another in Purba Medinipur.
All these 13 Peeths following the below route in 2 days, where we use to start our day at 5:00 am.
Kalighati (Kolkata) >>> Ratnavali (Anandamayee Temple) >>> Sri Srunkhala (Bari Masjid, Pandua/Hoogly) >>> Jogaadya (Burdwan) >>> Ujaani
(Burdwan) >>> Attahas/Fullara Shakti Peetas (Birbhum) >>> Kankalitala (Burdwan) >>> Bahula (Budwan) >>> Bakreshwar (Birbhum) >>>
Nandikeswari Tala/Sainthia (Birbhum) >>> Tarapith >>> Nalateswari Temple, Nalhati (Birbhum) >>> Kiriteswari Temple (Murshidabad)
2 Shakti Peeth - 1 near Jalpaiguri (Bhramari Devi) and another in Purba Medinipur.