18 Shakti Peethas: Names, Places & Full List

Across the subcontinent there are shrines where, it is believed, the Goddess herself is present in a special way — the places where parts of Sati's body fell to earth. These are the Shakti Peethas, the "seats of power". Of the many listed in the Puranas, eighteen are honoured as the Maha Shakti Peethas, named together in a stotram attributed to Adi Shankaracharya.

The story behind the Shakti Peethas

Sati, the daughter of King Daksha, married Shiva against her father's wishes. When Daksha held a great yajna and pointedly did not invite Shiva, Sati went anyway — and, unable to bear the insult to her husband, gave up her life in the sacrificial fire.

Grief-stricken, Shiva carried her body across the universe. To free him from his sorrow, Vishnu released his Sudarshana Chakra, which divided Sati's body. Wherever a part fell, a Shakti Peetha arose — each guarded by a form of Shiva known as its Bhairava.

The 18 Maha Shakti Peethas — complete list

Which part of Sati fell at each peetha is given as commonly listed; accounts differ between texts and regional traditions.

The Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Stotram

लङ्कायां शाङ्करीदेवी कामाक्षी काञ्चिकापुरे।
प्रद्युम्ने शृङ्खलादेवी चामुण्डी क्रौञ्चपट्टणे॥
अलम्पुरे जोगुलाम्बा श्रीशैले भ्रमराम्बिका।
कोल्हापुरे महालक्ष्मी माहुर्ये एकवीरिका॥
उज्जयिन्यां महाकाली पीठिकायां पुरुहूतिका।
ओढ्यायां गिरिजादेवी माणिक्या दक्षवाटिके॥
हरिक्षेत्रे कामरूपी प्रयागे माधवेश्वरी।
ज्वालायां वैष्णवीदेवी गया माङ्गल्यगौरिका॥
वारणाश्यां विशालाक्षी काश्मीरे तु सरस्वती।
अष्टादश सुपीठानि योगिनामपि दुर्लभम्॥

Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Stotram · attributed to Adi Shankaracharya

Meaning: Shankari in Lanka, Kamakshi in Kanchi, Shrinkhala at Pradyumna, Chamundi at Krauncha-pattana; Jogulamba at Alampur, Bhramarambika at Srishaila; Mahalakshmi at Kolhapur, Ekaveerika at Mahur; Mahakali at Ujjain, Puruhutika at Pithika; Girija at Odhya, Manikya at Daksha-vatika; Kamarupi at Harikshetra, Madhaveshwari at Prayag; Vaishnavi at Jwala, Mangalya Gauri at Gaya; Vishalakshi at Varanasi and Saraswati in Kashmir. These eighteen sacred seats are hard to reach even for yogis.

The wording of this stotram differs slightly between printed editions.

Why other lists count 51, 52 or 108

There is no single canonical number of Shakti Peethas — different texts preserve different lists:

• 51 — the most widely known count, from texts such as the Mahabhagavata Purana and the Pithanirnaya. It is often linked to the 51 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet.
• 52 — a count followed in parts of Bengal.
• 108 — the list given in the Devi Bhagavata Purana.
• 18 — the Maha Shakti Peethas named in the stotram above.

Some traditions also single out four Adi Shakti Peethas: Kamakhya in Assam, Kalighat in Kolkata, Tara Tarini in Odisha, and Vimala — whose shrine stands inside the Jagannath temple complex at Puri, one of the Char Dham.

What makes some of them special

• Kamakhya (Guwahati): among the most revered of all Shakti Peethas, and the centre of the annual Ambubachi Mela.
• Srisailam, Ujjain and Varanasi: each is home to both a Maha Shakti Peetha and one of the 12 Jyotirlingas — Shiva and Shakti worshipped in the same sacred town.
• Jwalamukhi (Kangra): the Goddess is worshipped as natural flames that burn from the rock, with no idol.
• Sharada Peeth (Kashmir): once a great seat of learning that gave its name to the Sharada script; today only ruins remain near the Line of Control.

Related reading

• The 12 Jyotirlingas — names, places and full list
• Char Dham — the four dhams and the Uttarakhand yatra
• Navratri 2026 — the nine forms of the Goddess
• Mount Kailash — the abode of Lord Shiva

Eighteen seats across a subcontinent, and one Goddess present in all of them. Jai Mata Di.