Sakthi Peetams have equal prominence on par with Dwadasa Jyothirlingas.
Lankayam Sankari Devi Kamakshi kanchika pure
Pradhyumne Srunkaladevi Chamunda krouncha pattane
Alampure Jogulamba Sri Shaile Bramarambika
Kolha pure Maha lakshmi Mahure Ekaveerika
Ujjinyam Maha Kali Peethikayam Puruhutika
Odhyane Girija Devi Manikya Daksha Vatike
Hari kshetre Kamarupi Prayage Madhaveswari
Jwalayam Vaishnavi Devi Gaya Mangala Gourika
Varanasyam Visalakshi Kashmire tu Saraswathi
Astadasha Shakthi Peethani Yoginampi Durlabham Sayamkale Pathennithyam Sarva Shatru Vinasanam Sarva roga haram divyam Sarva Sampathkaram subham.
Brahma performed Yaga to please Sakthi and Siva. Sakthi separated from Shiva emerge in the form of Sati and helped Brahma in creation of universe. Brahma sought to give back Sati to Siva. Daksha, son of Brahma performed Yagna with an intention to get Sati as his daughter. Sati born to Daksha and in due course she wanted to marry Shiva. At that time Brahma saw Prudhvi with bad intention and Shiva cut the fifth head of Brahma with his trident. Daksha got angry and withdrawn the marriage of Sati with Siva. But Sati attracted with Shiva and married him. Daksha got hatred on Shiva.
Daksha intended to perform Nireeswara Yaga and invited all the Gods except Siva and Sathi in Kailas. Shiva warned Sati not to participate in the yaga in the absence of invitation. Sati gone to Yaga with Nandi and other followers. Sathi started yoga which is not possible to the Yogis moving her five elements from their origin. Fire erupted from her grave status of body and she self immolated in the fire.
Enraged to the death and insult of Sati, Shiva in meditation got angry and performed Tahndava Nruthyam. Shiva has cut some hair from his head in Thandava and thrown on earth. The piece of hair burned and Veerabhadra born with thousand hands, and black body. Veerabhadra is so horrible with three angry eyes, Trident and other weapons in the hands along with skulls in the neck. Siva ordered to destroy the Yaga. Veerabhadra with skulls in his neck destroyed the Yaga and Lord Vishnu opposes him using Sudarsana Chakra. But Veerabhadra swallowed the Chakra and Vishnu given way to take revenge on Daksha. Veerabhadra killed Daksha and returned to Kailash.
Daksha was given re-birth after affixing the head of a male goat to the body of Daksha. Shiva unable to bear the separation grief with Sati and left the duty to safeguard the universe. The Gods praised Lord Vishnu and at the request of the Gods, Lord Vishnu used Sudarshana chakra and cut the corpse in to pieces to release Shiva from the worry of the death of Sati. The body parts of Sati fell at several places of the Indian subcontinent and Groin in Trinchomali of Srilanka The holy places formed are known as Shakti Peethas.
There is discrepancy in the number of Sakthi Peethams as 108,51and 52 but the 18 Sakthi Peethams are familiar as Astadasa Sakthi Peethams. The Goddess Dakshayani accompany with her consort, Lord Bhairava (Shiva) a manifestation of Lord Shiva in all the Shakti Peethas.
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