The 18 Maha Shakti Peethas named in the Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Stotram, with the goddess and location of each, how they relate to the 51 Shakti Peethas, and how to plan a Devi yatra.
By Teerthayan • October 2026
The Shakti Peethas are the shrines of the Divine Mother at places where parts of Goddess Sati's body are believed to have fallen, after Lord Shiva carried her across the world in grief and Lord Vishnu's Sudarshan Chakra divided it. Texts list 51, 52, 64 or 108 Shakti Peethas, and the lists do not agree. The list most widely accepted is the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas of the Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Stotram, traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya. Here is that Shakti Peeth list, with where each shrine is today.
The 18 Maha Shakti Peethas
| # | Goddess | Place | State / Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shankari Devi | Trincomalee | Sri Lanka |
| 2 | Kamakshi | Kanchipuram | Tamil Nadu |
| 3 | Shrinkhala Devi | Pradyumna (often identified with Pandua, Hooghly) | West Bengal |
| 4 | Chamundeshwari | Mysuru (Krauncha Pattana) | Karnataka |
| 5 | Jogulamba | Alampur | Telangana |
| 6 | Bhramaramba | Srisailam | Andhra Pradesh |
| 7 | Mahalakshmi | Kolhapur | Maharashtra |
| 8 | Ekaveera (Renuka) | Mahur | Maharashtra |
| 9 | Mahakali | Ujjain | Madhya Pradesh |
| 10 | Puruhutika | Pithapuram | Andhra Pradesh |
| 11 | Girija (Biraja) | Jajpur | Odisha |
| 12 | Manikyamba | Draksharamam | Andhra Pradesh |
| 13 | Kamakhya (Kamarupa) | Guwahati | Assam |
| 14 | Madhaveshwari (Alopi Devi) | Prayagraj | Uttar Pradesh |
| 15 | Vaishnavi (Jwala Devi) | Jwalamukhi, Kangra | Himachal Pradesh |
| 16 | Mangala Gauri | Gaya | Bihar |
| 17 | Vishalakshi | Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh |
| 18 | Saraswati (Sharada) | Sharada Peeth | Pakistan-administered Kashmir |
About some of the Maha Shakti Peethas
Kamakhya, Guwahati
On Nilachal hill above the Brahmaputra, Kamakhya is often regarded as the foremost Shakti Peeth and the centre of Tantric worship. The temple closes for three days each June during the Ambubachi Mela. See our Kamakhya Devi Yatra.
Kamakshi, Kanchipuram
The presiding goddess of Kanchipuram, seated in padmasana. Kanchipuram is also one of the seven Moksha-giving cities, and fits naturally into a South India temple tour.
Bhramaramba, Srisailam
Srisailam is both a Shakti Peeth and a Jyotirlinga, with Goddess Bhramaramba beside Lord Mallikarjuna. See the 12 Jyotirlinga guide.
Mahalakshmi, Kolhapur
One of the "three and a half" Shakti Peethas of Maharashtra, with Tulja Bhavani, Renuka of Mahur and the half peeth of Saptashrungi. See the Maharashtra Sade Teen Shakti Peeth Circuit.
Jwala Devi, Kangra
Here the goddess is worshipped as natural flames that burn from the rock without fuel. Jwalamukhi is part of the Himachal Devi circuit with Chintpurni, Naina Devi, Chamunda and Brajeshwari. See the Himachal Panch Shakti Peeth Yatra.
Vishalakshi, Varanasi
Near Manikarnika Ghat, Vishalakshi is visited alongside Kashi Vishwanath, as Shiva and Shakti together in Kashi.
The 51 Shakti Peethas
The longer lists of 51 or 52 Shakti Peethas, from texts such as the Peeth Nirnaya Tantra, add many shrines not in the 18, including Kalighat in Kolkata, Tripura Sundari in Udaipur (Tripura), Hinglaj in Balochistan and Guhyeshwari in Kathmandu. Tarapith in West Bengal is among the most visited Devi shrines, though lists differ on whether it is a Shakti Peeth. Which temples are counted varies by tradition and region.
Difference between the 18 and 51 Shakti Peethas
The 18 Maha Shakti Peethas come from the Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Stotram, a short hymn naming the eighteen great shrines. The 51 Shakti Peethas come from longer texts such as the Peeth Nirnaya Tantra, which name a body part of Sati and a Bhairava for each place. Most of the 18 also appear in the 51 list, but the 51 add many shrines, especially in Bengal, Assam, Nepal and Bangladesh. Neither list is wrong: they are different traditions.
Shakti Peethas and Jyotirlingas in the same town
Three towns have both a Maha Shakti Peeth and one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, so you can have darshan of both on one visit:
- Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh: Bhramaramba Devi and Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga, in the same temple complex.
- Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh: Mahakali Shakti Peeth and Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga.
- Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: Vishalakshi Devi and Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga, a short walk apart.
See the 12 Jyotirlinga list with place and state for the full Jyotirlinga list.
Shakti Peeths in Maharashtra
Two of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas are in Maharashtra: Mahalakshmi at Kolhapur and Ekaveera (Renuka) at Mahur. In Maharashtra they are counted with Tulja Bhavani at Tuljapur and Saptashrungi near Nashik as the Sade Teen (three and a half) Shakti Peeth.
How to visit the Shakti Peethas
- All of India in one journey: the Maha Shakti Peeth Circuit covers the major shrines in 25 days.
- Bengal: Kalighat, Tarapith and more on the Bengal Shakti Circuit or the Tarapith Shakti Yatra.
- North East: Kamakhya and Tripura Sundari on the North East Shakti Circuit.
- Himachal: the Chaturshakti Darshanam four-Devi yatra from Delhi.
Navratri is the most auspicious time to visit. Read our guide to the best Shakti Peethas for Navratri.
FAQs
What is a Shakti Peeth?+
A shrine of the Divine Mother marking a place where a part of Goddess Sati's body fell, after Lord Shiva carried her body across the world and Lord Vishnu's Sudarshan Chakra divided it.
How many Shakti Peeths are there?+
Traditions differ: texts list 51, 52, 64 or 108. The 18 Maha Shakti Peethas named in the Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Stotram are the most widely recognised list.
Which is the most important Shakti Peeth?+
Kamakhya in Guwahati is often regarded as the foremost, as the place associated with the Goddess's yoni and the centre of Tantric worship.
Which Maha Shakti Peethas are outside India?+
Shankari Devi at Trincomalee is in Sri Lanka, and Sharada Peeth is in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, which pilgrims from India cannot currently visit.
What is the best time to visit Shakti Peeths?+
October to March for comfortable weather. Chaitra and Sharad Navratri are the most auspicious times, and also the most crowded.
What is the difference between the 18 and 51 Shakti Peethas?+
The 18 Maha Shakti Peethas are named in the Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Stotram. The 51 come from longer texts such as the Peeth Nirnaya Tantra, which add many shrines in Bengal, Assam, Nepal and Bangladesh. Most of the 18 are also in the 51.
Where are a Shakti Peeth and a Jyotirlinga in the same place?+
Srisailam (Bhramaramba and Mallikarjuna), Ujjain (Mahakali and Mahakaleshwar) and Varanasi (Vishalakshi and Kashi Vishwanath).
Which Shakti Peeths are in Maharashtra?+
Mahalakshmi at Kolhapur and Ekaveera (Renuka) at Mahur are among the 18. With Tulja Bhavani at Tuljapur and Saptashrungi near Nashik they form the Sade Teen Shakti Peeth of Maharashtra.
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