Shakti Peeth-DEVI (Maata’s) Temples In Maharashtra

There are three and a half Shakti Peeth in Maharashtra. But SaptaShrungaGarh is recognized as the original location of Shakti, since the God himself took the form of the Goddess and set down at this place, and therefore this is the real Goddess mother. 

1. SaptaShrungaGarh (Vani)

Location:- 
Nashik To Vani(On the Way of Nanduri) Approx. 73 KM.Buses(ST) Available from Nashik to Nanduri for Every 1 Hours.

How To Go:-

Nashik is one the major stations on the Central Railway and there are a number of convenient trains that connect Nashik to other cities and towns.

Nashik is 185 kms from Mumbai and can be reached by motoring on the NH-3 via Thane-Kasar-Igatpuri. Pune-Nashik is 220 kms. There are several private and state buses available between Mumbai/Thane and Nashik.

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The deity in the fort here has the honour of being a half Shakti Peeth of Goddess Shakti. The deity here is believed to be a form of the Goddesses Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and MahaSaraswati. It is also believed that after vanquishing the demons ShumbhaNishumbha and Mahishasur, the Goddess resided here for Tapa and Sadhana . The high ridge of the Sahyadri here has seven peaks from which the name of the place, SaptaShrungaGarh has been derived. This is considered the root altar of the deity. Facilities have been recently developed like the 500 approximate steps leading up to the temple, the temple renovation, the community hall, and facility to line up for viewing and paying obeisance to the deity. The deity’s idol is grand and has eight hands (due to which the deity is also called by the name AshtaBhuja which is eight handed). A fair is held here every NavRatra and the Chaitra month of the Hindu almanac.

There are altogether fifty-one altars of the Goddess Jagdamba on this earth. Of these the Shri SaptaShrugi Devi deity of SaptaShrungaGad is a form of three Goddesses, Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and MahaSaraswati, also considered a form of the Lord Brahma, and extremely holy (Omkar Swarup Adhisthan). The importance of this place has even been found recorded in ancient times. The era of NavNath sect is easily identified and linked with this place. The sect is believed to have acquired the Sabri poetry, also called MantraShakti, through the blessings of the Goddess. It is also said that the saints and renowned people from the medieval times who were followers of the Goddess, like Saint NivruttiNath, Saint Dnyaneshwar, Peshwa Sarkar, Dabhade, Holkar, were closely associated with this place. There is verdant forest around this holy place.

Along with the temple, there are other holy places of importance in the fort, like SuryaKund, JalGunfa, ShivTeertha, TambulTeertha, the Math of Rishi Markendeya.

Many holy festivals are celebrated with great pomp and devotion at this temple, like GudhiPadva, ChaitrotSav, Gokulastami, NavratrotSav, Kojagiri, LaxmiPujan, HariHar Bhet etc. A large number of devotees throng here eagerly to celebrate these festivals.

Official:-http://saptashrungi.net/

http://saptashrungi.org/

State Tourism Hotel Available



(MTDC):development@maharashtratourism.gov.in. 

Nashik
Paryatan Bhavan, Govt. Guest House Premises,
Near Gold Club Ground, Nashik-422 002.
Tel: 91-(0253) 2570 059 
Fax:91-0253-2579 352

2. Mahur – (Goddess RenukaMata)

Goddess RenukaMata of Mahur is one of the complete Jagrut Shakti Peeth of the Goddess. She is also recognized as the mother of Shri Parshuram. She is the tutelary Goddess of many families in Maharashtra.

It is said that the temple here was built by Yadava king of Devgiri in the thirteenth century. The fort in Mahur here has other holy places along with the Goddess’s temple, like Parshuram temple, Dattatraya temple, Anasuya temple, KalikaMata temple etc. Devotees believe that the Lord Dattatreya was born here.

The Fort RamGad is close to the Mahur fort, which has caves with carvings.

Location:The Place in Nanded district of Maharashtra. Pune to Mahur is Apprx.550 KM.

How To Go:-

Mumbai - Ahmednagar - Paithan - Jalan - Washim - Pusad - Mahur, 717 kms. Mahurgad - Kinwat, 50 kms.

The nearest railway station is Kinwat which is 50 KM away, but Nanded which is 126 KM. is the more convenient railway station on South Central railway.

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3.Shri Kshetra Tuljapur (TuljaBhavani)

Location:-The Temple is situated  on the way of Pune-Solapur highway.Approx.290 KM.

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How To Go:-

S.T.TimeTable:
Tuljapur to Osmanabad (Every 30 Min.)
Tuljapur to Solapur(Every 30 Min.)
Tuljapur to Barshi(Every 30 Min.)
Tuljapur to Latur(Every 30 Min.)

Train Time Table:
Nearest Railway stations(Distance from Tuljapur)

1. Osmanabad - 30 km (Enquiry no.02472- 240299)
2. Solapur - 47 km (0217 - 2318792)
3. Latur - 72 km (02382 - 224640)

Air Time Table:

Nearest Airport(Distance from Tuljapur)

1. Solapur Airport - 52 km
2. Latur Airport - 80 km
3. Nanded Airport - 212 km
4. Aurangabad Airport - 269 km

Goddess TuljaBhavani of Tulajapur is one of the complete Jagrut Shakti Peeth of the Goddess. This deity is famous as Devi Bagvati (Bhavani).

She is the tutelary Goddess of Maharashtra, being the inspirational, motivating deity who was revered by King Shivaji who established his kingdom.

This village is located on a ridge of BalaGhat. Some part of the temple is built in the Hemadpanthi style of architecture. Historically, this temple is considered to be built either by Rashtrakut or the Yadava. Some even consider it to be built in the seventeenth to eighteenth century.

The Sahyadri section of the Skanda Purana contains the story of this deity: in the KritaYug(1,728,000 years ago), when Rishi Kardam’s wife Anubhuti was meditating, the demon Kukar tried to assault her. The devotee Anubhuti entreated Goddess Bhagvati to save her. Goddess Bhagvati revealed herself and fought with the demon Kukar and killed him. On Anubhuti’s further entreaty, the Goddess agreed to reside on the mountain ridges. This Goddess is also called asDevi Twarita-Turja-Tulaja (Bhavani ) : Goddess who rushes to the aid of a devotee and fulfils wishes.

This Goddess is recognized in the entire nation as a family deity. This Goddess has been the inspirational, motivating deity who came to the aid of her devotee in each of the Yuga : Anubhuti in KrutaYuga, King Ramchandra (of Ramayana) in TretaYuga (1,296,000 years ago), King DharmaRaja in DwarpaYuga (864,000 years ago) and King Shivaji in the KaliYug (the current Yug). Devotees from various castes and sects from various States visit here.

The south facing entrance of the temple here is called Parmar doorway. The door has a edict carved on it which says that a great devotee by the name of Jagdev Parmar offered his head at the feet of the deity seven times. The inner sanctum is to the west of the community hall in which the artistic and pleasing idol of the deity is seated on a silver throne facing east. The idol is carved out of a stone found in the Gandaki river bed and is proportionate in form. The deity is recognized as AshtaBhuja MahishasurMardini (Eight handed Goddess who killed the demon Mahishasur). The walls of the inner sanctum have small beautiful carvings.

The idol here is also unique in that it can be moved. To the north of the community hall is the deity’s bedroom in which there is a silver bed. Thrice in a year, the idol is rested on a bed. This isn’t found anywhere else. Devotees believe that perambulation around this bed blesses them with progeny.

Holy Places Around the Temple-like Kallol Teerth, Gaumukh Teerth, SiddhiVinayak temple, Shri Bahavani Shankar temple, HomKund, other small temples of Gods and Goddesses, Matangi temple,

4.Kolhapur (Shri MahaLakshmi)

Shri MahaLakshmi of Kolhapur is one of the complete Jagrut Shakti Peeth of the Goddess. Researchers haven’t so far been able to conclude who built the temple.

Some researchers opine that the temple was built by the King of Sind lineage from Karharak (today’s Karad) before the Shilahar dynasty reign. The Shilahar’s of Kolhapur were devotees of the deity and have recorded several time of having been blessed by the deity. Records have been discovered of the King KarnaDev of Chalukya dynasty from the seventh century having built this temple.

The Shri MahaLakshmi idol is 1.22 m tall and has been placed on a black stone pedestal which is 0.91 mtr high. There are intricately carved objects inside the temple like the Ghati Darwaza, Garud Mandap etc.

The Garud Mandap and Sabha Mandap were built between 1844 to 1867. During the month of Ashwin , in Navratra a silver image of the Goddess is placed on a stone pedestal placed here and is revered through traditional rituals. Several stone edicts have been found in different parts of the temple.

A large number of devotees flock here. There are twenty Pujari (one who is adept at making traditional offerings to the deity) here to facilitate the large number of devotees to make their offerings to the deity. Every Friday, the image of the idol is taken around the premises in a procession.

Location:-The Template is situated in Kolhapur District of
Maharashtra.Approx.240 KM Away from Pune.

How To Go:- Pune to Kolhapur Semi-Luxury Buses which will drop you to Kolhapur and Kolhapur To Jyotiba Temple S.T.Buses are Available For Every 1 Hour.

By train, it is a 10 to 11 hour journey from Mumbai or Bangalore. There are several day and night trains that leave Dadar or Chhtrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai for Kolhapur.

By air, you can reach Kolhapur from Mumbai by a one-hour plane journey. Ujalaiwadi Airport is 10 kms from the main city of Kolhapur.

Near By Places:-Jyotiba of Kolhapur,Panhala garh.Narsobachi Wadi(Shirol)