Devi kali-maa of kalighat

Kalimaa temple at Kalighat in Kolkatta is regarded as one of the 51 Shakti Peethams of India. This is the site where the toes of the right foot of Shakti Gatyayani fell. (refer to 'Yoga-agni' in 'Abodes of devi' for background story) Kaali is regarded as the destroyer of evil and liberator of the soul. She is depicted in a fearful form. Despite the terrifying look she delivers bliss to worshippers. She is the conqueror of time. The Kalighat temple attracts numerous devotees throughout the year.
Legend has it that a devotee saw a ray of light coming from the Bhagirathi river bed. He found its source was a piece of stone in the form of a human toe and started worshipping it as Kaali in the midst of the forest. This shrine grew to its present form over a period of time. There are references in 15th century texts to the kaali temple though in its present form it is only about 200 years old.
Kali Maa is another form of Devi Durga. She was created by 'Kowsiki' (incarnation of Parvathi) to fight the demons Sumba and Nisumba who were tormenting the gods and men.

In the epic battle between Devi Durga and the Demons Kali-maa was created to kill 'Raktha-beeja' the Commander of the forces of Sumba and Nisumba. Raktha-beeja had obtained a boon from Brahma that if anyone tried to kill him and in the process any blood from his body was spilt on the ground from every drop of the blood one new Raktha-beeja would emerge. Accordingly when devi Durga tried to kill the demon from his blood arose 100s of Raktha-beejas. So Kowsiki Devi created Kaali and asked her to drink every drop of the blood that came out from the body of Raktha-beeja without allowing even one drop to fall on the ground. With this ruse Raktha-beeja was easily overcome and killed. She also killed Chunda and Munda, and came to be known as Chamundi.
Kaali is depicted as an extremely black female idol with four arms. In one hand she has a scimitar, in another the head of a demon held by his hair, the third hand is spread open in a blessing mode and in the fourth she holds a trident. She has a necklace made of skulls Her tongue is blood red and hangs down upon her chin. She is shown standing with one foot on the chest of Shiva. Animal sacrifice is done to propitiate Kali.
Other forms of Kali are Chamunda, Rudhra Kali (goddess of the cremation ground), Bhadra Kali, Ugra Chandi, Bhima Chandi, Sidheshvari, and Sheetla (the goddess of smallpox).

 

Location:
Kali temple is situated in 
the kali-ghat area of Kolkata -
one of the four metropolitan cities of India.
This city is connected by air and rail links from the rest of the country

Devi Tripureswari at Agartala

Yaa devi sarva boodeshu Vishnu mayedhi sabdida |
Namasthasyei Namasthasyei Namasthasyei namo namaha ||

Tripureswari temple in Tripura is one of the 51 sacred Sakthi Peetas. The temple is approximately 50 km from Agartala. This shrine is known locally as "Mata Bari" meaning the the house of the mother'. Devi Parvati is worshipped here as Tripureshwari and Tripurasundari. The consort siva is Tripureswara. The right foot from the dismembered burnt body of Dakshayani fell here. So this place became one of the 51 sacred Devi-sthals. (refer to 'Yoga-agni' in 'Abodes of devi' for background story)
Once Devi Tripureswari appeared in the dream of King Dhanya-manikya and ordered him to install her idol in the temple on a hilltop close to the Udaiyapur town. But the temple the Devi mentioned was a vaishna-vaite shrine - an old Vishnu temple, while Tripura-sundari is a Saivite Goddess (followers of Siva). The king was perplexed as to how a saivaite icon could be installed in a Vaishnavite temple.
The following night again he had the same dream. The King then resolved to obey the divine order and installed a Devi's idol in the temple on the hill top. Back to its history this temple is nearly 5 to 6 hundred years old.
The temple is a small, square edifice, measuring just 30 square feet at the base and rises to a height of 60 feet. The architecture of the shrine resembles a tortoise with the roof shaped like the back of a tortoise. For this reason, the shrine is also known as "Koorma Peetha" (Koorma meaning Tortoise). There is a flight of stone steps on the eastern side of the shrine leading to the to the sanctum. At the foot is the Kalyansagar pond that the king constructed giving a pictorially beautiful background.
. The tank is full of tortoises big and small. The devotees buy some scrump of food and feed them. This is a part of the rituals in the temple.
Tripura is a tribal region and tribal customs have crept into the rituals of worship in this temple. As in durga cult animals sacrifices particularly goats and occasionally buffalo  was common some time ago - though it is rare now. Although devotees of all sects visit the temple all the year round Diwali -the festival of lights, draws huge crowds. A major fair is held on this occasion.

 

 

Om Sakthi

 

 

Location:
50 km From Agartala, Tripura

Sri Kamakhya Devi at Kamagiri

Yedhatte vadanam sowmyam lochanatriya booshidham |
Padunaaha sarvabeedithyaha kamaroope namosthdhe ||

 

kamakhya devi temple in Kamagiri is one of the 'shakti-peetams' in India. The Devi is described as the bestower of all the desires of her devotees and giver of salvation. According to the legend of Daksha and 'Siva thandavam' the reproductive organ of Dakshyani (the Yoni) is said to have fallen here and thus this place has become one of the 51 Sakthi-sthals. (refer to 'Yoga-agni' in 'Abodes of devi' for background story)
Assam has been known for Sakthi worship over a long period . It is also known as the Kamarupa Desa. The temple of Devi Kamakhya is situated on Kamagiri hills near the city of Guwahati in Assam. There is no idol for Devi Kamakhya but only a sculptured image of the Yoni kept wet by a natural spring.
Kali purana says all the devas wanted to put an end to Sri Siva's mourning after the death of his consort Devi Parvathi . Hence all the devas provoked lord Siva through Manmadha to prevail upon him to start again the passion of creation. At this lord Siva grew furious and Kama (another name for manmadha) was burnt to ashes by the angry look of his third eye. Kama's wife Rathi Devi was very sad and prayed to Siva that her husband be brought back to life.
Lord Siva pleased with her prayers agreed to restore him to life only if the devas created a temple for the "yoni" of Sathi Devi. This being done in this place Kama was restored to his original state but visible only to Rati devi. So according to this legend the original temple was constructed by the devas themselves with the help of Visvakarma.
There are images of Ganesha , dancing figurines etc.The sculptures here throw light on the history of the period. Durga pooja is celebrated with pomp during 'Navarathri'. The most unique celebration is the 'fertility' festival for three days. During this period Devi is supposed to have her 'menstrual period'. The temple is closed for these three days and re-opened on the 4th day with great celebration.
But the ancient temple was destroyed by the vandals in the early 16th century A.D the ruins of which are still seen scattered all over the hill. The temple was rebuilt by King Nara Narayana, of Cooch Bihar.

 

 

Om Sakthi

 

 

Location:
Kamagiri hills is near the city of 

Gawuhati, the capital of Assam.
This place is well connected by air, rail and road.

Lalitha Devi at Prayag

  Charanaagadha dheenartha parithrana paraayane |
Sarwasyarthi hare Sri Lalitha devi namosthudhe ||

 

Lalitha Devi abode in Prayag is a sakthi-peet. According to the legend of Dakshayani the fingers from her dismembered burnt body fell here. (refer to 'Yoga-agni' in 'Abodes of devi' for background story) So this place became one of the 51 sacred Devi-sthalas of India. This is also called 'Prayag peeta'. This temple is situated near the place called Akshaya-vadam. The sacred ganga is worshipped as representing the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva.
The three rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical underground river Saraswathi meet at this place called 'Thriveni sangam' and the water here is said to be very holy.
The festival 'Kumbh-mela' is celebrated once every 12 years. This attracts devotees in laks from all over the world. The holy men from the Himalayas descend at this place for a holy dip at the confluence of the three rivers .
Hindu's immerse the ashes of the dead in this river. This is to expiate all the sins committed by the dead and obtain salvation for the soul by the grace of Devi Lalithambike.

 

 

 

Om Sakthi

location
Prayag is near allahabad
There are trains fecilities available

Mahalakshmi Devi at Kohlapur

Namasdethu Mahamaye Sri Peete surapoojite Shanka |
Chakra Gadha Hasthe Mahalakshmi Namosdude ||

 

Mahalakshmi devi in Kolhapur, the locals say is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The eyes from the burnt and dismembered body of Devi Dakshayani's fell here. and hence this place became one of the 51 sacred devi sthals. (refer to 'Yoga-agni' in 'Abodes of devi' for background story) This place is also known as 'karavira-sthal'. It is said that Goddess Mahalakshmi destroyed Demon Kolasura who was terrorizing Gods and humans. The place where this demon was destroyed has become a holy spot and Mahalakshmi was installed in the present day temple. Legend also says that Parvathi in the form of Kolhambika destroyed the demon. In a way Parvathi and Lakshmi are same descended from Adi sakthi.
Although the temple is of great antiquity it is said that the deity was installed there about 1000 years ago. This temple lost its importance for a while. It was only after the Marathas came to power that this temple was restored to its glory.
'Mahadwara' as the name denotes is the main entrance to the temple. There is the 18th century Garuda mantap in typical Maratha architecture with square pillars and arches of wood. The image of garuda faces the main deity. A stone mandapam with an image of Ganesha, also faces the sanctum.After this is the mandapam with three shrines - the central one that of Mahalakshmi and the other two on either side those of Mahakali and Mahasaraswathi.
The idol of Mahalakshmi is carved in black stone and is 3 feet in height. The Shri-Chakra is sculpted on one of the walls in the temple. The sanctum is laid out in such a way that once in a year, the setting rays of the sun fall on the face of the idol of Mahalakshmi for 3 days.
The early Deccan style of construction without the binding mortar is followed. Rich carvings of figurines of musicians, gods and goddesses and courtiers in dancing poses presents an over-whelming atmosphere.
There is a shrine dedicated to Siva in the Lingam form and also with his faithful Nandi. There are shrines for 'Navagraha' 'Surya' 'Siva ' Vishnu' with centuries old images. There is the temple tank called Manikarnika Kund. Five worship rituals are held every day. The deity is taken out in procession around the temple courtyard

 

Om Sakthi

 

 

Location:
Kolhapur is well connected with Pune, on

 the highway between Bangalore and Pune
It is situated on the banks of the Panchganga river.

Devi Thulasi at Kandagi

Lakshmi maya kamavaani beeja poor-vamtha thak-sharam |
Brindadi vaneethi jaen-than-cha vanni jayaam thwameve chaaha ||
 

Tulasi devi here is in the form of a river. Devi Dhakshayani's right Cheek from her burnt body fell at this place. (refer to 'Yoga-agni' in 'Abodes of devi' for background story) Hence Kandagi river became one of the 51 sacred Devi sthals - abodes of devi. The devi is kandaki-chandi and Siva is here as Chakrapani. The devi is popularly called Sri Tulasi. Tulasi means' without any equal'.

Thulasi ardently desired to become the consort of Sri Narayana and was in deep penance for over 1000 years. But she married Sanga-choodan, an aspect of Narayana but of 'asura' descent. He was sage like and very pious. He established a great empire covering this world and the heavens. All 'devas' panicked at his ascendancy and prayed to Rudhra to destroy him
There ensued a fight between Rudhra and Sanga-chooda. The power of Tulasi's chastity and devotion to her husband was the armour protecting Sanga-chooda. Mid-way in the war Vishnu in the garb of an old man tricks Sanga-chooda to part with his protective armour. Impersonating Sanga-chooda he goes to Tulasi and outrages her modesty. With her chastity gone the protection to sanga-chooda is lost and he looses his life in the war.
Tulasi realizes that the person who got intimate with her was not her husband Sanga-chooda but Sri Narayana. She curses Narayana that he would become a stone - a hill.
Narayana explains to Tulasi that he came to her in the garb of her husband only in answer to her penance earlier praying to become his consort. However Narayana becomes a hill according to tulasi's curse. For their association to be more permanent, Narayana said that Tulasi would become a river washing the foot of that hill which he himself became.. Thus Tulasi became the river 'Kandagi' and Narayana became the 'Saligrama' hill Narayana further said that millions of insects would bore into the hill side and chisel small 'saligrama' that would fall into the Kandagi river. People all over would take these home and worhship them as a representation of Narayana
On Narayana's word Tulasi becomes a prized holy leaf for doing 'pooja' and also a herb of medicinal value. Where-ever there is Tulasi, there is Narayana also.
One who commits to memory  the following seven names and keeps reciting them during prayers will receive all the blessings of Devi Tulasi:

 

 

Brindha, Bridhavani, visvapoojitha, Pushpasara,
Viswabhavani, Nanthini, Thulasi, Krishnajeevani.

 

Location:
Kandagi river in Nepal

Chandrabaga Devi at Somanadham

 Sri Chakra devi somanatha swathma naama aykyam samrusan |
Trilokya marunam ithya-thwa Sri vidyamyo jabe sudhi ||

 

Chandrabaga Devi Sakthi peeth in Gujarat is situated in Prabasa Pattinam. The Devi is in the form of the mythical under-ground river Saraswathi. According to the legend of Dakshayani the stomach from her dismembered burnt body fell at this place and so became one of the 51 sacred Devi-sthala of India. This is called Prabasa peetam. (refer to 'Yoga-agni' in 'Abodes of devi' for background story)
Devi Chandrabagha's consort is 'Mahadeva Somanatham'. The legend in this place revolves more around the Devi's consort than about the devi herself.
The interesting legend is King Dakhsa married his 27 daughters (other than Devi Dhakshayini ) to Soman (the Moon) who started with equal love to all his 27 wives. But later he became very fond of only two of his wives called Aswini and Rohini. He spent all his time only with the two of them.
Rest of the wives were upset about their husband's partiality and complained to their father Dhaksha about his behaviour. Dhakshan called his son-in-law advised him to be impartial towards all his wives. Soman just pretended to hear but never followed his father in law's advice. Dhakshan got very angry and cursed him to sufer from severe ill-health.
Soman became very sad and went to all devas for help. But no one could save him from the curse. At last he went to Brahma l and told him his sad story. But Brahma said he could do nothing and suggested that shiva could help with his problems. He also said that Soman should do penance to Shiva at the place where the river Saraswathi joins the sea chanting the 'mrithynjeya manthra'
Accordingly he went to the earth and found the place where the river Saraswathi mingled with the sea and did penence for many many years standing on one leg. Finally shiva appeared before him and told him that no one could reverse the a curse of a brahmin in this universe. But the salvation would be that Soman would be on siva's lock waxing and waning. One fortnight the moon would grow becoming round and bright on the fifteenth day. From next day the waning would start becoming very dark end of that fortnight. This way the moon would live for ever. The waning phase is called 'Krishna-Paksham' and the growing phase Sukla-Paksham. Siva further enjoined on Soman not be partial to anybody but to treat all his wives with equal love. Soman agreed gladly.
From that time onwards we have the two phases of the Moon.
As siva gave the boon to Soman in that place it came to be called Somanadha-stalam.
The temple has three parts - the entrance 'mantap' the sabha 'mantap' and then the Sanctum. The somanatha Lingam also called the north face or the 'kalaa-agni' is on a huge base. Behind this is the
consort Devi.

 

                                                                                             OM Sakthi

 

 

location
There are many routes to

 Prabasa Pattinam also

 called Somanatha-kshetram
By Train from Bombay to Ahmadabad

 and then to Veravel station. It is 5 km
from veravel to Somanatha-stalam by bus.