11. SAPTASHRUNGI DEVI TEMPLE, VANI

SAPTASHRUNGI DEVI TEMPLE

Saptashrungi is a site of Hindu pilgrimage situated 60 kilometres (37 mi) from Nashik in West Indian state of Maharashtra in India. According to Hindu traditions, the goddess Saptashrungi Nivasini dwells within the seven mountain peaks. (Sapta means seven and shrung means peaks.) It is located in Nanduri, Kalwan taluka, a small village near Nashik in India. Devotees visit this place in large numbers every day. The temple is also known popularly as one of the “three and half Shakti Peethas” of Maharashtra. The temple is also one among the 51 Shakti Peethas located on the Indian subcontinent and is a location where one of Sati’s (first wife of Lord Shiva) limbs, her right arm is reported to have fallen.

Temple History

According to Hindu belief, an insulted Sati, the wife of Lord Shiva, sacrificed herself at a yagna (fire worship ritual) which was being performed by her father Dakshmaharaj. Angry with this incident, Lord Shiva started the tandava nritya (dance of destruction). In order to prevent destruction of all creation, Lord Vishnu used his Sudershan charka (wheel) to cut the body of Sati into several parts. Sati’s body was scattered all over what is presently the Indian subcontinent. There are 51 such holy spots where temples have been erected and they are called Peethas or the Shakti Peethas. Sati’s limb, her right arm is reported to have fallen here.

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