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ASTADASA MAHA SAKTHI-PEETHAS
Srisailam is
also one of the 18 Sakthi Peethaas. It is said that Sakthi Peethams bestow upon
the devotees, will power, the power of knowledge, and the power to work.
The story behind the origin of Sakthi Peethas
According to the
puranas, Dakshaprajapathi son of Brahma had 27 daughters. Satidevi (Parvathi)
was one of his daughters. As per the suggestion of his father Brahma,
Dakshaprajapathi decides to give Satidevi to Shiva in marriage. While sages
perform the Yagna for Lokakalyana, Dakshaprajapathi the king enters. All the
invitees and Devatas stand up as mark of respect, except Lord Shiva. This act
of Shiva infuriates Dakshaprajapathi. Dakshaprajapathi keeps this act of shiva
in mind as an insult.
In due course,
Dakshaprajapati himself undertakes the yagna. He invites all the devatas except
Lord shiva his son-in-law. Didichi, a sage by name enquires Dakshaprajapathi
about the absence of shiva. Dakshaprajapathi tells him, in no certain terms
that he has neither invited nor intends to do so. Satidevi notices from
Kailasha that devatas are proceeding towards Yagna in their respective mode of
journey. Satidevi gets hurt that her father has not invited them.
Satidevi,
requests Lord Shiva that they should attend the yagna being performed by her
father. Shiva refuses as they are not invited. But Shiva allows his wife to
attend as per her wishe. Satidevi goes to Yagna, without her father’s
invitation. Neither parents nor her sisters pay attention to her. Satidevi feels
insulted and immolate herself in fire. Lord Shiva knows this and comes to
Yagna. He collects body of his wife and starts roaming here and there with the
body. Lord Vishnu notices this. On the request of Goddesses, Lord Vishnu with
his Sudarshan Chakra cuts the dead body of Satidevi into 18 pieces. These get
scattered on the earth and originated as “Sakthi Peethas”. In this way, Astaadasa
(18) Sakthi Peethas came into existence. It was said that as per puranas, Shakthi
was formed in different places and called upon with different names. They are
as follows.
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