Thread by @SadaaShree

On the cccasion of Devi #Navaratri thread on the Shakti Peethams in Telugu states. The 4 Peethams are at Draksharama, Pithapuram, Srisailam in AP and Alampur in TG.

As per the Puranas, when Sati died, a grief stricken Shiva, carried her body, performing the Tandava in anger. When the gods implored Vishnu to save the world from Shiva's wrath, he cut Sati's corpse into pieces with his Sudarshana Chakra

The places where parts of Sati's corpse fell on earth are considered as Shakti Peethas, sanctified by the holy presence of Devi Maa. There are around 51 Shakti Peetha of which 38 are in India, while Bangladesh has 5, Nepal 3, Pakistan 2, and Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Tibet 1 each.

Again of these Shakti Peethas, you have 4 Adi Shakti Peethas, considered the major ones, and all are in the Eastern region. The Kamakhya temple at Gauhati, Kalighata at Kolkata, Tara Tarini at Berhampur and Bimala Pada at Puri, which is part of the Puri Jagannatha complex.

Apart from the Adi Shakti Peethas, you have 18 Maha Shakti Peethas, which are mentioned in the Ashta Dasha Shakti Peetha Stothram by Adi Shankara, of which two are not in India, Shankari Devi at Trincomalee( Sri Lanka) and Sharada Peetha at Muzaffarabad( POK).

The 18 Maha Shakti Peethas roughly speaking are as follows:
1) Avantika- Ujjain- Upper Lips
2) Madhaveswari Devi- Prayaga-Finger
3) Vishalakshi/ Manikarnika- Kashi- Earring
4) Brahmarambha- Srisailam- Neck
5) Biraja Devi- Jajpur, Odisha-Navel
6) Chamundeshwari- Mysore-Hair

7) Ekaveerika- Mahur, Nanded- Head
8) Jogulamba- Alampur, TG- Upper teeth
9) Kamakhsi- Kanchi- Back
10) Mahalakshmi- Kolhapur- Eyes
11) Manikyamba- Draksharama- Left Cheek
12) Puruhutika- Pithapuram- Foot
13) Sarvamangala Devi- Gaya- Breast

14) Shrikala Devi- Pandua, Hooghly- Stomach
15) Vaishnavi- Jwalamukhi, Kangra- Tongue
The Sharada Peeth in Muzaffarabad, POK is mostly in ruins now, while Kamakhya is considered as both an Adi Shakti Peetha and Maha Shakti Peetha.

Of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas, three are particularly considered sacred, Kamakhya,where the yoni fell, is associated with the act of creation. Sarvamangala, Gaya, where the breasts fell and is associated with nourishment.

The most prominent of the Maha Shakti Peethas in Telugu states is Brahmaramba at Srisailam, which is also one of the Jyotirlinga Kshetras where Shiva is worshipped as Mallikarjuna, making it one of the holiest spots for Hindus.

It's believed that Hiranyakasipu, the Asura ruler, did his penance to Shiva here at Srisailam, while Ahobilam was where he held court. Rama and Seeta in Treta Yuga, the Pandavas in Dwapara Yuga, visited this place during their exile, there is a pond named after Bhima here.

Srisailam is also believed to be one of the Trilinga Kshetram, the other two being Draksharama in East Godavari district and Kaleshwaram in Telangana. Incidentally Trilinga Desham is the ancient name for the Telugu states.

Since Shiva was worshipped mostly with Jasmines at Srisailam, he was called as Mallikarjuna( Malli in telugu is Jasmine) or more colloquially as Mallana. Shakti is called as Brahmaramba as it's believed she worshipped Shiva in form of a bee ( Brahmara) here.

As per history the Vishnukundins were the earliest devotees of Mallikarjuna Swamy, during the Kakatiya rule, they contributed to the temple's growth, the vimana gopuram was believed to have been constructed by Mallamadevi, sister of Ganapatideva.

It’s Golden Age was during the rule of the Reddy Rajulu, Prolaya Vema Reddi constructed the pathway to the temple as also to the Patalaganga. The Vijayanagara rulers made major contributions, esp the Mukhamandapam and Southern Gopuram.

Chattrapathi Shivaji visited Srisailam in 1674, restored the temple to it's glory, which had fallen into neglect after fall of Vijayanagara. This is the statue of him at Srisailam, and there is also a Shivaji Mandapam at Srisailam in his honor.

Jogulamba temple at Alampur in Mehboobnagar dt( now Jogulamba Gadwal), Telangana is the other Mahashakti peetham in Telugu states. Sati's upper teeth are believed to have fallen here, this is also called Navabrahma Theertha.

Shiva is worshipped here as Brahmeswara.Alampur Navabrahma Temples are a cluster of 9 temples dedicated to Shiva, located at the Sangama of the Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers, making this a very holy spot.

Built by the Badami Chalukyas, these temples are known for their architectural excellence. Sangameshwara Temple at Alampur is the most well known at Alampur, constructed by Pulakesin I, in typical Chalukyan style.

Built at Kudaveli, where the Sangama of Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers takes place, somewhere in the 7th century, must visit.

The temples at Alampur bear the typical Badami Chalukya style of architecture, which typically tend to have a smaller gopuram, in contrast to the large ones you have down South. You find this kind of style in North Karnataka, primarily Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal.

The Navabrahma Temples at Alampur are as follows

1) Taraka Brahma- One of the smaller temples, has deities carved into the ceiling.

2) Svarga Brahma- Very elaborate sculptures. Has Shiva in Nataraja form, fables from Panchatantra.

3) Padma Brahma Temple- Last temple to be built in the group, somewhat incomplete.

4) Bala Brahma- Has sculptures of Saptamatrikas, Shivratri celebrated in grand style here.

5) Garuda Brahma- Has a large sculpture of Garuda.

6) Kumara Brahma- Again one of the finest temples in the complex, pillars have many miniature carvings.

7) Arka Brahma- Mostly in ruins now

8) Vishva Brahma Temple- Again has very intricate carvings

9) Vira Brahma Temple- The northern most one.

Jogulamba Temple at Alampur is one of the 18 Mahashakti Peethas, this has Shakti in a rather fierce form, sitting on a corpse, with scorpion, frog and lizard on head. As she grants Siddhi in Yoga, she was called Yogulamma, meaning mother of Yogis, Jogulamba is the local name.

Jogulamba is flanked by Chandi, Mundi. The original deity was shifted to a new temple in 2005, beautiful one with granite flooring surrounded by water. The locals state that since Jogulamba is Devi's Ugra Rupa, the water is meant to cool the atmosphere around her.

There is a small Yellamma temple too near Jogulamba temple. It's believed to be where Parashuram killed his mother Renuka and she came back to life here. Locals worship Renuka as Yellamma in Telangana, and u can find many temples dedicated to her there.

The next two Shaktipeethas in Andhra Pradesh, are both located in East Godavari district- Manikyamba at Draksharama, which is also one of the Pancharamas and Puruhatika Devi at Pithapuram near Kakinada.

Surrounded by lush green paddy fields, Draksharama is one of the Pancharamas, five Shiva Temples located at Amaravati( Guntur dt), Samarlakota( E.Godavari), Palakollu and Bhimavaram( W.Godavari).

These Pancharamas are so called as they are believed to be places of rest. Apparently when Kartikeya battled Tarakasura, he could not kill him, as the latter had the powerful Shiva Linga with him that protected.

Vishnu then advised Kartikeya to first shatter the Shiva Linga, and then kill Tarakasura. However he also warned that it would grow very fast. Kartikeya shattered the Shiva Linga with his spear, and the 5 spots where the pieces fell were the Pancharamas.

However he had to ensure that the Lingams had to be stopped, as they grew rapidly, and so the Devas hammered nails there. This is why the Shiva Lingams are very tall here.

Draksharama is one of the Mahashakti Peethas, where Sati's left cheek is believed to have fallen. As per some versions Manikyamba is believed to be a more corrupted version of Mainakadevi, daughter of Himavanta.

The more popular version states that Manikyamba was the daughter of a prostitute, and decided that she would marry Bhimeswara only. After severe penance, Shiva was pleased with her devotion, and she became his consort. This was mentioned by Telugu poet Srinatha in Bhimakandam.

Also in Draksharama you have the Ashta Someshwara temples, smaller Lingas consecrated by the Sapta Rishis. Initially the Shiva Lingam had such intensity that the Rishis were not able to approach it.

So they installed Lingas in 8 directions, that wud cool the intensity. Draksharama Bhimeswara Temple was built by the Chalukyan ruler Bhima, which also accounts for the name.

Also there is a pond Sapta Godavari, believed to contain waters from the 7 tributaries of the Godavari, consecrated by the Sapta Rishis to worship the Shiva Linga.

The other Maha Shakti temple is that of Puruhutika Devi at Pithapuram. The place incidentally get it's name from here, it was called Pithikapuram, and believed to be place where Sati's left hand fell here

Shiva is worshipped as Kukkuteswara Swamy here,in the shape of a cock. This place is also one of the Tri Gaya kshetrams, so called after Gayasura, an Asura who was a devotee of Shiva. This is called as Pada Gaya, as his feet were here.

As per the Sthala Purana, there was an Asura ruler Gayasura, who was a devotee of Vishnu. He did penance to Vishnu and asked for a boon by which his body would manifest itself with all the divinity of the Punya Kshetras.

And his body became as holy, with none of the sins able to touch him, even the small beings that died on his body, achieved Moksha, due to the divine presence.

By the power of the divinity manifested in him, his good deeds and the Yagnas he did, Gayasura acquired the throne of Indra, who did penance to Brahma, to get back the position he lost.

Brahma told him that he was planning to conduct a great Yagna, for which he needed the holiest place ever. Gayasura being a giant of a personality, offered his own body to conduct the Yagna on

So huge was his body that on stretching, his head rested in Bodh Gaya, while his feet rested in Pithapuram. The Yagna on his body would last for 7 days, during which he would not be getting up.

However when the Devas requested Shiva to disturb the Yagna, to ensure Gayasura does not become too powerful, he took the form of a cock, and crowed at an early hour on the 7th day, just before the Yagna was to end.

Thinking it was morning, and the end of the Yagna, Gayasura got up before it was over, thus disturbing it. However he got a boon from Vishnu, Brahma that due to his devotion, the 3 parts of his body, would become Punya Kshetras.

Those 3 parts are what are called Tri Gaya Kshetras, the head or Siro Gaya at Bodh Gaya, the middle part or Nabhi Gaya at Biraja Temple, Jajpur, Odisha and the feet at Pithapuram, which is the reason why it's also called as Pada Gaya Kshetram.

Since Shiva appeared in the form of a cock at Pithapuram, he is worshipped here as Kukkuteswara Swamy, and this temple is right opposite to the Puruhitika Devi temple.

The Kunti Madhava temple at Pithapuram is one of the Pancha Madhava Kshetras, believed to have been built by Indra to atone for the killing of Vritasura. The other 4 are Bindu Madhava(Kashi), Veni Madhav(Prayag Raj), Sethu Madhava(Rameswaram) ,Sundara Madhava(Thiruvananthapuram).

Pithapuram is also home to Sripada Srivallabha Swamy who is believed to be an avatar of Dattatreya himself. His home is now a temple, and it's the only place in India, which has a swayambhu murthy of Dattatreya.

This thread is more an overview of the Shakti Peethams in AP, TG, and thanks for following it patiently. #Navaratri