Other Shakti
1. Amar Kantak, M.P.
There are varying opinions on whether AmarKantak or Kalmadhava is the perfect spot. The most adapted view is for AmarKantak, is the originating point of River Narmada and is situated in Madhya Pradesh. It is also said that Devi's right hips fell here and the idols are Devi as Right Nipple Asitananda Kali and Shiva as Asitananda.
2. Amarnath at Amarnath Cave, Kashmir
Devi's Neck (throat) fell here and the idols are Devi as Mahamaya (the great Illusion) and Shiva as Trisandhyasvar. This is famous for pilgrimage of Amarnath temple. There is a Shiva lingam of glacial ice which expands and contracts with the seasons.
3. Bhairava Parvat at Ujjain, MP
Devi's upper lips fell here and idols are Devi as Avanti (Modest) and Shiva as Lambakarna (Long eared one). It is located This is located at Bhairava hills on the banks of Shipra River a little distance from Ujjain town, in Madhya Pradesh near Ujjain.
4. Chitrakoot at Ramgiri hills, MP
The right breast of Devi Shivani fell here (another opinion is that her Nala or Jaghanasti or Bone of the Abdomen fell here) and the idols are Devi as Shivani (the wife of Shiva) and Shiva as Chanda. This is located in Madhya Pradesh near Katni Railway station.
5. Dantewada at Baster, Chhattisgarh
Devi’s daanta (teeth) fell here. Devi is worshipped as Danteshwari (Kuldevi of Baster State) and Shiva as Kapali Bhairava. The place is about 80 km's from Jagdalpur Chhattisgarh. The place has come to limelight due to recent Maoist movement.
6. Godavari Tirtha or Sarva Shaila, Andhra Pradesh
Devi's left cheek fell here and the idols are Viswamatrika (mother of the world) and Shiva as Viveshi Dandapani (the one who holds a staff). The famous Koti Lingeswar temple is on the banks of Godavari River near Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India
7. Hingula or Hinglaj, Pakistan
Devi's mind or brain fell here and the idols are Devi as Kotari (Brahmarandhra Kottawisha Bhairavi) Durga and Shiva as Bhimlochan (Triple eyed or the third eye).
The location is in a cave on the western part of Pakistan near Karachi and is about 90 miles away from Karachi. The road from Karachi to Hingula (Hinglaj) is alongside the Arabian Sea. Usual Transport is Camel or Camel driven cart. A beam of light can be seen within the dark cave, where the temple is located.
8. Jalandhar, Punjab
The left breast of Devi fell here and the idols are Devi as Tripurmalini (Durga) and Shiva as Bhisan (Gruesome). Jwalamukhi is the nearby Tirtha and train goes from Delhi to Jalandhar. There is Devi Talab (Pond) in Jalandhar, a large masonry tank sacred to Hindus.
There is also a very famous Shiva temple in Jalandhar, the temple is a blend of Muslim Hindu architecture situated at Gur Mandi near Imam Nassir mausoleum dates back to the Lodhi Era. It is believed to be built by the Nawab of Sultanpur Lodhi. The main gate was built in the style of a mosque while the rest of the building in Hindu style. There is a tradition that when Jalandhar was in Nawab territory he had eyed a newly married Hindu girl who was a devotee of Lord Shiva who, in the form of a serpent, saved her honor. Awed by the appearance of this serpent the Nawab apologized to the girl and built the temple on her bidding.
9. Janasthan, Panchavati, Nasik, Maharashtra
Devi's chin fell here and the idols are Devi as Bhramari (female Bumble bee or attendant of Durga) and Shiva as Vikrakatakkha (one with the crooked eyes or look). Other names are Devi as Chibuka (the one with the chin) and Shiva as Sarvasiddhish (the one who can fulfill all desires). Bhramari Devi is a dark goddess identified as another form of Kalika and said to be "as brilliant as a million dark suns". She is surrounded by black bees and holds black bees in the first of her hands, others of which are in the "boon-granting" and "fear-allaying" gestures. She destroys egoistic demons while her bees make the seed-Mantra "Hring" sound.
10. Jwalamukhi, Kangra at Himachal Pradesh
Devi's tongue fell here and the idols are Devi as Ambika (Mother) and Shiva as Unmatta Bhairava (Furious). This is located near Jalandhar in Punjab. One can hire a local transport from
Jalandhar to Jwalamukhi. It is 34 Kms south of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh.
The Temple of Siddha Jwalamukhi Devi is an astounding sacred power point, an adventure unto itself. Within Jwalamukhi is an archaic sanctuary to the tongue of Kali, the source of the flame of transformation. The sanctuary contains a shallow pool of water. Floating above the water is perpetual natural-gas-fueled blue flames. Kangra, in Himachal Pradesh.
11. Kanyakumari at Tamil Nadu
Devi's back fell here and the idols are Devi as Sharvani and Shiva as Nimisha. There are varying opinions about whether this is Kanyasharm or Kalikashram or Kanyakumari. There is a Bhadra Kali temple within the precincts of Kumari temple. Other view: It also thought to be situated in Chittagong, Bangladesh.
12. Kolhapur or Karavipur or Shivaharkaray, Maharastra
Devi's three eyes fell here and the idols are Devi as Mahishmardini (Durga the destroyer of Mahishashur) and Shiva as Krodhish (the one who can be angry). Kolhapur also houses the famous Mahalakshmi Temple.
13. Kurukchetra, Haryana
Devi's right ankle fell here and the idols are Devi as Savitri or Sthanu and Shiva as Aswanath.
Kurukchetra is the fields belonging to the Kuru family where the battle of the Mahabharata was fought between the Kurus and Pandus.
14. Manivedika, Pushkar at Rajasthan
Devi's middle of the palms fell here and the idols are Devi as Gayatri (Saraswati) and Shiva as Sarvananda (the one who makes everyone happy). The place is also varyingly referred to as “Manibandha “or “Manivedika”.
15. Nellore at Sri Lanka
Devi’s feet bells (Nupur or Anklet) fell here and the idols are Devi as Indrakschi and Shiva as Rakchaseswara. Indrakschi was created and worshipped by Indra in person. The Lord here was worshipped by the Demon King Ravana, who was the Ruler of Sri Lanka.
Nellore is now in Andhra Pradesh thus there is confusion. However it is most likely at Andhra Pradesh as Andhra was heavily influenced by Tantra and Nellore is a district of Andhra Pradesh.
16. Pancha Saagar – Place not known
Panchasagar - Devi's lower teeth fell here. Idols are Devi as Barahi and Shiva as Maharudra (the angry one). It is believed at a place near to Hardwar.
17. Pashupatinath, Kathmandu of Nepal
Devi's two knees fell here. Idols are Devi as Guhyeshwari Mahamaya and Shiva as Kapali Bhairava. This again is a very famous pilgrimage spot and located in Nepal.
18. Prabhas, Girnar Hills
Devi's stomach fell here and the idols are Devi as Chandrabhaga (Throne of the moon) and Shiva as Bakratunda (the one with the bent staff). This is near Bombay (now Mumbai) here a launch/steamer goes to Bharoal (also Veroal) which is near to Prabhas (also Provas). There is another way to Prabhas all thru by train. Very close to this place is the famous Som Nath Temple. .
19. Ratnabali, Chennai at Tamil Nadu
Devi's right shoulder fell here. Idols are Devi as Kumari (Durga) and Shiva as Bhairava (Remover of fear). This place is supposedly located near Madras (now Chennai) in Tamil Nadu.
Other views: Ratnabali is on the banks of Ratnakar River at Khanakul; district Hooghly, West Bengal, and India.
20. Sri Sailam of Mallikharjuna Hill, Andhra Pradesh
Part of Devi’s neck fell here. This place is located in Andhra Pradesh and is a very famous pilgrimage spot. Lord Shiva is called as “Mallikharjuna Swami” and Parvati or Amba Devi is known as “Brahmara Ambika”. This is a very famous divine place where one of the only 12 Jyotir Linga Shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva is established. Other Views: Shri Shaila is situated at Jainpur village, near Gotatikar, towards north-east 3 km from Sylhet town, Bangladesh. Devi is worshipped as “Mahalakshmi” and Shiva as “Sambaranand”.
21. Shriparvata near Ladakh in Nepal
Sole of Devi's right foot fell here. Idols are Devi as Shri Sundari (beautiful) and Shiva as Sundaranand (the handsome one) Bhairava. The place is situated near Ladakh in Nepal.
22. Suchindram of Kanya Kumari, Tamil Nadu
Devi's upper teeth fell here. Idols are Devi as Narayani and Shiva as Samhar/Sanghar. They are worshipped in a Shiva temple at Shuchi Tirtham 11 km on Kanyakumari Trivandrum road, Tamil Nadu, India. This place is near the southernmost tip of India, Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu.
23. Ujjain at Madhya Pradesh (MP)
Devi's elbows fell here and the idols are Devi as Mangalchandi (Durga) and Shiva as Siddhidayaka Kapilambar (one who wears the brown clothes).
24. Virat (Present Jaipur) of Rajasthan
Devi's small toes (leg fingers) of the feet fell here. Idols are Devi as Ambika and Shiva as Amrita (nectar of immortality).
Acknowledgements: In this article, author has tried to capture all pertinent information relating to Shakti Peethas, their location, accessibility, etc in most cases in and around India. The author is grateful to various authorities/agencies on their books and articles on Tantra and other Indian literatures, without which it is not possible to compile the information on Sakti Peethas.