The Shakthipeeths of Maharashtra
Legend
Daksha, unhappy with his daughter Sati's marriage to Lord Shiva, refused to invite Shiva to the yagna he was performing. Relenting to Sati who wanted to visit her father, Shiva allowed his wife to go the yagna. There, Daksha insulted Shiva. Unable to bear her father's disrespect towards her husband, Sati immolated herself. Shiva, in his wrathful form of Veerabhadra, destroyed the yagna and killed Daksha.The ire and grief of Shiva, manifested as the celestial dance of destruction, the Tandav. Lord Vishu, with the aim of stopping the Tandav, used his Sudarshana Chakra, which cut through the Sati's corpse. The parts of her body fell at varied spots all through the Indian subcontinent and these sites came to be called Shakti Peethas. Devi Bhagvata Puranam describes the most favoured places of Goddess as the four holy sites of Kolhapur, Tuljapur, Mahur along with Vani in Maharashtra which were clustered and called as the Sade teen Shakhipeethas.
Deity - Temples
Deity :- Goddess Shakti
Temples Covered :-
Sholapur Tulja Bhavani Temple
Saptashrungi Devi Temple
Kohlapur Mahalakhsmi Temple
Renuka Mata Temple
Auspicious Days
Tuesdays and Fridays are considered auspicious in most Devi temples.Navratri is an important festival in these temples.
Best time to Travel
All these temples of Sade teen Shakthipeetha can be visited around the year though it is best to avoid the hot summers.
Darshan Info Clock Duration
4-5 days from Mumbai/Pune.
Climate
Climate is pleasant throughout the year though summers tend to be hot and humid with temperatures in the high thirties. Monsoons bring rains during the months of June, July and August
Yatra Preparations
Area Covered
MaharashtraLanguages Spoken:- Marathi
Must Haves
Most of the travel around Maharashtra would need only light cotton clothing and conservative attire for temple visit.Water bottles, light snacks, bottled water, first aid etc should be carried in the daypack.
Health Awareness
All the Sade teen Shaktipeeth temples are in the vicinity of good
medical facilities. Still, it is advisable to carry any special
medication that you might need along with you.
Those who have cardiac ailments, asthma etc are advised to avail dolis instead of taking the stairs.
Travel Method
All the temples are well connected by road to Mumbai and Pune.
Some temples have a fair amount of steps to climb to reach the sanctum.
Dolis are available for those who cannot climb.
Crowd Expected
As the temples are opened throughout the year, there is not much crowd on regular days. However Tuesdays, Fridays and festival days a large number of devotees throng these temples.
Festivals
Tuesdays and Fridays are considered auspicious in most Devi temples.
Navratri is an important festival in these temples.
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