Shakti PeethaShakti
Alopi Devi Mandir
📍 Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
A unique Shakti Peetha in Prayagraj where no idol is worshipped — only a wooden cradle (doli) over the spot where the last part of Sati's body is said to have vanished (alop).
A Shakti Peetha beside the Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, where an earring (or the eyes) of Sati is said to have fallen. The goddess Vishalakshi, the 'wide-eyed one', is the presiding Devi of Kashi.
Primary Deity
ShaktiLocation
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Pilgrimage Circuit
Shakti PeethaBest Time to Visit
October to March; Navratri and Kajali Teej are the most auspicious.
Significance
Vishalakshi is counted among the 51 Shakti Peethas, marking where an earring (manikarni) of Sati descended — giving the adjoining Manikarnika Ghat its name. As the Shakti presiding over Kashi, the holiest of cities, the goddess completes the union of Shiva (Vishwanath) and Devi at the very centre of the sacred landscape. Her Bhairava here is Kaal Bhairav, the guardian of Kashi.
About
Set in the labyrinth of lanes near the sacred Manikarnika Ghat, the Vishalakshi temple is one of the most revered Devi shrines of Varanasi, standing close to the Kashi Vishwanath complex. The goddess is worshipped as Vishalakshi, whose large, compassionate eyes watch over the eternal city. The temple is especially thronged during Kajali Teej and Navratri, and South Indian pilgrims hold it in particular reverence, equating it with the Kamakshi of Kanchi and Meenakshi of Madurai as one of the great Devi seats.
Part of the Shakti Peetha
The Shakti Peethas are revered shrines marking the places where parts of Goddess Sati's body are believed to have fallen. Each embodies the divine feminine energy (Shakti). This temple is one of the 45 sacred sites of the Shakti Peetha.
Other temples in this circuit
🛕
Shakti PeethaShakti
Ambaji Temple
📍 Banaskantha, Gujarat
One of the 51 Shakti Peethas, revered as the place where the heart of Goddess Sati fell, near the Gujarat–Rajasthan border. It is among the most visited pilgrimage sites in western India.
🛕
Shakti PeethaShakti
Attahas Fullara Temple Labhpur
📍 Birbhum, West Bengal
A Shakti Peetha at Labhpur in Birbhum where the lips of Sati are said to have fallen, with the goddess worshipped as Fullara amid a serene grove and sacred tank.
🛕
Shakti PeethaShakti
Bahula Temple Ketugram
📍 Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal
A Shakti Peetha at Ketugram on the banks of the Ajay river where the left arm of Sati is said to have fallen, with the goddess worshipped as Bahula.
Shakti PeethaShakti
Bakreshwar Temple Birbhum
📍 Birbhum, West Bengal
A Shakti Peetha in Birbhum where the space between Sati's eyebrows is said to have fallen, famous also for its cluster of hot springs. The goddess is worshipped as Mahishamardini.
Shakti PeethaShakti
Bargabhima Temple Tamluk
📍 Purba Medinipur, West Bengal
The Vibhash Shakti Peetha at ancient Tamluk (Tamralipta) where the left ankle of Sati is said to have fallen, with the goddess worshipped as Kapalini (Bhimarupa).
🛕
Shakti PeethaShakti
Bhramari Devi Temple Jalpaiguri
📍 Jalpaiguri, West Bengal
The Tristrota Shakti Peetha at Boda near the Teesta river in North Bengal, where the left leg of Sati is said to have fallen, with the goddess worshipped as Bhramari.
Shakti PeethaShakti
Biraja Temple Jajpur
📍 Jajpur, Odisha
The Girija (Biraja) Shakti Peetha at Jajpur on the Baitarani river, where the navel of Sati is said to have fallen. The goddess is worshipped as a two-armed Mahishamardini piercing the buffalo demon.
🛕
Shakti PeethaShakti
Brijeshwari Temple
📍 Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
An ancient and much-plundered Shakti Peetha in the Kangra Valley, revered as the place where the left breast of Goddess Sati fell. It has been rebuilt many times through a turbulent history.
Shakti PeethaShakti
Chintpurni Temple
📍 Una, Himachal Pradesh
A much-loved Shakti Peetha in the Una hills where Sati's forehead is said to have fallen. Its name means 'she who fulfils all worries and wishes' (chinta).
Shakti PeethaShakti
Danteshwari Temple Dantewada
📍 Dantewada, Chhattisgarh
A revered Shakti Peetha in the forests of Bastar at the confluence of the Dankini and Shankini rivers, where a tooth of Sati is said to have fallen. Danteshwari is the presiding goddess of the old Bastar kingdom.
Shakti PeethaShakti
Devi Talab Mandir Jalandhar
📍 Jalandhar, Punjab
The Tripurmalini Shakti Peetha of Jalandhar, built around an ancient sacred tank (talab), where the left breast of Sati is said to have fallen.
Nearby Temples
JyotirlingaShiva
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
📍 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
One of the holiest of all Shiva temples, rising on the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi, the eternal city of light. Here Shiva is worshipped as Vishwanath, the 'Lord of the Universe'.
Kashi Vishwanath Corridor
📍 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
The grand revitalised pathway that reconnects the ancient Kashi Vishwanath temple directly to the ghats of the Ganga, transforming the pilgrim experience in Varanasi.
🛕
Kaal Bhairav Temple
📍 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
The ancient temple of Kaal Bhairav, the fierce form of Shiva who serves as the Kotwal (police chief and guardian) of the holy city of Kashi. No pilgrimage to Varanasi is deemed complete without his darshan.
Sankat Mochan Temple
📍 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
A beloved Hanuman temple in Varanasi, traditionally founded by the saint-poet Tulsidas, whose name means 'the reliever of troubles'. It is as famous for its music festival as for its devotion.
🛕
Vindhyavasini Devi Temple
📍 Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh
A revered Shakti shrine at Vindhyachal on the banks of the Ganga, honouring the goddess Vindhyavasini, and the centre of the sacred Trikon Parikrama of three Devi temples.
Shakti PeethaShakti
Alopi Devi Mandir
📍 Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
A unique Shakti Peetha in Prayagraj where no idol is worshipped — only a wooden cradle (doli) over the spot where the last part of Sati's body is said to have vanished (alop).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which deity is worshipped at Vishalakshi Temple?
Vishalakshi Temple is primarily dedicated to Shakti.
Where is Vishalakshi Temple located?
Vishalakshi Temple is located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
What is the best time to visit Vishalakshi Temple?
October to March; Navratri and Kajali Teej are the most auspicious.
Which pilgrimage circuit does Vishalakshi Temple belong to?
Vishalakshi Temple is one of the 45 temples in the Shakti Peetha.
Why is Vishalakshi Temple significant?
Vishalakshi is counted among the 51 Shakti Peethas, marking where an earring (manikarni) of Sati descended — giving the adjoining Manikarnika Ghat its name. As the Shakti presiding over Kashi, the holiest of cities, the goddess completes the union of Shiva (Vishwanath) and Devi at the very centre of the sacred landscape. Her Bhairava here is Kaal Bhairav, the guardian of Kashi.
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