The importance of Nav Shakti in Hinduism
The importance of women in the Hindu religion has always been stressed upon and there are several festivals in the year that are dedicated solely to the numerous Goddesses that the devout Hindu followers worship. Nav Shakti is the living embodiment of the nine goddesses in Hinduism who are considered the maker, preserver, and destroyer of this entire universe. Twice every year these 9 goddesses are celebrated across India in the form or Nav Ratri or "Nine nights". Spread across the entire Indian subcontinent, there are 51 holy shrines that are dedicated to these goddesses who are considered the embodiment of Shakti and visiting all of them is known as the Shakti Peeth Yatra. The word Shakti literally means power and denotes the supreme power that these deities are considered to hold over their devout followers. Going on the Nav Shakti Peeth Yatra is considered essential for the followers of the Shakta sect, and Hindus from all over the world visit these holy shrines to seek the blessings of the goddesses.
How many Shakti Peeth are there?
There are several mentions of the Shakti Peeth in the Hindu Holy Scriptures. The first four shrines are often called the Aadi Shakti Peeth, or the original Shakti Peeth. They are home to the four primary goddesses. The 4 Aadi Shakti Peeth are:
- Bimala in the Jagannath Puri temple, Odisha
- Tara Tarini in Berhampur, Odisha
- Kamakshya in Guwahati, Assam
- Dakshina Kalika in Kalighat, West Bengal
A visit to the holy shrines of Vaishno Devi in Jammu, Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi in Haridwar, Shakumbhari Devi in Saharanpur, Naina Devi and Chamunda Devi in Chandigarh makes up the rest of the Nav Shakti Peeth Yatra
How to visit the Nav Shakti Peeth?
Nav Shakti Peeth Yatra spans the entire country of India and takes you from deep southern regions of the country to the high mountain ranges of the Himalayas. Shakti Peeth yatra packages are a great way of visiting all the holy shrines easily and comfortably. Due to the immense distance that pilgrims have to travel to visit all the Nav Shakti Peeth, an experienced tours and travel provider can make an immense difference in the quality of your visit with their Shakti Peeth Yatra packages. A combination of air travel, train journey and driving by road is required to complete your Shakti Peeth Yatra and it can take anywhere between three weeks to one month to visit all the primary Shakti Peeth in the country.
A visit to the Nav Shakti Peeth for your peace of mind
Shakti Peetha Yatra holds immense significance in the Hindu religion. Devout followers of the religion believe that the goddesses are full of love for their children and grant boons to true believers. Visiting these shrines with your family is a deep rooted part of the Hindu culture, and the peace and the tranquillity that one feels after visiting these shrines is reward enough for going on this yatra.