God Shiva & Goddess Shakti/Durga
A Yajna (fire sacrifice) was performed by Lord Brahma to please Goddess Shakti and God Shiva. The Goddess Shakti emerged and helped Brahma in Universe Creation. As a result, Goddess Shakti got separated from Lord Shiva. But Brahma wanted to give back Shakti to Lord Shiva. For the purpose, Daksha (Brahma’s son) performed serveral yajnas to obtain Shakti in the form of Sati, as his daughter… so that Goddess Sati can get married to Lord Shiva.
But due to Lord Shiva’s curse to Brahma, his son Daksha started hating Shiva and tried his best to avoid the marriage between Lord Shiva and Goddess Sati. However, they still got married, as Sati got attracted towards Lord Shiva but unfortunately only to increase father Daksha’s revengeful hatred towards Lord Shiva.
Therefore, Brahma’s son Daksha performed a yajna with a motive to take revenge on Lord Shiva and invited all Gods and Goddesses except for both of them. But Goddess Sati still wanted to attend the Yajna and Lord Shiva couldn’t discourage her from going. Goddess Sati, being unexpected at the yajna, was not given honour rather her father Daksha insulted Lord Shiva. Therefore, she immolated herself as unable to bear her father’s disrespect and insults toward her husband Lord Shiva.
Furious at the Sati’s immolation and the insult, Lord Shiva took Virabhadra avatar and cut off Daksha’s head, though later restored him to life. But Lord Shiva did not deter fighting and kept raging with Anger. Lord Vishnu even couldn’t stop him, while Lord Shiva took remains of Sati and performed the Tandava, across three Lokas (i.e. world). Therefore, to stop Lord Shiva’s attachment towards Sati, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshana Chakra to cut the remains of Sati into pieces. These pieces scattered at 51 different places throughout India and later these 51 locations were termed as Shakti Peethas. At all these Shakti Peethas, the Goddess Shakti is accompanied by Lord Bhairava (a form of Lord Shiva).
The nine of such Shakti Peethas are famously known as:
- Naina Devi Temple
- Chintpurni Mata Temple
- Kangra Devi is also called Vajreshvari
- Jawala Ji
- Vaishno Devi
- Chamunda Devi
- Mansa Devi Mandir
- Shakumbhari Devi is enshrined in the company of Bhramari Devi, Bhima Devi and Sheetla Devi
- Chandi Mandir Chandi Devi