The fingers of Sati at the holiest river confluence on earth — Lalita, the playful goddess, at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj.
The Prayag Peetha at Prayagraj (Allahabad) marks where the fingers (or hand) of Sati fell at the Triveni Sangam — the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and invisible Saraswati. The Goddess is Lalita — "the Playful One", one of the names of Tripura Sundari in her most benevolent aspect. The Bhairav is Bhava (Shiva as pure existence). Prayagraj is the most sacred river confluence in Hinduism and the site of the Kumbh Mela.
The Lalita Devi temple at Prayagraj is one of the city's most ancient shrines. Lalita — the goddess who plays with the universe as her toy — represents the supreme divine joy that underlies all creation. Her name is the root of the 1,000 names in the Lalita Sahasranama, one of the most revered goddess hymns in the Shakta tradition. Pilgrims completing the Triveni Sangam ritual also seek the darshan of Lalita Devi as part of the Prayagraj pilgrimage.
Prayagraj Junction (formerly Allahabad) is a major railway hub — frequent trains from Delhi (2 hours), Varanasi (2 hours), Lucknow (2 hours) and Mumbai. By road: 3 hours from Varanasi.
Year-round. Magh Mela (January) and Kumbh/Ardh Kumbh are the supreme events. Navratri and Makar Sankranti (January) are the main regular festivals.
The Lalita Devi temple is within walking distance of Sangam. Visit the temple after the ritual Sangam bath — the sequence (bath, Lalita darshan, ancestral rites at Gaya Ghat) is the traditional Prayag circuit.
The Finger (Hand) of Goddess Sati fell at Prayag, consecrating this land as a Shakti Peetha. The Shakti here is Lalita and the guardian Bhairav is Bhava.
One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
Explore →One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
Explore →One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
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