The right ankle of Sati — Shri Sundari, the most beautiful, in a location that some traditions place at Srisailam and others in the Kashmir-Ladakh region.
Shri Parvat Peetha marks where the right ankle of Sati fell. The Goddess is Shri Sundari — "the most beautiful Shri (Lakshmi)", one of the supreme names of Tripura Sundari. The Bhairav is Sundaranand Bhairav ("the Bhairav of beautiful bliss"). Different traditions place this Peetha either in the Srisailam hills of Andhra Pradesh (the Sri Parvat range) or at Shardapeeth in the Kashmir/Ladakh area. The Srisailam location is more widely accepted in south Indian traditions.
The Sri Parvat hills around Srisailam are named in ancient texts as the abode of Shri (Lakshmi/the Goddess) — the steep, forested hills surrounding the Mallikarjuna temple complex have been a Shakti pilgrimage landscape since the Satavahana period. Shri Sundari as a name connects to the Sri Vidya tradition's worship of Tripura Sundari as the most beautiful of all divine forms.
Srisailam is accessible by road from Hyderabad (230 km, 5 hours). No railway — road only. The Srisailam forest road through the Tiger Reserve is one of India's most atmospheric approaches to any pilgrimage site.
October to February. Combine with the Shri Shail Peetha (#27 Mahalaxmi) and Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga — all at the same complex.
The Srisailam complex has multiple Shakti shrines — the Mahalaxmi (Peetha #27), Bhramaramba and Shri Sundari traditions are all present. A full day is required.
The Right Ankle of Goddess Sati fell at Shri Parvat, consecrating this land as a Shakti Peetha. The Shakti here is Shri Sundari and the guardian Bhairav is Sundaranand Bhairav.
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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