SaptaShrungi
Encyclopedia
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
tradition, the goddess Saptashrungi Nivasini dwells within the seven mountain peaks. (Sapta means seven & shrung means peaks.) It is located in Vani, a small village near Nashik in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Devotees visit this place in large numbers every day.
The legend
This temple is one among the 51 Shakti peethas located on the Indian subcontinent. The Devi is said be swayambhu (self-manifested) on a rock on the sheer face of a mountain. She is surrounded by seven (sapta-in Sanskrit) peaks (shrunga-in Sanskrit), hence the name- Sapta Shrungi Mata (mother of the seven peaks).The image of the Devi is huge-about 10 feet tall with 18 hands, holding various weapons like;
| String of Beads | Battle Axe |
| Mace | Arrow |
| Thunderbolt | Lotus |
| Bow | Water Pot |
| Cudgel | Lance |
| Sword | Shield |
| Conch | Bell |
| Wine Cup | Trident |
| Noose | Spinning Disc (Sudarsana Chakra) |
The idol is always coated with Sindoor, which is considered auspicious in this region. She is also known as Mahishasur Mardini, the slayer of the demon Mahishasur, who took the form of a buffalo. Hence, at the foot of the hill, from where one starts climbing the steps, there is the head of a buffalo, made in stone which is believed to be a demon.
Mahishasur Mandir
It is believed that the Devi Mahatmya, a sacred book which extols the greatness of Devi and her exploits was composed at this place by the sage Markandeya, who performed rigorous penance on a hill opposite the one on which the Devi resides, which is now named after him. The temple, which sort of sticks to the cliff, is 1230 meters above sea level. There is an old path with steps cut out of the mountain, which starts right at the foothills, at Vani and goes all the way to the mountain.However, now, a motorable road has been built, which goes up to an altitude of 1150 meters. From this place one has to climb around 500 steps to reach the shrine, which only takes about forty five minutes.
External links
- http://anushankarn.blogspot.com/2007/11/saptashrungi-devi-temple-vani.html