Kalmadhav Shakti Peeth

Amarkantak, a hill cave near the Son river (site not certain), Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh

51 Shakti Peeths

Traditions differ: The site is not certain. Bharatkosh notes doubt about the exact spot, though it too places the peeth at Amarkantak; Hindi and Bengali Wikipedia and Art of Living name a hill cave near the Son river at Amarkantak. English Wikipedia's main list does not include Kalmadhav.

About

Kalmadhav is the Shakti Peeth where, according to the Tantra Chudamani's list, the left hip of Devi Sati fell. The Devi here is Kali and the Bhairav is Asitang. The exact place is not certain. Hindi and Bengali Wikipedia and Art of Living place it in a hill cave near the Son river at Amarkantak in Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh; Bharatkosh notes doubt about the exact spot but also places it at Amarkantak. Amarkantak, where the Vindhya and Satpura ranges meet in the Maikal hills, is the source of both the Narmada and the Son, and is believed to hold two Shakti Peeths.

The story

According to the Shakti Peeth tradition, after King Daksha's yagya Shiv ji wandered in grief carrying the body of Devi Sati. Vishnu ji's Sudarshan chakra then divided the body, and wherever a part or an ornament fell, a Shakti Peeth arose. The Tantra Chudamani names Kalmadhav but does not describe the place clearly, so pilgrims have long looked for it in the hills of Amarkantak. By local belief Amarkantak holds two peeths: one near the source of the Narmada and one near Sonmuda, where the Son river begins; many take the second to be Kalmadhav. At Sonmuda two small pools named Sona and Bhadra are said to join to form the Sonbhadra, which falls from the edge of the Maikal hills as a waterfall. The Puranas praise Amarkantak as a great tirth, and the Matsya and Kurma Puranas call it the source of the Narmada. Devotees who come for the Devi often also visit the Kalachuri-era temples and the Narmada Kund.

Visiting

October to March is the best time; winters in the Maikal hills are cold, so carry warm clothes. Amarkantak is reached by road; the nearest railway stations are Pendra Road (about 43 km) and Anuppur (about 75 km). Nearby are Sonmuda, the Narmada Kund and temple, Mai ki Bagiya, the Kapildhara waterfall and the Kalachuri-era temples.

Festivals

Chaitra and Ashwin Navratri

51 Shakti Peeths

Sources