Janasthan Shakti Peetha is the most famous Shakti Peetha where it is said that the “Chin” of Maa Sati fell and the idols are Devi Maa as Bhramari and Lord Shiva as Vikritaksh Bhairav. Other names are Devi as Chibuka (the one with the chin) and Shiva as Sarvasiddhish (the one who can provide all desires). It is also known as Goddess Saptashrungi (Goddess with seven arms)located in Vani, Nasik,
Maharashtra, India.
Bhramari Devi Goddess of the Black Bees
Bhramari Devi is a dark Goddess identified as another form of Maa Kalika. It is said that She is “as brilliant as a million dark suns”, She is surrounded by black bees and holds black bees in the first of her hands, others of which are in the “boon-granting” and “fear-allaying” gestures. She destroys egoistic demons while her bees make the Seed-Mantra “Hring”.
Goddess Saptashrungi Devi of Vani near Nasik
Maa Saptashrungi or Devi Saptashringi is a site of pilgrimage situated 60 kilometers from Nashik. According to Hindu 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. Devotees visit this place in large numbers every day.
Maa Saptashrungi Temple Vani Nasik
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).
Shri Saptashrungi Mata
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, 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.
Maa Saptashrungi Temple Buffalo Head
Saptashrung mountain was a part of the forest called Dandakaranya mentioned in the Ramayana. It is mentioned that Lord Rama, along with Seeta had come here to pray to Amba and seek her blessings.
Among the ancient seers, Sage Markandeya (who was called the bhakta markandeya and the author of Devi Mahatmyam the book containing 700 slokas praising and the life of the goddess amba) and Sage Parasher(the first worldly incarnation of Sriman Narayan as the son of Kashyap and Aditi) completed their tapascharya (a long, multi-year period of meditation and prayer in solitude, a kind of penance, to seek the ultimate truth. In much of Hindu mythology,this is done to seek a meeting with God) at or near Saptashrungi.
Sant Dnyaneshwar, in Dnyaneshwari, his commentary on the Gita, mentions that his father, Vitthalpant, had also visited Saptashrungi. At a later point, Nivruttinath, the elder brother of Dnyaneshwara, is said to have visited Saptashrungi, and then moved on for his Samadhi at Tryambakeshwar near Nashik.