Saptashringi Nivasini - Swayambhu (self-manifested) Devi at Nashik, Maharashtra.

Saptashringi Nivasini - Swayambhu (self-manifested) Devi at Nashik, Maharashtra.

Saptashrungi or Saptashringi is a site of Hindu pilgrimage, situated 60 kilometres from Nashik in the Indian state of Maharashtra. According to Hindu traditions, the goddess Saptashrungi Nivasini dwells within the seven mountain peaks. It is located in Nanduri, Kalwan taluka, a small village near Nashik in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

According to Hindu traditions, the goddess Saptashrungi Nivasini dwells within the seven mountain peaks. (Sapta means seven and shrung means peaks.) It is located in Nanduri, Kalwan taluka, a small village near Nashik in India. The Marathas and some Bhil tribes have been worshipping the goddess for a long time and some worship her as their Kuldaivat. There are 510 steps to climb the gad. Devotees visit this place in large numbers every day.

The temple is also known popularly as one of the "three and a half Shakti Peethas" of Maharashtra. The temple is also one among the 51 Shakti Peethas located on the Indian subcontinent and is a location where one of Sati's (wife of Lord Shiva) limbs, her right arm is reported to have fallen. It is half shaktipeeth among three and a half shaktipeeth of Maharashtra.

Three and a half Shakti Peethas (prominent seats of the Hindu Goddess) are reported in Maharashtra.

These four Goddess temples are Mahalakshmi Temple at Kolhapur, Tulja Bhavani Temple at Tuljapur, Renuka Temple at Mahur (Matripur) and the Saptashrungi Temple of Vani.

These four temples are also interpreted to represent the four parts of holy AUM, A kara, U kara, Ma kara and Mmm kara (Ardha matra).

Though which of these is an ardha-peetha (a half Shakti Peetha, considered lower in importance to a complete Shakti Peetha) is disputed, Saptashrungi is generally regarded to be a half Shakti Peetha.

However, the official site of the temple declares it as a complete Shakti Peetha. The three presiding deities of the Goddess-oriented scripture Devi Mahatmya in the Saptashrungi are considered a combined manifestation of the three goddesses which are equated with Mahalakshmi of Kolhapur, Mahasaraswati of Tuljapur and Mahakali of Mahur.







 

Features

Saptashrungi Temple is two storied shrine with the Devi enshrined in the top floor. The Devi image is carved in a cave at the base of a sheer scarp rock face.

The Devi is said to be swayambhu (self-manifested) on a rock on the sheer face of a mountain. She is surrounded by seven (sapta in Sanskrit) peaks (shrungain Sanskrit), hence the name: Sapta Shrungi Mata (mother of the seven peaks).

The iconography of the Saptashrungi goddess is that of the Mahalakshmi of the Devi Mahatmya. 

The goddess is eighteen-armed (ashta-dasha bhuja), inaccurately sometimes described as ashta-bhuja (eight-armed). 

The image is about 8 feet (2.4 m) tall and appears saffron in colour, as it is covered with sindoor. 

As described in the Devi-Mahatmya legend, the goddess was gifted various weapons to slay Mahishasura.

 She holds these in her arms: 

  1. the trishula (trident) of Shiva, 
  2. the sudarshana chakra of Vishnu, 
  3. the shankha (conch) of Varuna, 
  4. the flames of the fire-god Agni, 
  5. the bow and arrow of Vayu, 
  6. the vajra (thunderbolt) and 
  7. ghanta (bell) of Indra, 
  8. Danda (cudgel) of Yama,
  9. akshamala (string of beads) of Daksha, 
  10. kamandalu (water-pot) of Brahma, 
  11. the rays of the sun-god Surya, 
  12. the sword and shield of Kali, 
  13. the parashu (axe) of Vishvakarma, 
  14. the wine-cup of Kubera, 
  15. gada (mace), 
  16. lotus, 
  17. lance and
  18. pasha (noose)

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