51 Sakthi Peeta Kritis
Dr. Rukmini Ramani has composed 51 kritis on all 51 Sakthi Peetas. The kritis are based on ragas categorized into the following:
- 9 suddha madhyama mela ragas
- 7 pradhi madhyama ragas
- 4 vivadhi mela ragas
- 31 Janya ragas
Sthala Puranam
Goddess Sati and Lord Shiva represent two aspects of the same cosmic entity—the Brahman and Pradhana.
Their story begins with a grand yagna and concludes with the disrespect shown to Shiva by his royal father-in-law, followed by Sati’s self-immolation.
This tale forms the foundation of Shakti. Concerned that Shiva’s wrathful tandav dance would devastate the world, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshan Chakra to sever Sati’s body into 51 pieces (some legends mention 108 pieces). These fragments and her ornaments fell to different locations across the subcontinent.
These sacred sites are known as the 51 Shakti Peetas, with each peeta associated with one of the 51 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet.
Shakti and Kala Bhairava are the principal deities worshipped at all the peetas.