- Related Topics:
- shikhara
PÄ«į¹hÄ
PÄ«į¹hÄ, āseats,ā or ābenches,ā of the Goddess, usually numbered at 108 and associated with the parts of the deityās body and with the various aspects of her divine female power, or Åakti. Many of the 108 pÄ«į¹hÄs have become important pilgrimage sites for members of the Shakti sects of Hinduism.
The origin myth for the creation of the pÄ«į¹hÄs is recounted in several texts, most fully in the Mahabharata and the Brahma-purana. The legend concerns the Goddess Sati, daughter of Daksa and wife of Shiva. When Daksa held a great sacrifice and refused to invite Shiva and Sati, Sati took offence, came to the sacrifice uninvited, and there committed suicide. Shiva thereupon became enraged, killed Daksa, and destroyed the sacrifice. Carrying the body of Sati on his shoulder, he began a dance that threatened the cosmos. The gods, in order to stop Shivaās dance, caused the body of Sati to disintegrate, whereupon the parts of her body fell to earth.
The pÄ«į¹hÄs are scattered throughout India, with a high concentration in West Bengal. Each pÄ«į¹hÄ is located on or near a body of water believed to be infused with the energy of the Goddess; here the pilgrims bathe. Many are also near trees that are identified with the Goddess as Earth Mother, and the images of the various female deities at the pÄ«į¹hÄs are accompanied by the appropriate animal companions, or vÄhanas. Every pÄ«į¹hÄ is also associated with a manifestation of Shiva.
" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">
The pÄ«į¹hÄs are places where believers can interact and communicate with the manifest deity, and taken together they represent the Goddessās body on earth, as well as a symbol of the unity of all the various temples and traditions of Shaktism. See tirtha.