Authenticity of Prayag Shaktipeeth: In the verses of Puranas and Tantra texts

• In the Vaishnav tradition, it is called Kamala or Madhaveshwari Peeth, where Veni Madhav (Lord Vishnu) is considered Bhairava.

• In the Shakta tradition, it is famous as Lalita Peeth, where Lord Shiva (Bhava) is Bhairava.

Major Temples of Lalita Peeth

Three major temples in Prayag are associated with Lalita Peeth:

1. Lalita Alop Shankari Devi (Alopibag)

2. Lalita Kalyani Devi (Kalyani)

3. Lalita Devi (Mirapur)

Although all three are worshipped as Lalita Peeth, the exact location of the original Peeth is not clear.

🔹 Lalita Alop Shankari Temple – There is no idol here, but a high platform and swing is situated, which is believed to be the symbol of the goddess. It is believed that Sati's fingers fell here, so offerings of handmade delicacies are made here.

Why is Prayag Shakti Peeth called the "King of Shakti Peeths"?

According to Pt. Ramnarayan Shastri (Baba Bhootnath Dham, Lucknow), there are four sub-peethas in Prayag:

1. Bagla sub-peetha – east of Ganga

2. Chamunda sub-peetha – north of Ganga

3. Bhuvaneshwari sub-peetha – south of Yamuna (Imilian Devi/Masurian Devi)

4. Rajarajeshwari main Peetha – at Sangam

Various temples of Lalita Shakti Peetha

1. Temple of Goddess Lalita near Akshayvat (Allahabad Fort) – not in existence at present. Probably the temple was there before the construction of the fort.

2. Lalita Devi Temple of Mirapur – Bengali community considers it especially revered.

3. Alop Shankari Devi Temple of Alopibag – Most people consider it to be the real Lalita Peetha.

4. Kalyani Devi Temple (Kalyani Devi) – Some people also consider it to be Lalita Peetha.

Prayag and Tantra Tradition

• According to Prayag Mahatmya Shatadhyayi, Lalita Peeth (Kalyani) is situated to the north of Sangam.

• It is believed that the letter "Ph" of the Devanagari script originated from Lalita Peeth.

• According to Tantra texts, the number of Shakti Peethas is said to be 64, while in some texts 51 main Shakti Peethas are considered.

Other famous Devi Temples of Prayag

1. Kali Temple (Kalibari, Mutthiganj)

o Established in 1860 by Swami Krishnananda (Kalna, Bengal).

o Goddess Kali is seated on Panchanarmundi Asana.

o It was rebuilt in 1953.

2. Siddheshwari Temple (Civil Lines)

o The ninth form of Goddess Durga is worshipped here.

o It is also considered a Siddha Peeth.

देवी भागवत महापुराण

"प्रयागे तु ललिता देवी, वाराणस्यां विशालाक्षी, विंध्ये विंध्यवासिनी।".

"प्रयागं शक्तिपीठं तु त्रिवेणी संज्ञकं परम्। यत्र ललिता देवी श्रीविद्योपास्यरूपिणी॥"

तंत्र चूड़ामणि

Prayag is not only a Tirtharaj but also a Mahashakti Peeth. In Tantra texts, three names of the presiding deity of Prayagpeeth are mentioned—Lalita, Kamala and Madhaveshwari. However, Lalita Devi is mentioned most often.

Other Shakti Peethas near Prayag

1. Aindri Devi Temple (30 km east, near Durvasa Ashram)

• It is mentioned in Markandeya Purana that Goddess Aindri is seated on an elephant.

• Sage Durvasa worshipped her for the success of Yagna on the advice of Sage Bharadwaj.

2. Shakti Peeth Karadham (Sheetla Devi Temple, 70 km north-west)

• It houses the temple of Kaleshwar Shivalinga and Sheetla Devi.

• It is said that Sati's hands fell here.

Historical and religious importance of Prayag

Kada (Karadham) was called Kal Nagar and Karkot Nagar in ancient times. Muslim traveller Ibn Battuta visited the place in 1340 and described it as a Hindu pilgrimage centre.

Other Shaktipeeths within 120 km radius of Prayag

1. Vishalakshi Devi (Varanasi)

2. Vindhyavasini Devi (Vindhyachal, Mirzapur)

🔹Devi Bhagwat Purana mentions:

"प्रयागे तु ललिता देवी, वाराणस्यां विशालाक्षी, विंध्ये विंध्यवासिनी।" (That is, Lalita Devi is revered in Prayag, Vishalakshi Devi in Varanasi, and Vindhyavasini Devi in Vindhyachal.)

"त्रिवेण्या संगमे पुण्ये ललिता तत्र संस्थिता।
सिद्धिदात्री महामाया भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनी।।"

कल्पद्रुम तंत्र

Authenticity of Prayag Shaktipeeth: In the verses of Puranas and Tantra texts

Mentioned in Puranas:

1. Devi Bhagwat Purana –

"प्रयागे ललिता देवी तत्रैव भव नामकः।"
(Meaning: Lalita Devi resides in Prayag and Bhairav is present with her in the form of Bhava.)

2. Kalika Purana –

"प्रयागे ललिता देवी भैरवस्तु भवः स्मृतः। अत्रांगुलि-भूषणं पतितं वै सतीतनोः॥"

(Meaning: Lalita Devi is revered in Prayag, her Bhairava is 'Bhav'. The finger ornaments of Mata Sati had fallen here.)

3. Skandapuran – In this, Prayagraj has been shown as a major pilgrimage site, which is endowed with the power of Mother.

"अलयायां ललिता देवी कानन्दप्रदायिनी।"
भावानन्दः तु तत्रैव सदा स्थितः शोभनः।।"

देवी भागवत महापुराण

Description in Tantra texts:

4. Tantra Chudamani –

(Meaning: Prayag Shakti Peeth is situated at Triveni Sangam, where Goddess Lalita is worshipped in the form of Srividya.)

5. Kalpadrum Tantra –

"त्रिवेण्या संगमे पुण्ये ललिता तत्र संस्थिता। सिद्धिदात्री महामाया भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनी।।“

(Meaning: Where there is holy Triveni Sangam, Mother Lalita (Siddhidatri) resides there.) She is Siddhidatri Mahamaya, who provides both material happiness (Bhukti) and Moksha (Mukti) to the devotees.)6. Mahashakti Peeth Stotra – In this text, Prayag has been considered as the area where the Goddess is present.

7. Shakti Sangam Tantra – In this, Prayag Shakti Peeth has been considered as the best place for Tantric rituals and Yoga Sadhana.

Prayag Shakti Peeth is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths of India, which has been mentioned in various Puranas and Tantra texts. This Shakti Peeth is related to the story related to the fall of the body parts of Goddess Sati. Religious belief According to legend, fingers (Anguli-Bhushan) of Mata Sati fell here.

तंत्र चूड़ामणि

Prayag's Lalita Peeth is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, which is not only a centre of Vaishnava and Shaiva traditions but is also an important place of Tantric Sadhana and Shakta tradition. The various Shakti sub-peeths, Kali temples, and Siddha Peethas make it a rare and divine pilgrimage site in entire India.

Prayag's Lalita Peeth

Prayag's Lalita Peeth is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas.