Ashtadasha Maha Shakti Peetha — The 18 Great Abodes of the Devi

Kamakshi Amman at Kanchi, seated in padmasana — the presiding Devi of one of the seven holy cities.

On Chamundi Hill above Mysuru, where the Devi slew the asura Mahishasura.

At the confluence of the Tungabhadra and Krishna, among the Navabrahma temples of Alampur.

The Devi of the bees, sharing her hill with the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga.

Ambabai of Karavir — one of the few Peethas where the Devi is worshipped as Lakshmi.

Worshipped at the Harsiddhi temple on the Shipra, beside the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga.

Within the Kukkuteswara Swamy temple at Pithapuram, one of the Pancharama region's great sites.

Biraja Devi on the Baitarani — the navel Peetha, and the seat of the goddess of Utkala.

In the Bhimeswara temple at Draksharamam, one of the five Pancharama Kshetras.

On the Nilachal hill — the yoni Peetha, and the greatest of the tantric shrines.

Alopi Devi near the Triveni Sangam, where the Devi is worshipped not as an image but as an empty cradle.

Vaishno Devi in the Trikuta hills, worshipped as three pindis in a cave shrine.

Mangla Gauri on the Bhasmakuta hill at Gaya — the breast Peetha, revered alongside the Vishnupad.

The wide-eyed Devi at Mir Ghat in Kashi, a few steps from the Vishwanath temple.

The ruined Sharada Peeth in the Kishanganga valley — once among the subcontinent's great centres of learning.