Famous Devi Temples in India

India is home to countless temples of the Goddess. The 18 Maha Peethas and other Shakti Peethas are covered in detail in this site's separate guide, "Shakti Peethas: A Complete Guide." This article brings together a few other significant Devi temples that don't fall on the traditional Shakti Peetha lists, but are just as renowned for their legend, history or devotional tradition.

Tulja Bhavani Temple, Tuljapur (Maharashtra)

The goddess Bhavani of Tuljapur is revered as the Kuladevi (family deity) of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and legend holds that she personally gifted him a divine sword — the "Bhavani Talwar." Set on the Balaghat hills, the temple is counted among Maharashtra's "three-and-a-half Shakti Peethas" (alongside Kolhapur's Mahalakshmi, Mahur's Renuka, and the "half" shrine at Vani's Saptashrungi).

Kanaka Durga Temple, Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh)

Set on Indrakeeladri hill overlooking the Krishna river, tradition holds that Arjuna performed intense penance here to obtain the Pashupatastra from Shiva. Durga is worshipped here as Mahishasuramardini, and the temple is among Andhra Pradesh's most-visited Shakta shrines.

Maihar Sharda Devi Temple (Madhya Pradesh)

Set atop Trikuta hill, the temple is reached by climbing roughly 1,063 steps, or by ropeway. Legend holds that a piece of Sati's necklace fell here, giving the town its name — "Maihar" (Mai ka Haar, "the mother's necklace"). The site is also revered as the spiritual home of the legendary musician Ustad Allauddin Khan, believed to have attained his musical mastery through devotion to the goddess here.

Mumba Devi Temple, Mumbai (Maharashtra)

Mumba Devi is revered as the patron goddess of the local Koli fishing community, and the city of Mumbai takes its name from her — a combination of "Mumba" and "Aai" (mother). The original temple stood near what is now the CST area, and was relocated to its present Bhuleshwar site in the 18th century.

Karni Mata Temple, Deshnok (Rajasthan)

This temple is world-famous for a striking reason — it is home to roughly 25,000 rats ("kabas"), considered sacred and treated as the goddess's own children, fed milk and grain by devotees. Legend holds that when a devotee's son died, Karni Mata persuaded Yama to revive him as a rat, and since then her followers are believed to be reborn as temple rats. The present structure was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh in the early 20th century.

Other Notable Devi Temples

Mansa Devi Temple, Panchkula (Haryana) — At the foot of the Shivalik hills, the main shrine is generally credited to Raja Gopal Singh of Manimajra in the early 19th century, with a second temple in the complex built by the Maharaja of Patiala. It's now managed by the Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board, constituted by the Haryana government. (Note: this is a separate temple from the Mansa Devi Shakti Peetha at Haridwar.)

Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) — Standing on Neel Parvat, the eastern summit of the Shivalik hills, the present structure is generally credited to Suchat Singh, a ruler of Kashmir, in 1929, while the consecration of the main image is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tulja Bhavani's connection to Chhatrapati Shivaji?

Tulja Bhavani is revered as Shivaji Maharaj's Kuladevi, and legend holds that she gifted him the divine sword known as the "Bhavani Talwar."

Which goddess is Mumbai named after?

Mumba Devi — the city's name comes from combining "Mumba" and "Aai" (mother).

Why are rats worshipped at the Karni Mata temple?

Legend holds that Karni Mata revived a devotee's dead son as a rat, and since then her followers are believed to be reborn as temple rats. The temple is home to roughly 25,000 of them.

How did Maihar get its name?

Legend holds that a piece of the goddess Sati's necklace fell here, giving rise to the name "Maihar" (Mai ka Haar, "the mother's necklace").

Are the Mansa Devi temples at Panchkula and Haridwar the same?

No, they're two separate temples. The Haridwar Mansa Devi temple is counted among the Shakti Peethas, while the Panchkula (Haryana) temple is a distinct, independent shrine.