Overview
This page describes the most disputed and physically unresolved site among all the Shakti Peethas covered on this platform; it is presented here clearly flagged, with all available information, so the full 18 Maha Shakti Peetha list can be shown. Shrinkhala Devi Shakti Peetha, traditionally located in Pandua (also called Praddyumnam), Hooghly district, West Bengal, is one of the Ashtadasha (18) Maha Shakti Peethas, traditionally marking the spot where Sati's stomach fell. Sources describe this as, by some accounts, the only one of the full Shakti Peetha network to which Hindus currently have no physical access at its traditional location: the original temple was destroyed, and an Islamic minaret has stood at the site since 1340 CE, now administered by the Archaeological Survey of India as a protected monument rather than an active temple.
History
According to the sources available for this page, the original Shrinkhala Devi temple was destroyed during a period of medieval conflict, and Shah Sufiuddin built the standing minaret in 1340 CE, said to commemorate a military victory at the site. This platform found no source able to independently confirm the exact circumstances or precise date of the original temple's destruction, and presents this account with that limitation explicit.
Spiritual Significance
This platform found at least four distinct, competing claims regarding where Shrinkhala Devi's tradition now continues in devotional practice: some accounts hold that her presence has moved to the Chotila Mata temple in Gujarat; others to Ganga Sagar, in the Adinath Kshetra tradition; others to Sringeri in Karnataka, connected to the sage Rishyasringa, though this platform notes that Sringeri's own Sharada Peetham, a separate and independently well-documented institution, is not itself considered a classical Shakti Peetha, and no corroborating evidence was found in the sources consulted linking it directly to Shrinkhala. This platform presents all of these claims transparently rather than endorsing any one as settled. Despite the unresolved status of the original temple, an annual Mela Tala festival, drawing over 100,000 local Hindus and Muslims, is held for 30 days each Magha Masa (January-February) at the Pandua site itself.
Scriptures & Texts
Editorial note: Scripture references below are based on widely cited scholarly and traditional sources. Specific verse citations should be independently verified before publication.
Shrinkhala's identification within the Ashtadasha Maha Shakti Peetha tradition, and with Sati's stomach, is documented in the Ashta Dasa Shakti Peetha Stotram attributed to Adi Shankaracharya. Specific verse-level citation requires expert verification before publication.
Prayers at Shrinkhala Devi Shakti Peetha, Pandua
शिवः शक्त्या युक्तो यदि भवति शक्तः प्रभवितुं
Pilgrimage Information
Accessibility for this platform's audience: the traditional site itself has no functioning Hindu temple; visitors can view the ASI-administered minaret and may wish to attend the annual Mela Tala festival, but should not expect an active devotional shrine at this specific location.
Getting there: Pandua is reached by road from Hooghly district towns, within a manageable distance of Kolkata.
Family Suitability
Reasonably suited to families as a heritage/historical visit rather than a conventional active-temple pilgrimage, given the site's current status.
Accommodation
Basic accommodation is available in nearby Hooghly district towns; Kolkata offers fuller options within a manageable distance.
Local Services
Basic services are available locally; fuller services are available via Kolkata.
Do’s & Don’ts
Do
- Approach this site with awareness of its genuinely disputed and unresolved status, rather than expecting an active temple experience.
- Note the platform's own flagged four-way dispute over where Shrinkhala's devotional continuity is now claimed.
- Consult current guidance on ASI-administered monument visiting hours if planning to view the minaret.
Don’t
- Don't expect an active Hindu shrine at the traditional Pandua location itself, current sources describe no functioning temple there.
Nearby Sacred Locations
- Popular Shakti Peeths of India (overview)
This platform's overview of the wider pan-India Shakti Peetha cluster, which also covers select disputed sites.
Preservation
The Pandua minaret is protected as an Archaeological Survey of India monument; this platform found no documentation of dedicated Shrinkhala Devi Shakti Peetha conservation infrastructure at the traditional site itself, consistent with its current status as a non-functioning temple location.
Giving Back
Given the site's disputed and largely non-functioning status, this platform does not recommend a specific donation channel for this entry; readers with a specific devotional interest should independently verify any organisation's legitimacy before contributing.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-07-10. Scaffolding content: This page was seeded with well-known public information for development purposes and is pending full editorial review before publication.