Kiran Utsav is one is one of the popular and most celebrated festivals at Kolhapur Mahalakshmi Temple in Maharashtra. Kiran Utsav is celebrated for five times in a year. On January 31^st, February 1^st, and 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th November, Kiran Utsav is observed in Kolhapur temple. On these days, Sun rays touch the feet of Goddess Mahalakshmi. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped with utmost fervor during Kiran Utsav.

Millions of devotees throng the temple of Kolhapur Mahalaxmi to perform pujas to the Goddess. Kolhapur is one of the Astadasha Shakti peethas (18 prominent temples of Goddess Shakti).

Kumari Puja was celebrated with much gusto and gaiety in Kamakhya Devi temple of Assam state. Kamakhya temple is one of the Astadasha Shakti Peeth temples (18 prominent temples of Goddess Shakti). Kumari Puja is a most celebrated event in Durga Navratri in Kamakhya temple.

ThaIndian writes:

• Hundreds of devotees thronged revered Kamakhya temple in Assam state on 24^th September 2009, Thursday, for Kumari Puja organised during Hindu festival of Navratri, in which young girls are worshipped. Kumari Puja is held at the Kamakhya temple every year prior to Durga Puja celebrations that began on Saturday and end on “Navami” (the ninth day of the Navratri festival). The tradition is as old as that of the origin of Kamakhya temple.
• It is believed that the Goddess, although omnipresent, surely exists in the virgin. Reverence to female children as goddesses is an age-old custom of India. The Kamakhya temple situated in Guwahati, main city of Assam, on the banks of river Brahmaputra, is dedicated to goddess Kamakhya, consort of Shiva, Hindu God of destruction.
• It is believed that at Kamakhya, the Goddess appears in the form of a virgin. So, some of the pilgrims worship the living virgin as Goddess in this temple. Worship of a living woman as Goddess is of purely Tantric origin. It is stated that virgin worship is nothing but Shakti worship. The virgin worship is performed along with Durga, Kali and other Mahavidyas. The salutation mantra of virgin worship is the same as vidya’s salutation mantra. Sometimes, it is also seen that the virgin is fed and clad and saluted without any mantra. The tantrics believe that the virgin is the Goddess incarnate.

Sawan month or Shravan maas is the fifth Hindu month. As per the Hindu scriptures and Vedas, Shravan maas is considered as highly auspicious month. In Vedas, Sawan month is described as ‘Nabhas’. Shravan Purnima (the full moon day in Shravana masam) coincides with with the Nakshatra (birth star) of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu, Shravana nakshatra, hence the whole month is called as Shravana masam. This is the main reason why Sravan month is considered as important, significant and auspicious.

Sharavan Mangalvar, Shravan Shukravar and Sawan Sanivar – Three Most Auspicious days in Sravan Month:

Among the seven days in a week, Somvar (Monday) is auspicious in Kartik month; Guruvar (Thursday) is auspicious in Margashirh month and Sunday in Magh maas. But in Shravan month three days in a week are most auspicious – Shravana Mangalvar (Tuesdays in Shravan month), Shravana Shukravar (Fridays in Shravan month) and Shravana Shanivar (Saturdays in Shravan month).

On Tuesdays in Shravan month, newly married brides observe Mangala Gauri Vrata which is performed to get rid of bad omens. On Fridays in Shravan month, married women observe Shravana Shukravar Vrat (Varalakshmi Vratam). On Saturdays in Shravan month, devotees worship Lord Sri Maha Vishnu, particularly Lord Venkatesha (Lord Balaji).

Sawan maas is highly fruitful for good deeds. According to Puranas, performing Grihpravesh in this month is very significant and greatly forecasted. Hindu Astrology tells that the natives who born in Shravan maas are highly honored by the world. Hence Lord Jagannath, Sri Krishna, who was born in Sawan maas, is worshipped and honored by the world. Not only Sri Krishna, but Lord Hayagriva, who was born on Shravan Poornima, and Vaikhanasa Aagama Pravaktha, Vaikhanas Maharshi are also greatly worshipped.

Purnima (full moon day) in this month (Shravan Pournami) is very significant and important. Sharavan Purnima is celebrated as Jandhyala Pournami. On this day, dwijas (who can able to observe Upanayana punaskar) perform Upakarma. Vedas described that this Upakarma helps them in maintaining their spiritual, psychological and physical health. Sawan Purnima is also celebrated as Raksha bandhan (Rakhi festival). Rakhi festival is a great tradition of healthy relationship between brother and sister.

In Sawan month, Vishnu and Lakshmi aradhana (worshipping Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi) is highly meritorious.

The 11th  Shakti Peetha, Jajpur was consecrated as Dakshayani’s navel part fallen here. The presiding deity of Jajpur Asta dasha shakti peetha is Goddess Girija Devi. Goddess Girija Devi is also worshipped with various names such as Goddess Birija Devi, Goddess Virija.

Jajpur is located at a distance of 120 Kms from Bhuvaneshwar, the capital city of Orissa. Jajpur has a rich cultural and historical reference in several hindu scriptures. This place was ruled by King Jajati Kesari in the 10th Century. Hence, the name of the town became Jajpur. Once it was the capital city of Kalinga emperors. Jajpur is also called as ‘Baithangi Theertha’ or ‘Birija Kshetram’.

History of Girija Devi Temple:

The temple of Sri Girija Devi is a very small construction when we compare it to Puri Jagannath Temple or Lingraja Temple of bhubaneshwar. Nobody knows the exact time of the Girija Devi temple’s construction. But it was renovated in the 13th Century.

Appearance of Goddess Girija Devi Idol:

The whole idol of Goddess Girija Devi is decorated with flower garlands and gold jewelry. We can see only the face of Goddess Birija. The idol is decorated with silver crown full of jewels. Goddess Girija Devi blesses her devotees with her pleasant smiling face and charming looks.

Another significance aspect of this temple is – a well near the main temple of Girija Devi in which devotees perform ritual rites to their ancestors (Pinda pradhaan). People believe that these Pindas will reach Kasi directly. It seems the depth of the well is somewhere around 4 to 5 feet but it never dried up till now.

Legend of Nabhi Gaya – Story behind Gaya Kshetras:

Once a demon called Gayasura was stealing the Yagnaphala (fruit of Yagna) of several Yagnas which was to be taken by Lord Indra. Lord Indra went to Trimurthis (Lord Shiva, lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma) and prayed them to slay Gayasura to protect the Yagna Dharma.

Trimurthis demolished the demon Gayasura and thrown his body parts in various parts of India. His head was thrown in Gaya, navel part was thrown in Jazpur and his feet part was thrown in Pithapuram (Andhra Pradesh). Hence Jazpur is called as Nabhi Gaya (nabhi means navel) and Pithapuram is called as Pada Gaya (Pada means feet).

Lord Yamadharma Raja Temple – Vaitharini River:

At a small distance from Goddess Girija Devi temple, Vaitharani River flows. But now the river is full of polluted water. ‘Dashashwametha Ghat’ is the most important ghat among all the ghats here. The temple of Lord Yamadharma raj is located here. People believe that one who dips in the holy river Vaitharini and worships Lord Yama would easily cross the River Vaitharini after death. It also said that the water of river Vaitharini has a magical power to treat diseases and can remove all the sins of devotees.

Some other Prominent Temples near Jajpur Shakti Peetha:

Another prominent temple in Jajpur is Sri Shwetha Varahaswami temple. When the Earth was going to be destroyed by a great deluge, Lord Sri Maha Vishnu incarnated as Lord Varahaswami and rescued the earth. Some more important temples of Jajpur are – Lord Jagannatha temple, Satyavrata Temple, Lord Sri Rama Mandir, Lord Sri Siddeshwara Temple, Lord Sri Beleshwara Temple, Varuneshwara temple, and the Sapthamathrukla temples.

Legend about the Origin of Astadasa Shakti Peethas – Story behind the Shakti Peetha Temples

‘Lankayam Shankari Devi………    starts the Sloka of Ashta Dasha Shakti Peethas, written by Sri Jagadguru Aadi Shankaracharya.

Shankari Devi temple in Tricomalee, Srilanka is a prominent temple for Hindus. But, it is most rarely visited and it is very least popular in all AstaDasha Shakti peethas.

There is no information available about Shankari Devi even in internet.

Shanakri Devi Temple is situated in an east coast town of Srilanka, Tricomalee (Tri – Cona – Malai = a triangular hill).

Along with the temple of Shaankari Devi, there is a temple of Lord Shiva – TRIKONESHWARA Temple.

Portuguese people demolished these temples in 17th century.