Chamundeshwari (Mysuru) Shakti Peetha
చాముండేశ్వరి - మైసూరు
Devi Chamundeshwari (form of Durga who slew Mahishasura) · Chamundi Hills, Mysuru, Karnataka
Chamundeshwari (Mysuru) Shakti Peetha is one of the sacred sites where parts of Sati Devi's body fell when Lord Vishnu cut them with the Sudarshana Chakra. Body part: Hair. Famous for Mysuru Dasara — 10-day Navratri celebrations. Atop Chamundi Hill — 1,000+ steps from the base. Maharaja Wodeyar dynasty's family deity.
About the Shakti Peethas
When Sati Devi self-immolated at her father Daksha's yajna (in response to his insult of Shiva), Shiva carried her corpse in inconsolable grief, performing the cosmic Rudra Tandava that threatened to destroy the universe. Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshana Chakra to cut Sati's body into pieces, which fell at 51 (per Devi Bhagavatam) or 108 (per other traditions) locations across India and surrounding regions. Each location became a Shakti Peetha — sacred Devi shrine. The 18 most important are called the Maha Shakti Peethas.