Jwala Mukhi Shakti Peetha
జ్వాలాముఖి
Devi Jwala (eternal flame) · Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh
Jwala Mukhi 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: Tongue. Where Sati's tongue is said to have fallen. Famous for 9 perpetual natural gas flames that emerge from the rock — the deity has no idol; the flames themselves are the goddess. Mughal emperor Akbar tried to extinguish them; failed.
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.