Vindhyavāsinī

The Goddess who dwells in the Vindhyas · Vindhyāchal, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh

Vindhyavāsinī’s temple stands at Vindhyāchal on the banks of the Gaṅgā. Pilgrims traditionally complete the trikoṇa (triangle) parikramā, visiting Vindhyavāsinī as Mahālakṣmī, Kālī Khoh as Mahākālī and Aṣṭabhujā as Mahāsarasvatī on the nearby hills.

Tradition holds that here the Goddess is present in her complete form rather than as a single part of Satī’s body, which is why some lists treat Vindhyāchal differently from the classical pīṭhas while devotees revere it as a supreme seat. Both Navarātris draw very large crowds.

In the Devī Māhātmya the Goddess promises that she will be born of Yaśodā in Nanda’s house and will dwell in the Vindhya mountains. Tradition says that when Kaṃsa tried to kill the infant girl who had been exchanged for Kṛṣṇa, she slipped from his hands, revealed herself as the Goddess and came to rest in the Vindhyas.

Uttar Pradesh · Trikoṇa parikramā · Devī Māhātmya · Navarātri

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