Saptashrungi

Goddess Saptashrungi Devi of Vani

Saptashrungi or Saptashringi (Marathi: सप्तश्रृंगी, Saptaśrr̥ṇgī) is a site of pilgrimage situated 60 kilometers from Nashik. According to Hindu tradition, the goddess Saptashrungi Nivasini dwells within the seven mountain peaks. (Sapta means seven & shrung means peaks.) It is located in Vani, a small village near Nashik in India. Devotees visit this place in large numbers every day.

The legend

This temple is one among the 51 Shakti peethas located on the Indian subcontinent. The Devi is said be swayambhu (self-manifested) on a rock on the sheer face of a mountain. She is surrounded by seven (sapta-in Sanskrit) peaks (shrunga-in Sanskrit), hence the name- Sapta Shrungi Mata (mother of the seven peaks).

The image of the Devi is huge-about 10 feet tall with 18 hands, holding various weapons like;

String of Beads	Battle Axe
Mace	Arrow
Thunderbolt	Lotus
Bow	Water Pot
Cudgel	Lance
Sword	Shield
Conch	Bell
Wine Cup	Trident
Noose	Spinning Disc (Sudarsana Chakra)

The idol is always coated with Sindoor, which is considered auspicious in this region. She is also known as Mahishasur Mardini, the slayer of the demon Mahishasur, who took the form of a buffalo. Hence, at the foot of the hill, from where one starts climbing the steps, there is the head of a buffalo, made in stone which is believed to be a demon.

Mahishasur Mandir

It is believed that the Devi Mahatmya, a sacred book which extols the greatness of Devi and her exploits was composed at this place by the sage Markandeya, who performed rigorous penance on a hill opposite the one on which the Devi resides, which is now named after him. The temple, which sort of sticks to the cliff, is 1230 meters above sea level. There is an old path with steps cut out of the mountain, which starts right at the foothills, at Vani and goes all the way to the mountain. However, now, a motorable road has been built, which goes up to an altitude of 1150 meters. From this place one has to climb around 500 steps to reach the shrine, which only takes about forty five minutes.

References in ancient texts and legends of Hinduism

Saptashrung mountain was a part of the forest called Dandakaranya mentioned in the Ramayana. It is mentioned that Lord Rama, along with Seeta had come here to pray to Amba and seek her blessings.

Among the ancient seers, Sage Markandeya (who was called the bhakta markandeya and the author of Devi Mahatmyam the book containing 700 slokas praising and the life of the goddess amba) and Sage Parasher(the first worldly incarnation of Sriman Narayan as the son of Kashyap and Aditi) completed their tapascharya (a long, multi-year period of meditation and prayer in solitude, a kind of penance, to seek the ultimate truth. In much of Hindu mythology,this is done to seek a meeting with God) at or near Saptashrungi.

Sant Dnyaneshwar, in Dnyaneshwari, his commentary on the Gita, mentions that his father, Vitthalpant, had also visited Saptashrungi. At a later point, Nivruttinath, the elder brother of Dnyaneshwara, is said to have visited Saptashrungi, and then moved on for his Samadhi at Tryambakeshwar near Nashik.

Note: Samadhi means deep meditation. Samadhi can also mean a tomb of someone (usually a holy being) revered by masses, like a saint. "Taking a Samadhi" means voluntarily entering one's own tomb with the purpose of giving up life, considering life's aim fulfilled. In Ashwin month( Hindu Calender month) Shuddha Dhashami there was big utsav (festival) at this place.

External links

• saptashrungi.org

• http://anushankarn.blogspot.com/2007/11/saptashrungi-devi-temple-vani.html

Coordinates: 20°23′N 73°54′E / 20.383°N 73.9°E / 20.383; 73.9