Jayanti Shaktipeeth temple is a 600-year-old sanctuary situated in the West Jaintia Slopes region of Meghalaya in northeastern India. It is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas and is one of the holiest sites for enthusiasts of the Shaktism order of Hinduism. The Hindus in the Jaintia Slopes of Meghalaya accept that this sanctuary is the permanent abode of Goddess Durga.

Durga Puja brings a large number of devotees from all over the country to the temple. Jayanti is the name given to the Shakti of Nartiang Devi shrine, and Kamadishwar is the name given to the Bhairava. Nartiang was once an important cultural and spiritual centre during the peak of the Jaintia kingdom. Locally goddess Durga is known as Jainteshwari as the Left thigh of Devi Sathi fell here in the Jaintia Hills

Story Behind Jayanti Shaktipeeth

The goddess of Dakshayani, Sati, Parvati, or Durga—Hinduism’s most important woman and most powerful deity—is called Shakti. Durga Devi, Mahakali, and Gowri are the three main manifestations of Shakti, the power goddess. She is Adi Shakti’s avatar.

Sati was the Prajapati Daksha’s daughter, and she married Lord Shiva despite Her father’s wishes. Prajapati Daksha once put together a massive yagya, but he didn’t call his daughter and son-in-law. Sati was very saddened by Her father’s actions. When she got there, her father ignored the Sati and insulted her. She could not bear the insult of his husband (Lord Shiva) and she jumped into the fire of Yagya and committed suicide. She passed away, but her body didn’t burn. Lord Shiva had taken His Virabhadra Rupa out of rage. Daksha’s head was cut off by him, but in the end, He forgave him by bringing him back to life.

Lord Shiva, devastated, had taken Sati’s body and wandered the universe. Finally, Lord Vishnu used His Chakra to break the Sati’s body into pieces. Each body part transformed into Shakti Pitha. The temple had emerged where the body part had fallen to the ground. In order to safeguard the Shakti Pitha, Lord Shiva created 51 Bhairava for each one.

The Nartiang Devi Temple is believed to be a Shakti Peetha, one of the most revered shrines of Shaktism as Shakti Peethas are Holy abodes of Parashakti. The “Shakti” of Nartiang Devi shrine is addressed as ‘Jayanti’ and the “Kalabhairava” as ‘Kamadishwar’. It is believed that Sati Devi’s left thigh had fallen there.

History of Jayanti Shaktipeeth

Lakshmi Narayana was the daughter of the Hindu Koch king Nara Narayana, and the Jaintia king Jaso Manik (1606–1641) married her. Lakshmi Narayana is reputed to have persuaded the Jaintia Royalty to convert to Hinduism. About 600 years ago, King Dhan Manik made Nartiang the summer capital of the Jaintia Kingdom.

In a dream one night, the goddess came to him and told him how important the place was and asked him to build a temple in her honour. The Jainteshwari temple in Nartiang was built as a result. The temple must have been part of the Jaintia Kings’ fort because of its strategic location and the presence of weapons like cannons.

The architecture of Jayanti Shaktipeeth

The temple shows the divinities Durga Maa Idol (Main deity) and the Shiva temple close by the primary sanctuary. Locally goddess Durga is referred to as Jainteshwari as the Left thigh of Devi Sathi fell here in the Jaintia Slopes. The Nartiang Durga temple is arranged right on top of the slope from where one can see the Myundu Waterway streaming underneath.

A gold-plated sheet has to cover the temple dome. The temple’s courtyard is sizable. Around the temple or Shaktipeeth, there are three caves. The holy Trinity’s idols—Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Ishwar—can be found in the first cave.

The sacrificing ceremony is performed in a Boli Garbha in the temple’s basement, where it continues through a tunnel to the river.

Facts about Jayanti Shaktipeeth

• Nartiang Durga Temple is a 600-year-old temple located in the West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya in northeastern India.
•  It is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas and is one of the holiest sites for devotees of the Shaktism sect of Hinduism
• This is a site where human sacrifices were made until the advent of British rule. In fact, a tunnel inside the temple ends at the nearby Myntang river and the heads of the sacrificed were rolled down this shaft.
• During the festival of Durga, the entire temple is decorated with marigold flowers and the deity is presented with new clothes.
• Taking forward Khasi tradition, Utsav Murthy is made with banana trunk and worshipped, then immersed (Visarjan) in Myundi river
• The temple’s art and architecture are beautiful and a hill containing the temple is encircled by mountains, forests, and rivers.
• Durga Puja is the most important festival of this temple. During Durga Puja, a banana plant is dressed up and worshipped as the Goddess.

Festivals In Jayanti Shaktipeeth

• Durga Puja. (Winter) – Devotees celebrate Navaratri at this temple in the month of Ashwin (Sep-Oct). In Nartiang Durga Temple, a banana tree is decorated with marigold flowers during Navratras and is worshipped as Maa Durga
• Navaratri. (Summer) – They celebrate other Navaratri in the fortnight of the Chaitra (March-April). Every nine days they worship Navadurga (nine Durgas).
• On the day of Durga Ashtami, goats and ducks are sacrificed in this temple by wearing dhoti in human masks.

How to Reach Jayanti Shaktipeeth

Jayanti Shaktipeeth Nartiang is a 600-year-old Durga Temple also shaktipeeth located in the West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya, a state in North-Eastern India.

By Air: The nearest international airport is Shillong Airport which is 23 Km from the temple.

By Railway: The nearest railway station is Guwahati railway station – 176 km from the temple.

By Road: Shillong Bus Stand is 60 Km from the temple. There are several buses that connect to Jayanti Shaktipeeth. Local and private transport are also available in plenty.

Read Also – Jeshoreshwari (Yogeshwari) Shaktipeeth