Virat Shakti Peeth is among the 51 Shakti Peeth of Maa Sati. It is said that, the left leg Maa Sati fell here, when lord Vishnu in order to relieve lord Shiva from grief of losing his wife Sati, used his ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ to incise maa Sati Body. Then, at the place of fall of left leg, this temple was constructed. Virat Shakti Peeth is situated in Bharatpur in Rajasthan, India. Here the idol of maa Sati is called as ‘Ambika’ and the lord Shiva is worshipped as ‘Amriteshwar’.
History of Virat Peeth
History to this place dates back in the time when it is said that the left leg of Maa Sati fell to this place. Best information about the origin and the formation of this temple, people can be taken from with local people. Religious books, Purans etc are worth trying to find out the history about the Shakti Peeth.
Festivals in Virat temple
- Makar Sankranti, Sharad Purnima, Deepawali, Somvati Amavasya, Ram Navami are some of the other important festivals being celebrated here.
- Navratri that falls two times in a year- one in the month of March or April and other in the September or October month depending on the Hindu calendar, is among the major festival here. Navratri are celebrated for over 9 days, with some people not eating any type of food that is derived from the soil for these nine days. Special ceremonies and rituals are carried during these days
- Another festival that is celebrated with great enthusiasm is the ‘Shivaratri’ and during this day, people keep fast, pour milk on the Shiv Lingam and offers ‘Bail’ (A type of fruit) to the god idol.
- People (Almost every day) offer their offering to the god in form of fruit, milk, homemade sweets etc.
Where to stay
If you are looking for either cheap or expensive type of accommodation, then both are available here. Here the rent of each room may vary from Rs 400 to Rs 12000. Also there are several non payable guest houses or Dharmsalas that are run by the various nonprofit organizations. Beware of the touts who promises to give hi-fi deals with cheap rates. Take necessary steps to protect yourself from sunburn etc, because in the summer season, temperature shoots up to 40+ degrees in this part of the country.
Shopping around Virat temple
- Religious Paraphernalia can be bought from the shops that are located just outside the temple.
- Traditional Clothes like traditional Rajasthani dress can be bought from here, at local market.
- Local delicacies like ‘Mirchi Pakoda’, Bikaneri Namkeen and Milk Cake is really something that needs to be tasted.
- Bajre ki Roti is quite famous here and common appetite in the menu of hotels.
- Bargaining for the items is really necessary here as shopkeepers tend to ask higher price for the good that you want to purchase. A little knowledge about the prices of the basic things in this country will help travelers a lot.
Other places that can be visited nearby
Following are some of the places that you might want to visit:
- City Palace in Jaipur
- Jantar Mantar in Jaipur
- Hawa Mahal in Jaipur
- Amber fort
- Lohagarh in Bharatpur
- Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Bharatpur
- Bala Qila and City Palace Complex in Alwar
- Sariska Tiger Reserve
- Shekhawati
- Ajmer
- Pushkar
- Ranthambhoren National Park
- Bundi
- Kota
- Chittorgarh
- Udaipur
- Mt Abu
- Jodhpur
- Bikaner
- Jaisalmer, are some of the star attractions nearby this Shakti Peeth.
How to reach the Virat temple
- Direct trains are available to Bharatpur Railway station only and various trains ply directly from Delhi, Patna, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Chandigarh to here.
- From Bharatpur Railway station you have to board local train, to reach Shakti Peeth.
- Several deluxe bus services are available to Bharatpur and they are worth trying, if you are not getting reservation in the train.
- Nearest airport is in the Jaipur and national flights as well as international Flights are available from here.
- But it is advisable to have taxi or your own mode of transportation when you are from Jaipur to this part.
- Best season to visit here is in the month of winters.