8 sacred Shakti peethas that disappeared to escape Mughal destruction

1.Hinglaj Mata in Balochistan

Hinglaj Mata is located in the vast Makran desert. Reaching the shrine feels like walking a hidden path of faith. It is almost impossible so Pilgrims posed as traders and carried secret folk songs to keep her memory alive. 

 

2.Jwalamukhi Devi in Himachal Pradesh

Jwalamukhi temple in Himachal scared the Mughals with its underground flames. Akbar failed to extinguish them. Priests continued quiet rituals, protecting the fire and the sanctity of the site through silence.

 

3.Kamakhya in Assam

Kamakhya’s priests hid her temple under a village disguise. Grand rituals were moved indoors, while the remote hilltop location helped keep her sacred space untouched by Mughal eyes.

 

4.Kankalitala in Bengal

Once a proud complex, Kankalitala was stripped down by locals during Mughal invasions. All that remained was a basic sanctum. The soul of the shrine survived in simplicity.

 

5.Kalighat in Kolkata

Kalighat devotees stopped public rituals. They worshipped behind closed doors, away from Mughal’s eyes. It was their quiet devotion that kept the shrine breathing through the darkest times.

 

6.Pavagadh temple in Gujarat

Located on a hill in Gujarat, Pavagadh temple was left empty. Priests carried idols in secret and performed rituals in forests and caves, keeping faith alive through exile.

 

7.Shankari Devi in Sri Lanka

Shankari Peeth in Trincomalee faced threats from Mughal-aligned coastal forces. To protect the shrine, devotees buried the sanctum and hid sacred relics in underground chambers. Only the most faithful knew the secret paths to reach the Goddess again.

 

8.Bahula Devi in West Bengal

During the Mughal raids in Bengal, Bahula Devi’s temple was nearly forgotten. Locals hid the sacred icons in nearby ponds and rebuilt the temple as a simple village hut. She remained loved and worshipped quietly, safe from Mughal eyes.