Mahishamardini Shivaharkaray

Overview

The Shakti Peethas (holy places of cosmic power) are places of worship dedicated to the Goddess ‘Shakti’, the female principal of Hinduism and the main deity of the Shakti sect. Shakti Peethas are spread throughout the Indian subcontinent. This Goddess is often associated both with Gouri or Parvati, the benevolent Goddess of harmony, marital felicity and longevity. And also as Goddess Durga - the goddess of strength and valour, and with Mahakali (the black one) the goddess of destruction of the evil.

About the Temple

Shivaharkaray or Karavipur is a Shakti Peeth dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Durga, located near Parkai railway station, near Karachi, Pakistan. Ancient scripts describe that the three eyes (the third eye) of the Goddess fell here after she committed Sati. The Goddess is worshipped as Mahishasuramardini, or the slayer of the Demon Mahishasur. Her consort, Lord Shiva, is worshipped in Ragi form as Krodhish, personification of anger. Shivaharkaray is third in the list of 51 Peethas identified in the Puranas.

Karavipur is located in Karachi, near Pakistan. Some believe that the temple is located in Sukkur city, Pakistan on the banks of the river Sindh. There is another belief that the temple is located at Sharkar in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. The temple is well connected by all the three modes of transport. Gujarat in India is the nearest place to reach Karavipur.

About the Deity

Maa Durga is known as the slayer of the demon Mahishasur, who was born from a buffalo which represents the animal nature in us. Goddess Durga is Called Mahishasura Mardini in this incarnation. Goddess Durga killed a demon called Mahishasura who represent the animal features in human like ego, ignorance, greed and selfishness.

In this form Mahishasura Mardini, the Mother Goddess shows us the path to defeat the animal nature in human beings with the divine help. The lion, the carrier of Goddess Durga, represents man’s virility. The animal nature is to be conquered and kept under rigid control, but never absolutely abolished, for everything has its part to play while retained in the right portions. It is to be tamed to serve the purpose of divine creation.

Legend and Stories

According to legends, at some time in Satya Yuga, Daksha (who was the son of Lord Brahma) performed a yagna in a place called Kankan (near Haridwar). This Yagya was named Vrihaspati Yagna. He performed this Yagna with a desire of taking revenge on Lord Shiva. Daksha was angry because his daughter Sati (one of his 27 daughters) had married the ‘yogi’ God Shiva against his wishes. Daksha invited all the deities to the yagna except for Shiva and Sati. The fact that she was not invited did not deter Sati from attending the yagna. She had expressed her desire to attend the Yagna to Shiva, who had tried his best to dissuade her from going. Shiva eventually allowed her to go escorted by his ganas.

But Sati, being an uninvited guest, was not given any respect by his father. Further more, Daksha insulted Lord Shiva. Sati was unable to bear her father’s insult of her husband, so she committed suicide by jumping into the sacrificial fire. When Lord Shiva heard about her death he became furious. He along with his ganas (followers) went to the place where Daksha was performing Yagna. The site of Yagna was completely destroyed by Shiva and his ganas (mainly by the great Veerbhadra) and killed Daksha.

Lord Shiva then carried the corpse of Sati and started dancing furiously all over the place like a lunatic. The other gods intervened to stop this Tandava dance.

To reduce his anger, Lord Vishnu cut the corpse of Sati with his Sudarshan chakra. Various parts of the body fell at several spots all through the Indian subcontinent and formed the sites of which are known as Shaktipeeth.

Festivals

Durga puja is one of important festivals celebrated at Mahishamardini temple. Goddess Mahishasurmardini is worshipped during navratri very grandly. During Navaratri, Goddess is worshipped in a new form during 9 days. A four day theerth yatra is celebrated in April when people from different parts of the world attend the yatra.

Accessibility

Air

The nearest airport is Jinnah International Airport which is in Karachi.

Rail

The nearest railway station is Parakai.

Raod

Road transport is also as good as other means of transport. From Gujarat, if people want to go to this holy site, it much easier and less time consuming from there.

Temple Address

Mahishamardini Shivaharkaray Or Karavipur Shakti Peeth,
Parkai,
Lasbela Distirct,
Sindh,
Pakistan.