Shakti Temple, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand

The centre of attention at the Shakti Temple is the "Shakti Stambh" or the huge trident that protrudes out of the roof of the temple. It is said that when the epic battle ensued between the devtas (gods) and the asuras (demons), the shakti stambh was sent down from heaven to kill the asuras. Since then, it has been balanced on the hood of the shesh naag (the mythological snake which also supports the earth on its hood) in pataal (the nether world). It is also said that no one has been able to identify the metals from which the stambh is made though its globular base was created out of asht dhatu (eight metals) a thousand years ago.

It has a big "Trishul" of about 6 meters in height and a circumference of 90 cms. at bottom. Though there are different views about the making of this, the upper part of it seems to be made up of iron and the lower one is of copper. As per the epics this Shakti was thrown on the devils by the Goddess Durga(Shakti), hence it gets its name. Since then this Shakti is erected over here