Saptashrungi, Nashik

The Saptashrungi Devi temple at Vani in Nashik district, Maharashtra, 60 kilometres from Nashik — the 'half' of the Saade-Teen Shakti Pithas of Maharashtra, visually located on a hilltop crowned by seven peaks (sapta-shrungi, 'seven hills') and reached by 500 steps. The temple is dedicated to Saptashrungi Devi (a Durga-Mahishasuramardini form) and is said in some lists to be a Maha Shakti Pitha where Sati's right arm fell. The deity is self-manifest in a 10-foot rock face carved with 18 hands holding various weapons. The temple's foundation is 15-century; the current structure is 17-century Maratha and 20-century Marathi-reform additions. The annual Chaitra Navratri festival each March-April draws over 500,000 pilgrims. The Maharashtra State Shrine Board manages the temple with the 2003 ropeway from the base to the summit.