🛕 Shaktipeeth #7 of 52 · Prabhas Patan, Gujarat, India · Body Part: Stomach of Goddess Sati
🌊 Shaktipeeth #7 of 52 — The Stomach of Sati · Gujarat

Chandrabhaga
Devi

Prabhas Patan · Saurashtra · Gujarat

Where the stomach of Goddess Sati fell upon the sacred shore of Prabhas Patan — the ancient land where Lord Krishna completed his earthly journey. Chandrabhaga Devi presides at the edge of the Arabian Sea, beside the most celebrated Jyotirlinga in India: the eternal Somnath.

← Back to All 52 Shaktipeeths
Plan Your Visit The Sacred Legend
Stomach
Body Part of Sati
Udara — nourishment & life
Arabian Sea
Sacred Waters
The first sea to see sunrise
Vakranatha
Presiding Bhairava
The curved-lord of Prabhas
Somnath
Jyotirlinga Next Door
First of 12 sacred Shiva shrines

Background & Mythology

About Chandrabhaga Devi Shaktipeeth

Chandrabhaga Devi is the seventh of the 52 Maha Shakti Peethas, located at Prabhas Patan (also called Prabhas Kshetra) in the Gir Somnath district of Gujarat — the same sacred ground that holds the Somnath Jyotirlinga, the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva. This is the place where the stomach of Goddess Sati is believed to have fallen.

Prabhas Patan is one of the most layered sacred geographies in all of India. It sits on the Saurashtra coast where the Hiran, Kapila, and Saraswati rivers meet the Arabian Sea — a confluence the ancient texts called the Triveni of the west. The Somnath temple, destroyed and rebuilt twelve times, stands here as an eternal declaration of devotion over conquest. And now, beside this Jyotirlinga of Shiva, rests the stomach of his beloved Sati — a profound sacred symmetry.

The Goddess here is worshipped as Chandrabhaga Devi — a name evoking moonlight on water, the crescent of grace, the luminous feminine power of the tidal coast. She is also identified in some traditions as Girija Devi ("she of the mountain"), connecting her to Parvati, Sati's next incarnation. The stomach — Udara — is the centre of nourishment, digestion, and the fire of transformation (Agni). Where the Goddess's stomach rests, the earth receives the power of divine nourishment and sustenance for all who come to it.

The presiding Bhairava is Vakranatha — "the curved lord," a form of Shiva with a crooked or curved aspect, associated with the moon's crescent and the bend of the sacred rivers at Prabhas. Together, Chandrabhaga Devi and Vakranatha hold the full mystery of sacred sustenance and lunar grace at this extraordinary coastal Peetha.

Sati's Sacrifice — The Cosmic Flame
When Sati entered her father Daksha's yagna fire — unable to tolerate his deliberate humiliation of Shiva — her act of self-immolation sent shockwaves through the cosmos. Shiva, mad with grief, lifted her body and wandered all three worlds, his divine sorrow threatening the dissolution of all creation.
Vishnu's Sudarshana Chakra — Love as Liberation
Lord Vishnu, seeing the danger to all worlds, sent his Sudarshana Chakra to gently sever Sati's body into 51 or 52 sacred pieces. Each fragment consecrated the earth where it landed, transforming an act of grief into the most widespread blessing ever bestowed on the subcontinent — a network of Shakti Peethas spanning from Pakistan to Bengal.
The Stomach Falls at Prabhas
Sati's stomach — the Udara, the sacred vessel of nourishment, the seat of Agni (digestive fire) and life-sustaining energy — fell upon the sacred shore of Prabhas Patan on the Arabian Sea coast of Gujarat. The stomach is the body's centre of transformation: where food becomes life, where the raw becomes nourishing. This Peetha thus holds the power of divine transformation.
Prabhas — Where Krishna's Journey Ended
Prabhas Patan is also the place where Lord Krishna completed his earthly sojourn — resting under a pipal tree near the Hiran river, he was struck by a hunter's arrow and departed from the mortal world. The convergence of these two supreme stories — the stomach of Sati and the departure of Krishna — makes Prabhas one of the most multiply-sacred spots in all of Hinduism.
Chandrabhaga Devi — Moonlight on the Sacred Shore
The Goddess manifested here as Chandrabhaga — moonlight reflected in water, the crescent of lunar grace, the feminine power of tidal rhythms and the eternal sea. At the edge of the Arabian Sea, where the full moon rises over the water and the waves wash the ancient shore, Chandrabhaga Devi continues to nourish, sustain, and transform every soul who comes to her with devotion.
🦶
Shaktipeeth Profile
Chandrabhaga Devi — Moonlight at the Sacred Shore
At Prabhas Patan on the Arabian Sea, beside the immortal Somnath Jyotirlinga — where Sati's stomach rests in the earth, the Goddess of divine nourishment watches over the most sacred coast of Gujarat. The moon reflects on the sea here and the three rivers meet: this is Chandrabhaga Devi's eternal home.
Also Known As
Girija Devi, Chandrabhaga Mata, Prabhas Devi
Body Part
Stomach (Udara) of Goddess Sati
Peetha No.
#7 of 52 Maha Shakti Peethas
Bhairava
Vakranatha — the curved, crescent-like lord
Location
Prabhas Patan, Gir Somnath District, Gujarat
Sacred Waters
Arabian Sea + Hiran · Kapila · Saraswati rivers
Nearby Shrine
Somnath Jyotirlinga — first of the 12 Jyotirlingas
Scriptural Ref
Tantrachudamani, Skanda Purana (Prabhasa Khanda)

Why People Visit

Significance of Chandrabhaga Devi

At the sacred coast of Saurashtra where the sun sets into the Arabian Sea and Somnath stands eternal, the stomach of the Goddess anchors the earth with the power of divine nourishment. Chandrabhaga Devi draws pilgrims seeking sustenance, transformation, and the profound grace of one of India's most multiply-sacred sites.

🍽️
The Stomach — Power of Divine Nourishment
The stomach is the body's great transformer — the seat of Agni, the digestive fire, that converts all inputs into life-giving energy. Where Sati's stomach rests at Prabhas, the earth holds the power of sacred nourishment: the ability to transform, sustain, and renew. Devotees come seeking the Goddess's blessing for health, sustenance, abundance, and the nourishment of their families.
Udara Shakti — Power of Nourishment
🕉️
Somnath — The Eternal Jyotirlinga
The Somnath Jyotirlinga — the first and perhaps most celebrated of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva — stands just metres from this Shakti Peetha. Destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni and rebuilt twelve times, Somnath is the supreme symbol of devotion's indestructibility. To visit both Somnath Shiva and Chandrabhaga Devi in one pilgrimage is to experience the fullness of Shaiva-Shakta unity in a single sacred site.
Shakti + Shiva at One Site
🌊
Triveni Sangam — Three Rivers Meet the Sea
At Prabhas Patan, the Hiran, Kapila, and the mythical Saraswati rivers meet the Arabian Sea — a Triveni Sangam of the western coast. The junction of three rivers with the sea creates an extraordinarily potent sacred field. Pilgrims bathe here at the Triveni Ghat before darshan, combining the purification of river water with the vastness of the ocean in a single sacred act.
Western Triveni Sangam
🦚
Prabhas — Where Krishna Departed
Prabhas Patan is also where Lord Krishna chose to end his earthly incarnation — resting near the Hiran river after the Mahabharata war, he was accidentally struck by a hunter's arrow and left the mortal world. The convergence of Sati's Shakti Peetha with Krishna's departure point makes Prabhas one of the most cosmically layered sacred sites in Hinduism: where the Mother's stomach and the Avatar's departure unite.
Krishna's Final Resting Place
🌙
Kartik Purnima — Festival of the Full Moon
Kartik Purnima (the full moon of November) is the grandest festival at Somnath and Prabhas Patan — when hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gather at the shore to bathe in the moonlit Arabian Sea. The full moon rising over the water at Prabhas has a mythological significance: it was here that the Moon (Chandra) worshipped Shiva to regain his lustre. Visiting on Kartik Purnima is considered one of the most auspicious acts in a pilgrim's lifetime.
Kartik Purnima — Most Auspicious Night
🏛️
Saurashtra Sacred Circuit
Prabhas Patan is the anchor of one of Gujarat's richest pilgrimage circuits: Somnath Jyotirlinga, the Gita Mandir, Bhalka Tirth (where Krishna was struck), the Veraval fishing port, Dwarkadhish at Dwarka (130 km), and the Gir Lion Sanctuary. A complete Saurashtra yatra combining the Shakti Peetha with these sites is one of India's most spiritually comprehensive journeys.
Saurashtra Sacred Circuit

Getting There

How to Reach Chandrabhaga Devi

Prabhas Patan (Somnath) is on the southern Saurashtra coast of Gujarat, about 7 km from Veraval town. Rajkot is the nearest major airport (180 km) and Veraval the nearest railway station (7 km). The Somnath Express and other trains connect directly to major Gujarat cities.

✈️
By Air
Rajkot Airport / Diu Airport
Rajkot Airport (RAJ) is the nearest major airport, approximately 180 km from Somnath — about 3 hours by road. Diu Airport is smaller but closer at ~90 km (1.5 hrs). Both connect to Mumbai (1 hr) and Ahmedabad. From Rajkot or Diu, private taxis and shared jeeps travel to Somnath. Several charter flights also operate to Somnath / Keshod Airport (40 km away) during peak pilgrimage season.
📍 Keshod Airport ~40 km · Rajkot ~180 km · Diu ~90 km
🚂
By Train
Veraval Railway Station
Veraval (7 km from Somnath) is the nearest railway station — well-connected to Ahmedabad (Somnath Express, ~9 hrs), Rajkot (5 hrs), Mumbai (16 hrs), and several other Gujarat cities. The Somnath Express and Girnar Express are the primary trains used by pilgrims. From Veraval station, autos, taxis, and local buses cover the 7 km to Somnath / Prabhas Patan easily.
🚂 Veraval · 7 km · Ahmedabad ~9 hrs · Mumbai ~16 hrs
🚌
By Road
NH27 / SH via Junagadh & Porbandar
Somnath is connected by excellent roads to Junagadh (85 km, 1.5 hrs), Porbandar (120 km, 2 hrs via coastal route), Rajkot (200 km, 3.5 hrs), and Ahmedabad (400 km, 6 hrs). GSRTC state buses run from Ahmedabad, Rajkot, and Junagadh directly to Somnath. Private Volvo buses from major Gujarat cities also serve this route. The Saurashtra coastal highway is exceptionally scenic.
🛣️ Junagadh ~1.5 hrs · Rajkot ~3.5 hrs · Ahmedabad ~6 hrs
🗺️ Getting Around Prabhas Patan / Somnath
🛺
Auto-Rickshaw
Autos connect Veraval station to Somnath temple, Prabhas Patan, Triveni Ghat, and Bhalka Tirth. The compact sacred geography makes autos the ideal way to cover all the sites.
🚕
Hired Taxi
Hire a taxi for a full Saurashtra circuit: Somnath–Gir–Junagadh–Girnar–Porbandar–Dwarka. A 3-day hired car covers this entire sacred geography comfortably.
🚶
On Foot
The Prabhas Patan sacred complex is compact and walkable — Somnath temple, Triveni Ghat, Bhalka Tirth, and the Prabhas Museum are all within easy walking distance of each other.
🚌
GSRTC Bus
Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation buses connect Somnath to Junagadh, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, and other Saurashtra towns. Inexpensive and reliable.

Visitor Guidelines

Dos and Don'ts

Prabhas Patan is a deeply sacred and intensely visited pilgrimage site — home to one of India's most celebrated temples. Spiritual preparation, devotional sincerity, and respect for the temple's ancient traditions will deepen your experience of this extraordinary Shakti Peetha.

✅
Dos
✓
Bathe at the Triveni Ghat — where the Hiran, Kapila, and Saraswati rivers meet the Arabian Sea — before approaching the Shakti Peetha. This sacred bath is the traditional Prabhas purification and one of the most powerful acts of preparation at this site.
✓
Visit both Somnath Jyotirlinga and Chandrabhaga Devi in a single pilgrimage. The proximity of Shiva and Shakti at this site is unique among all the 52 Peethas — honouring both shrines completes the Shaiva-Shakta circuit of Prabhas Patan.
✓
Offer white flowers, coconut, and sweet prasad — offerings that honour the lunar, nourishing nature of Chandrabhaga Devi. The moonlit quality of her name calls for pure, cool, white offerings that reflect her divine radiance.
✓
Attend the evening aarti at Somnath, which takes place at the sea-facing gate as the sun sets over the Arabian Sea. This is one of the most spectacular religious ceremonies in India — a profound complement to darshan at the Shakti Peetha earlier in the day.
✓
Visit Bhalka Tirth — the sacred pipal tree where Lord Krishna was accidentally struck — as part of your Prabhas circuit. Combining the Shakti Peetha with this Vaishnava sacred site gives a complete picture of Prabhas Patan's layered spiritual significance.
✓
Plan your visit for Kartik Purnima (November full moon) if possible — the night of the full moon rising over the Arabian Sea at Prabhas Patan is considered one of the most sacred and beautiful experiences in all of Indian pilgrimage.
✓
Dress in traditional Gujarati attire — bright, auspicious colours are welcome at Gujarat temples. Dress modestly and carry a light shawl for the sea breeze, especially in the evening. The temple premises must be entered barefoot.
❌
Don'ts
✗
Do not carry leather items inside the Somnath or Chandrabhaga temple premises. Leather shoes, belts, and bags must be left in designated lockers or with a trusted companion outside. This is strictly observed at both shrines.
✗
Photography and mobile phones are prohibited inside the Somnath sanctum. Security at Somnath is strict — mobile phones must be deposited at the counter before entering. The Chandrabhaga Devi shrine also discourages photography in the inner sanctum.
✗
Do not swim in the sea at Prabhas without guidance. The Arabian Sea at Somnath has strong currents and undertow. Ritual bathing should be done at the designated Triveni Ghat, not in the open sea independently.
✗
Do not consume meat, alcohol, or non-Sattvic food on your pilgrimage day. Prabhas Patan is a deeply Sattvic pilgrimage zone — the local food culture reflects this with excellent vegetarian Gujarati thalis widely available.
✗
Do not engage with touts or unauthorised puja service providers outside the temple compound. All puja services at Somnath are managed by the Somnath Trust — approach the official booking desk for any special puja or abhishek.
✗
Avoid visiting during peak Navratri and Kartik Purnima without accommodation pre-booked well in advance. Somnath draws enormous crowds during these festivals — arrive early, carry water, and allow extra time for queuing at the temple.
✗
Do not rush through Prabhas Patan as a quick stopover. The site holds multiple sacred layers — Somnath, the Shakti Peetha, Bhalka Tirth, the Triveni Sangam, and the Prabhasa Museum. A minimum of half a day, ideally a full day, allows you to absorb the full depth of this extraordinary place.
🦶

Stand at the Shore with Chandrabhaga Devi

Where the Arabian Sea crashes against the ancient shore of Prabhas Patan — where Somnath stands and Krishna departed — the stomach of the Goddess rests in the earth. Come to this luminous coast and let Chandrabhaga Devi fill you with the deepest nourishment the universe can offer.

← All 52 Shaktipeeths Plan Your Visit Read the Legend Again