Vishalakshi Shakti Peetha, Kashi
You must have heard the story of Sati Devi – when her father Daksha insulted her husband Shiva during the Daksha Yaga, she couldn’t bear it. Out of sorrow and anger, she gave up her body. Lord Shiva, devastated, carried her body and started performing the Tandava – the cosmic dance of destruction. His grief and fury were so intense that it threatened to burn the whole universe. To stop this, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshana Chakra and cut Sati's body into 51 pieces. Wherever those pieces fell on Earth, sacred places called Shakti Peethas were formed. These are very important centers of Devi worship and are known to quickly bless devotees with spiritual power and success.
One of the main Shakti Peethas is in Kashi – it is called the Shri Vishalakshi Shakti Peetha. It is said that Sati’s earring fell here.
As per Matsya Purana:
वाराणस्यां विशालाक्षी नैमिषे लिङ्गधारिणी । प्रयागे ललिता देवी कामाक्षी गन्धमादने ॥
As per Devi Bhagavatam:
वाराणस्यां विशालाक्षी गौरीमुखनिवासिनी । अविमुक्ते विशालाक्षी महाभागा महालये ॥
As per Skanda Purana:
विशालाक्ष्या महासौधे मम विश्रामभूमिका । तत्र संसृतिखिन्नानां विश्रामं श्रावयाम्यहम् ॥
The name Vishalakshi came from the time when Devi first saw Shiva – her eyes had blossomed wide with love and wonder.
It is said that seeing Vishalakshi after bathing in the Ganga destroys all sins, removes all sorrows, and even protects from enemies. She blesses her devotees with immense wealth. According to Skanda Purana, even the smallest offering made to her – a flower, a lamp – gives endless blessings.
The Vishalakshi temple is about 250 meters northwest of the Kashi Vishwanath temple, at Meer Ghat. The temple of Annapurna, the empress of Kashi, is nearby in Vishwanath Galli.
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