Names & Legend
The Sone (or Shona) Shakti Peeth is less widely known than many other peeths, and few people are aware of its history. Yet the Goddess here has blessed countless devotees who came to her with their wishes. The temple is also known as Kalmadhav.
Lord Shiva was not invited to the yagna of King Daksha, and when Sati went there she found her husband insulted before everyone. She loved and respected him deeply and could not bear the insult, so she gave up her life in the sacrificial fire. When Shiva learnt of it, his anger knew no bounds, and he carried her body across the worlds. In that journey, Sati’s left breast is believed to have fallen at Sone.
Location
The Shakti Peeth is in a cave in the hills near Amarkantak, in the Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh. Amarkantak is the birthplace of three rivers – the Narmada, the Sone and the Johila – and the peeth takes its name from the Sone, which rises at Sonmuda and flows east to join the Ganga. Close by is the Amarkantak Shakti Peeth, so pilgrims can visit both on one journey.
The Goddess & Bhairava
The Goddess is worshipped as Narmada – the holy river in the form of the Divine Mother – and Lord Shiva as Bhairava is called Bhadrasen (written Vadresan in some old texts). Some traditions also call the Goddess Shonakshi, “the one with red eyes”.
People from all over India visit this holy place, many of them simply to see the sacred river at its source and to receive the blessings of the Mother.
Interesting Facts
At Sonmuda, the source of the Sone, a viewpoint at the edge of the plateau offers a spectacular view as the young river drops into the forested valley below, especially beautiful at sunrise. Legend says that the Sone and the Narmada were once to be married, but the wedding never took place, and the two rivers flow in opposite directions – the Sone to the east and the Narmada to the west.
The forests around Amarkantak are rich in medicinal plants and are part of the Achanakmar–Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve.
Festivals, Travel & When to Visit
Navaratri, Narmada Jayanti and Maha Shivaratri are the main festivals in the Amarkantak region. The nearest railhead is Pendra Road in Chhattisgarh, and the nearest major airports are Jabalpur and Raipur; buses and taxis connect Amarkantak with Anuppur and Bilaspur. The best time to visit is from October to March.