Katyayani Devi - Sakthi Peetham

The Shiv Puran mentions that "Dakshprajapati" father of Goddess Sati, (consort of Lord Shiva), organized a big Yagna in which he did not invite Lord Shiva. When Sati learned that Lord Shiva was insulted she jumped into the fire. This enraged Lord Shiva who took the burning body of Sati on his shoulders and performed the Tandav dance (dance of destruction). According to the legend when Lord Vishnu saw mass destruction all around he tried to normalize Lord Shiva and cut the burning body of Sati into pieces with his Chakra (Mace). It is said that the various spots where parts of Devi Sati fell became Shakti Peeth Sthans. There are supposed to be 108 such Sthanas, out of which only 51 are known today. It is stated that the hair of Goddess Sati fell in Vrindavan and that spot is known as Katyayani Peeth. 

The Arya Shashtra Adya Stotra mentions "Brijay Katyayani" para, meaning that in Brij, where Vrindavan is situated, Goddess Katyayani is the deity for worship. Shrimad Bhagavad Purana mentions that Lord Vishnu directed “Yogamaya”, his ’Shakti’, to appear in Brij as the daughter of Nandbaba and Yashoda before He himself was to be born there as Krishna avatar for the establishment of Dharma “righteousness” in this world.

The Gopis of Vrindavan worshiped the Goddess Katyayani on the banks of the Yamuna at the Peethshan to get her blessings for having Lord Krishna as their consort. Goddess Katyayani blessed them and they attained the supreme state of devotion and performed "Maharasa" (Krishna consciousness)