When the vibrations of the frenzied "Rudhra-thandav" of Mahadeva with the body of Dakshayani in 'yoga-agni' on his shoulders, threatened to destroy the universe Sri Narayana dismembered the devi's body into pieces with his 'sudharsanam' to seperate 'Sakthi' from 'Sivam'. The force of this widely scattered the parts of her body in 108 different places. Each one of these became a holy 'Devi-sthal'. Only 51 are known now.

' 51 Abodes of Devi ' for an exposition on each