Pitha

(“bench”) In its widest meaning, the
base or foundation of any object. It can
denote the material base or foundation
upon which the image of a deity is
placed. In some cases the foundation
becomes an integral part of the image
itself, as in the linga, the pillar-shaped
object that is the symbol of the god
Shiva. The form of the linga, an upright
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Pitha
shaft set in a horizontal base, represents,
not only the union of male and female,
but also their transcendence, since
Shiva is both male and female at once.
At a more symbolic level, a pitha can be
the “seat” or residence of a particular
deity, that is, the place at which the deity
metaphorically sits. The best example of
this is the Shakti Pithas, a network of
sites sacred to the Goddess, spread
throughout the subcontinent. Each
Shakti Pitha marks the site where a body
part of the dismembered goddess Sati
fell to earth, taking up residence in each
place as a different goddess.