As per the mythological tale, Lord Shiva was married to Goddess Sati, the daughter of King Daksh Prajapati. When the lord was insulted in a Yagya organised by the king, Sati chose to self-immolate herself and ended her life. Flamed with fury, Lord Shiva picked up her corpse and commenced his Tandav, sending tremors across Earth. Seeing this, Lord Vishnu came to the rescue and cut Sati’s body into 51 pieces with his Sudarshan Chakra. The different parts of her body fell on different spots on Earth turning them into Shaktipeeths. It is believed that Alopi Devi Temple is the place where Sati’s right hand, the last part of her body fell and disappeared. The temple gets its name from this disappearance and the temple is one of the 18 Maha-Shaktipeeths mentioned in Devi Bhagwatam.

The holy thread called Rakshasutra, which is tied on the hands acquires much importance at this temple. Besides protecting against evils, it also carries the power to grant all wishes. Further, the worshippers believe that the water in the well carries magical healing properties. The temple witnesses large counts of devotees on Tuesdays and Fridays and the Navratri festival is observed with a host of celebrations here.

The temple reflects the ‘Nagara’ type of architecture, starting with a majestic entry gate and leading to a purified central spot. The deity is symbolized by a suspended cradle on an elevated platform, below which lies a small well. It is believed that Sati’s right hand fell at this spot. If you happen to visit, you will be enchanted by the look of the cradle which is covered with red cloth.

Amongst the many things offered to the invisible deity, flowers become a part and parcel of the worship. Married women offer Sindoor to the Goddess and wish for endless fortune. Also, the adherents perform Parikrama by circumambulating the divine spot.