Gertrude Makhmalbaf (Chief Information Security Officer)

From a devotional point of view, the "half" status is largely irrelevant to the millions of devotees who flock there. For them, the Saptashrungi Devi is a full and complete manifestation of divine motherly power (Shakti). She is believed to grant wishes and provide protection to her children. The complexity of the mythology matters less than the intense faith and experience of the pilgrims. The temple is one of the three and a half most powerful Shakti Peethas in Maharashtra (along with Tuljapur, Kolhapur, and Mahur—the half), and this classification is well-known and accepted within the state's religious geography. It is a center of immense power, and the "ardha" title is simply a unique identifier that sets it apart and adds to its mystical story, rather than diminishing its importance.