Mahalakshmi temple kolhapur is situated inKolhapur Maharashtra India . It is one of the Shaktipitha among the India also known as the Dakshin Kashi . It is listed in various Puranas of Hinduism . According to Puranas Shaktipeeth means place of Godess of Power. It is believed that this is the place where some one can fullfill his or her desires or obtain salvation from thems .
The Karavira Mahatmya states that Vishnu resides in the form of Mahalakshmi at Kolhapur. Legend has it that Kolhasura, a demon that tormented the Gods and other beings, was destroyed by Mahalakshmi here at Karavira, and that the spot of his death became a thirtha and that she took abode here in a shrine which constitutes the temple today. (Legend also has it that Parvati - Kolhambika destroyed the demon Kolhasura at Tryambakeshwar).
Although several parts of the temple are of the second half of the second millennium CE, epigraphic references place the deity in the 7th century CE, and the temple in the 10th century CE. For a period in the interim, this temple had fallen out of worship and the image of the Goddess was housed elsewhere. Worship was restored in the year 1715 after the Marathas rose to power.
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History of Mahalaxmi temple
The temple belongs , architecturally , to the kannada Chalukya empire , and may have been first build circa 700 AD. The Image of goddess is made from Gemstone and weight about 40 KG . The Idol of Mahalakshmi is made from black stone is 3 feet of height . There is also Shriyantra carved on one of the walls in the temple . The Idol of lion which is Vahan of the goddess is standing behind the statue .
The crown contains an image of the Sheshnag —
the serpent of Vishnu. In Her four hands, the deity of Mahalakshmi
holds objects of symbolic value. The lower right hand holds a mhalunga
(a citrus fruit), in the upper right, a large mace (kaumodaki) with its
head touching the ground, in the upper left a shield (khetaka), and in
the lower left, a bowl (panpatra).
Unlike most Hindu sacred images, which face
north or east, the image of this deity looks west (Pashchim). There is a
small open window on the western wall, through which the light of the
setting sun falls on the face of the image for three days around the
21st of each March and September.
Legends of Mahalaxmi mandir Kolhapur
The Karavira Mahatmya states that Vishnu resides in the form of Mahalakshmi at Kolhapur. Legend has it that Kolhasura, a demon that tormented the Gods and other beings, was destroyed by Mahalakshmi here at Karavira, and that the spot of his death became a thirtha and that she took abode here in a shrine which constitutes the temple today. (Legend also has it that Parvati - Kolhambika destroyed the demon Kolhasura at Tryambakeshwar).
History
Although several parts of the temple are of the second half of the second millennium CE, epigraphic references place the deity in the 7th century CE, and the temple in the 10th century CE. For a period in the interim, this temple had fallen out of worship and the image of the Goddess was housed elsewhere. Worship was restored in the year 1715 after the Marathas rose to power.
The Temple
The main entrance Mahadwara of the temple is the western entrance. Upon entering the Mahadwara one is confronted with several deepamaalas on either side, and enters the Garuda mandap with square pillars and foliated arches of wood, characteristic of Maratha temples. This mandap dates back to the 18th century. An image of garuda faces the sanctum. Another stone mandap, on a raised platform enshrining Ganesh, also faces the sanctum. Following this is the mandap with three shrines facing west. The central one is that of Mahalakshmi and the two on either side are those of Mahakali and Mahasaraswathi.
The temple complex exhibits mortarless construction echoing the style of the early Deccan temples. Also to be noted here are the horizontal mouldings and the vertical offsets which create a rich light and shade pattern. Also seen in this temple is a rich display of sculpture of figurines in dancing poses, musicians, gods and goddesses. The three sancta have rather simple shikharas of brick and mortar dating back to the 19th century.
The image of Mahalakshmi carved in black stone is 3 feet in height. The Shri yantra is carved on one of the walls in the temple. The sanctum is designed such that once a year, the setting rays of the sun fall on the face of the image of Mahalakshmi for a period of 3 days in the months of Pisces and Leo.
Above the Mahalakshmi sanctum is a shrine with a Shivalingam and a nandi. The devakoshtas house Venkatesha, Katyayani and Gowri Shankar - facing the north, east and the south. There are a number of subsidiary shrines in the courtyard to the Navagrahas, Surya, Mahishasuramardini, Vitthal-Rakhmai, Shiva, Vishnu, Tulja Bhavani and others. Some of these images date back to the 11th century, while some are of recent origin. Also located in the courtyard is the temple tank Manikarnika Kund, on whose bank is a shrine to Visweshwar Mahadev.
The temple complex exhibits mortarless construction echoing the style of the early Deccan temples. Also to be noted here are the horizontal mouldings and the vertical offsets which create a rich light and shade pattern. Also seen in this temple is a rich display of sculpture of figurines in dancing poses, musicians, gods and goddesses. The three sancta have rather simple shikharas of brick and mortar dating back to the 19th century.
The image of Mahalakshmi carved in black stone is 3 feet in height. The Shri yantra is carved on one of the walls in the temple. The sanctum is designed such that once a year, the setting rays of the sun fall on the face of the image of Mahalakshmi for a period of 3 days in the months of Pisces and Leo.
Above the Mahalakshmi sanctum is a shrine with a Shivalingam and a nandi. The devakoshtas house Venkatesha, Katyayani and Gowri Shankar - facing the north, east and the south. There are a number of subsidiary shrines in the courtyard to the Navagrahas, Surya, Mahishasuramardini, Vitthal-Rakhmai, Shiva, Vishnu, Tulja Bhavani and others. Some of these images date back to the 11th century, while some are of recent origin. Also located in the courtyard is the temple tank Manikarnika Kund, on whose bank is a shrine to Visweshwar Mahadev.
Worship
Five worship services are offered each day here. The first one is at 5 am, and it involves the waking of the deity with a Kakada - torch, to the accompaniment of hymns. The second worship service at 8 am involves the offeirng of the Shodashopachara pooja consisting of 16 elements. The afternoon and evening services and the Shejaarati pooja constitute the three other services.
A festival image of the deity is taken out in procession around the temple courtyard each Friday, and on full moon days.
A festival image of the deity is taken out in procession around the temple courtyard each Friday, and on full moon days.
Mahalaxmi temple timings
4.00 a.m. Opening of the Temple Entrance Gate.
4.00 a.m. to 4.30 a.m Ghantanaad (Ringing of the bell)
4.45 a.m. Opening of Main Door by the High Priest (Hakkadar Pujari) for that day.
5.30 a.m. Padhya Pooja (Washing the feet of the idol Goddess Mahalaxmi by Milk.)
5.45 a.m. Kakada Aarati of the Goddess Mahalaxmi.
8.30 a.m. Ghantanaad (Ringing of the bell) and Snan Abhishek (Bathing of the main idol. Goddess Mahalaxmi)
9.30 a.m. Aarati and Shankh Trith
11.30 a.m. Ghantanaad and Abhishek (Milk Bathing of the main idol. Goddess Mahalaxmi)
12.30 to 1.00 p.m. Aarati and Shankh Tirth
1.30 to 2.30 p.m. Alankar Pooja. Salankruti
(i.e. Goddess is decorated with beautiful Gold ornaments, Sari and Blouse) This Pooja is kept upto 8.30 p.m. in the evening
8.00 p.m. Ghantanaad (Ringing of the bell)
8.15 p.m. Aarati
8.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. Mantrapushp and removing the Alankar (Gold ornaments.) and simple Pooja is performed
10.00 p.m. Ghantanaad (Ringing of the bell)
10.15 p.m. Shejarati (Last Aarti of the day.)
10.30 p.m. Temple's Doors are closed.
4.00 a.m. to 4.30 a.m Ghantanaad (Ringing of the bell)
4.45 a.m. Opening of Main Door by the High Priest (Hakkadar Pujari) for that day.
5.30 a.m. Padhya Pooja (Washing the feet of the idol Goddess Mahalaxmi by Milk.)
5.45 a.m. Kakada Aarati of the Goddess Mahalaxmi.
8.30 a.m. Ghantanaad (Ringing of the bell) and Snan Abhishek (Bathing of the main idol. Goddess Mahalaxmi)
9.30 a.m. Aarati and Shankh Trith
11.30 a.m. Ghantanaad and Abhishek (Milk Bathing of the main idol. Goddess Mahalaxmi)
12.30 to 1.00 p.m. Aarati and Shankh Tirth
1.30 to 2.30 p.m. Alankar Pooja. Salankruti
(i.e. Goddess is decorated with beautiful Gold ornaments, Sari and Blouse) This Pooja is kept upto 8.30 p.m. in the evening
8.00 p.m. Ghantanaad (Ringing of the bell)
8.15 p.m. Aarati
8.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. Mantrapushp and removing the Alankar (Gold ornaments.) and simple Pooja is performed
10.00 p.m. Ghantanaad (Ringing of the bell)
10.15 p.m. Shejarati (Last Aarti of the day.)
10.30 p.m. Temple's Doors are closed.
