MAHALAXMI TEMPLE.

MAHALAXMI TEMPLE

Ø     The Shri Mahalakshmi Temple of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, India, is one of the Shakti Peethas listed in various puranas of Hinduism.

Ø     According to these writings, a Shakti Peetha is a place associated with Shakti, the goddess of power. The Kolhapur Shakti Peetha is of special religious significance being one of the six places where it is believed that one can either obtain salvation from desires or have them fulfilled.

Ø     The temple takes its name from Mahalakshmi, the consort of Vishnu, and it is believed that the divine couple  reside in the area.

Ø     The temple belongs politically to the Kannada Chalukya empire and may have been first built in circa 700 AD.

Ø     Mounted on a stone platform, the image of the four armed and crowned goddess is made of gemstone and weighs about 40 kilograms.

Ø     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.

Ø      A stone lion, the vahana of the goddess, stands behind the statue. The crown contains an image of the Sheshnag — the serpent of Vishnu.

Ø     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  with its head touching the ground, in the upper left a shield, and in the lower left, a bowl.

Ø     Unlike most Hindu sacred images, which face north or east, the image of this deity looks west.

Ø     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. This phenomenon is celebrated as “KIRAN UTSAV”

Ø      There are a number of other shrines in the courtyard to the Navagrahas, Surya, Mahishasuramardini, Vitthal-Rakhmai, Shiva, Vishnu, Tulja Bhavani and others.

Ø     Some of these images date back to the 11th century, while some are of recent origin.

Ø     Also located in the courtyard is the temple tank Manikarnika Kund, on whose bank is a shrine to Visweshwar Mahadev.

Worship Structure

Ø     Five worship services are offered each day. The first one is at 5 am, and it involves the waking of the deity with a Kakada - torch, to the accompaniment of hymns.

Ø     The second worship service at 8 am involves the offering of the Shodashopachara pooja consisting of 16 elements.

Ø     The afternoon and evening services and the Shejaarati pooja constitute the three other services.

Special Events

Ø     A festival image of the deity is taken out in procession around the temple courtyard each Friday, and on full moon days.

Festival

Ø     It is not surprising that even the rays of a setting sun pay homage to Goddess Mahalakshmi as the life of human being revolves around illumination and prosperity.

Ø     But it is the wonder of wise architects who built the temple of Mahalakshmi at kolhapur that the rays of the setting Sun, bow at the feet of the Goddess through a window, for a while before vanishing.

Ø     This special event is celebrated by thousands of people as ‘KiranUtsav’.

Ø     Every year this festival is celebrated on the following days at evening: 31 January 1 February 2 February 9 November 10 November 11 November.

Ø     It is said that Sun god gives respect to Mahalaxmi for three days in a year. This will be on the occasion of RathaSaptami which will be somewhere in January every year. This will be for 3 days.

Ø     The first day, ray falls on the feet, on second day, on the middle portion of the deity and on the third day on the face.

Ø     It is the architect's excellence, which is been done more than 1000 years ago, can still be observed.

Ø     Later during the time of Peshwas, the temple was repaired. Though, many invasions over this part of India has caused some damages of the beautiful idols, which are all around the temple.

Ø     Shri Mahalaxmi Temple, in Kolhapur, is dedicated to the Goddess of prosperity, Mahalaxmi, locally known as Goddess Amba Bai.

Ø     The temple was constructed during the reign of King Karandev of Chalukya dynasty in 7th century AD.

Ø     Visit the temple to witness the opulent example of architectural style known as ‘Hemandpanthi’ in ancient India.

Ø     The walls of the temple complex are adorned with exquisite carvings and many sculptures.

Ø     The temple complex consists of five towers and a main hall. The idol of Mahalaxmi is very unique and is constructed as a monolithic structure embedded with precious stones and diamonds.   

Ø     Hemadpanthi Sculpture is an architectural form or a style, which is named after its introducer and founder, the prime minister named Hemadpant in the court of Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri.

Ø     The period of discovery was during the 13^th Century in Maharashtra. Main ingredients in the construction include the black stone and lime, which is locally available.

Ø     This style is well known by its creator's name. There are many descriptions found about the available structures of Hemadpanthi style.

Ø     Among this famous Gondeshwar Temple, Tulja Bhavani and Aundha Nagnath Jyotirling temple are considered as classical examples of the style.