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Ambabai Temple of Kolhapur | |
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Religion | |
Affiliation | Hinduism |
District | Kolhapur |
Deity | Mahalaxmi |
Festivals | Kirnotsav, Rathotsav, Lakshmi Puja, Lalita Panchami, Navratri, Diwali, Varalakshmi Vratham |
Governing body | Paschim Maharashtra Devasthan Samiti |
Location | |
Location | Bhavani Mandap, Mahadwar Road, Kolhapur |
State | Maharashtra |
Country | India |
Location in Maharashtra | |
Geographic coordinates | 16°42′00″N74°14′00″E / 16.70000°N 74.23333°E |
Architecture | |
Style | Hemadpanti architecture |
Creator | Karnadeva, Chalukya Empire |
Completed | 7th century CE |
Website | |
www |
Ambabai Temple (also known as Mahalakshmi Mandir) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lakshmi, who is believed to reside there as Supreme Mother Mahalakshmi along with Mahavishnu [1] and is worshipped by locals as Ambabai. Mahalakshmi is part of the Tridevi, the triumverate of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati, symbolizing the three Supreme Goddesses.
It is a customary practice among Hindus to embark on a yatra (pilgrimage) to various temples, including the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Kolhapur Mahalakshmi Temple, and Padmavathi Temple. Goddess Lakshmi is the consort of Lord Vishnu and it is customary among Hindus to visit Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Kolhapur Mahalakshmi Temple and Padmavathi Temple as a yatra (pilgrimage). These temples holds great significance as shakti peethas (where the divine goddess Shakti's cosmic power is believed to reside). It is believed that undertaking a pilgrimage to these temples can help attain Moksha (Salvation). [2]
The temple of the goddess Mahalakshmi was built by Karnadeva in 634 CE Chalukya reign. [3] Mounted on a stone platform, the murti of the crowned goddess is made of gemstone and weighs about 40 kilograms. 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. A stone lion (the vahana of the goddess), stands behind the statue. The crown contains a five headed snake. Further, she holds a Matulinga fruit, mace, shield and a pānapātra (drinking bowl). In Lakshmi Sahasranama of Skanda Purana, Goddess Lakshmi is praised as "Om Karaveera Nivasiniye Namaha" means "Glory to the Goddess who lives in Karaveera" and as "Om Sesha Vasuki Samsevyaa Namaha" means "Glory to Goddess who is served by Adi Sesha and Vasuki". They are the 119th and 698th names of Lakshmi in Lakshmi Sahasranama. This is also the description mentioned in the Rahasya of Devi Mahatmya. [4] Professor Prabhakar Malshe says, "The name of Karaveera is still locally used to denote the city of Kolhapur". [5]
The temple belongs architecturally to the Chalukya empire and was first built in the 7th century. [6] The temple is referred to in multiple Puranas. There is evidence to show that the Konkan king Kamadeo, Chalukyas, Shilahara, Yadavas of Devagiri dynasties visited this city. Adi Shankaracharya also visited. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj ruled this area and they also visited the temple regularly.
In 109 CE, Karnadeo cut off the jungle and brought the temple to light. The existence goes back to the 8th century, according to Bhandarkar and Khare.[ who? ] Itihāsa Chakra indicates that the temple dates back to Mahājanapadā times. In the 8th century, the temple sank down due to an earthquake. In the 9th century, Gandavadix (King) extended the temple by building Mahakali Mandir. During 1178–1209, in the reign of Raja Jaysing and Sindhava, South gate and Atibaleshwar Temple were built. In 1218, Yadav king Tolum built Mahadwar and offered jewels to Devi. Further, Shilaharas built Maha Sarasvati Mandir. He being a Jain, got 64 idols carved. It is possible that a new idol called Padmavati was installed at that time.Historian Paul Dundas in his book The Jains [7] mentions that Mahalaxmi temple Kolhapur was a Jain temple. [8] [9] Sheshashayee Vishnu which is an octagonal structure closer to the eastern gate has a panel of 60 Jain Tirthankaras carvings. [10] [11] Jains worshipped the idol in the temple as Padmalaya or the abode of Padma or Padmavati, an epithet of Goddess Lakshmi. [12] Further, in Chalukya times, Ganapati before the temple was installed. In the 13th century, Shankaracharya built Nagar Khana and Office, Deepmalas.
Lakshmi also known as Shri, is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism. She is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity, and associated with Maya ("Illusion"). Along with Parvati and Saraswati, she forms the Tridevi of Hindu goddesses.
Venkateshwara, Venkatachalapathi, Balaji, or Srinivasa, is a form of the Hindu deity Vishnu and is the presiding deity of the Venkateshwara Temple, located in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. Venkateshwara is also known by various other names. Lord is famous for North Indians as 'Balaji'.
Kolhapur is a city on the banks of the Panchganga River in the southern part of the Indian state of Maharashtra.
Tripura Sundari, also known as Rajarajeshvari, Shodashi, Kamakshi, and Lalita, is a Hindu goddess, revered primarily within the Shaktism tradition and recognized as one of the ten Mahavidyas. She embodies the essence of the supreme goddess Mahadevi. Central to the Shakta texts, she is widely praised in the Lalita Sahasranama and Saundarya Lahari. In the Lalitopakhyana of the Brahmanda Purana, she is referred to as Adi Parashakti.
The Shakti Pithas or the Shakti Peethas are significant shrines and pilgrimage destinations in Shaktism, the goddess-centric denomination in Hinduism. The shrines are dedicated to various forms of Adi Shakti. Various Puranas such as Srimad Devi Bhagavatam state the existence of a varying number of 51, 52, 64 and 108 Shakti Pithas of which 18 are named as Astadasha Maha (major) in medieval Hindu texts.
The Shilahara/Shelara Kingdom was a royal dynasty that established itself in northern and southern Konkan in 8th century CE, present-day Mumbai and Southern Maharashtra (Kolhapur) during the Rashtrakuta period.
Padmavati also known as Alamelu Manga is a Hindu goddess and the consort of the deity Venkateshvara, a form of Vishnu. She is described as a daughter of a local king and an avatar of goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu.
The Kamakshi Amman Temple, also known as Kamakoti Nayaki Kovil, is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Kamakshi, one of the highest aspects of Adi Parashakti, the supreme goddess in Shaktism. The temple is located in the historic city of Kanchipuram, near Chennai, India.
A kuladevata, also known as a kuladaivaṃ, is an ancestral tutelary deity in Hinduism and Jainism.
The Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple is a Hindu temple situated in the hills of Tirumala at Tirupati in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared on the earth to save mankind from trials and troubles of Kali Yuga. Hence the place has also got the name Kaliyuga Vaikuntha and the deity here is referred to as Kaliyuga Prathyaksha Daivam. The temple is also known by other names like Tirumala Temple, Tirupati Temple and Tirupati Balaji Temple. Venkateswara is known by many other names: Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa. The temple is run by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which is under control of Andhra Pradesh Government. The head of TTD is appointed by Andhra Pradesh Government. The temple is one of the Pancha Kshethram where Maha Lakshmi was born as Bhargavi - the daughter of Maharishi Bhrigu. The other four temples of the Pancha Kshethram are Sarangapani temple, Kumbakonam, Oppiliappan temple, Nachiyar Koil and Sundararaja Perumal Temple, Salem.
Karnataka, a state in South India has a long association with Jainism, a religion which enjoyed patronage of major historic kingdoms in the state such as the Rastrakuta Dynasty, Western Ganga, Kadamba and Chalukya dynasties and the Hoysala Empire. Today the state is home to a number of Jain monuments, such as temples, Gommata statues and stambhas.
Jainism in North Karnataka flourished under the Chalukyas, Kadamba, Rashtrakutas, and Vijayanagara Empire. Imbued with religious feeling, patronage was extended towards the building of Jain temple and it garnered high repute among the people, particularly the ruling classes and the mercantile community; effectively getting treated as the state religion.
Mahadevi, also referred to as Adi Parashakti, Mahamaya and Devi, is the supreme goddess in various sects of Hinduism. According to the goddess-centric sect Shaktism, all Hindu gods and goddesses are considered to be manifestations of the goddess, who is comparable to the deities Shiva and Vishnu as Para Brahman. Mahadevi as the Mulaprakriti is described having five primary forms—Durga, Lakshmi, Sarasvati, Gayatri and Radha—collectively referred to as Panchaprakriti. All other goddesses are regarded as her Amshavatara or partial incarnations.
Kopeshwar Temple is at Khidrapur, Kolhapur district, Maharashtra. It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. This temple is in Maharashtra It is also accessible from Sangli as well. It was built in the 12th century by Shilahara king Gandaraditya between 1109 and 1178 CE. It is to the east of Kolhapur, ancient & artistic on the bank of the Krishna river. Even though Silaharas were Jain kings, they built and renovated various Hindu temples, thus depicting their respect and love for all religions. Kopeshwar means angry Shiva.
Jagadamba is an epithet used to address a Hindu goddess, primarily applied to Lakshmi and Parvati in literature.
Padmavathi Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Padmavathi (Alamelumanga), the consort of Venkateswara. The temple is situated in Tiruchanur area of Tirupati city in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, India.
Sri Govindarajaswamy Temple is an ancient Hindu Vaishnavite temple situated in the heart of Tirupati city in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh in India. The temple was built during 12th century and was consecrated in the year 1130 AD by Saint Ramanuja. The temple is one of the earliest structures in Tirupati and also one of the biggest temple complexes in Tirupati district. The Tirupati city is built around this temple. The temple is currently administered by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
Three and a half Shakti Peethas are reported in Maharashtra.
The Humcha Jain temples or Humcha basadis are a group of temples found in Humcha village of Shimoga district in Karnataka, India. They were constructed in the 7th century CE in the period of the Santara dynasty and are regarded as one of the major Jain centres of Karnataka. The Padmavati Basadi is the most well-known of these temples.
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