Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur

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Ambabai Temple of Mahalaxmi
Mahalaxmi Temple, Kolhapur.jpg
Religion
Affiliation Hinduism
District Kolhapur
Deity Mahalakshmi
Festivals
Governing bodyPaschim Maharashtra Devasthan Samiti
Location
LocationBhavani Mandap, Mahadwar Road, Kolhapur
State Maharashtra
Country India
India Maharashtra location map.svg
Om symbol.svg
Location in Maharashtra
Coordinates 16°42′00″N74°14′00″E / 16.70000°N 74.23333°E / 16.70000; 74.23333
Architecture
Style Hemadpanti architecture
CreatorKarnadeva, Chalukya Empire
Completed7th century CE
Website
www.mahalaxmikolhapur.com

Mahalakshmi Temple (also known as Ambabai Mandir) is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Mahalakshmi, who is worshipped by locals as Ambabai. Goddess Mahalakshmi Ambabai 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). [1] [2] [3] It is believed that visiting these temples as a pilgrimage helps achieve moksha (salvation). [4]

Contents

Description

Shri Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur. Mahalakshmi temple, Kolahpur.JPG
Shri Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur.

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. Furthermore, 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. [5] Professor Prabhakar Malshe says, "The name of Karaveera is still locally used to denote the city of Kolhapur". [6] It is considered one of the three and a half Shaktipeetha’s in the Shakta tradition. [7]

History

According to one account, the temple of the goddess Mahalakshmi was built by the Chalukya king Karnadeva in 634 CE. [8] Another account dates it to the Shilahara period. [9] [10]

The central icon of the goddess Mahalaxmi of Kolhapur.jpg
The central icon of the goddess

But historians belives that Originally temple was built by Shilaharas [11] [12] possibly being a Jains they built Jain temple [13] [14] and got 64 idols carved. later converted from Jainism to Shaivism it was originally a Jain temple and idol called yakshini Padmāvatī [15] [16] was installed or the tirthankara Chandraprabha. [17] [18] [19] Historian Paul Dundas in his book "The Jains" [20] mentions that Mahalaxmi temple Kolhapur was a Jain temple. [21] [22] Sheshashayee Vishnu which is an octagonal structure closer to the eastern gate has a panel of 60 Jain Tirthankaras carvings. and it is also believed to have been originally dedicated to the tirthankara Neminath. [23] [24] Furthermore, Before the 13th century, it was known as a Jain temple, Around 13th Century goddes Mahalaxmi was installed here. [25]

References

  1. ↑ Jadhav, Ajit R. (12 July 2021). “Proudh Gandharva” & Sons. Ultimate Associates 19, Vikas Colony, Trimbak Road Nashik-422007. ISBN   978-81-948184-5-8.
  2. ↑ Manjunath.R (24 July 2020). GOD: Beyond the Veil of the Cosmos. Manjunath.R.
  3. ↑ Balasubramanian, Lalitha (30 August 2017). Temples in Maharashtra: A Travel Guide. Notion Press. ISBN   978-1-947697-88-1.
  4. ↑ Stephen Knapp (1 January 2009). Spiritual India Handbook. Jaico Publishing House. p. 169. ISBN   9788184950243.
  5. ↑ "Temple History – Mahalaxmi" . Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  6. ↑ Prabhakar T. Malshe (1974). Kolhapur: A Study in Urban Geography. University of Poona. p. 3.
  7. ↑ Mittal, Sumeeti (16 April 2024). Shiv Shakti. Notion Press. ISBN   979-8-89322-723-9.
  8. ↑ Amar Nath Khanna (2003). Pilgrim Shrines of India. Aryan Books International. p. 141. ISBN   9788173052385.
  9. ↑ Gopal, B.R. The Silaharas of Western India. Dharwad: Karnataka University, 1973, pp. 95–97.
  10. ↑ Deshpande, M.N. "Shilaharas of Kolhapur." Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bombay, Vol. 45, 1970, pp. 85–87.
  11. ↑ Desai, P.B. A History of Karnataka: From Pre-history to Unification. Dharwad: Kannada Research Institute, 1980, p. 186.
  12. ↑ Kamath, Suryanath U. A Concise History of Karnataka. Bangalore: MCC, 2001, p. 88.
  13. ↑ Jain, Kailash Chand. Jainism in Western India. Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal, 2005, pp. 112–113.
  14. ↑ Ritti, S. Jain Monuments of South India. Bangalore: Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, 1990, p. 53.
  15. ↑ R. Gopal (2011). Jainism Through the Ages. Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Karnataka. p. 179.
  16. ↑ "Jains - The Gazetteers Department - KOLHAPUR". Government of Maharashtra. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013.
  17. ↑ Paul Dundas (2002). The Jains (2nd ed.). London: Routledge. p. 129. ISBN   0-203-39827-0. OCLC   252916273.
  18. ↑ Titze, Kurt & Bruhn, Klaus. Jainism: A Pictorial Guide to the Religion of Non-Violence. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1998, p. 62.
  19. ↑ Singh, Upinder. A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India. Delhi: Pearson, 2008, p. 563.
  20. ↑ Dundas, Paul, 1952- (2002). The Jains (2nd ed.). London: Routledge. ISBN   0-203-39827-0. OCLC   252916273.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ↑ Dundas, Paul (2002). The Jains. Psychology Press. ISBN   978-0-415-26606-2.
  22. ↑ Kumara Choudhry. The Jains Library of Religious Beliefs And Practices Paul Dundas Routledge.
  23. ↑ Goyal, Anuradha (10 June 2019). "Mahalakshmi Temple - Jewel Among Kolhapur Temples". Inditales. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  24. ↑ Administrator. "Inside Temples". www.mahalaxmikolhapur.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  25. ↑ Epigraphia Indica, Vol. 28, Archaeological Survey of India, 1956, pp. 159–160.
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