Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Jai Ambey Ma !!
Sri
Mahalakshmi Temple is one of the 51 Shakthi Sthalam/Shakthi Peedam located on
the river banks of Pancha Ganga which is positioned on the Sahyadri Mountain
Range in Kolhapur District, Maharashtra.
This is one of the oldest temples of Shakthi built during the 12th
century by the Kings of Chalukya Dynasty.
This temple is famous for its exquisite architectural and sculptural work. There are four entrances to this temple known
as Maha Dwar/Paschim Dwar, Uttar Dwar, Purva Dwar and Dakshin Dwar
respectively. This temple also enshrines
Lord Athibaleshwar /Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesha, Lord Vittal, and
Lord Dattathreya. It is considered that
dharshan of Lord Balaji of Tirumala is incomplete without visiting the temple
of Goddess Sri Mahalakshami/Ambabai in Kolhapur.
Presiding deity – Sri Mahalakshmi/Ambabai
Theertham – Manikarnika Kund
Sthalavruksham - Banyan
Sannidhis – Lord Ganesha, Lord Nandikeshwara, Linga,
Goddess Sri Mahakali, Goddess Sri Maha Saraswathy, Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi,
Navagraha, Lord Surya, Vittal Rukmayi, Goddess Sri Mahishasura Mardhini, Lord
Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Tulja Bhavani, Vishveshwar Mahadev, Goshtamurtham –
Lord Balaji, Goddess Karthyayani, Gouri Shankar,
Festivals
– Car Festival/Rathostav in the month of April, Navaratri, Kiranotsav, Diwali
The
legend has that Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi defeated the demon Kolhasura and his
pride. He turned out a devotee of
Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi and a built a temple to worship. The most pleased Goddess blessed Kolhasura
and declared that the sacred land would be known after his name. Thus, this place has got its name ‘Kolhapur’.
Another legend has
that there was a time the Mount Himalaya and its surroundings were under the
abstract control of the demons. They
harassed the life of deities and sages, they all appealed to Lord Vishnu. As instructed by Lord Vishnu, all the
spiritual energies of the deities turned into a flame and as desired by the
deities and Sages Goddess Sri Sati was rose from the flame and she was brought
up by Daksha Prajapathi. Later, she married to
Lord Shiva against the will of her father.
A Grand Yagna was conducted
by Dakshaprajapathi ended in disaster, his own daughter Goddess Sri Sati had to
sacrifice her life in the sacrificial fire. This catastrophic incident brought
trepidation amongst the deities. Inconsolable Lord Shiva carried the lifeless
body of Goddess Sri Sati and wandered on the Earth for several years. The
functions of Trinities to protect the Universe were shattered. All the deities
were frightened about the terrible consequences and appealed to Lord Vishnu.
Lord Vishnu’ dice chopped off the lifeless body of Goddess Sri Sati into
several parts to diffuse the grief of Lord Shiva and each part fell into the
different parts of the Earth. The places where the body parts of Goddess Sri
Sati fallen on the Earth were turned into ‘Shakthi Sthal/Shakthi Peedam’. This
is the sacred place where the eyes of Goddess Sri Sati has fallen on the Earth.
This
temple remains open from 4.30 AM to 1.30 PM in the mornings and 4.00PM to
8.00PM in the evenings.
Jai Ambey Ma !!
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
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