Pay Your Homage at the Kolhapur Mahalakshmi Shakti Peetha
The next weekend, you could be at the Mahalakshmi temple of Kolhapur. This is one of the most important religious places in the state. The Kolhapur Mahalakshmi temple is a Shakti Peetha according to many ancient Hindu puranas. It is believed that every Hindu should visit this temple at least once in his or her life – it is a must. Mahalakshmi is the Goddess of Prosperity. Locally however, Mahalakshmi is known as Amba Bai. It is believed that this is one of the six places where a person can achieve salvation, or get all his wishes fulfilled. It has holds special significance for the Hindus. A procession with image of the deity is taken out every Friday. It goes around the temple courtyard every Friday.
So if you have an unfulfilled wish, you now know where to visit to offer your prayers. Your wish is sure to come true, just like thousands others.
History of the temple goes back a long time. Some people believe that it was first constructed in 700 AD during the time of the Chalukya dynasty. That makes it more than 1300 years old. It is dedicated to Mahalakshmi, who is the consort of Vishnu. The divine couple stays in the region. All major dynasties who have ruled this region have patronized the deity and temple. The Mahalakshmi of Kolhapur is also often referred to as Dakshin Kashi.
Mahalakshmi Temple for Architecture Lovers
Students of architecture will love the Mahalakshmi temple as well. The architectural style you will see here is known as Hemandpanthi. It goes back a long time. In the walls of the temple you will see exquisite sculptures and carvings. Take time to go through them carefully. It is a study of history as well. There is a main hall and five towers within the temple complex. The idol is unique too. It weighs 40 kg. The monolithic structure has precious diamonds and stones embedded.
Naturally, there is a lot of security here. The security is in charge of managing the crowd as well. Thousands of devotees visit the temple on a busy day. The crowd swells even more during festival days. A major festival held at the Mahalakshmi temple in Kolhapur is Kiranotsav. This is celebrated for three days from January 31st. Another important festival is Navarathri in the month of October.
The temple is located within the city of Kolhapur. You will be able to reach the complex easily.
