Mahalaxmi Temple

Goddess Mahalaxmi is regarded as the mother of all the people of Kolhapur. It was build in the 7th Century. In this temple Mahalaxmi, Mahakali, MahaSaraswatiis present in the idol form. Two times in the year, the sunrays glow on Goddess up to 450 feet. People of Kolhapur live in peace because of Mahalaxmi’s blessing.

Shree Mahalaxmi Temple is one of the Shakti Peethas listed in various Puranas of Hinduism. The Shakti Peeth means a place associated with Shakti, the Goddess of Power. The temple belongs architecturally to the Chalukya Empire and may have been first build in circa 700 AD.

The idol of Mahalaxmi carved in black stone is a three feet in height. The image of the four armed and crowned Goddess made by gemstone and weight about forty kilograms. The Shree Yantra is carved on one of the walls in the temple. A stone lion, the conveyance of the Goddess Mahalaxmi, stand behind the idol. The crown contains an image of the Sheshnag, the serpent of Lord Vishnu. In her four hands, the deity of Goddess Mahalaxmi holds of symbolic value. The lower right hand holds a Mhalunga ( a citrus fruit), in the upper right, a large mace (Koumodaki) with its head touching the ground, in the upper left a shield (Khetaka) and the lower left, a bowl (Panpatra). Unlike most Hindu sacred images, which face north or east, the image of this deity looks west (Pashchim). 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. There are a number of other shrines in the courtyard to the Navagrahas, Surya, Mahishasuramardini, Vitthal-Rakhmai, Shiva, Vishnu, Tulaja Bhavani and others. Some of these images date back to the 11th century, while some are of recent origin. Also located in the courtyard is the temple tank Manikarnika Kund, on whose bank is a shrine to Visweshwar Mahadev.

Worship Structure: Five worship services offered each day. The first one is at 5 am, and it involves the waking of the deity with a Kakada Aarati, - torch, to the accompaniment of hymns. The second worship service at 8 am involves the offering of the Shodashopachara pooja consisting of 16 elements. The afternoon and evening services and the Shejaarati pooja constitute the three other services.

Special Events: A festival image of the deity has taken out in procession around the temple courtyard each Friday and on full moon days.

Navratra Festival:

Navratra (Nine Nights): This festival celebrated for ten days during the Hindu month of Ashwin (around October). All the ten days at 9.30 pm, the idol of the Goddess decorated in different forms with flowers and lights and taken out in procession in the temple complex. Various programs are arranged in ten days by Devasthan Committees. Millions of devotees comes in  these days from all over India.

Lalita Panchami (Fifth Day of the Navratra): On this day litter of Goddess Mahalaxmi, procession leaves the temple premises to visit Goddess Tryamboli’s Temple, which is at a short distance from the main temple in Kolhapur.

Ashtami (Eight day of the Navratra): On this day, the silver palanquin is placed on a throne and it taken around the town in procession from Mahadwar road, Gujri-Bhausinghji road, Bhavani Mandap (where distinguished people honor the goddess with betel leaves and betel nut. She is also offered Oti (comprising golden-bordered blouse piece, coconut, bangles, sweets and token money), Guru Maharaj wada, Shri Binkhanbi Ganesh (where Lord Ganesh worshipped) and back to the Mahadwar Road and to the temple.

Kiranotsav (Sunrays): This festival celebrated when the sunrays fall directly on the deity’s idol at the time of sunset on the following days:

31st January and 9th November: Sun rays fall directly on the foot of deity.

1st February and 10thNovenber: Sunrays fall directly on the chest of the deity.

2nd February and 11th November: Sunrays fall directly on the entire body of the deity.

Rathotsav (Chariot Festival): This festival is organized in April. The chariot bearing the silver representation of the Goddess Mahalaxmi decorated with flowers and lights. It has taken out in a procession in the evening from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm. The devotees can pay their respects to the Goddess when the procession arrives at the main entrance of the temple, Huge Rangoli (floor paintings) drawn along the path of the procession and fireworks add to the festivities. Several devotees flock to participate in this event.