Mahalaxmi temple Kolhapur – A journey towards power
Posted On November 9, 2011
Whenever you think of Mumbai, you think of Goddess Lakshmi. Kolhapur in Maharasthra is famous for one such Mahalaxmi temple.
This Mahalaxmi temple Kolhapur is famous as one of the Shakti peethas that are situated across the county. According to the Indian puranas there are around 108 Shakti peethas that are found across India. This is where Shakti or the Goddess of power is felt. Amongst all these temples, the Mahalaxmi temple Kolhapur is a great temple and belongs to the Karveer area. This Karveer is the present day Kolhapur and is of great significance.
It is a place where you can get both fulfilled and also enlightened. This is an ultimate area for salvation and also is an extremely revered spot for Hindus. The place is more important for Hindus than even Uttar Kashi which is held as the place where one prays to Goddess Mahalaxmi.
It is believed by all Hindus that Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu live in the area of Karveer or Kolhapur always and they would never ever leave the place even during the time of the Mahaprayakala. So the place is always looked upon as an avimuktakshetra.
The region o
f Karveer is permanently blessed and is held to be protected by the Goddess Mother Jagdambe who is believed to hold the city in her right hand. Thus the area is protected from destruction.
Hindus believe that Lord Vishnu likes this place more than his permanent abode Vaikuntha or the Kshirsagar. This is because this place is the place that his consort Goddess Lakshmi really loves. Thus many sages, saints and innumerable devotees throng this region with a lot of respect and reverence.
Again the other belief is that Prabhu Shri Dattatreya comes here every afternoon asking for alms.
The Mahalaxmi temple Kolhapur has a stature of a goddess made of gemstone and is around 5000 to 6000 years old. The statue weighting around 40 kilos also has the most precious stones and gems that decorate and adorn the idol.
There is a platform on which the statue lies. This platform is constructed out of stone. The statue has four arms. There is a fruit or a matulinga on the lower right hand. It also resembles a lemon; there is a mace which she has in the upper right hand which is called the kaumodaks. The head of the mace touches the ground. Then there is a shield or khetaka which she holds in her left hand. There is a panpatra she holds in the lower hand.
There is a cobra hood on the crown that lies on the head of Goddess Mahalaxmi and she also has a Shivling which has a yoni around it. The lion stands behind the Goddess and this is her vehicle.
The Mahalaxmi temple Kolhapur has the idol facing the west. In other temples, normally the idol faces the north or the east direction. There is a small wall on the western side of the temple which is open and the rays of the sun falls on the face of the idol once a year. This period of 3 days is on the 21st of March and September. It is extremely auspicious and devotees throng to see this.
