Deities of India - Mahalaxmi of Kolhapur

The Shri Kolhapur Mahalakshmi Temple is located in the Kolhapur city of Maharashtra on the banks of the Panchganga River, about 156 miles south of Pune. 

The deity Goddess Mahalakshmi here is also referred to as “Ambabai” by several communities and hence the temple is also known as Shri Kollur Ambabai Temple. 

The temple is referred to appear in multiple Puranas of Hinduism. The temple is of extreme religious significance and is considered to be the most sacred abode of goddess Lakshmi in the world, making it the one and only, number one pilgrimage centers dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. Let’s explore the temple for its most precious history, traditions and much more.

History

History of the temple rolls down to a fight between Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi in the Vaikuntha. When a sage named Bhrigumuni kicks Lord Vishnu on his chest, and Lord Vishnu, of course, being the supreme and the eternal controller of all does not retaliate or curse the sage on his wicked gesture but in turn greets him with great hospitality and ensures that his foot is not aching as he had kicked him real hard. Vishnu then tells Bhrigu that his chest is strong but his foot might not be very strong and hence starts pressing his foot to provide comfort to the sage.

Goddess Lakshmi witnessing all of this, unable to bear the insult to her husband, grows extremely furious as Vishnu’s chest is where she resides. In spite of the muni disrespecting her, Lord Vishnu puts up a kind, gentle decorum which was disliked by Lakshmi who then decides to leave Vaikhunta and come down to earth. The place where she came down to earth from Vaikhunta is the very Kolhapur, where she lived and decided to stay forever to bless all her countless devotees who visit her then, now and forever.

Having a glimpse of the deity of the temple, Goddess Mahalakshmi ‘s beautiful idol will leave you not taking your eyes off it!  

The idol is considered to be at least 5000 to 6000 years old. Mounted on a stone platform, the idol 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 an image of the Sheshnag the serpent of Vishnu.

In her four hands, the deity of Mahalakshmi holds objects of symbolic value. The lower right-hand holds a Mhatulinga (a citrus fruit), in the upper right is a large Mace or Gadha called the Kaumodaki – with its head facing the ground, in the upper left hand is a Shield or Khetaka and in the lower left, a bowl called the Panpatra. Unlike most Hindu sacred idols, which face north or east, the deity faces West. 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 every year.