Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur –
History
The Temple was hidden among the
forests unknown to the outside world. Eventually, the Konkan King Karnadeo cleared
the forest and discovered the Temple’s existence in 109 AD. The temple was
believed to be built by Chalukyan dynasty in the 7th century CE. However,
an earthquake in the 8th century destroyed most of the ancient
structure. Some portions survived and can be seen till date. King Gandaraditya
of the Shilahara dynasty (11th century) built the circumbulatory. He
also built the two shrines dedicated to Goddess Mahakali and Maha Saraswathi.
It is believed that the
Matulinga installed on the second level of the main sanctum was installed
during the Yadava reign. It is believed that Adi Shankaracharya visited this
Temple. The Southern gate & Adibaleshwar Temple were built during the reign
of Raja Jaysing & Sindhava (1178 – 1209 CE). Yadav King Tolum built
Mahadwar and offered jewels to Devi in1218 CE. The Kurma Mandap and the Ganapati
Chowk is believed to have been built by the Yadava dynasty.
This temple had fallen out of
worship and the image of the Goddess was housed elsewhere after 12th
Century CE due to Muslim invasions. During the rule of Sambhaji (1712–1792), Narhar
Bhat Shastri had a dream about the location of idol to Sambhaji. Sambhaji
started a search believing Shastri dream. The idol was found in a house in
Kapila Teertha Market in the city. According to Sambhaji's letter dated 8
November 1723, Sindhoji Hindurao Ghorpade of Panhala installed the idol again
on 26 September 1712 (Monday, Ashwin Vijaya Dashami). Then on, Kolhapur became
famous.
The Garuda Mandap was built
under Daji Pandit between 1838 – 1843. The Eastern entrance of the Temple
Complex has an inscription dating back to the Maratha reign in the 18th
century. It states that renovation work was carried out by the Dabhade and the
Gaikwads who were ruling the area at that time. In 1941, Shrimant Jahagirdar
Babasaheb Ghatge installed the idols of the nine planets in the Navagraha
Temple. The deity began to deteriorate due to Abhishekas. Shankaracharya of
Sankeshwar got it repaired.
It was again installed at the
hands of Kolhapur Shahaji Raje in 1954. The five domes or spires were
constructed comparatively recently by Sri Shankaracharya of Sankeshwar in the
19th century. The Temple is currently managed / administered by
Devasthan Management Committee, Western Maharashtra, Kolhapur appointed by law
and judicial department Bombay, Govt. of Maharashtra. It's Govt. Notification
Registration no. is KA 1493.
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