Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur – The Temple

Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur – The Temple

This is west facing Temple follows Hemadpanthi style architecture. The main temple is surrounded by a pentagonal shaped stone wall. The open space between the wall and the main building is paved with stone slabs. The boundary wall has four entrances on four sides. The Mahadwar, the main entrance is on the west side of the complex.

It is believed that the Mahadwaar was built by Sri Adi Shankaracharya himself. Several Deepamalas can be found immediately after the Mahadwar. Nagarkhana is situated at an elevation adjoining the Mahadwar. It is a wooden structure having the musical instruments that are played during Aarti time and other major occasions. The ancient Kitchen is situated above the drum-chamber.

The current kitchen is at the ground level next to the Nagarkhana. The entrance on the eastern side called Purva Darwaja has an inscription dating back to the Maratha period of 18^th century stating that it was renovated by Army chiefs, Trimbak Dabhade, Yashwantrao Dabhade, Bhairavjirao Gaikwad and Bhagwanrao Gaikwad.

Garuda Mandapa:

Garuda Mandapa is the outermost hall, constructed during the administration of Daji Pandit between 1838 and 1843. The Mandapa is embellished with square pillars and foliated arches of wood, characteristic of Maratha temples. An image of Garuda, the vahana of Vishnu faces the sanctum.

Ganpati Chowk:

Ganpati Chowk Hall can be found after Garuda Mandapa. It has a Ganapati Shrine in the centre. Idols of Sage Agasti and his wife Lopamudra can be found on the either side of the shrine. There is a beautiful sculpture of Uma Maheshwar (Lord Shiva with Parvati) on external wall of this hall on northern side. Idols of Lord Venkateshwara and Goddess Katyayini can be found in the eastern niche. Kurma Mandap and Ganpati Chowk were built by King Singhan of the Yadava Dynasty. 

Ranga Mandapa:

Ranga Mandapa consists of two parts namely Darshan Mandapa and Kurma Mandapa. Dwarapalakas Jaya and Vijaya can be found at the entrance of Ranga Mandapa. Darshan Mandapa is the closest Mandapa from where the idol of the Goddess can be viewed at the closest. The ceiling of this hall is made up of octagonal layers. 

Kurma Mandapa has a Kurma (tortoise) installed in the centre. Hence, the Mandapa came to be called as Kurma Mandapa. This Mandapa is now called as Shankha Tirtha Mandapa because the holy water called Tirtha is sprinkled on the devotees from the Shankha (conch) in this hall. The ceiling of this hall is intricately carved. Both the halls have several pillars with sculpted patterns.

Sanctum:

Maha Lakshmi is housed in the sanctum. She is facing west. The Idol is mounted on a stone platform. The Idol is made of gemstones and weighs about 40 kilograms. It weighs about 40 kilos. The precious stones that adorn the deity indicate the antiquity of the deity. The idol of Maha Lakshmi carved in black stone is 3 feet in height. She is in standing posture. She is having four hands.

The lower right hand holds a mhalunga (a citrus fruit), in the upper right, a large mace (Kaumodaki) with its head touching the ground, in the upper left a shield and in the lower left, a bowl (panpatra). The crown contains an image of the Sheshnag, the serpent of Vishnu and Shiva Linga. 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.

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 21^st of each March and September. There is an idol of Ganapati in in one niche in the wall. The outer walls of the sanctum is carved with geometrical and floral patterns, musician ladies and Chausath Yoginis.

Upper Shrine:

There is an upper shrine over the sanctum sanctorum. It houses a Ganapathi Idol. There is a rectangular Shivalinga known as Matulinga (Shivalinga atop the Goddess idol) in front of the Ganapathy Idol. It is said that the Matulinga was installed during the Yadava Period in 12^th century as the devotees are not able to see the Shivalinga that is carved on the crown of Goddess Mahalakshmi since it remains covered. Nandi can be found facing the Shiva Linga. There is a staircase to the left of sanctum leads to this storey of the temple. 

Maha Kali Shrine:

Maha Kali Shrine is situated to the right side of the main shrine in the circumambulatory path around the sanctum. This Shrine was constructed by King Gandaraditya of the Shilahara Dynasty.

Maha Saraswathi Shrine:

Maha Saraswathi Shrine is situated to the left side of the main shrine in the circumambulatory path around the sanctum. This Shrine was constructed by King Gandaraditya of the Shilahara Dynasty.

Navagraha Shrine:

This Shrine is situated on the left side of Ghati Darwaja. This Shrine was constructed in 1941 by Shirmant Jahagirdar Babasaheb Ghatge. Idols of nine planets including Sun, Shiva Lingas and Ashtabuja Mahisasuramardini were installed on a raised stone platform in this Shrine. There is a small hall like structure made of black stone in front of Navagraha Shrine. It has sculptures of nine planets, Lord Vishnu reclining on Adi Shesha and Ashta Dikpalas (guardians of eight directions).

Sheshashayi Shrine:

This Shrine is situated close to eastern entrance. The Shrine is octagonal in shape. The dome consists of two tiers. The topmost tier has 6 Petals of a flower and the lower tier has 16 petals of flowers sculpted on it. The shrine has figures of the 60 Jain Tirthankaras on the dome. The shrine is believed to be dedicated to the Jain Tirthankara Neminath. However currently, an idol of Lord Vishnu reclining on the Shesha Nag is worshiped here. It is believed that this Temple s also sacred to the followers of Jainism.

Other Shrines:

There are shrines for Radhakrishna, Kalabhairava, Siddhivinayak, Sinhavahini, Tuljabhavani, Lakshmi-Narayana, Annapurna, Indrasabha, Rameshwar and Narayanswami Maharaj along the southern gate (Vidyapeeth Darwaja). There is a Shrine for Vitthala and Rakumai along the northern gate.

Bell:

There is a huge bell installed by Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj (1874 to 1922) near Ghati Darwaja. It was made by J.W. Benson Lim Clock Makers, Ludgate Hill, London E.C in 1902 and the same was inscribed in the bell. There is a sentence in Portuguese “Ave Maria Gratia Dominus Tecumihs (Hail Mary full of grace! The Lord is with thee) inscribed on this bell. It is believed that this bell was brought to Kolhapur by Chhatrapati Sambhaji after the battle in Goa in 1683.

Canon:

A canon is located near the northern entrance which is fired on specific days. The litter of the Goddess receives one canon ball salute. This tradition was started by Queen Tarabai, daughter-in-law of the Maratha Regent Chhatrapati Shivaji. 

Temple Ponds:

There are two ponds namely Kasi Kund and Manikarnika Kund. Vishweshwar Mahadev Shrine can be found on the banks of Manikarnika Kund. There were Sculptures and Veergal (the hero stones) around these ponds once. Most of them were removed and kept in the Town Hall Museum.