Names & Legend
The Shakti Peeth at Kolhapur is famous as the temple of Mahalakshmi, the goddess of prosperity. The one Goddess is known here by many names, and the local people lovingly call her Ambabai, “Mother”.
When Lord Vishnu divided Sati’s body with his Sudarshan Chakra as Lord Shiva carried it in grief, Sati’s eyes (some traditions say all three eyes) are believed to have fallen at Kolhapur. Kolhapur is also counted among the Sade Teen Shakti Peeth, the “three and a half” great seats of the Goddess in Maharashtra.
Location
The Mahalakshmi temple stands in the heart of Kolhapur, in southern Maharashtra, on the bank of the Panchganga river. It is about 5 km from both the railway station and the bus stand. The ancient name of the region is Karvir, and the scriptures praise it as a holy land where Lord Shiva and Goddess Lakshmi dwell together.
The Goddess & Bhairava
The Goddess is worshipped as Mahishamardini, the slayer of the buffalo demon Mahishasura – the title she earned after her victory over him. Her black-stone image, about three feet tall, has four arms holding a mace, a shield, a citron and a bowl, and her crown bears a Shivalinga and the hood of the serpent Shesha. Unusually, she faces west. Lord Shiva as Bhairava is called Krodhish, known for his fierce anger against evil.
It is believed that devotees who worship here with sincerity have their wishes fulfilled, and Kolhapur is honoured as one of the six special Shakti sites where desires are granted.
The Temple & Kiranotsav
The temple is mentioned in ancient texts and the Puranas. The present stone structure dates back many centuries, to the time of the Chalukya kings, with later additions by the Shilaharas and the Marathas. Its carved pillars and walls show fine craftsmanship.
The temple is famous for the Kiranotsav, when, on a few days each year (around late January and early November), the rays of the setting sun enter through a window and fall directly on the Goddess – first on her feet, then her middle and finally her face. Thousands gather to witness this beautiful sign of ancient design.
Festivals & Worship
Navaratri is the grandest festival, when the Goddess is decorated in a different form every day and carried in a palanquin procession. Kiranotsav, Diwali and every Friday are also special days for darshan. The traditional evening palkhi of the Goddess on Fridays is a highlight for devotees.
How to Reach & When to Visit
Kolhapur (Shri Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus) railway station has trains from Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru, and Kolhapur airport has flights to several cities. The city is on the Mumbai–Bengaluru highway. The best time to visit is from October to February. While in Kolhapur, many pilgrims also visit the Jyotiba temple on a nearby hill.