Satipeeth: Goddess 'Maa Ambabai' is there to relieve the devotees in the ancient temple of Kolhapur

There is a famous 'Mahalakshmi Temple' in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. This temple is called as 'Ambabai Temple' by most of the local people. The question is, 'Mahalakshmi' and 'Amba' are two different goddesses, so what is the reason for naming the same temple after two goddesses? Actually, the reason lies in the legend. I am clarifying the matter by saying them one by one:

Although this temple in Kolhapur is famous as 'Mahalakshmi Mandir', the temple is actually one of the Ekanna Satipeeths. According to legend, Goddess Sati's two eyes fell here after being cut by the sight of Lord Vishnu. This is also a reason why this temple is called Devi Ambar temple. As mentioned in the scriptures, this Peethasthan is one of the Ekannapeeths and is also called as 'Dakshin Kashi'.

There are two conclusions to the same legend regarding the origin of this Peethasthan at Kolhapur. As such, many believe that Goddess Mahalakshmi and Lord Vishnu always reside together in this Peetha. Because, according to the legend, a demon named Kolhasur once became very powerful by winning over the gods and at the same time became a great terror to the gods and humans. The demon was given the boon to be subdued by the woman who could defeat him in battle. As a result, man was nothing, all the gods became insignificant to his prowess. Then both gods and humans had no choice but to offer constant prayers to the almighty goddess for deliverance from this predicament. Finally, Goddess Mahalakshmi herself took on the role of savior in response to their desperate calls. He killed the Asura with his own hands and resolved the crisis of gods and men and restored their rights. Then the grateful gods realized the necessity of propagating the greatness of this crisis-relieving goddess. They named the place 'Kolhapur' after the name of the demon where the body of the demon killed by the goddess fell. He built it as a famous pilgrimage. Then the goddess became the presiding deity of this tirtha at the request and interest of both devas and humans.

There is a second opinion regarding the slaughter of Kolhasur. According to this second, the demon slayer is not Goddess Mahalakshmi, but Goddess Parvati herself. Parvati who saved the world from the tyrannical Mahishasura, Mahishasura Mardini, killed this Kolhasura and solved the world's crisis. The idol of the goddess seated in the sanctum also recognizes this second view. Because, the vehicle of this goddess is lion. The vehicle of Goddess Mahalakshmi is nowhere to be seen as a lion. Moreover, Navratri festival is celebrated in this temple with much fanfare, like no other festival is celebrated. For all these reasons, this Devi Mandir is known as 'Mahalakshmi Mandir' to some people, but to others, this temple is known as 'Amba Bai Mandir'. For good reason we will also address this temple as 'Ambabai Temple' and the Goddess as 'Ambabai'.

Devi's temple is situated on the banks of the holy Punyasalila Panchaganga river. The temple has four grand entrances. The main entrance in it is called 'Mahadwar'. This door is on the west side. If you enter through this door, you can first reach the Garuda Mandapam after crossing numerous Deepmalas. This mandap is built on wooden carved square pillars. It was built in the 18th century in the Maratha style. In this mandap there is an idol of Garuda. Garuda's face is towards the sanctum sanctorum.

There are three goddesses on the altar in the sanctum sanctorum. In the center is Goddess Amba (otherwise, Mahalakshmi), flanked by Goddess Mahakali and Goddess Mahasaraswati. Sri Yantra is engraved on one of the walls of the sanctum sanctorum since ancient times. According to legend, this instrument was carved by Adi Shankaracharya himself. Apart from Goddess Amba (Mahalakshmi) Shiva Mandir with Nandi, there are Venkateswara Temple, Katyayani Devi Temple, Gauri Shankar Temple, Navagraha Temple, Surya Temple, Mahishasuramardini Temple, Vittal-Rakhmai Temple, Tirupatibalaji Temple, Dattatreya Temple etc. in the temple premises. Devotees believe that Lord Dattatreya goes for alms to Mother Amba (Mahalakshmi) every afternoon and accepts mother's Prasad as alms. Many also believe that those who worship Maa Amba as Mahalakshmi, believe that Tirupati Balaji must be visited after visiting the Goddess, otherwise the Devidarshan is not fulfilled. Anyway, near the Mahalakshmi temple is the holy Pushkarini, 'Manikarnika Kund'. On the banks of this tank is the Thana of Vishveshwar Mahadev.

The temple of the white-topped goddess is extremely beautiful. A wonderful monument of historical architecture. The idols of mythological gods and goddesses, various mythological stories, idols of dancing goddesses and idols of various musical instruments have been carved through unique sculptures on this stone-carved temple.

There is also a legend surrounding the temple-building of the goddess. It is said that this temple was built during the era of Mahabharata about five thousand years ago. This temple was built by the Pandavas themselves. But legend is not history. History demands scientific inquiry. According to the findings of historians, the temple was built during the reign of the Kannada Chalukya emperors in the 7th century AD. According to them, the entire temple area was not completed at the same time. Some were built in the seventh century, while the rest were completed by the tenth century. Then for some reason the worship in this temple was stopped for several hundred years, the goddess also shifted to another place. When the Marathas established themselves as a great power in the early 18th century, they reinstated the goddess in this temple and created a new tradition of worship.