Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur
Mahalakshmi Temple is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Mahalakshmi, who is worshipped by locals as Ambabai. Goddess Mahalakshmi Ambabai is the consort of Lord Vishnu and it is customary among Hindus to visit Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Kolhapur Mahalakshmi Temple and Padmavathi Temple as a yatra. It is believed that visiting these temples as a pilgrimage helps achieve moksha.
Description
Mounted on a stone platform, the murti 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, stands behind the statue. The crown contains a five headed snake. Furthermore, she holds a Matulinga fruit, mace, shield and a pānapātra. In Lakshmi Sahasranama of Skanda Purana, Goddess Lakshmi is praised as "Om Karaveera Nivasiniye Namaha" means "Glory to the Goddess who lives in Karaveera" and as "Om Sesha Vasuki Samsevyaa Namaha" means "Glory to Goddess who is served by Adi Sesha and Vasuki". They are the 119th and 698th names of Lakshmi in Lakshmi Sahasranama. This is also the description mentioned in the Rahasya of Devi Mahatmya. Professor Prabhakar Malshe says, "The name of Karaveera is still locally used to denote the city of Kolhapur". It is considered one of the three and a half Shaktipeetha's in the Shakta tradition.History
According to one account, the temple of the goddess Mahalakshmi was built by the Chalukya king Karnadeva in 634 CE. Another account dates it to the Shilahara period.But historians believes that originally the temple was built by Shilaharas possibly being a Jains they built Jain temple and got 64 idols carved. later converted from Jainism to Shaivism it was originally a Jain temple and idol called yakshini Padmāvatī was installed or the tirthankara Chandraprabha. Historian Paul Dundas in his book "The Jains" mentions that Mahalaxmi temple Kolhapur was a Jain temple. Sheshashayee Vishnu which is an octagonal structure closer to the eastern gate has a panel of 60 Jain Tirthankaras carvings. and it is also believed to have been originally dedicated to the tirthankara Neminath. Furthermore, Before the 13th century, it was known as a Jain temple, Around 13th Century goddes Mahalaxmi was installed here.