AMBABAI MAHALAKSHMI, KOLHAPUR (MAHA)

 Considered most sacred abode of Devi Lakshmi in the world. Mahalakshmi is the Devi of Maharashtra. The history of the Mandir goes back to the time when Maharshi Bhrigu paid a visit to Sri Vishnu who was resting on sheshnag.


To test Prabhu, Maharshi Bhrigu kicked him on his chest. Instead of getting angry, Sri Vishnu pressed Bhrigu’s foot and asked him whether he got hurt. Devi Lakshmi was offended by Vishnu’s humility as she took this incident as an insult and left Vaikuntha.


The place where she decided to live was this Kolhapur. It is said that the region had a demon Kolhasur who used to suck all the water from the river. To end people’s misery, Devi Lakshmi killed him. His dying wish was that the place be known on his name, hence Kolhapur.


Both Sri Lakshmi and Sri Vishnu reside in this area eternally and shall not leave even at the time of Mahapralayakala(where the whole world is supposed to drown in water). This region is eternally blessed and is believed to be held by Ma in her right hand.


Kirnotsav (festival of Sun Rays) is celebrated here when the rays of the sun fall directly on Mahalakshmi at the time of sunset. It is said that Suryadev comes to pay his homage to Mahalakshmi.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
SRI VARAHA NARSIMHA, SIMHACHALAM, VIZAG (AP)  One of the 32 Narsimha Kshetram of Andhra. It has a unique form of Narsimha, appearing like a shivlingam It is said that Narsimha’s fierce nature is soothed by worshipping him with Varaha, considered a peaceful deity The shrine is believed to have been constructed by Prahlada. With time, it crumbled. In Treta yuga, King Pururava was passing from here in his vimana. The vimana was attracted to this place by a mystic power. When the place was unearthed, the deity was found. Pururava’s wife, Urvashi, had a dream that the deity should remain covered in sandalwood paste for the whole year except on Akshaya Tritiya. This practice has continued till date. The mukhya mandap here, has a pillar kappam stambham believed to possess curative powers. Chandanotsava/ Chandan Yatra is the most important festival celebrated on Akshaya Tritiya. The sandalwood paste is removed from the moolavar deity and nijarupa darshan (original form of deity) for twelve hou
Read more
Image
SRI CHENGALAMMA DEVI, SULLURPET, NELLORE (AP) Chengalamma Devi was, initially, called Tenkali (Dakshina Kali). The left portion of Devi depicts Parvati, right portion Saraswati and central portion Sri Mahalakshmi, hence called Trikale Chengali. During 10th C, few villagers found Devi murti while swimming in Kalangi river. They could not move the murti from its place. Next day, they noticed that the murti was positioned straight. After performing poojas, they could lift the murti and they carried it to the present place. While villagers were trying to build door for the shrine, Devi appeared in their dream and told them that she was there to bless her devotees at all times and hence they should not build any door. The next day, the villagers found that the doors has become a tree. So the villagers decided to keep the shrine open for 24 hours. The murti of Devi faces the sea. Devotees come to witness Chengalamma Jatara in huge numbers. ISRO scientists visit this shrine for the blessings
Read more
Image
HARIDWAAR: The Door to Hari One of the Sapta Puri, it was originally known as Kapila, after Kapil Muni who lived here. Other names of Haridwaar were Gangadwar and Mayapuri. The city finds mention in the Vana parva of the epic Mahabharata. It was here that the salvation of 60,000 ancestors of Bhagiratha took place when he brought Ganga river down from heaven.His ancestors were,thus,freed from the curse of Kapil Muni. Even now, devout Hindus bring here the ashes of their departed family members, in hope of salvation It was at Kankhal (in Haridwar) that Daksh Prajapati, the father of Devi Sati, performed yagya and the disrespect shown by him towards Mahadeva compelled Sati to burn herself in the yagya kund. The Daksheshwar Mahadev temple at Kankhal, built in 1810, is located in Kankhal. The Sati Kund in Kankhal is a dried up kund,which is believed to be the one where Mata Sati immolated herself. The kund is on the banks of Ganga and finds mention in Mahabharata. The Saptarishi Kund in Ha
Read more