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Panchaganga was the result of the creation of the sages Kashyap, Galav, Gargya, Vashistha and Vishvamitra. After the close of a sacrifice, Brahmadeva found there was no -mahanadi’ in which to
perform the 'avabhrit-snana., The five sages mentioned above, produced with their divine powers the rivers Shiva, Bhadra, Kumbhi, Saraswati and Bhogavati, respectively representing the powers of Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Veda and the last one representing all of them put together. Karvir proper and its vicinity is thus connected with gods and sages from ancient times. It is the permanent abode of Mahalakshmi. Now from mythology to history.
The inscriptional and other records mentioning the Niahalakshmi of Kolhapur enable us to take back the antiquity of the deity at this place to a period of not earlier than the seventeenth century of our present era. The older parts of the present temple might belong. to the tenth century A. D. The
earliest known inscriptional reference is from a copper-plate grant made by Amoghavarsha of the Rashtrakuta dynasty in 817 A. D. It was found at Sanjan and states that this Amoghavarsha cut off one of his fingers as an offering to the goddess for bringing peace to his people. Although the relevant verses do not mention Kolhapur by name, scholars are agreed that the Maha lakshmi mentioned in the plate is none other than that of Kolhapur. Chronologically the next mention is also from a copper-plate grant made by Shashtharaj I of the Kadamba dynasty of Goa, in 998 A. D. In this text it is mentioned that this prince went to Kolhapur and worshipped the Mahalakshmi.
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