| Temples & Legends Of
Maharastra |
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| Temples & Legends Of
India |
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KOLHAPUR - MAHALAKSHMI |
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| The several
differences between the textual references and the image as seen today can be accounted
for in two ways. Either they are due to defective observation on the part of the authors
of the earlier works, or the image described is not the same. Both are possible, the
latter being the more likely explanation. It was a common practice to replace an idol that
had in any way become unfit for the prescribed religious rites to be carried out in the
day-to-day worship. The substitution of the new image was, however, carried out in
confirmation to the requisite traditional and textual rituals. Iconographic details were
usually left unaltered. Thus the continuity of tradition and the sanctity of the kshetra
remained unaffected in any manner. It is also well-known that during times of distress,
especially during the medieval period, when Muslim iconoclastic zeal was a constant source
of danger to the temples and their images, the idol was, often removed to a safer refuge. The
Karvirvasini devi did not escape this fate. As would be later shown the devi could breathe
freely in her ancient abode only after the Maratha power became firm in this region under
Shahu. Ai-d it is not at all improbable that in this process some harm reached the image.
The present image was only recently treated with 'vajralepa’, a hard coating that has
restored the image to its former beauty. |
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