| Temples & Legends Of
Maharashtra |
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| Temples & Legends Of
India |
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KOLHAPUR-MAHALAKSHMI |
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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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