|
The
Mother Mahalakshmi Mandir at Kolhapur is a veritable spiritual
treasure house adorned with grand images of almost all gods of Hindu
Pantheon in beautiful pavilions in and out of its vast courtyards.
Among them, the superbly sculptured icons of Mahakali, Maha
Saraswati and Ambabai installed in Mukha mandap are the cynosures of
attraction. Next come the much venerated imaged of Siddhi Vinayak,
Sita Surya, Ramalakshmanan, Tuljabhavani, Dattatreya, Navagrahas for
indispensable mention and veneration. All these divinities are found
in the ground floor only.
Ascending
the second story, one gets stupefied at the imposing size of a
monolithic black Sivalinga installed on a high dias. Its sparkling
polish and superb execution wrings veneration involuntarily. The
triple ash marks with a big circular vermilion dot in the middle on
the broad forehead heightening its splendor casts a spell on the
viewers and so they let out Harhar Mahadev sounds unknown to
themselves. This spectacle remains locked up in their minds for
ever. Ironical it may seem that there are few icons here in the
spacious mandir, unlike the ground floor studded to portals with
numerous icons. So this mandir can be deemed an individual,
independent Mandir - a separate Sivaalaya, though forming an
integral part of the Ambabai Aalayam. Hasn't the Lord Mediated and solemnized
the wedding of Maha Vishnu with Mahalakshmi at Nanjangud? Would she
not accommodate Him fittingly in her abode? So the entire second
story is occupied by HIM and His adherents. It lies in the heart of
Kolhapur, in the State of Maharashtra.
|
