Regarding my visit to Kolhapur Mahalakshmi Temple

[Guest guest]

Dear devotees of Mother,

 

I would like to share my experience of a pilgrimage to Mahalakshmi

Temple at Maharashtra.

 

Apart from 18 shakti pitas & 108 shakti pitas there is another set

of Shakta pitas which are in Maharashtra. They are are 3 1/2 shakta

pitas or in hindi called " Saade Teen " (three and half) shakta

pitas. They are 1) Ekaveera or Renuka at Mahurgad near Nanded dist.

2) Bhavani at Tuljapur 3) Mahalakshmi at Kolhapur 4)AdiShakti at

Sapthashringi at Wani (near Nashik). In Devi Mahatmya, there are 3

charitas ie., Prathama, Madhyama and Uttama. For Prathama charitra,

Mahakali is the presiding diety which is Renuka at Mahurgad; for

Madhyama charita, Mahalakshmi is the Presiding Diety which is

Sapthasringi Devi (Ashtadasha Bhuja Mahalakshmi); for Uttama

Charita, Mahasaraswati is the presiding diety which is Bhavani at

Tuljapur.

 

And the fourth Pita is the Turiya Pita which is Kolhapur Mahalakshmi

with four (4 hands). As mentioned in Rahastraya of

Chandi, " Sarvasyadya Mahalakshmi ....... " . Here in Kolhapur, Mother

is shining with 4 hands with the ayudhas as follows:

1) Right hands of Mother from Bottom Up : Bijapura phalam (a kind of

fruit) and Gadaa (mace)

2) Left hands of Mother from Bottom up: Paana Paatra (drinking bowl)

and Khetaka(shield.

The moola vigraha is of around 4 ft. height. I had the good fortune

of worshipping this moola vigraha with srisuktam. Infact, anybody

can go into the garbha griha provided one wears panchakacham.

Ladies are not allowed in the garbha griha. This diety is the moola

swaraupa or moola prakriti described in Chandi Sapthasathi. From

this, Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswathi have sprang forth

there by giving birth to Mithuna devataas.

 

These " 3 and half shakta pitas " are the three and half coils of the

female serpent that is present in Mooladhara chakra. And these are

A, U, M and Ardha Maatra of Pranava.

 

This small piece of information was presented here so that the

devotees undertaking the pilgrimage would have some knowledge of

kshetra devataas and the tatwa behind it.

 

With regards,

 

Sriram

Chandiim bhaje chinmayeem.....