Lakshmy Temple

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PAGES FROM HISTORY: THREE LAKSHMI TEMPLES

 

By Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy, former Head, Department of Ancient History &

Archaeology, University of Mysore.

 

Lakshmi, popularly known as the goddess of prosperity and wealth is perhaps the

most sought after deity in Hindu pantheon. Not only human beings, even gods and

goddesses also were eager to propitiate her to get prosperity. The puranas have

woven hundreds of stories around this goddess and have made her popular. One

thing that is unique about her is that she is a non-sectarian deity, not

confined to any particular group, caste or community. Thus she is a universal

goddess among the Hindu pantheon. By her attractive character, she attracted

even the foreigners who came to India two thousand years ago.

 

Symbolic character

 

In Indian art she is first represented on the gold coins of Indo-Greeks and

Kushanas. Even some of the muslim sultans depicted Lakshmi on their coins. That

itself will be a separate study. In fact the concept of Gajalakshmi, also called

abhisheka Lakshmi, became quite popular in Indian art of the early period and

gradually this became a symbolic character to be depicted on the lintels of

temples. The puranas of the later period taking a broader view of the concept of

prosperity introduced eight forms of Lakshmi and this became quite popular with

silversmiths while making plates and pots.

 

Though the puranas made Lakshmi as the consort of Vishnu in which form she is

quite popular, she has independent status of her own as the main deity in

temples. Such temples are rather rare. With the development of Vijayanagar

temples, separate shrines for Lakshmi came to be built in huge temple complexes

of Vaishnavite faith.

 

According to local legends, Lakshmi set her first foot in Kashmir and her second

foot in Kolhapur, now in Maharastra. Perhaps the latter may be considered as the

first ancient temple for Lakshmi which has a glorious history. The legends refer

to this place as Karavira Kshetra and it is here that this goddess set her

second foot on earth and hence this became a prominent kshetra.

 

Historically Kolhapur was a saktipitha and in course of time, particularly

during the Rashtra-kuta and Chalukya period it became famous for its Lakshmi

temple. Additions were made to the temple during the Yadava period. The

Silaharas were great patrons of this temple. The temple as it stands today is

known as Hemadapanti style. Actually Hemadri was a Minister under Yadava

Ramachandra whom Alauddin defeated. Many Yadava records refer to gifts by these

kings to this temple.

 

According to local folk tales, Alauddin Khilji and his Generals who were on a

spree of looting temples in Deccan and South India for the sake of gold and

wealth came to this temple also. The person who was deputed to guide the Muslim

army was a great devotee of goddess Mahalakshmi. He with the help of other

priests of this temple told the chief of the Muslim army thus:

 

" Sir, the goddess of wealth has distributed all her wealth to all other temples

of South India and neighbouring areas and nothing is left here now. Her

uniqueness is that she showers gold and wealth on those who worship her and she

herself as no wealth. Look at this small sanctum. "

 

Great power

 

Impressed by this narration, the Muslim army did not enter the Mahalakshmi

temple at Kolhapur. The devotees believe that this was due to the great power of

Kolhapur Mahalakshmi.

 

Over the years, this temple had become so famous as to attract the attention of

other kings in other areas. Hoysala Vishnuvardhana who under the influence of

Sri Ramanujacharya became a Srivaishnava had heard of this temple and wanted to

build a Lakshmi temple at Doddagaddavalli, 8 kms from Belur. Though this is a

gem of a temple with unique features it is not known to many tourists. It has

four garbhagrihas (very rare) and the main sanctum has a standing sculpture of

Lakshmi. She has four hands and is highly decorated. This temple was built by

HoysalaVishnuvardha na's minister Kalhana Rahuta and his wife Sahajadevi in 1113

AD (earlier than the Belur temple).

 

He converted this small village into an agrahara and named it Abhinava

(imitation) Kolhapur. Thus this famous Lakshmi temple provided the required

inspiration to Hoysalas. It is a pity that Kannadigas have forgotten their own

Lakshmi temple built by Vishnuvardhana. It is high time the tourists who visit

Belur and Halebeedu make it a point to visit this temple.

 

Recently I had an occasion to visit the famous gold temple of Lakshmi at

Sripuram near Vellore in Tamil Nadu. A young saintly person known as the

embodiment of Amma or goddess Narayani is the creator of this temple about 7

years ago. This marvellous gold temple is spread over a sprawling 100 acre of

land. It is symbolically built as a Srichakra or star shaped corridors which

lead to the glittering gold temple. The other structures include 14 water pits,

14 fountains, 8 mandapas, 7 chakras and 7 shankhas.

 

Golden lotus

 

In the midst of this complex Lakshmi is consecrated in a temple which is in the

middle of a moat surrounded by water. The temple has four gold gopuras, a gold

roof, 38 pillars (22 elephant pillars and 16 swan pillars). In the gold

garbhagriha resides goddess Lakshmi seated on a golden lotus. She is adorned by

a variety of expensive jewellery. The real sight is the gold temple as if

sailing in the deep waters consisting of a garbhagriha, vestibule and pillared

mandapa. At night it dazzles in the brilliance of lights and takes devotees to a

world of beauty, perhaps unparellelled in the country.

 

More than the devotion to goddess Lakshmi, the visitors are overwhelmed by the

glittering gold, gold and gold. Perhaps this is one of the cleanest temples in

the entire country. The temple is slowly gaining popularity and in the years to

come it is bound to be a great spectacle for which visitors have to wait for

long hours. Whether it is a project of 500 or 600 crore rupees, goddess Lakshmi

resides in this gold temple. Thus Lakshmi has been living in our tradition both

ancient and modern. In the case of Lakshmi, ancient merges with moder

 

With Warm Regards

 

Ganapathy -- Vijyalakshmy